Just when you thought Michigan could not stoop any lower when it comes to making the lives of children in poverty even more dismal.
Michigan Department of Treasury has just implemented an online identity verification system.
Peaches.
Here is the bait and switch, according to the letter, which contains an unique Quiz ID number (
riiiiiiiiiight ` wink.) you must log in as a guest or create an account to access your Earned Income Tax Credit.
What is the purpose of a unique Quiz ID number when, in dealing with the State Treasury or Health and Human Services, one typically uses a Social Security Number?
But wait, there is also a Discovery CID number. Whether that is Criminal Investigative Demand or Civil Investigative Demand for Discovery, we shall soon find out in the news.
There are only two state departments which participate in the system, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Treasury.
Makes pretty good sense to me, right? Cost efficient, streamlined, good entitlement fraud detector,
No. Unique IDs are known in the meth world as no-no's when it comes to internal validity.
Therefore, this is an intentionally constructed database, but for what?
Well, it seems if you fail the quiz, you must hard copy your state identification, and federal income tax information, must also be provided.
But wait, the letter said, [sic]
This review may take 3 to 6 months, depending on the volume of responses received.
So, tactfully, Michigan can hustle out of doling out tax refunds to save a few bucks until the next budget by creating a fraudulent ID verification system for the purposes of creating a database to monitor behavior?
I do not have a problem with engaging quantitative methodology into policymaking, but when it is done through an internet farce, that is where I take issue.
The letter for the ID Quiz specifically demands in the alternative:
- Copy of driver's license(s), picture ID(s) or Government issued picture ID;
- W-2's
- SSA-1099s
- 1099s
- K1s
What makes me parse out the last of my assumptions of whether this is an intentional farce is the specificity for
all financial instruments listed, which are indicative of an individual who is one, classified as "working poor".
Working poor own businesses, put in more than 40 hours a week on a job(s), yet qualify for full SNAP and Medicaid benefits.
In some instances, there are individuals who are disabled or care for the disabled who fall into this category, also.
This means that this population of working poor, EITC beneficiaries, becomes, now, targeted. But why?
Well, the internet access, skill, itself becomes a toll many cannot afford as they must pay someone to assist as local agencies provide services during traditional working hours.
Then there is the actual recordkeeping. Many do not keep records and even many more do not know how to keep financial transaction records for home based, cottage industry.
Federal records are not as precise as state, simply for the fact that poor people cost in oversight. A state may find an incentive through an investment in scrutiny.
I call it privatization as a QGO or even contracted state arm NGO,
I believe there are people who would like to know who is the recordkeeper of these data, and for what purposes.
There is a movement of people who believe they can have a
second go-at-it of ending poverty through data, in similar form of our current predictive credit system.
There are those who are afraid of losing everything,
including their property, including their children.
This segment of our newly targeted population will not participate in the filing of identification documents.
Of course, lest we forget the other segment of this newly targeted population who would be identified for possible voting ID laws violations.
In many situations, due to the really bad, and I mean really, really bad history between the State of Michigan and Information Technology, I am even questioning if this is a pilot program to see it it crashes enjoining DHHS and Treasury.
Remember, child support is linked within these two Departments, also.
But to make an assumption that this database action initiative was in the public's best interest would be like giving too much credit to the
geniuses consulting folks of Governor Rick Snyder as he is just as notorious as his fellow
Republican Governors, particularly the dude from Kansas, always slashing resources to children in poverty as the go to budget plug tactic.
Flint will remain a spending priority as Snyder looks for cuts, Roberts said. Reductions will most likely come from areas Snyder had recommended for increases, where spending now will likely go up less than expected, he said. Those areas could include information technology, the Michigan State Police, the Healthy Kids dental program, the K-12 education foundation grant, higher education, and a new statewide infrastructure fund, among others.
Either through fear or a bogus internet fraud scheme, it looks like Snyder found some budget savings to hold out until fiscal year 2017 kicks in and a new method of segregating data.
My alternative hypothesis blends well with the testimony of
Maura Corrigan of the American Enterprise Institute.
(BTW, my null is that this was all just a learning mistake on the part of the Snyder Administration because I poignantly recognize that it will be swiftly disproven.)
Say what you will, but I am calling this Identity Earned Income Tax Confirmation Quiz a BS database until someone proves me wrong.
This is predatory targeting of the poor.
Identity Confirmation Quiz
In order to proceed with this request, the following information is required.
You understand that by clicking on the I AGREE button immediately following this notice, you are providing 'written instructions' to the State of Michigan under the Fair Credit Reporting Act authorizing the State of Michigan to obtain information from your personal credit profile or other information from Experian. You authorize the State of Michigan to obtain such information solely to confirm your identity to avoid fraudulent transactions in your name prior to granting you online access to and use of the State of Michigan web site.
This may be because you have not yet filed your Michigan Income Tax return. Please verify that you have. If you have not filed a MI return, please follow the instructions on the letter.
If you have filed a return, the information you entered is incorrect. Please submit a copy of your driver's license and your spouse's, if applicable, or personal IDs and copies of any of the following that is applicable to your return: W2s, 1099s, SSA-1099, or K1s in the return envelope provided with your letter to the address below.
Michigan Department of Treasury
P.O. Box 30771
Lansing, MI 48909-8271
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