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Gander




*October 3, 2025*






Interim Update

Dear friends and neighbors,

We are living in charged political times. As we follow recent unfolding events, isn’t it great to live in a part of the country—and of our state—where we can take the time to think about and process these things in a positive way? It is evident that the direction we have been heading over the past several years was not sustainable, and change is never easy. I am grateful for the opportunity to work on your behalf to improve the quality of life for the people in our region and across the state.

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Continue Business as Usual in Government? No way!

Tempers flared in Washington, D.C. this week. On Tuesday night, Congress slammed the brakes on government funding [ [link removed] ]—choosing between a trillion-dollar liberal wish list and a clean bill to keep essential services running. They picked "C"—shutting down the process when they could have kept the lights on.

Unfortunately, some elected officials here in Minnesota seem to be following the same playbook. After abruptly ending our leader meeting Tuesday morning without consensus [ [link removed] ], some of them hustled to the cameras with their so-called “offer [ [link removed] ].” But here’s the truth: the Governor is the only one who can call a special session. Demanding Republican support for a bill that doesn’t even exist isn’t a negotiation—it’s a political stunt. And Minnesotans deserve far better.

Closed-door tactics like these undermine the State Constitution, which makes clear that while the Governor can call a special session, it is the Legislature—not backroom deals—that decides the bills. When leadership scripts the outcome in advance, the people’s voices is not heard, their representatives are sidelined, and transparency is lost.

House Republicans came forward with a straightforward plan: let’s run ideas through committee, put them in the daylight, and work together on areas we all care about—like student safety, mental health access, and public safety. Instead, some are pushing for a rubber-stamped, behind-closed-doors bill that’s never been given proper review. That’s not governing—that’s steamrolling.

Even worse, they’re holding up commonsense safety measures just to push for an undefined gun ban, all while families across our state continue to grieve fresh tragedies. Minnesotans sent us here to solve problems in the open, not play political theater behind closed doors.

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Fraud in Walz's DHS: Minnesotans Deserve Accountability

If it feels like we’re reading about a new fraud case every week under Governor Walz’s Department of Human Services… it’s because we are. Sadly, this week was no exception [ [link removed] ].

Federal prosecutors charged a 28-year-old woman in a $14 million scheme spanning 2019-2024, in which she siphoned money from programs meant to help children with autism. According to court documents, the scheme involved kickbacks to parents, false Medicaid billing, and even fraudulent meal claims connected to the "Feeding Our Future" scandal [ [link removed] ]. Nearly 200,000 phantom meals later, she pocketed almost half a million dollars. That’s not a paperwork mistake, that’s betrayal.

Pile that on top of 11 disability programs halted, 17 frozen, eight people indicted for housing fraud, and hundreds of millions still at risk in Feeding Our Future, and you start to see a pattern. Minnesotans are honest, hardworking people who pay their taxes expecting those dollars to help neighbors in need, not to bankroll kickbacks and fake invoices.

Here’s the bottom line: *Minnesotans deserve accountability, not excuses.* And as your representative, I’ll keep fighting to make sure every dollar goes where it’s supposed to—into the hands of those who truly need help, not into the headlines of the next fraud scandal.

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Celebrating Local Journalism – Our Community’s Storytellers

If you’ve ever opened "The Exponent [ [link removed] ]" and seen this very newsletter printed on its pages, you know firsthand how important local newspapers are. They don’t just report the news—they knit our community together by telling the stories that matter most right here at home.

Next week, October 5-11, is National Newspaper Week, and I want to take a moment to thank "The Exponent" and all of Minnesota’s local papers for the work they do. While big national headlines grab attention, it’s our hometown journalists who cover the school board debates, Friday night football scores, and the neighbor down the street who quietly does something extraordinary. That’s the news that keeps us connected!

Local journalism is more than ink on paper, it’s the heartbeat of informed communities. It keeps government accountable, gives a voice to everyday citizens, and reminds us that democracy works best when people are engaged and informed.

So next time you flip through "The Exponent "or your own local newspaper, remember: you’re not just reading the news. You’re supporting the people who make our community stronger by telling our story. And for that, I’m deeply grateful.

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Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: A National Conversation
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I will soon be traveling to Washington, D.C. to take part in the Medicaid Leaders Development Program Policy Academy, hosted by the Center of Innovation at the Council of State Governments. This upcoming event will bring together legislators from both sides of the aisle and all 50 states to focus on an issue that weighs heavily on my heart: how we can best use state and federal funding to provide necessary social services. Within this context, I am committed to helping people break free from generational poverty.

I’ll be honest—I may be shunned a bit by this national group for my perspective, but that’s alright. I believe that those who are able to work should have the opportunity and encouragement to do so. Too many Minnesotans are trapped in a cycle of welfare dependency that keeps them from thriving. These are our neighbors, our fellow citizens—dear souls with God-given potential, who deserve the chance to build a better life. In a nation overflowing with opportunity, we should be doing everything we can to help them move from dependency to dignity, from struggle to stability.

I am hopeful that renewed focus on work requirements, like President Clinton’s promise to “end welfare as we have come to know it” [ [link removed] ] in the 1990s, will help more people move off of welfare and into productive work that lifts their economic condition and their families’ futures. I look forward to bringing back new ideas and renewed energy to help ensure every Minnesotan has the chance to rise, contribute, and thrive.

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Thank You for Staying Engaged

Thank you for carving out a few minutes from your busy week to stay in the loop—it really does mean the world. Your questions, your ideas, your support—it’s what makes serving as your representative not just a job, but a joy. 

And don’t forget—I’m never more than a phone call, an email, or yes, even a cup of coffee away. Need to chat policy? Have a concern? I’m all ears!

Serving you is an honor, and I promise to keep showing up with the same energy, focus, and maybe even a little humor to match. Because good policy matters—but a little fun along the way doesn’t hurt either.

So keep your thoughts coming, stay curious, and remember: *your voice matters, your time matters, and your perspective always matters.*

Sincerely,

Representative Steve Gander

Minnesota House of Representatives, District 1B











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2nd Floor Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.5091







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