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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dominica Bernstein, 651.297.8150
Dominica.Bernstein@house.mn.gov
Rep. Jim Joy: Minnesota Taxpayers Are Done with Broken Promises and Hidden Fraud
ST. PAUL, MN – Following recent reporting exposing deep systemic fraud under Governor Tim Walz’s watch, Representative Jim Joy (R–Hawley) is calling on Minnesotans to stand up and demand accountability from a state government that has repeatedly failed to protect them.
A recent investigative report by The New York Times, titled "How Fraud Swamped Minnesota’s Social Services System on Tim Walz’s Watch,” lays out in painful detail how the Walz administration allowed criminals to exploit Minnesota’s social-service and anti-poverty programs for years. Fraudulent operators siphoned millions in taxpayer dollars through sham nonprofits, nonexistent companies, and fabricated program claims—money that was supposed to support vulnerable Minnesotans.
The core question remains: How did this go unchecked for so long?
Instead of transparency, Minnesotans are met with obstruction. A report from the Star Tribune revealed that the Walz administration is refusing to release the names of Medicaid providers currently under investigation for fraud. State leaders claim “ongoing investigations” as justification—but the public has a right to know which entities are accused of abusing taxpayer funds.
Even when confronted with these failures, the governor refuses accountability. When asked whether he accepts responsibility for the rampant fraud occurring on his watch, Walz replied that he “takes responsibility for putting fraudsters in jail.” But the truth is: the federal government—not the state—has led the prosecutions and convictions. The administration’s job was to prevent the fraud in the first place. It didn’t.
The failures extend beyond fraud:
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Billions in public dollars stolen while oversight collapsed.
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An $18 billion surplus squandered, replaced with a $6 billion deficit in only two years.
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Plummeting academic performance and school financial instability.
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Billions in new taxes squeezing working families.
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Over $1 billion in property tax hikes crushing homeowners.
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Economic decline, with Minnesota now ranking among the worst in the nation for growth and workforce retention.
These are not the marks of a “well-run state.” They are the marks of an administration that has lost control and lost sight of who it serves.
Representative Joy issued the following statement:
“Minnesota taxpayers are tired of being stolen from. They work hard, they pay their taxes, and they expect basic competence from their leaders. Instead, this administration has let criminal networks loot our programs, bury the truth, and pass the bill to families who are already struggling. That is not leadership—it is negligence.”
Joy continued:
“This is not a one-off scandal. It is a systemic failure. Oversight collapsed. Records were hidden. Whistleblowers were ignored. And families relying on social-service programs were betrayed. The people of Minnesota deserve leaders who will safeguard their dollars—not treat them like disposable political capital.”
As Minnesotans move toward the 2026 election, Rep. Joy is calling on every voter to demand accountability from their government.
“It’s time to elect leaders who will work for the people—not for their own interests. Minnesota deserves transparency, integrity, and a government that protects its citizens. Nothing less.”
Rep. Joy remains committed to restoring trust, protecting taxpayers, and ensuring that Minnesota never again becomes a playground for fraudsters, grifters, or political excuses.
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