Senator Mark Johnson (R-East Grand Forks) on Wednesday sharply criticized a Democrat proposal to provide $40 million to cover individuals’ overdue rent and utility payments, saying the bill is the latest example of Democrats ignoring the state’s rampant fraud crisis and putting illegal immigrants ahead of legal residents.
“Billions in tax increases and fraud have driven up costs for every Minnesotan. This bill is just another opportunity for bad actors to steal from people in need, and frankly, this does nothing for people for who played by the rules and paid their bills and are still struggling under $10 billion in new taxes and fees,” Sen. Johnson said. “I could not in good conscience vote for a bill that failed to put Minnesotans first at a time when they need it the most.”
Senate Republicans did successfully improve the bill to add new fraud guardrails including one amendment that requires that 5% of funds be dedicated to detecting and preventing fraud, so the money actually reaches the people who need it.
Other amendments added to support anti-fraud measures include:
- Require applicants to actually document that they qualify, instead of taking the applicant’s word for it.
- Require detailed reports every 30 days, including amounts spent and unspent.
Senate Republicans also offered a series of amendments to prioritize legal residents, address affordability, and protect public safety concerns. Senate Democrats rejected the following amendments:
- Legal residents only: Restrict eligibility to U.S. citizens and people who are in the country legally.
- Direct property tax relief: Redirect the $40 million to provide direct property tax relief to homeowners and renters instead of a new bureaucratic program.
- Ban payments to sex offenders: Block people on the predatory offender registry from receiving rent and utility payments from this program.
