Rep. Patti Anderson Authors Bipartisan, Anti-Fraud, “Take It Back Act”

**Bill to Impose 100% Tax on Fraudulently-Obtained State Money**

Saint Paul, MN — Standing alongside fellow chief author Sen. Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa), Rep. Patti Anderson (R-Dellwood) and a bipartisan group of co-authors held a press conference today in support of the “Take It Back Act” (HF4950). The Take It Back Act is a bill to establish a 100% tax on state money obtained through fraud, to be imposed on individuals and organizations who have been convicted of doing so. It is notable because the tax applies to convicted fraudsters irrespective of the court-ordered restitution that they are already required to pay. 

Rep. Anderson gave the following comments about the bill:

“Minnesotans are angry about cut services due to fraud. They are angry about the $10 billion in raised taxes that they have had to pay to make up for what has been stolen. Today is tax day, and imagine how Minnesotans feel knowing that the money coming out of their accounts may simply be stolen again. The Take It Back Act is a bipartisan effort to disincentivize fraudsters from stealing public money, and an important step for recouping what is owed to us.”

In a time of political polarization, the Take It Back Act is an example of a healthy bipartisan effort to take action against Minnesota’s fraud epidemic. With 35 House authors from across the political spectrum, and more asking to sign on every day, momentum for the bill is promising.

The Take It Back Act has a hearing scheduled for April 30 in the Taxes Committee.