(The Center Square) – U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has rolled out a broad plan to overhaul Minnesota state government focused on rooting out fraud, waste and abuse.
“On day one, I will begin a top-to-bottom audit of our state government,” Klobuchar, who is the leading Democrat candidate for governor, said at a news conference in St. Paul on Sunday. “That audit will look at state agencies to identify waste, fraud and abuse.”
Her proposal framed the state government as needing to become more “innovative, effective and accountable.”
This comes as concerns about oversight failures in state-run programs have become the dominant political issue in Minnesota in recent months. Just last week, federal authorities executed search warrants at more than 20 locations across Minnesota’s Twin Cities.
Klobuchar’s plan includes a series of anti-fraud measures, such as creating a statewide “Do Not Pay” database to block individuals or contractors convicted of fraud from receiving public funds, expanding oversight of grants and contracts, and allowing agencies to freeze suspicious payments before money is distributed.
It also called for tougher criminal penalties for organized fraud, more frequent in-person inspections of programs receiving state dollars, and the creation of an independent Office of Inspector General to coordinate oversight across agencies.
“Today I announced my plan to transform Minnesota’s government and make it more innovative, effective, and accountable,” Klobuchar said in a statement following the news conference. “Fixing the government is the foundation for everything else. And there’s more to come. Together, we can get it done.”
The announcement drew immediate criticism from Republican frontrunner and state House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who has led early GOP straw polling.
“Here’s the reality: Amy Klobuchar would be a third term of Tim Walz,” Demuth said in a statement on Monday. “I will deliver the change Minnesotans want and need by ending fraud, making life more affordable for families, ensuring consequences for criminals & making MN more friendly for job growth.
Demuth argued Democratic leadership has “enabled a culture of fraud” and said she is running to change that.
Klobuchar is one of several Democrats in the race, alongside candidates including Rick DeVoe, Thomas Evenstad, Paul Ference, Kobey Layne, Christopher Seymore and Po Vang.
On the Republican side, Demuth faces a crowded field that includes Peggy Bennett, Patrick Knight, John Krhin, Mike Lindell, Phillip Parrish and Kendall Qualls.
The open race comes after Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, announced earlier this year he would not be seeking reelection. The field of candidates is already narrowing though, as some begin to drop out as momentum gathers behind Klobuchar and Demuth as their party’s frontrunners.
So far, election chances still look good for the Democrats though. A recent poll from 270toWin had Klobuchar beating Demuth in a general election by 14%.
Party conventions are to be held this month, with primaries Aug. 11 and the general election is 183 days away.
