Legislative Update Friends, With less than two weeks left in the legislative session, most of the major committee bills have passed off the House floor and are now headed to conference committees, where final negotiations will take place. In this update, I’ll cover the status of a bipartisan education finance deal that unfortunately fell apart, highlight reforms in the State Government Finance bill, and share the important oversight work being done by the newly formed House Fraud Committee. Education Finance Bill: Bipartisan Work UndoneEarlier this session, both sides came together on an education finance bill, HF 2433, that focused on what I’ve consistently heard from educators across the state: local control, funding flexibility, and relief from unfunded mandates. It wasn’t a perfect bill, but it was a good compromise. We redirected over $150 million back into classrooms, invested $40 million into the Science of Reading, and kept the focus on students, not bureaucracy, by holding the line on state agency funding and eliminating handouts to politically connected nonprofits. We also put an end date on the costly UI mandate and rejected the Governor’s proposed $680 million in education cuts. Democrats helped shape this bill. They agreed to it. Then they walked away. That’s incredibly frustrating, especially with the school year winding down and districts making tough budget decisions. This was a chance to deliver meaningful support for schools. I’m going to keep fighting for real solutions that reflect what educators are actually asking for. State Government Bill: Stopping Fraud and Reining in Wasteful SpendingLast Thursday, the House passed the State Government Finance bill. While there’s still more work to do, Republicans fought hard to make sure this bill included meaningful reforms to stop fraud, eliminate waste, and rein in runaway government spending. Minnesotans are tired of seeing tax dollars disappear through fraud and bureaucratic bloat. That’s why we championed a series of oversight and accountability measures, including: - Stronger protections for whistleblowers who report fraud or abuse
- New requirements for agencies to post organizational charts and report suspected fraud
- Authority to withhold payments when credible allegations of fraud arise
- More fraud investigators at the Office of the Legislative Auditor and a new Medicaid Fraud Unit.
We also focused on responsible budgeting. Rather than continuing unsustainable spending trends, this bill takes meaningful steps to right-size state government. House Republicans worked to ensure that funding was allocated responsibly across state agencies, with a focus on efficiency and improving core services. House Committee on Combatting FraudThis year marked the creation of a brand-new House committee focused on rooting out fraud and holding state agencies accountable - and I’m proud to support its work. The House Fraud and State Agency Oversight Committee, chaired by Rep. Kristin Robbins, is already making a difference. While some in the Capitol tried to distract the conversation with talk about consumer fraud (which is handled by other committees), this committee kept its focus on taxpayer dollars and the serious breakdowns happening within our state agencies. Over the past few months, the committee: - Heard directly from the Office of the Legislative Auditor and the Office of Grants Management about systemic failures that have gone unaddressed for years.
- Took testimony from the Department of Human Services and others, revealing kickbacks and loopholes in current law.
- Produced two serious reform bills: one cracking down on grant fraud with better training, oversight, and transparency; the other making kickbacks in state-funded nonprofit programs a crime.
- Built a bipartisan case for real change. Experts and agencies backed many of the committee’s proposals, including a statewide list of suspended grantees, required site visits, and proper certification for grant managers.
- Launched www.MNFRAUD.com - a centralized place where Minnesotans can report concerns. In just a few weeks, the site received more than 650 submissions.
This committee is shining a light where it's long been needed. We're changing the culture in state government by making it clear: fraud will no longer be ignored, and agencies will be held accountable. See their recent Press Conference. Two Pillars of our Community: Small Businesses and TeachersThis week is both National Small Business Week and Teacher Appreciation Week. Both serve as foundational pillars in every community across America. Small businesses power our local economy and provide a genuine sense of community. Teachers invest in the next generation and shape the future every single day. As we celebrate these contributions, I’ll continue to provide support through meaningful policies and action, not just words. Last But Not Least: Happy Mother’s Day!As we head into the weekend, I want to take a moment to wish a very Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in our communities. Your love and hard work often go unnoticed, but your impact is immeasurable. Thank you for everything you do. Enjoy this special day – you deserve it!  Thanks to Everyone Who Came to See Me at the Capitol This Week!    |