ST. PAUL — Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, 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 urging 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, Demuth 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.
“It is abhorrent for people to take advantage of those in need, especially during a time when we were going through all the unknowns of a pandemic and were working to help those truly needing assistane,” Demuth said. “Right now there seem to be more questions than answers and it is important for us to learn how the governor and his administration allowed this situation to occur. How did they continue making payments to fraudulent groups, even though Judge Guthmann said he did not order them to do so? We need to get to the bottom of this through legislative hearings, legal investigations, whatever it takes to provide the people of Minnesota with the answers they deserve.”
While in interim before the beginning of the 93rd legislative session this coming January, House committee chairs are still free to call hearings with their members and prepare for the next session.
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