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May 9, 2025
Legislative Update
Friends and neighbors,
As we head into the final full week of session, things at the Capitol are moving, but not without chaos. While a few bills have advanced, others, like the education budget, have completely unraveled. A partial deal was reached on the health bill, but it’s clear that finishing on time by May 19th is looking less and less likely.
Even so, I remain committed to staying focused on what matters most to you: stopping fraud, lowering costs, and making sure your tax dollars go toward Minnesotans, not illegal immigrants.
Thank you to everyone who filled out my constituent priorities survey. An overwhelming 84% of you said eliminating state-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants is a major priority, and I want you to know that I’m taking action. Just last week, I introduced an amendment to remove free college for individuals here illegally, and I continue to push for changes in the health bill to stop free taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal immigrants.
But the number one issue, with over 88% of you listing it as your top concern, was stopping fraud in state government. That’s why I’ve dedicated much of this session to the work of the Fraud and State Agency Oversight Committee, and I’m proud to share some of the real progress we’ve made.
Update on the Fraud and Oversight Committee
Let’s be clear: Democrats never wanted this committee. From day one, they fought its creation, and it’s no surprise why. Too many in their ranks would rather look the other way than hold state agencies accountable for millions in taxpayer losses. Even Minnesota’s Attorney General, who is supposed to represent the state in legal matters, has downplayed serious misconduct and made excuses for individuals tied to one of the largest fraud scandals in our state’s history.
While Democrats focused on distractions and deflection, we focused on facts. We listened to whistleblowers, dug into reports from the nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Auditor, and exposed how fraudsters exploited loopholes, and how agencies let them. These were structural failures that went unaddressed for years.
This session, our committee took action:
- We uncovered how fraudsters used identity politics to silence scrutiny.
- We brought in agency leaders, including DHS and DEED, to confront oversight breakdowns head-on.
- We launched www.MNFRAUD.com, a new tool to report waste and abuse. Over 530 reports came in during just the first week.
- We helped change the culture around earmarked grants. Bipartisan efforts are now phasing out politically directed handouts.
But we didn’t just investigate, we passed real reforms into law. Thanks to the committee’s work, Minnesota will now:
- Ensure agencies can withhold payments if there’s a credible allegation of fraud.
- Require state employees to report suspected fraud promptly.
- Strengthen the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s ability to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse.
- Create a new Medicaid Fraud Unit to better track and prosecute fraud in one of our largest programs.
- Add whistleblower protections for state employees who speak up about wrongdoing.
- Require state agencies and grant recipients to publicly post their organizational charts.
- Launch SAVI—a cost-savings initiative that rewards innovation and cuts government waste.
- Fund four new fraud investigators at the OLA, and pass House File 3 to better track questionable financial activity.
Now, we’re pushing for one of the most important reforms yet: the creation of an Independent Office of the Inspector General. For too long, fraud within state agencies has gone unchecked because internal oversight units either lacked the authority or the will to investigate effectively. This new statewide OIG would have full investigatory powers, including the authority to dig into both nonprofit and for-profit service providers, and ensure real accountability from within government. It’s a bipartisan effort, with support from legislators in both chambers and even a commitment from the Governor to sign it into law.
Democrats will try to claim that the committee was partisan and did not accomplish anything, but I think our results speak for themselves. At the beginning of session, we committed to rooting out waste fraud and abuse, and we’ve taken numerous steps to make that happen. Our work will continue into the interim as we work to uncover more fraud and craft legislative solutions.
Human Services Bill: Balancing the Budget and Fighting Fraud
This week, the House took a big step toward balancing the state budget by passing the Human Services Budget Bill (HF 2434), which cuts $1.3 billion in spending, and I voted for it. With a $6 billion deficit on the horizon, making tough cuts now is the fiscally responsible thing to do.
In addition to the cuts, I’m glad to share two other key reasons I supported the bill:
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$95 million for nursing homes: Governor Walz’s proposal would have slashed funding, leading to more closures. This bill protects seniors and long-term care.
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Real fraud reforms: DHS has been a problem agency for fraud. This bill tightens oversight of autism services like EIDBI and cracks down on rampant overbilling in addiction recovery programs.
Was this bill everything I hoped for? No. But it’s a step in the right direction. And for those wondering, there is no abortion funding in this bill! I encourage you to read the text and see for yourself.
Mothers Day
Wishing a heartfelt Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible moms, grandmas, and mother figures in our lives. Your love, strength, and selfless dedication shape our families and communities every single day.
Thank you for the countless ways you lead, support, and inspire the people around you. Your impact is truly unmatched.
Have a great weekend,
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