West Twin Cities

Fraud remains a significant issue in Minnesota, with more than $500 million in cases prosecuted so far. According to Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, the actual losses to fraud may reach “in the billions.” Lawmakers have expressed concern about the impact of these losses on essential services such as nursing homes, emergency medical services, and schools.

Minnesota House Republicans have identified fighting fraud as a key priority. Measures advanced this session include strengthening oversight, increasing whistleblower protections, improving grant transparency, and ensuring better safeguarding of taxpayer dollars. “The House Fraud Committee, along with the full Republican caucus, is committed to putting an end to Minnesota’s reputation as a hotbed for fraud. We will continue this work until Minnesotans can have confidence that their tax dollars are being used responsibly,” said Rep. Bobbie Harder.

Discussions are ongoing regarding a possible special legislative session. However, neither party currently holds enough votes to pass legislation independently in the Minnesota House, making bipartisan cooperation necessary for any bill to advance.

House Republicans are also focusing on issues such as school and student safety, mental health care access, and public safety improvements. These areas are seen as opportunities for bipartisan agreement.

Rep. Harder criticized Governor Walz’s suggestion of using a special session to pursue gun legislation described as unconstitutional: “That is nothing more than a political game, and it is disrespectful to the people of Minnesota who want us to focus on real solutions.”

Recently, Rep. Harder visited Carver Elementary School where she read to a third-grade class and met with Principal Sam Blank for discussions about educational and community concerns.