On Wednesday, February 12, Senate Republicans rolled out a comprehensive plan consisting of eight bills to hold government accountable to stop waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayers’ dollars. The plan is part of the group’s Minnesotans First agenda for the 2025 legislative session.
“The Walz Administration and Democrats have wasted over $500 million in taxpayer dollars through fraud, waste, and abuse,” Senator Torrey Westrom (R-Alexandria) said. “Now, new reports from KSTP reveal yet another instance of major fraud in the Child Care Assistance Program under Walz’s watch. Minnesotans work too hard to see their money disappear. It’s time to demand accountability and restore trust in our state government!”
The bills presented address various issues, including empowering the nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Auditor and creating a state Office of Inspector General. They also propose a state grants administrator, a central grant system, increased oversight of grant recipients, and additional accountability, training requirements, and whistleblower protections for state employees.
Bill List
Senate Republicans’ comprehensive plan to hold government accountable to stop the waste, fraud, and abuse includes the following Republican-championed bills:
Oversight
- SF TBD: Increase penalties on state employees who don’t follow the law to report suspected waste, fraud, or abuse
- SF 475: Whistleblower protection laws for state employees who report suspected waste, fraud, or abuse (Heard in State and Local Government Committee on Feb. 11, 2025)
- SF 1219: Create a centralized state Office of Inspector General
Transparency
- SF 730: Transparency in the Attorney General’s office (Heard in Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on Jan. 29, 2025)
- SF 263: OLA review on agency compliance based on OLA recommendations to relevant House and Senate committees (Heard in State and Local Government Committee Feb. 11, 2025)
Grant Reforms