SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL – Saint Paul), the DFL lead on the House Fraud Prevention and Agency Oversight Policy Committee, issued the following statement regarding anti-fraud proposals in the Legislature:
“When bad actors exploit public programs for personal gain, it harms the Minnesotans who depend on those programs to live better lives. DFLers are committed to strengthening the integrity of public programs and holding accountable those who commit fraud.
“For years now, DFL lawmakers and Governor Walz have led the way to protect public funding from fraudsters. This year, I’ve carried the Governor’s fraud prevention package – the most comprehensive proposal of the session, with provisions advancing in multiple budget bills. These provisions join many other anti-fraud proposals from my DFL colleagues, with bipartisan support, that have passed the House this session.
“Unfortunately, so far the House Fraud Prevention & State Agency Oversight Committee has had little to do with this legislative progress. Instead, it has often been used as a platform for baseless partisan attacks, including on the Governor and the Attorney General, as well as a full hearing devoted to ‘research’ from a GOP propaganda organization.
“Republicans’ ultimate goal appears to be the erosion of public trust in government itself – including programs like Medicaid on which some of the most vulnerable people in our communities rely – so they can make reckless cuts. I hope that the GOP will set aside political theater and join Democrats in taking concrete steps to ensure that public dollars go to the public good.”
-30-