Legislative UpdateDear Neighbors, We have some news to report from the capitol that the Office of Inspector General, OIG, bill successfully passed out of the state gov committee. We successfully stood firm on keeping the OIG separate and not appointed by the Governor. One of the biggest improvements in the DE6 version is that it better protects the core purpose of the bill. It makes sure concerns about federal funding can’t be used as a blanket excuse to avoid investigating fraud. Democrats finally agreed to allow a law enforcement division within the Office of Inspector General allowing the inspector general to appoint peace officers and create an Anti-Fraud and Misuse Bureau with statewide authority to investigate fraud-related offenses. Click here to watch the video below for more information about the OIG bill.  RetailersLast week, I had the opportunity to connect with many of our local retailers during Retailers Day on the Hill. It was great to hear directly from business owners about the challenges they’re facing. We had important conversations about how Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) is impacting small businesses, as well as the ongoing concerns around retail theft. These discussions are critical as we work toward solutions that support our local businesses and keep our communities strong.  VisitorsThis week St. Josephs Catholic School visited the capitol. It was great getting to show the students around and they even got to sit on the house floor and ask questions!   Fraud ForumJoin me tomorrow the the AFP-MN Fraud Forum!  |