In a report published on Tuesday, Pro Publica revealed that many states have failed to take advantage of stimulus funding because they claim that they can’t afford to put up the 20 percent in matching funds required to access the money. In fact, only 27 states have applied for billions in funding that would have gone to needy families. According to the article, “the chaos and allegations of abuse that followed illustrates how, in the heated debate over the stimulus, even the most lauded program can turn into the most lampooned overnight.” Christopher Flavelle of Pro Publica and others on why states are ignoring the stimulus welfare fund.

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