To the Editor:

In response to Rep. Paul Torkelson’s letter printed Jan. 13, thank you and Sen. Gary Dahms for holding town meetings with prior notification of your schedule. Our federal representatives could take a lesson!

In my accounting background, I learned of fraud prevention — ethics, preventing embezzlement, auditing. Rep. Torkelson said he’s working to put an end to fraud in Minnesota and finally hold to account anyone who allowed the fraud to flourish. Where have you been since your start in 2009? It seems prevention would be worth way more than the cure. Someone getting the financial reports or sitting on the ethics committee ought to be paying attention and aware of any unethical activity happening on their watch. It shouldn’t take KARE11 investigators or any politically-invited late-comer with a phone camera to bring fraud to light.

Embezzlement is usually done by people you trust, so strong internal controls should be in place. It seems that jumping on the anti-fraud train now is like getting to the party a little late. Anti-fraud policies should go without saying. Haven’t people involved already been prosecuted?

When I was mayor of Morgan, I did not necessarily attend committee meetings. Committees were expected to do their work and report to the entire council. Perhaps Gov. Walz has enough to do and should be able to trust the bipartisan committees to do their work, then report to him and their respective arms of government accordingly.

While you’re at it, maybe you can help him get illegal ICE activity out of Minnesota. If they have legitimate work to do, then so be it. Just like all immigrants aren’t fraudsters, I’m sure all ICE agents aren’t bad. Just get rid of the worst of the worst of them. Also, can you tell us why Scott Bessent was in Hutchinson on Saturday, Jan. 10? Judging by the entourage with him, I’m sure it was all business and not just a social call.

Political affiliation should never get in the way of honesty, good ethics, watchful eyes, and the ability to speak up without fear.

Carla Klawitter

Morgan