Dear Neighbor, We know fraud, waste and abuse is a major problem in Minnesota, with taxpayers being ripped off to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. We also know the solution to cracking down on the rampant misuse of tax dollars involves more than just adding new bureaucracy on top of already ineffective bureaucracy.  Here’s the good news: A new website is now available that allows citizens to play a role in addressing this situation. MNFraud.com allows whistleblowers to confidentially report suspected fraud, waste and abuse within Minnesota state government. House Republicans have made anti-fraud measures a top priority this session and this website, providing a central hub to file concerns, is just one approach we are taking to better protect taxpayers. Tips that are submitted will first be reviewed and then forwarded to the appropriate authorities for further investigation and follow-up. Identities of whistleblowers, along with all provided details, are securely protected, using safeguards comparable to those of a secure payment processing website. Minnesotans work hard for their money. The least our government can do is make sure tax dollars that are collected reach the intended purposes instead of ending up in the hands of fraudsters such as with Feeding our Future, childcare assistance and other scandals. Town hall meetings  I’m looking forward to hearing from local residents during an upcoming town hall meeting I’ll be co-hosting with other area legislators (see the above graphic for details). We can talk about any number of this session’s top issues, from fraud to public safety and, of course, the state budget as we look to fix the bottom line after the former Democrat trifecta turned our $18 billion surplus in to a $6 billion shortfall. We’d love to hear whatever is on your mind and hope for a strong turnout. Term limits A bill I’ve authored placing term limits on Minnesota governors/lieutenant governors is another subject we could discuss during the town hall meeting. My bill proposes a constitutional amendment limiting Minnesota’s governor and lieutenant governor to two terms (eight years total). I will be amending the language so this would be decided by voters in the 2028 general election, specifically chosen because there will be no candidates for governor on the ballot that year. If passed, the term limits would take effect starting in 2030, just to make sure nobody thinks this is directed at any particular person. This bill is still in the early stages of the process and I’m curious to hear what people in our area think about it. Pre-Labor Day school?  We recently had an interesting committee debate about allowing schools to start before Labor Day. Minnesotans have a long history of enjoying every summer day we possibly can by taking vacations in late August or attending the State Fair. We heard testimony from resort owners about the damaging effects an early start to the school year would have on their business. They also mentioned valuable learning opportunities outside of the classroom that could disappear with early starts. Meanwhile, one Democrat representative criticized the resort owners for employing high school kids and emphasized the importance of school districts having flexibility in their schedules. Click on the above image for the condensed video … I got my two cents in at the end about having priorities. Family should always be No. 1! What do you think about this issue? Have a good weekend and please stay in touch. Sincerely, Jimmy |