ST. PAUL — Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Acton Township, and House Republicans continue calling for answers from Gov. Tim Walz and his administration, and for Minnesota House Democrats to conduct hearings in response to the Feeding our Future fraud scandal, described as the largest pandemic fraud case in the United States — and likely the largest fraud case in Minnesota history.
House Republicans sent a letter last week calling on the chairs of the House Education Committees to hold hearings and investigate the Minnesota Department of Education's involvement in the fraud case. While MDE has tried to cast blame to the courts, there was no court ruling reinstating the flow of funds to fraudulent organizations according to a bombshell statement from Ramsey County District Court Judge John Guthmann recently released.
Specifically, Urdahl and House Republicans say they want answers on why MDE voluntarily restarted payments to the Feeding our Future fraudsters, why MDE and the Walz administration misled the public with claims of a nonexistent court ruling, and why the DFL has yet to hold a single hearing on the largest fraud case in state history.
“The main thing we need to find out is what the governor and his administration know, and when did they first know it," Urdahl said. "They have been sidestepping that question so far, which only makes this deeply concerning development look worse. People deserve straight answers so we can get to the bottom of how hundreds of millions of dollars provided to feed children in need instead wound up in fraudulent hands that made lavish purchases. Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of our government and must be central to investigations."
While in interim before the beginning of the 93rd legislative session this January, House committee chairs are still free to call hearings with their members and prepare for the next session.
-30-