Kasich mulls forgivng all state welfare mistakes

COLUMBUS (AP) — Gov. John Kasich says he’s considering whether the state should be collecting any accidental welfare overpayments, including from within the past decade.

Multiple media outlets report Kasich indicated Monday that he doesn’t like the idea of going after money in what he said amounts to punishing people for the state’s mistakes.

The Republican Kasich administration recently stopped seeking repayments from Ohioans who received too much welfare assistance anywhere from 10 years ago to as far back as at least 1985. The state began reaching back late last year under outgoing Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland.

For the time being, the state has reverted to its old policy of collecting excess welfare money erroneously paid out only within the last 10 years.