Minneapolis-St. Paul: GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Lisa Demuth Unveils Fraud Whistleblower Protection Plan
St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota: Republican gubernatorial candidate and Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth unveiled a "Fraud Whistleblower Protection Plan" at a news conference in St. Paul on October 20, making welfare fraud a central issue of her campaign. Under the plan, Demuth pledged to sign an executive order empowering state employees to report fraud directly to the Legislative Auditor or the Inspector General, without asking permission, without anyone editing what they say, and with their identities protected. The plan would also establish a whistleblower coordinator in every state agency.
Minnesota's welfare fraud scandal has become a focal point of the governor's race. Governor Tim Walz has announced he will not seek re-election. Democratic candidate and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar released her own anti-fraud plan in May, which also includes whistleblower protections, calling for clear, accessible reporting pathways for fraud tips and protections for people who raise concerns. The two candidates met on October 19 in Brainerd for their first gubernatorial debate, hosted by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and streamed by KSTP, where the fraud scandal and economic issues took center stage.
In polling, the RealClearPolitics average of recent polls shows Klobuchar leading Demuth 48.7% to 40.3%, a margin of about eight points. Minnesota's general election is on November 3.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 明尼苏达州众议院公共信息服务 Session Daily 官方照片
