As I visit with voters in Shakopee, Prior Lake, Jordan, and across District 54, one concern comes up again and again: fraud in Minnesota’s state programs. People are frustrated, and they should be. Every dollar stolen through fraud is a dollar that can’t go to schools, roads, health care, or tax relief.
Stopping fraud must be a priority. By the time I would take office in January 2027, some progress may already be made, but I promise you this will remain one of my key issues. My goal is to bring state spending back in line with revenues and restore trust in government by protecting taxpayer dollars.
Earlier this year, a bipartisan group of Senators passed a bill to create an independent Office of Inspector General to investigate and expose fraud. Unfortunately, the bill died in the House of Representatives with opposition pushed by Governor Walz. That was a mistake. If I had been in office, I would have proudly voted to support it.
Fraud prevention means more than audits after the fact. It requires preventing fraud before it happens, catching it quickly when it does, and ensuring there are real consequences. Here are three steps Minnesota could take.
1. Create an Independent Office of Inspector General
Right now, fraud investigations are handled within the same agencies that run benefit programs. That creates a conflict of interest. Fraud prevention often takes a back seat to getting payments out quickly.
An independent Inspector General would:
• Investigate fraud across all state agencies.
• Publish transparent reports for taxpayers.
• Refer cases for prosecution.
• Recommend changes to prevent future fraud.
Other states have used Inspectors General effectively to protect Medicaid, unemployment insurance, and human services programs. Minnesota needs the same. This isn’t about politics—it’s about accountability and good government.
2. Strengthen Prevention Before Dollars Leave the Department of Revenue
Catching fraud after it happens is too late. Minnesota must put stronger safeguards in place to prevent it from happening in the first place.
• Stronger vetting of nonprofits and vendors: The “Feeding Our Future” scandal showed how easily sham organizations can access taxpayer dollars. We must require background checks, site visits, and proof of financial capacity before approval. Payments should be tied to verified results.
• Improved identity verification: Other states already use stronger ID checks, including federal databases and third-party verification, to prevent fraudulent claims in programs like unemployment insurance. Minnesota should do the same.
• Cross-matching data: Fraud often shows up as duplicate claims across states. By participating more fully in national data hubs and cross-checking with tax and Social Security records, Minnesota can stop fraud before it spreads.
• Authority to pause payments: Agencies must be able to temporarily withhold payments when there is credible evidence of fraud, while protecting due process for legitimate recipients.
Stronger prevention tools will protect both taxpayers and the integrity of state programs.
3. Demand Transparency and Accountability After Fraud is Found
Fraud will never disappear entirely, but Minnesotans deserve confidence that when it does occur, it will be exposed and punished.
• Public reporting: Agencies should publish clear reports on fraud cases, recoveries, and penalties so taxpayers know what’s being done.
• Use of analytics and audits: Modern fraud detection tools can spot unusual patterns—like multiple claims from one bank account—that should be flagged for human review.
• Real consequences: Fraudulent actors must face not only criminal charges but also restitution, fines, and disqualification from future state contracts.
• Learning from mistakes: Every fraud case should lead to reforms so the same loopholes aren’t exploited again.
By holding wrongdoers accountable and learning from failures, Minnesota can rebuild trust and send a clear message: fraud will not be tolerated.
Bottom Line
Fraud in Minnesota’s state programs has cost taxpayers millions and weakened public trust. But by creating an Independent Inspector General, strengthening prevention tools, and ensuring accountability when fraud is found, we can protect both taxpayers and those who truly depend on these programs.
As your next Senator in District 54, I will think and vote independently—focused on facts, not party lines. I will make fraud prevention a top priority, because government should work for the people, not against them.
Together, we can restore confidence, protect our tax dollars, and ensure a fairer, more trustworthy state government.
