ST. PAUL, Minn. — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who is running for governor, is putting some space between herself and incumbent Gover Tim Walz about fraud issues. Klobuchar said she would have been quicker to identify administrative lapses. At the same time, she noted that Walz has acknowledged wishing that he had caught the widespread fraud issues earlier. At a news conference, Klobuchar said:
“The minute I would have heard that this fraud was happening, if I was there and had access to the information, I would have looked at where are the programs where we’re starting to see ballooning budgets.”
A pattern of state agencies approving fraudulent claims for government reimbursement has blown up as a political issue against Walz. His opponents accuse him of negligence. Klobuchar had no role. For 19 years she’s been in Washington as a U.S. senator. Now running to succeed Walz, a fellow Democrat, Klobuchar finds Republicans casting blame widely. At her news conference in St. Paul, Klobuchar unveiled a plan to reduce frauds against the government. She pointed to her experience as the chief Hennepin County attorney from 1999 to 2007 evidence of a record prosecuting wrong-doing, fraud included. Her plan governor, she said, includes:
> An independent agency for “outside looks” at state agenc=ies to investigate fraud proactively.
> More oversight like in-person inspections.
> Tougher criminal penalties.
> Permanent bans on state grants and contracts for anyone convicted of fraud.
> Tightened the screening of people being considered to run state agencies.
“I don’t like the status quo,” Klobuchar said. “I wouldn’t be running for governor if I wanted to have things remain the same.” She also proposed making state services more accessible by cellphone. The state should make it easier for people to obtain permits and start businesses, she said. On other issues, Klobubar said that Minnesota needs to build more housing.
Klobuchar. Promises new office of inspector general o clamp down on fraudulent claims for
Lugar testimonial
Luger, the former U.S. attorney, who prosecuted fraud in the Feeding Our Future nutrition programs for children. Luger said that as soon as he announced indictments in the scandal, Klobuchar called and asked him if he had enough resources to address the issue. Luger said he needed more prosecutors but there was fierce competition for funds to hire them. “After she talked to me, Amy Klobuchar immediately used her influence as a U.S. senator to press leadership at the Department of Justice and argued for us,” Luger said. “Not one U.S. senator around the country did that for their U.S. Attorneys’ office.” Luger proceeded with a beefed- up staff —the largest number of new prosecutors in ge nation — and indicted more than 70 people in the Feeding Our Future scandal