Friends,
On Wednesday of last week the non-partisan Legislative Auditor released the long-awaited report on allegations of widespread fraud in the Minnesota Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP). While the report was unable to substantiate explosive claims that over $100 million in fraud was taking place, the report did reveal widespread agreement at the Department of Human Services (DHS) that there is a substantial amount of fraud in the CCAP program.
Everyone agrees that fraud and waste in our public programs is unacceptable so it goes without saying the report needed to be done so the taxpayers who paid for the fraud are informed and aware of how their tax dollars were used. What's really upsetting beyond that however is the lack of systems, process, and controls in the Executive Branch at DHS, which has made the fraud much easier to accomplish, and very difficult to prosecute.
If you read the report you will see how DHS has not done enough to either administer the program or put in place controls to stop the fraudulent activity from happening, and when it does, to prosecute the offenders. Although there are references to the legislature needing to address the situation which I would support, from an operational perspective the most immediate concern is for DHS to take action relative to the findings to improve program integrity and put systems in place to catch and eliminate fraud.
You can read the audit report here.
Disaster Recovery Loans
I was glad to join my colleagues in supporting this proposal to provide immediate emergency assistance to farmers impacted by roof collapses. Farmers can use Disaster Recovery Loans for several purposes:
- To clean up, repair, or replace farm structures and septic and water systems, as well as replace seed, other crop inputs, feed, and livestock;
- To purchase watering systems, irrigation systems, and other drought mitigation systems and practices when drought is the cause of the purchase;
- To restore farmland; or to replace flocks, make building improvements, or cover the loss of revenue when the replacement, improvements, or loss of revenue is due to the confirmed presence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial poultry or game flock located in Minnesota.
The bill passed the House unanimously and is on its way to Governor Walz.
Disaster Relief Funding Bill
Following record-setting snowfall in Minnesota last month, and another major snowfall event to begin March, weather experts are predicting major flooding throughout the state this spring, and it is already happening in Jordan. However, Minnesota’s Disaster Assistance Contingency Account - created to allocate funds to communities impacted by natural disasters, and to avoid calling a special sessions to authorize the appropriation of these funds - sits empty.
The bill would transfer $20 million in the Fiscal Year 2019 and another $20 million in the Fiscal Year 2020 to Minnesota’s disaster assistance contingency account, effective the day after final enactment. The account is used to address Disaster Declarations without requiring a special session of the legislature, therefore acting faster than if the session was required, as well as preventing "other" additional funding which sometimes occurs when the legislature appropriates money.
We are already seeing significant flooding in the area, so this matter becomes even more real and important for our community as the remainder of the spring flooding problems grow. It is critical that we put funding in place now so our flood victims can avoid the potential of becoming a pawn in end of session budget negotiations.
Please Stay in Touch
Please continue to stay in touch to share your thoughts and ideas on issues important to you. You can schedule a time to meet with me in my office anytime by calling (651) 296-7065 or share your thoughts via email by emailing me at rep.bob.vogel@house.mn.
Have a great week,
Bob