Legislative Update We’re now in the final two weeks of the legislative session, and things are moving quickly at the Capitol. There’s still much to get done, and I’ll continue working to advance responsible solutions that protect taxpayers and bring accountability to state government. Capitol VisitorsThree Rivers Park District Visit It was great to welcome the Three Rivers Park District to the Capitol on Tuesday. They showcased some of the animals they take care and others you might find along their well-kept trail system.  Talking Transportation I had the opportunity to meet with Gibbon resident Lisa Black and her sister Minna to discuss transportation needs in their area. These conversations are important as we work to better understand the challenges facing our communities and look for practical solutions.  Invocation at the Capitol Prior to Thursday's floor session, Pastor Fred Hinz from Gaylord was at the Capitol to give the invocation. I am grateful to have voices from our communities represented here.  State of the State & Fraud Concerns On Tuesday morning, federal agents raided 22 locations across Minnesota tied to fraud investigations. Many of these locations had already been flagged and scrutinized by Republicans, only to be dismissed outright by Democrats. That same evening, the Governor delivered his State of the State address. While Minnesotans are watching billions of dollars lost to fraud, he brushed it off as Minnesota “being generous,” drawing loud applause from Democrats in the chamber. Minnesotans expect better than that. This is not generosity, it is a failure of oversight and accountability. Taxpayers work hard for their money, and they deserve to know it is being protected and used as intended. We should be focused on stopping fraud before it happens, holding people accountable when it does, and making sure this never gets to this level again. Fighting Fraud We are starting to make some progress when it comes to holding people accountable. This week, many of our members highlighted the “Take It Back Act,” which requires fraudsters to pay back 100 percent of the money they stole. That alone will not fix the problem or prevent future fraud, but it is a step in the right direction and makes it clear that we will not settle for partial restitution. Like many of you, I completely agree that much more needs to be done on this issue and I will continue to support those efforts. Some good news on oversight: Late on Wednesday, the Independent Office of Inspector General passed out of the Ways and Means committee, and it will soon move to the House floor. This is something we have been working on for a long time. We pushed for it last year and have continued calling for its passage throughout this session. This may be the most important piece of anti-fraud legislation we can pass. It creates real, independent oversight and helps ensure someone is actually watching how taxpayer dollars are being spent. I will keep you informed as it moves forward. Thank You! With two weeks left in session, there's still more to be done. The priority is clear: protect taxpayer dollars and restore accountability. I will continue pushing for responsible spending and real oversight, and I appreciate everyone who has reached out and stayed engaged. Your input matters as we work through these final decisions, and I will keep you updated as we head toward the end of session. Sincerely,  |