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:
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.
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