DHS Whistleblower Testimony Confirms Retaliation

March 13, 2026

Standing Up For Whistleblowers

Friends and neighbors,

This week, Faye Bernstein, a 20-year Department of Human Services employee who was retaliated against for drawing attention to fraud, testified before the Fraud Committee.

As a member of the Legislative Audit Commission, I have had multiple whistleblowers contact me about being disciplined or fired for exposing fraud.

Ms. Bernstein was investigated, banned from DHS property, and slandered as a "racist" by DHS officials, simply for the act of calling out suspicious contract irregularities. This culture of silence within the DHS is reprehensible, and we are working to ensure that the officials who actively silenced whistleblowers are rooted out and fired.

Click HERE to watch Ms. Bernstein's testimony.

DHS Problems Prove OIG Bill Importance

Currently, when whistleblower persecution is taking place, these cases are reviewed by the Office of the Legislative Auditor, which then refers the case to the Attorney General for prosecution. The problem with this chain of procedure is that Attorney General Keith Ellison did not deem pursuing these cases worth his effort and failed to protect hardworking and honest state employees from obvious abuse.

Due to AG Ellison's politicization of his office, it is imperative that we pass the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) bill. This will create an independent authority to investigate and prosecute fraud, which will not be swayed by the political expediency of the executive branch. At the instruction of Governor Walz, House Democrats have blocked this bill from moving to the Judiciary Committee. This resistance is surprising and disappointing, considering that the OIG bill passed through the Senate with a resounding bipartisan vote of 60–7.

I remain committed to passing the OIG bill to establish an apolitical entity, with enforcement powers, that will safeguard our hard-earned taxpayer dollars from fraud.

Provisional Ballot Bill

In a focus on election integrity, I have a Provisional Ballot bill. This bill will require a person registering and voting on the same day to receive a provisional ballot, because there is currently no time to verify whether or not there are issues with voters' information prior to their ballots being scanned through the machines.

During the last four election cycles, there have been tens of thousands of voter registrations determined to be invalid by federal HAVA verification systems. With close elections becoming increasingly prevalent, we must ensure the integrity of every ballot. The bill that I have introduced will allow people to obtain a provisional ballot that will be counted once citizens are able to provide the required information.

Car Tab Fees

Minnesotans are tired of paying the exorbitant car tab fees passed by the DFL Trifecta in 2023. I have had many people reach out to me lamenting that they are paying more for car tabs now than when they purchased their vehicle years ago, despite its depreciation as an asset!

However, worries from the public did not stop freshman Representative Meg Luger-Nikolai (D-St. Paul) from suggesting that, "At some point, [she] may offer an amendment to quintuple the rates of these registration fees, so that we may fund other projects in the state that everybody deems worthy." They feel that the Trifecta passing $10 billion in tax increases wasn't enough. They are wrong, and many of us are fighting to remove such abusive taxes and fees. 

Click HERE to watch Rep. Meg Luger-Nikolai's comments.

After her comment went viral on the internet, Rep. Luger-Nikolai and the DFL have attempted to minimize her statement as being facetious. However, the video doesn't lie, and it certainly doesn't feel like a joke to me.

I will continue to advocate for returning car tab fees to their previous level, and remove exaggerated burdens on hardworking Minnesotans.

Thank You For Your Input

This week was full of productive conversations with constituent advocates. Topics ranged from bonding bills, education, state grants, mortgages, home health services, and much more. 

Groups that came to visit included:

• Members of the History Center of Olmsted County (HCOC)
• MN Association of School Boards/MN Association of School Administrators
• MN Private College Day
• Schools Advocating for Fair Funding (SAFF)
• Many more one-on-one conversations with constituents

Thank you to those who came to visit me at the State Capitol to share your priorities! Your firsthand experiences and insight help me in drafting legislation that will have a meaningful impact and improve the lives of Minnesotans.

It is a privilege to represent you, and I look forward to many more conversations.

Please Stay in Touch 

Please continue to stay in touch to share your thoughts or concerns. My phone number is 651-296-9236 or you can email me at rep.duane.quam@house.mn.

Have a great weekend!

Duane

/RepDuaneQuam

2nd Floor Centennial Office Building
658 Cedar Street
Saint Paul, MN 55155
ph: 651.296.9236