Fraud about Fraud

            Fraud in Minnesota should be yesterday’s news. To some extent, it was a very bad outcome of pandemic-era policies that, in other respects, did a lot of good to avert economic catastrophe for many. Of course more could have been done if the Walz administration hadn’t dropped the ball and allowed the fraudsters to get away with it for as long as they did. What the Republicans don’t like talking about, however, is what is being done about it.

            Attorney General Keith Ellison shut down 17 fraudulent nonprofits targeting the Child Nutrition Program. His office has filed charges against 350 individuals responsible for Medicaid fraud and won $90 million in Medicaid fraud restitution. His efforts have been helped by legislation doubling the allocation to the Attorney General’s criminal division staff, which Republicans opposed. In particular, 18 new positions have been added to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Meanwhile, Ellison has joined dozens of cases against the biggest fraudster of all, the one who signs his lies with the initials DJT.

            Ultimately what’s most important is taking steps to prevent fraud in the future. The legislature created an Office of the Inspector General and otherwise took steps to facilitate data-sharing and coordination among agencies to ensure early detection and strong action against suspected fraud. County agencies are getting funds to help upgrade antiquated computer systems that will enable the state to better track suspicious expenditures. Often it has seemed like Republicans have been more interested in using the issue for political gain than working on bipartisan solutions.

            To hear Republicans talk about it, though, you would think every Democrat was complicit in the scandal. No one was more upset than state Senator Rob Kupec when the problem came to light, and he has been a strong supporter of legislation to combat fraud. The opposition is nonetheless trying to hang the issue around his neck. I guess that’s what they do when they have nothing else.

            Amy Klobuchar was in Washington when all this was happening, but that hasn’t stopped a Wisconsin billionaire from funding an ad campaign that lies about her record. What’s clear about those ads is that the endless harping about fraud is as much about smearing Somalis as it is about smearing Democrats. The propaganda about fraud has taken a page from Trump’s racism against immigrants, and one suspects his vendetta against Minnesota has more than a little to do with it as well.

            In short, Tim Walz and the agency heads who might have done more to stop fraud are not on the ballot this election. The culpability of anyone else, including Peggy Flanagan, is little more than guilt by association.

            There are issues that really matter in this election – access to health care, funding for public education, affordable housing and childcare, combating climate change, putting guardrails around data centers. Republicans have nothing to offer on those issues, so they bang on about fraud. Keep your eyes on the prize and don’t get distracted. Together we can build a better future.

Paul Harris