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Good morning!
We have just over one week left of session before our constitutional adjournment date on Sunday, May 17th. Our workload is becoming increasingly heavier as we quickly approach the end of session. In these final days, we remain very focused on our main priorities of affordability, stopping fraud, and protecting our students. I am proud to share that we made some meaningful progress on these goals already this week.
Passing the OIG Bill
On Thursday, we passed a bill that will establish the independent Office of the Inspector General bill. This is a straightforward step to improve oversight and bring more accountability to state government.
Work on this proposal began more than a year ago. We met with stakeholders and built a framework intended to function in practice, with a clear goal of creating an office that can investigate fraud, waste, and abuse across agencies. Progress was slower than it should have been, due to delays from the DFL, but we stayed focused and moved the bill forward.
The office is structured to operate independently of the Governor’s administration, which helps limit political influence over investigations. It also includes law enforcement authority so findings can lead to real consequences rather than reports that sit on a shelf.
For years, there have been repeated examples where problems were identified but not effectively addressed. This bill is meant to close that gap by establishing a dedicated watchdog focused on enforcement and protecting taxpayer dollars, rather than expanding bureaucracy without results.
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Dodged Accountability in DHS
In other fraud-related news, there was a significant leadership change this week at the Department of Human Services. Commissioner Shireen Gandhi was reassigned to a new role as Deputy Commissioner for Medicaid Programming, while current Deputy Commissioner John Connolly was appointed as the new DHS Commissioner.
The timing of this shift is notable, coming just one day before Gandhi was scheduled to appear for her Senate confirmation hearing. That sequence of events raises questions about whether there was enough DFL support for confirmation, and it adds to broader uncertainty around leadership at an agency that has faced repeated scrutiny over fraud and program oversight.
Gandhi has been part of DHS leadership during a period when the agency has dealt with some of the largest fraud cases in state history. When issues continue at that scale, it is reasonable to ask whether the current structure is strong enough to prevent problems and respond effectively when they occur.
This is exactly why an independent Office of the Inspector General is so important. Right now, oversight is largely internal and subject to agency leadership and administrative control. An independent OIG, separate from the Governor’s administration and equipped with real enforcement authority, creates a clearer and more reliable system of accountability.
Changes like this highlight the limits of relying on internal oversight alone. A truly independent watchdog ensures that allegations of fraud are fully investigated and addressed, regardless of leadership or political considerations.
Reiterating our Focus for Bonding
One of the major goals this session is advancing a strong bonding bill focused on maintaining and improving the infrastructure Minnesotans rely on every day. Bonding allows the state to invest in long-term public assets such as roads and bridges, water infrastructure, public facilities, and other critical projects that support communities across Minnesota. A key priority within those discussions continues to be replacing lead service lines and improving access to clean, safe drinking water. Communities throughout the state have already begun identifying and replacing outdated lead pipes, and continued bonding investments are important to keep that work moving forward and ensure essential infrastructure projects are completed responsibly and efficiently. As Co-Chair of the bonding committee, I have been working very diligently on this legislation to ensure that people's most basic needs are being met first. We held a press conference this week, outlining these basic needs and goals, which you can watch here.
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Please Contact Me
If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding any issue related to state government, please feel free to contact me at either 651-296-3201 or rep.mary.franson@house.mn.gov I would love to hear from you.
It’s an honor to represent the best!
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