Dear Friends,
One of our most important efforts this session will be finding ways to address the waste, fraud and abuse that is rampaging our state government. This week, House Republicans unveiled several ways to ensure that fraudsters will no longer pad their pockets with taxpayer dollars.
STOPPING FRAUD, PROTECTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS
Before session began, we announced the formation of a brand new committee: the Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee. This sole purpose of this group will be to root out waste, fraud, and abuse in state government and will have full subpoena power—giving it the ability to conduct significant investigatory work on behalf of Minnesota taxpayers.
It will have the ability to review state agencies to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent effectively and as intended; implement measures to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs; and increase legislative oversight of the executive agencies to rebuild public trust in state government.
In terms of legislation, one proposal would establish “fraud notes,” providing legislators with an evaluation of potential fraud risks before enacting any new program or policy. It would also add additional accountability to agencies to ensure they are following through with recommendations made by the nonpartisan Legislative Auditor to address matters of waste, fraud, and abuse in their agencies.
A centralized Office of the Inspector General would be created through another bill. It would be charged with the task of combatting fraud and abuse in state government. It also forces agencies to halt payments when fraud is suspected and mandates the creation of a fraud reporting hotline.
Mandated fraud reporting for state agencies and equipping them with additional tools to identify and prevent fraudulent activities covers the final piece of legislation. This bill also emphasizes transparency and swift action to address fraud concerns.
Keep in mind, over the past few years, taxpayers have lost more than $1 billion – that we know about - to criminals who have scammed the system. Even worse is the travesty of the many children, seniors, and more who never saw the benefit of the funding that was intended to help them. I’m glad the governor is finally recognizing we have a fraud problem in this state and has come forward with plans of his own, but it’s clear the executive branch needs to be policed by people who work outside of the executive branch.
Taxpayer money has been gutted due to waste, fraud, and abuse, and that is unacceptable. These measures are all designed to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not being stolen, and that those funds get to the people who truly need it.
HONORING MY DAD
This week I had the honor of chairing my very first committee as a state representative, the Minnesota House Education Policy Committee. As a former teacher, I take that position very seriously and look forward to working together to help make Minnesota education the best for our children. For the first committee hearing, I gaveled in the committee using a gavel that is incredibly special to me because it belonged to my dad.
My father, Tom Bennett, began working in automobile dealerships as a high schooler. In 1956, just out of college, he and my uncle, Herb Tousley, founded Tousley Ford in downtown White Bear Lake. They acquired a little corner gas station as their first site, creating a one vehicle show floor, four service stalls, and selling about six vehicles a month. By 2006 (fifty years later) my dad and my uncle, and later good friend and partner, Ron Glassman, grew the dealership to one of the largest auto dealers in the nation.
As a successful automobile dealer, my dad chaired several dealer related committees, including as president of the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association, the Greater Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association, and others. When he passed away five years ago, I took one of his engraved ceremonial gavels as a memory. I thought, if I have the honor to chair a committee some day as a state representative, I will use that gavel for my first hearing to honor my dad. I was blessed to be able to do that this week.
My dad was a man of integrity, kindness, generosity, tenacity, and hard work. He was a wise man of faith and treated everyone with respect and dignity. I greatly loved and respected my dad. It is my desire to follow in his footsteps by leading as he did with respect, dignity, wisdom, and integrity. Thank you, dad, for being such a wonderful father and role model for me!
MARCH FOR LIFE RALLY
This week, I ran into Don and Lori Tomsche of New Richland, who were visiting the Capitol, along with hundreds of people from around the state, to celebrate life at the Minnesota Concerned Citizens for Life rally.
As a former school teacher of many years, children are very precious to me. I will always stand for their right to life. Thank you to Don and Lori and all those who came to the Capitol today to celebrate life!
Have a good weekend,
Peggy