Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-California) said she was "outraged" about the continued abuse of taxpayer dollars by the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians of California.

The tribe was fined $1.54 million for misusing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds. The Administration for Children and Families agreed to let the tribe pay off the fine with a reduction in its annual grant.

“How can this be an acceptable solution, when those who did wrong don't have to pay while families with legitimate needs could see important services decreased?” Bono Mack told The Palm Springs Desert Sun in response.

The tribe receives about $20 million in TANF funds, plus $14 million in state matching funds, to manage about 5,238 Native American families a month. But the Desert Sun said the tribe is handling fewer than 400 families.

Get the Story:
Fed response to audit queries ripped (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 5/11)

Special Report:
Aid to Indian Country: A Desert Sun investigation (The Palm Springs Desert Sun January 2010)

Related Stories:
Torres Martinez Tribe to pay fine with reduction in grant (04/26)
Editorial: A long way to go on Torres Martinez TANF probe (4/2)
Lawmakers still looking at Torres Martinez TANF program (3/26)
Torres Martinez Tribe behind on $1.54M fine for TANF (2/8)
Rep. Bono Mack calls for probe of tribal TANF program (2/5)
Editorial: Congress should investigate tribal TANF now (1/20)