(The Center Square) – Days after a social media post went viral detailing potential daycare fraud in the Seattle area, one of Washington’s public sector unions is calling on lawmakers to crack down on journalists attempting to expose the issue in Washington state.
Post Millennial reporter Katie Daviscourt posted a video last weekend, showing her attempts to make contact with several homes reported to be Somali run home day care centers in south Seattle.
It’s the same neighborhood where The Center Square attempted to make contact with homes claiming to be daycare providers several months ago.
“When I knocked on doors, no one answered. Neighbors told me they have never seen any kids,” wrote Daviscourt in a post on X attached to the video showing her visiting multiple Somali home daycares receiving taxpayer subsidies.
Political & Legislative Director at SEIU 925 Erin Haick sent a Tuesday email to lawmakers obtained by unDivided podcaster Brandi Kruse, raising concerns about the video, and suggesting lawmakers should do what they can to make sure reporters can’t go out “harassing” daycare providers.
“She claims that providers are bringing in tens of thousands a month in public dollars and I honestly have no idea what publicly available data she could be basing this on,” wrote Haick.
The data on daycare subsidies is available on the Childcare Aware website for daycares within an address area; the name of any daycare can then be entered on the Washington State Fiscal website, which displays taxpayer subsidy payments.
“It’s pretty obvious to anyone with a brain what’s going on here. You don’t see any kids. The neighbors never see any kids. They’re very combative, very defensive, because they know they’re involved in fraud,” said Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, who attempted to get legislation passed last session to require further scrutiny, in an interview with The Center Square.
Those efforts were rebuffed by majority Democrats.
Now, there are questions if SEIU will attempt to get Washington Democrats to pass legislation similar to California to prevent reporters from going out to investigate.
The legislation came after independent journalist Nick Shirley, who initially exposed daycare fraud in Minnesota, revealed a similar pattern in California where he filmed videos visiting taxpayer-funded facilities that appeared empty or inactive, alleging widespread government fraud.
In California, the bill that was passed includes civil liability language allowing a victim to sue for a minimum of $4,000 in damages if someone publishes their personal information or photos with the explicit intent to cause harm or incite others to cause harm.
A reporter who posted videos or photos questioning payments or investigating fraud could face penalties under the law if those being filmed claim damage or harm.
Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen told The Center Square Wednesday he believes Washington lawmakers will introduce similar legislation.
“Yes, it’s setting up a ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ in Olympia,” wrote Walsh via text.
Couture said he and others will push back with all they have to stop any attempt to punish journalists attempting to expose potential fraud, and added pressure is mounting on state agency officials to acknowledge what has been exposed.
“DCYF can’t explain the numbers. When you have a daycare that has less than 10 possible licensed slots for kids, but they’re raking in tens of thousands of dollars a month, with some of these home-based daycares, making over a million a year…I think most people in small business would say, ‘how do I sign up for that?’ And you don’t even have to have any kids there.”
SEIU’s Haick did not respond to a request for an interview Wednesday, but the email to lawmakers made clear they are concerned about reporters exposing potential fraud.
“It is extremely offensive that conservative media influencers are targeting low-income immigrant child care providers to get clicks and attention. I hope SEIU 925 members and providers across the state can count on you to ask thoughtful questions about how to protect and strengthen Washington’s childcare system and not fall for this racist clickbait campaign,” wrote SEIU’s Haick.
Couture told The Center Square the response from SEIU is not surprising, but the lack of an appetite from state leaders to examine what has been exposed should disturb taxpayers the most.
“I’m just surprised at the people who still defend this waste, fraud and abuse. It’s so blatant, and in your face, and in a time where the state government and Democrats have raised the largest tax increases in state history, and they refuse to even acknowledge or want to tackle the fraud,” Couture said.
“It leads me to be suspicious of all the different things that are happening in state government and we really need to – especially given our budget situation – take a really deep dive look at not only are we getting the results, but who’s getting the money and why and who are they really serving?”