Pa. welfare official can't put figure on savings

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Corbett’s nominee to head the state Department of Public Welfare says he doesn’t know whether he can find $470 million in savings in the agency, as House Republicans are proposing in their new budget plan.

Acting department secretary Gary Alexander told senators today during his confirmation hearing that saving money is a top priority. But he says rooting out what Republicans call fraud, waste and abuse is a delicate process and the savings could be more than $470 million, or less.

Republican senators posed the questions to Alexander a day after House GOP leaders unveiled more details of their counterproposal to Corbett’s $27.3 billion spending plan.

Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee Chairwoman Pat Vance warned Alexander that time is limited. The new fiscal year begins July 1.