Finstad talks about fraud at GOP fundraiser
Jensen running for state auditor
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SLEEPY EYE -- Speaking at the Brown County Fundraiser at the Sleepy Eye Event Center Thursday, First District Congressman Brad Finstad detailed some of the fraud issues he said he's encountered in Washington D.C. at the Brown County Republican Fundraiser at the Sleepy Eye Fundraiser Thursday.
"I hear about the F word, fraud, at every stop I make in southern Minnesota," said Finstad. "People are fed up and rightfully so. We've been fleeced out of our hard-earned tax dollars by fraudsters. We have an opportunity to fix it in less than 10 weeks from now. A change of direction is the only thing that will fix this.
He said he's seen seen "example after example of federal tax dollars that I'm working on your behalf to protect in Washington D.C., being appropriated to states who administer programs that are being essentially flushed down the toilet."
The chairman of the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture, Finstad said subcommittee oversees $1.2 trillion of nutrition spending, mostly food stamps, over a 10-year span of the farm bill.
"We sent $70 million a month intended to help our neighbors in Minnesota," he said. "As compassionate Minnesotans, I think most of us would agree when our neighbor needs help, we're going to help them. Because of Minnesota's complete neglect and incompetence, we see nearly $300,000 a day lost to fraud and errors. Just think of what we could do with that for our neighbors truly in times of need."
Finstad said after looking at program after program, he realized nobody was paying attention. He accused the State of Minnesota of refusing to release SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) enrollment data for the federal government to determine of funds go to the intended recipients by suing the federal government to avoid sharing the data.
"Of the 28 states that did comply showed more than 450,000 people abuse the SNAP program by enrolling in multiple jurisdictions," he said. "More than 155,000 expired social security numbers including the deceased receive SNAP benefits. My question to the governor and attorney general is what are you afraid of? Share the data. I think we owe it to our taxpayers."
Finstad praised the work of outgoing Republican legislators Gary Dahms and Paul Torkelson.
"I want to show gratitude to two amazing leaders who served our state, county, senate and house district for many years with honor and leadership that will be sorely missed in St. Paul, that's (retired legislators) Gary Dahms and Paul Torkelson," he said. "When you think of what this state and country needs right now, you think of statesmen, adults in the room, people rooted in common sense."
Sleepy Eye native Dr. Scott Jensen, running for Minnesota State Auditor this fall, talked about fraud. He said there were fraud warning signs in Minnesota before Tim Walz became governor.
He compared what is happening in Minnesota now with how he learned to care for people as a medical doctor.
"I learned to check people's vital signs first. If we do vital signs about what's happened in Minnesota, our respiratory rate climbed dramatically. We're breathing rapidly. It's not because we're breathing too much. Our blood pressure has risen and we don't know how to bring it down," said Jensen. "We understand at a very deep level what fraud is. At it's most basic level, it's about people lying, cheating or stealing even if it hurts others. Fraud contributes to lack of affordability, more unfunded mandates and more. We need to elect people to become a force for change, elevate whistle-blowers and be willing to disrupt problems we have today."
Jensen said if elected state auditor, he will create a team that will stop fraud and return Minnesota to affordability.
"I know I can fix this problem by communicating like I do with my medical patients. Let's make Minnesota healthy again. It's on us," he said.
District 15 State Senate candidate Braxton Seifert of Marshall said high taxes drive businesses and business opportunities out of Minnesota in favor of South Dakota and Iowa.
"Our last Republican governor dealt with a budget deficit but didn't raise taxes," said Seifert. "Now, we're looking at budget deficit after budget deficit. My opponent says gun control is the biggest issue now. I say it's fraud and property taxes going through the roof. Our state is worth fighting for."
District 15B House candidate and real estate broker Geri Theis of Redwood Falls said she grew up on a dairy farm that taught her about the value of hard work.
"My kids work two or three jobs to make ends meet. They shouldn't have to do that. We need affordability back," she said. "Get out and tell people to vote. We need common sense. Right now, a transgender boy can get into a girl's locker room."
District 18A House Rep. Erica Schwartz said small businesses are over regulated and high taxes are hurting the working class.
"In my small business, I see people having to choose between buying medication and food and not having insurance," she said. "That's why it's so important you vote Nov. 3. I'm tired of seeing the looks on people's faces having to put something back on the shelf because they can't afford it. It's time for a chance and save the state."