Rep. Jeff Backer Statement on Recent Fraud Stories

Saint Paul, MN- State Representative Jeff Backer, R-Browns Valley, issued the following statement today after a string of troubling fraud-related stories reported by local media, including revelations that a Liberian government official was operating at least 24 group homes in Minnesota, sex trafficking victims were used as fake employees to scam taxpayers, incomplete applications were approved for Minnesota Promise grants, and a Feeding Our Future defendant is facing more jail time for witness tampering:

“If the steady stream of fraud scandals has taught Minnesotans anything, it’s that the status quo in St. Paul is not working,” said Backer. “Time and time again, we’re seeing failures in oversight, accountability, and basic stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Minnesotans deserve a government that takes fraud seriously and protects every dollar they send to St. Paul. There are only five months left in the Walz administration, and the DFL has a choice: continue defending a broken system or finally acknowledge the failures that have happened on their watch and take meaningful action to fix them. Minnesota cannot afford another day of excuses.”