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Marj
Hello from the State Capitol,
The fraud problem in Minnesota seems to grow by the week, and the more we learn about what has been happening and the Walz administration’s unwillingness to stop it, the more outraged we get.
It is estimated that nearly $2 billion has been stolen from state taxpayers. Some have suggested this is just the tip of the iceberg, and that the actual total could be closer to $8 billion.
It began with the Feeding Our Future scandal, where more than $250 million meant to feed children was stolen. That then led to fraud being found in Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services program, Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), autism centers, childcare assistance programs, and unemployment benefits.
No one should be surprised by this news. The nonpartisan legislative auditor’s office (OLA) has been trying to address it with the legislature for years. In his StarTribune column, “Is the Walz administration finally awake about fraud?” [ [link removed] ] former legislative auditor James Nobles notes that when Democrats controlled the Minnesota House, their committee chairs were instructed not to give OLA reports about fraud any public hearings. They feared too much criticism would be coming to programs that were being ripped off, especially those administered by Somali community organizations.
Just last week, there was this fraud news:
* 1/3 of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) were issued invalidly in Minnesota, putting $30.4 million in federal highway funding at risk.
* The Trump administration announce it will withhold some SNAP funding because Minnesota refuses to turn over SNAP data. Federal records show SNAP payouts in Minnesota increased 174% between 2020 and 2021, with payouts increasing from about $725 million in 2020 to nearly $2 billion the following year.
* The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman James Comer announced an investigation has been launched into “widespread fraud in Minnesota’s social programs under Governor Tim Walz’s watch.”
* U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for an investigation into whether Minnesota tax dollars were used to help fund al-Qaida-linked Islamic terror group Al-Shabaab.
* The federal Small Business Administration is investigating a network of Somali groups in Minnesota that it says is tied to a massive COVID fraud scandal highlighting alleged systemic failures by Gov. Tim Walz’s team to properly audit public funds.
We are where we are because Governor Walz and legislative Democrats haven’t done, and in some cases still don’t want to do, what it takes to end fraud in this state.
Who knows how much uncovered fraud remains out there. It’s time for Governor Walz and his administration to accept responsibility for the theft of billions of your tax dollars and help end the waste and abuse that has repeatedly taken place in state government.
*PRINCIPAL FOR A DAY!*
I had the privilege of visiting Windom and St James schools recently to serve as “Principal for a Day.” I was able to visit classrooms at Windom Elementary.
Windom
As well as Northside Elementary in St. James.
StJames
I heard from leadership at both schools about the concerns of potential mandates that may be coming, concerns with Paid Family and Medical Leave, and the pros and cons of the Read Act. I always enjoy talking to the staff and interacting with the students, and appreciated the invitation from both schools again this year.
Have a good weekend,
Marj
.
2486 Centennial Office Bldg.
658 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55155
651-296-5373
[email protected]
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