Can I give "Follow the money" a new meaning? Now that $4.6 billion has been allocated for taking care of the immigrants being held in detention centers, we should follow the money. We should be asking, Have you started using the money? What changes, what improvements are there? Can we come in and see the difference?
Don't wait. How long should it take to cut the checks and go out and buy the toothbrushes? And, since toothbrushes hardly add up to $4.6 billion, shouldn't we be able to see some definite, shiny changes? If you are spending $4.6 billion, the changes should really be visible, really be evident.
Show us.
And, remember, the idea was to improve the conditions. If you are spending it on something else, you are miss-spending taxpayer money.
I suppose on that last point, there is room for dissent. The Republicans might well have opportunistically sneaked in money for enforcement, rather than care.
But, it remains, the idea was to provide care for the detainees. That's what this was all about.
"Follow the money" also should mean it is time to follow the taxpayers' money in other ways, as well. We are hearing that hundreds of dollars per day are being spent on the immigrant prisoners. There should be an accounting of that money. If -- way before this massive $4.6 billion was allocated -- you were spending hundreds a day, however does this translate into tent cities, no toothbrushes and care that is in any way second-class?
Account for your spending. Tell us where the dollars are being spent. We, the taxpayers, are here to do a taxpayer's audit.
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