Accessibility menu
State Representative Ryan Winkler
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7026
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
Column/LTE
HANSON HAS BOTH FINGERS IN A LEAKING LEVY
The Governor’s choice of Finance Commissioner Tom Hanson as chief watchdog over billions in federal recovery dollars shows that Tim Pawlenty places a low priority on taxpayer accountability. In recent years, Minnesota state agencies have lost millions of dollars to fraud and theft because state agencies have been asleep at the wheel - agencies whose spending Commissioner Hanson oversees.
When nine workers at the Minnesota Veterans Home racked up more than $2 million in overtime pay over three years, nobody asked any questions. When over $1.5 million in state bonding was misallocated, nobody looked into it. Why? - In part because internal auditors at state agencies have been eliminated due to budget constraints and shifting priorities. This has led to a troubling trend in the mismanagement of millions in state revenue.
Last Thursday, Commissioner Hanson admitted that internal controls in this administration are his responsibility as Minnesota's chief financial officer, and that his elimination of internal auditors and other essential staff have led to these problems.
Minnesota’s non-partisan legislative auditor agreed, recently telling lawmakers that internal controls across dozens of state agencies, boards and commissions have broken down over the last ten years. Those internal controls are set up to channel tax dollars like levies channel river water - when they aren't well-maintained, the levies break and flood state agencies with fraud and mismanagement.
Commissioner Hanson needs to focus on adding sandbags to existing levies. He should be fixing our system of leaking financial levies, not overseeing billions in new money coming from Washington. In fact, the Governor's choice of Hanson to oversee these federal funds puts Minnesota's economic recovery at risk. Minnesotans deserve someone able to focus all of their attention on ensuring the best use of our limited resources.
Washington is focused on accountability and oversight of the recovery spending. Minnesota's lax controls, and lax controller, may make Congress think twice before sending needed money to help us rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and struggling economy.
It's time for Governor Pawlenty to end the era of unacceptable irresponsibility in state government, and put a full-time watchman at the helm of our hope for economic recovery in Minnesota. Managing billions in economic recovery funds should be no part-time hobby for a man with his fingers stuck in a leaking levy.
News Items
- Statement on Budget Forecast - (Posted: 2012-12-05 00:00:00)
- Statement on Final I-35 W Bridge Settlement - (Posted: 2012-11-13 00:00:00)
- Rep. Winkler: Tea Party Activists Can’t Be Trusted to Reform Our Elections - (Posted: 2012-11-01 00:00:00)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.