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Good morning!

In terms of special session, unfortunately there are no real updates. Our 'working groups' (unofficial conference committees) have continued to meet, so almost all of our bills have been negotiated and are ready to be reintroduced on the floor. Governor Walz has to call us back for a special session though, and it seems that he has other priorities [ [link removed] ] in states such as South Carolina and California. Just like you, I am waiting to hear more details about our special session, and I will share more information as soon as I have it.






Fraud under Walz

Throughout the legislative session, we have been focused on identifying, exposing, and preventing fraud in our state programs. From the first hearings in January to the final committee discussions in May, fraud prevention has been a priority. We’ve introduced bills, demanded audits, and pushed for the creation of an independent Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to give the state a real enforcement tool. Despite these efforts, the news keeps getting worse.

Under Governor Tim Walz, over *$600 million in taxpayer funds have been lost due to fraud*. That number continues to grow, and it only reflects what we’ve been able to confirm so far. What is even more troubling is that the Governor and his allies have shown no real interest in solving the problem. In fact, they have actively *blocked the OIG bill*, which would create an independent, nonpartisan office dedicated to rooting out fraud across state agencies. Right now, fraud prevention in Minnesota falls under the responsibility of the Walz administration, which is the problem. You cannot expect someone to police themselves, especially when the record is this bad.

Fraud is happening on a massive scale across the country. In two recent federal cases, we saw exactly how deep and organized these operations can be. A USDA employee and five others were charged in a *multimillion-dollar food stamp fraud and bribery scheme*. These were not one-off mistakes. This was deliberate abuse of taxpayer dollars, involving both private actors and government insiders.

Read more about those cases here:


*

Trump agency uncovers one of largest food stamp fraud, bribery schemes [ [link removed] ]


*

USDA employee and five others charged in multimillion-dollar fraud [ [link removed] ]

These cases should be a wake-up call. If it can happen in federal agencies with layers of oversight, it can certainly happen here in Minnesota, where oversight is weak and accountability is lacking. There is no question that fraud exists in our programs, and it is becoming increasingly clear that Governor Walz is not willing to do anything about it. 

He has the power to support and pass real anti-fraud legislation, but he has chosen not to. By blocking the OIG bill, the Governor is choosing to protect the system instead of protecting taxpayers. 

We will keep fighting to shine a light on this issue. Minnesotans work hard, pay their taxes, and expect their government to act responsibly. It is time for real oversight, not more excuses.






Shoutouts

Shoutout to all students who finished the school year in the past week! I hope you all have a fun and relaxing summer break. Special shoutout to the Osakis [ [link removed] ] students who made the A-honor roll for the fourth quarter this year. Congratulations!

Events

Check out the 'Wake Up Alexandria [ [link removed] ]' event this morning until 8:30, hosted by the Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.






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 [email protected] I would love to hear from you.

It’s an honor to represent the best!

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2802 Centennial Office Building          658 Cedar Street                              Saint Paul, MN 55155 [email protected]
651.296.3201







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