St. Paul, MN — Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) and House Republicans continued calls this week for answers from the Walz administration and hearings by Democrats in the Minnesota House in response to the Feeding our Future fraud scandal, described as the largest pandemic fraud case in the United States, and likely one of the largest fraud cases 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 (MDE) involvement in the fraud case. The Republican-controlled Senate held hearings on this last April, while the House Majority has failed to take any action.
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 released last Friday.
Specifically, Robbins and House Republicans 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.
“There are too many unanswered questions that the Walz administration must answer to provide transparency and accountability to the public,” said Robbins. “Minnesotans want answers as to how $250 million of taxpayer money, intended to provide meals to children during the pandemic, could be stolen for private gain. My Democrat colleagues in the House need to hold hearings immediately to get to the bottom of what happed so we can hold agency staff accountable and strengthen internal controls when we reconvene next year.”
While in interim before the beginning of the 93rd Legislative Session this coming January, House Committees Chairs are still free to call hearings with their members and prepare for the next session.
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