|
Good morning,
And Happy Halloween!
I hope everyone has a fun and safe evening celebrating with family and friends. It’s always wonderful to see our neighborhoods filled with laughter, costumes, and community spirit. I particularly enjoy seeing clever and creative costumes! Whether you’re heading out to trick-or-treat, attending a local event, or staying in to pass out candy, I wish you a memorable and safe night.
The Latest Fraud
To no ones surprise, there has been another revelation of fraud here in MN.
A new 5 Eyewitness News Investigates report revealed that a Somali nonprofit continued to receive hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars even after its board chairman was charged in 2023 for defrauding Medicaid of millions. This is yet another example of how deeply rooted fraud has become within the Department of Human Services and how little accountability there has been under the Walz administration. It should never have taken this long to identify or stop these payments. Minnesotans deserve transparency and confidence that their hard-earned money is being used responsibly, not funneled to bad actors who take advantage of weak oversight. Real reform must start with accountability and a renewed focus on protecting taxpayers.
 Walz Seeks to Investigate 14 State Programs
In the same vein, Governor Walz announced this week that his administration is pausing payments and ordering a third-party audit for 14 “high-risk” Medicaid programs after data analytics and past investigations revealed alarming billing anomalies and vulnerabilities.
The affected services range from early intensive developmental and behavioral intervention for autism to housing stabilization services, non-emergency medical transportation, and various adult day and companion programs.
While this is an essential step at this point, it should not have taken so long to reach this stage. The trail of misused taxpayer dollars has been clear for years, yet these steps are only now being taken. Rather than repeatedly hiring outside firms to hunt for problems after the fact, the goal (and the norm) should be to implement safeguards so that fraudsters cannot defraud the programs in the first place.
An independent Office of the Inspector General (OIG), which we proposed and fought hard for last session, would make a real difference in addressing the fraud we continue to see across state agencies. Instead of relying on outside auditors or reacting after taxpayer money has already been lost, an OIG could identify risks early, investigate concerns internally, and take action before problems escalate. Giving this office the authority and independence to track funds in real time would help prevent fraud at its source and restore accountability in how state dollars are managed.
Reminder: House Internship Opportunities!
I want to drop in another quick reminder about two wonderful opportunities we have for students here at the House. The next legislative session is set to begin in mid-February, and we need both undergraduate interns and high school pages to ensure the session runs smoothly!
I have shared information about both of these programs a few times already, but this serves as your reminder that the following application deadlines are fast approaching:
Undergraduate Internship Application Deadline: November 7th
High School Page Application Deadline: December 4th
As I have said before and will emphasize again, these programs are a fantastic way to experience our state government up close and get a greater understanding for the work that we do each session in St. Paul. I sincerely hope that you will consider applying if you are interested, and do so soon!
I look forward to seeing you in St. Paul!
Halloween Events
In case you don't already have plans, here are a few local options for this afternoon/evening:
Downtown Alexandria Trick-or-Treat & Parade — Tonight from 3:00–5:00 p.m. on Broadway Street in downtown Alexandria. Kids can trick-or-treat at local businesses, followed by the annual “Hometown Heroes” Halloween parade.
Halloween Party at Forada Bar & Grill — Friday, October 31 at 3:00 p.m. Located at 1380 County Rd 4 SE in Forada, MN. Fun event with music, costume contest (Saturday) and more.
|
