As Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers digs in his heels against sharing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data with the federal government, conservatives see it as yet another liberal roadblock to fiscal accountability. The state is already grappling with ballooning entitlement costs, and evidence from the Department of Health and Human Services about Medicaid autism-therapy billing errors in Wisconsin, Evers’ refusal to turn over data, framed as protecting program integrity, smacks of protecting the status quo that enables waste, fraud, and abuse. With neighboring Minnesota and left-leaning California serving as cautionary tales of Medicaid fraud in autism therapy and hospice care, it’s high time Wisconsin prioritizes taxpayers over fraudsters. Sharing data is not an invasion; it is essential oversight in an era where fraudulent providers are feasting on taxpayer dollars.
The pushback stems from Assembly Bill 1027, which passed the Wisconsin Assembly on a 54-39 vote in February 2026. The bill requires the state to share SNAP recipient information, including immigration status, with the federal government. This complies with federal tweaks under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which raises the work-requirement age and tightens caregiver exemptions to ensure that only eligible folks receive benefits. Supporters like Sen. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) argue for compliance safeguards funding without upending the program. Rep. Nate Gustafson (R-Omro) echoes this, stressing it prevents disruptions for legitimate recipients. Yet Evers balks, whining about potential “disruptions” and demanding $69.2 million more for his Department of Health Services to maintain low error rates (Wisconsin’s are at a commendable 4.41%). Meanwhile, Attorney General Josh Kaul joins a lawsuit against the USDA, claiming it wrongly limits eligibility for refugees and asylum seekers. This is not leadership; it is deflection, shielding a system ripe for exploitation.
A recent Wall Street Journal investigation exposed the exploding autism therapy racket. Medicaid payments for these services rose to $2.2 billion nationwide in 2023, up from $660 million in 2019. This turned a genuine need for autism care into Medicaid’s fastest-growing jackpot, with fee-for-service models inviting overbilling and subpar services.
In Minnesota, reimbursements ballooned from $1.1 million in 2017 to a staggering $343 million in 2024, fueled by fraud schemes involving fake diagnoses, kickbacks, and unqualified staff. Federal probes estimate up to $9 billion in Minnesota Medicaid fraud since 2018, including autism centers tied to broader scams, such as the $250 million Feeding Our Future case. The federal government responded by withholding $260 million from the state in February 2026, citing unsupported claims— a move President Trump highlighted in his State of the Union, blasting “Somali pirates who ransacked Minnesota.” California isn’t far behind, with Trump accusing it of similar fraud hotspots in autism and other services. Audits across states reveal the mess: HHS found $198 million in confirmed improper payments for autism services in Indiana, Wisconsin, Maine, and Colorado, with another $410 million potentially fraudulent.
In Colorado alone, there were $285.2 million in improper payouts for applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy in 2022-2023, often due to overbilling and weak controls. These are not isolated cases; they are symptoms of unchecked welfare expansion, where private equity exploits lax oversight for profit and displaces real care with so-called recession-proof schemes.
Evers’ stonewalling on SNAP data risks bringing the same chaos to Wisconsin’s FoodShare program. By withholding information, he is hindering federal efforts to verify eligibility and curb abuse, potentially costing taxpayers billions in the long run. Conservatives know transparency is not optional; it is the antidote to government waste. As Minnesota scrambles amid raids and indictments (92 people charged so far) and California faces scrutiny, Wisconsin should lead by example. Pass AB 1027 in the Senate, override any veto, and demand accountability. Taxpayers deserve better than Evers’ excuses; they deserve a system that works for those truly in need, not fraudsters.
