ST. PAUL, MN –  Senator Mark Koran (R-North Branch) released the following statement after the Office of the Legislative Auditor released its report on the state oversight to taxpayer-funded grants to non-profits. The report “found pervasive noncompliance by state agencies with grants management policies in recent years and statutes provide little authority to enforce agencies’ compliance with these policies.”

“I’m not surprised at the outcome of this report,” Koran said. “Republicans have been trying to get more oversight for years to hold both government and non-profits accountable to taxpayers. The public was rightfully shocked at the sheer scope and cost of Feeding our Future fraud under Gov. Walz and Attorney General Ellison’s lax oversight, but there is so much more we need to be doing to rein in this massive waste, fraud, and abuse.

“I am hopeful the Legislative Audit Commission will meet soon to review the recommendations from the OLA and work together in a bipartisan way to instill reforms to protect taxpayers’ dollars. This shouldn’t be a partisan issue, but I also won’t water down protections to allow this fraud to continue. 

“Lastly, there are many non-profits who comply with the rules and do amazing work in our communities; without oversight to crack down on the bad actors, their good work will continue to be diminished, and that’s not fair to them either. Out of respect to their efforts, we need to have more oversight of every grant to every non-profit.”