Three new bills put forward by Minnesota House Republican members looks to ensure stronger legislative oversight of state programs.
The focus will be on fraud within state programs. The proposal suggests new guardrails including stricter reporting requirements and a centralized office of the inspector general after both the massive Feeding Our Future fraud case, and a later fraud issue with autism centers in the state.
Republican House Representative Ben Davis (Merrifield) took direct aim at Democrats on the issue.
"Democrats and Governor Walz have ignored Republican pleas for accountability, and they've also ignored the Office of Legislative Auditor now for years. It's time for that to stop," says Davis.
Representatives say in the wake of recent high profile cases of fraud in Minnesota, getting the bills passed this session is crucial.
One of the new proposals focuses on a new approach to stopping fraud before enacting new projects. Fraud Notes is a new tool that can be used to flag potential fraud risks, says Representative Jim Nash (R- Waconia).
"For example, if it was the Department of Health and Human Services or the Department of Education, it would look back and say we've had 20 recommendations made in the last five years," Nash explains. "You've implemented two of them. And now we're making a score out of this, and we're giving it to the legislators in the respective committees that they then, as legislators, can use to determine how serious these departments are about preventing waste, fraud and abuse."
The two other bills focus on stricter reporting requirements and establishing a centralized office of the Inspector General.
Where these proposals go now is unclear. The Minnesota House could be headed for another tumultuous week as Democrats maintain their boycott of the lack of a power sharing agreement as Republicans hold a 67-66 advantage.
Republicans have threatened to not seat the DFL winner of a House seat in the Shakopee area, Brad Tabke, whose narrow victory was challenged in court. A judge ruled Tabke won the race. A special election that could have made the House an even 67-67 split was delayed by the Minnesota Supreme Court on Friday after ruling Governor Tim Walz set the date before state law requires.