California is morally bankrupt … and proud of it

Months ago, America was stunned to learn about the massive fraud occurring in Minnesota. Remember the now-notorious “Quality Learing Center”? The total price tag of the scandals in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” could exceed $9 billion. That is unconscionable.

But then the State of California came along and said, “Hold my beer!” That is when independent journalist Nick Shirley uncovered massive fraud in unemployment, in-home care and hospice services costing California taxpayers as much as $250 billion!

Republicans and Democrats rarely agree, but have come to one mind on the level of hospice corruption, but the two sides still want to fight about how to solve the dilemma. State Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the arrest of five people in one $267 million hospice scheme. That was all good until, during the press conference, the California AG decided it was an opportune moment to take partisan swipes at President Trump and Republicans.

“While healthcare fraud might be President Trump’s shiny new political talking point,” he said, “the California DOJ has been going after healthcare fraud since 1979 – for decades. Trump is late to the party. Protecting taxpayer dollars and protecting programs sick and vulnerable Californians rely on have been our priority for nearly five decades.”

The Republican minority in the state legislature hit back at Bonta’s comments.

“We’ve had an issue of not knowing where monies are going,” said state Assemblyman Heath Flora. “And when we have a billion-dollar deficit, I think it’s time the taxpayers know where their money’s being spent. Thirty-seven billion dollars has been spent on homelessness, all while we have seen the homeless population in California increase just over the last six years, going from 151,000 individuals in California just a few years ago to over 187,000 individuals today.”

While Bonta was doing his victory lap in front of the media, a far more nefarious plot was being hatched within the bowels of the State Capitol. Instead of doing their due diligence by going after more perpetrators and bringing them to justice, bureaucratic stalwarts rallied around AB-2624, which has been dubbed the “Stop Nick Shirley Act.”

Officially titled “Privacy for Immigration Support Services Providers,” the legislation seeks to establish protection for “immigration support service providers,” both employees and volunteers. This would also include hiding the addresses of illegal immigrants and punishing anyone who publishes their images online. Advocates for this odious legislation are claiming it will protect people from political violence.

This is nothing more than a blatant assault on the First Amendment’s freedom of the press. It is reprehensible that mainstream media journalists have been silent on this.

Without a genuine press shining light in the darkness, the temptations for avarice, greed and corruption would be uncontrollable. Imagine if history’s great investigative journalists such as Nellie Bly, Ida B. Wells, Upton Sinclair, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, or Seymour Hersh were handcuffed by such government restrictions.

Investigative journalism, whether conducted by the “mainstream media” or independent reporters, is crucial for a democratic society. It serves as America’s watchdog, working to uncover corruption, abuse of power and societal trends, as well as ensure transparency and accountability. Citizens who are provided with facts can begin the legal reform process and protect the vulnerable from corrupt institutions.

The politicians of this state are angry because their hands were forced into taking action by the Nick Shirleys and James O’Keefes of the world. By the way, the author of AB-2624 is none other than Assemblywoman Mia Bonta, wife of Attorney General Rob Bonta.

No wonder the federal government is stepping into the investigation. Something stinks here.