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Texas Audits Embattled Food Stamp Program

By KRWG News

Texas – Texas will audit the state's beleaguered food stamp program in an effort to improve accuracy and efficiency in processing applications.

Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs requested the audit in an effort to "fix our system so that it works for everyone."

State Auditor John Keel on Wednesday said the review will include an examination of food stamp operations in other parts of the country in an effort to improve the Texas system.

Federal law requires that applicants be processed within 30 days. More than 40 percent of the Texas applicants are not processed within the monthlong period.

Keel offered no time frame for the audit.

HHS spokeswoman Stephanie Goodman says the department in recent months added 674 employees this fall to help process applications.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.