During last evening's gubernatorial debate, GOP nominee Bill Brady was asked to identify one program he would cut if elected on November 2. Medicaid, the state's public health program for the poor, was tops on his list. "The Medicaid program under Governor Quinn allows people like Governor Quinn to walk in and receive an eligibility card," he claimed. "We don’t verify eligibility in the Medicaid program." Listen:

That policy sounds totally irresponsible. Fortunately for taxpayers, Brady is just making it up. Here's a statement obtained by the Capitol Fax from a spokesperson with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services:

Yes, HFS verifies income information when an individual applies for Medicaid benefits, as it is both state and federally required. At application, HFS checks paystubs as well as federal data for income sources, such as Social Security. We also identify unemployment benefits and coordinate with DHS for any income information received in conjunction with SNAP or TANF programs.

It's going to be awfully difficult for Brady to balance the state's budget if he doesn't even understand how the state's largest program operates.