LEGISLATION HIGHLIGHTSFRAUD REPORT Well, this is rich. You’ll recall I sounded the alarm on the improbable increase of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in Minnesota last month. I found that by analyzing federal data, more than $1.5 billion was spent on SNAP benefits in our state, tripling the amount that was spent just four years earlier. Specifically, Minnesota saw a 174% jump in SNAP issuance over a one-year period in fiscal years 2020 and 2021. Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) quickly issued a statement saying it was a math error, having “mistakenly included Pandemic EBT” in its form submitted to the federal government. Interestingly, a FOX 9 reporter questioned why I wasn't willing to drop the story after this news came out, insisting that I accept this was just a mistake. Well, KSTP actually decided to investigate rather than accept the state’s lame response and let the issue die. Their reporting is unbelievable. It found that all of the numbers are wrong as it repeatedly reported incorrect information about SNAP to the federal government, and that DCYF continued to rely on that flawed data to answer questions from curious reporters trying to uncover fraud. From the report: “Information on how much money Minnesota distributed to SNAP recipients and how many people were found to have defrauded the system is not accurate in three different reports compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a DCYF spokesperson confirmed to 5 INVESTIGATES.” And now, the agency is no longer responding. Is anyone shocked? To watch the story, click here.  ANOTHER FRAUD LOOPHOLE: “RELIGIOUS ONLY” MARRIAGES? This week, a health insurance agent from southeastern Minnesota reached out to me to point out another fraud loophole that is taking place in our state and confirm the accuracy of a recent Alpha News report titled ‘If taxpayers knew how bad it was, they would be outraged’, The article centers on religious-only marriages, and its impact on accessing free healthcare in our state. MNsure subsidies are determined by reporting the projected combined annual household income and the number of people in the household. Most East-African households practice “religious-only” marriages, where they share children and live together most of the time, but they are treated in the system as unmarried parents. Then the mother claims all the children, but does not count the father’s income. In this situation, they get the benefits of a single-parent household (at a likely low income), but they actually live together. So, let’s say a Somali marriage is not court-documented. According to the article most aren’t, which means this scenario is running rampant in terms of entitlements that we are allowing as a state. Also, some of these East African men maintain multiple religious-only marriages, allowing them to avoid reporting a spouse for public benefits while having multiple wives and children, all getting free (or heavily discounted) healthcare. Meanwhile, the rest of the public who follow the rules and report both spouse’s incomes are spending thousands of dollars a month for health insurance coverage if they are purchasing through MNsure. Another day, another fraud. No other state has these problems, and it is infuriating. MAY YOU FIND PEACE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON This has been a difficult, heavy year for many Minnesotans. For many in America. And it goes beyond the price of gas or the unpredictable weather. Here in Minnesota, we had the political assassination of Melissa Hortman, and the devastating Annunciation School shooting. Which led to the threats of Governor Walz calling a special session, not to pass any meaningful gun legislation, but as Walz insinuated, to get Republicans on record for their votes. I ran for this office to help solve problems, and there is no issue I would rather fix than to bring safety and security to our children, schools, neighborhoods, and cities. This is a deeply complex issue. If only we had this magic ability with the vote of the legislature and the swipe of a pen to make everyone totally “safe,” I venture to guess we’d be all scrambling over each other to pass that law. If gun legislation was the magic answer, would you agree that Chicago – which has some of the strictest gun laws in America - then must be one of our safest cities? If banning guns worked, then why did we just see a mass shooting in Australia after prohibiting semi-automatic firearms in 1996? If gun-free zones were effective, how did a violent criminal bring a gun on a 146 acre campus of Brown University and kill two students? After the Annunciation shooting, I was alarmed and frankly disgusted to see how quickly the anti-gun activists hijacked and politicized the narrative. Children were still in surgery rooms nearby, when politicians stood up at a news conference and publicly claimed that gun legislation was what we needed to ensure Minnesotans’ “safety.” Fear is an incredible thing. It drives people to action. People who are under duress and extreme fear are easier to manipulate and control. Knowing this as psychological fact, you then realize it’s not an accident when political rhetoric increases after tragedies. In this case, demands for gun legislation with the promises in return of your “safety," never mind the shootings referenced above prove gun control doesn’t work. The Annunciation Church shooting was an unconscionable tragedy. You know what else was a tragedy? A Lake City man allegedly shooting the owner of the local Subway restaurant over an apparent disagreement. So too was the former Stewartville wrestler who authorities believe shot a student on the Stewartville wrestling team and then killed himself. These two incidents happened within a day of each other this month in southeastern Minnesota. Clearly, these individuals were all troubled, the same as any other individual who thinks violence is the answer to their problems. If we are serious about reducing violence, shouldn’t every possible factor be on the table for discussion? Remember, we are basically two generations removed from kids driving to school with a loaded shotgun in the back of their pickup so they could go hunting after class – and no one batted an eye. What’s changed? We’ve always had guns. Are we brave enough to consider what else is contributing to our society’s violence epidemic? Drastic increases in mental illness, depression and violence are happening in our society. Which of the following could be factors in these increases: children being over medicated for ADHD and anxiety, violent video games, lack of parenting, screen-time usage, decreased attention spans, alcohol, drugs, social media, or lower church attendance? Are we serious about truly solving problems? If so, then let’s have some very honest and tough discussions. Rushing to blame a gun for someone’s actions is short-sighted and disingenuous at best. Falling for this heated political rhetoric, and allowing emotions to be overcome by fear, leads us to ignore every other contributing factor to the problem. Lulling us into believing “if only we legislate,” has proven to be a false safety. 2025 is nearly in our rearview mirror, and the Christmas season is upon us. It is the season of giving, and a season of happiness. Most of us know the reason for the season. Might the society shift we are seeking to lessen violence, be not in legislation, but simply found in a meek and humble baby born, named Jesus? Peace to you and your families this holiday season. Merry Christmas.  |