Republicans want public hearings to examine turmoil in the state Human Services Department when Democrats convene a three-day “mini-session” this fall in Winona in southeastern Minnesota. House Deputy Minority Leader Anne Neu says there’s been almost complete silence from the Walz administration and House Democrats about top management turnover and an investigation of the agency’s inspector general. “We all have a right to know why there is so much chaos in the state’s largest agency,” Neu says.
House Speaker, Democratic Melissa Hortman is non-committal on whether they’ll have hearings this fall in Winona. “It’s my understanding that the Minnesota Senate is having hearings on that very topic next week, so we’ll have to see if there’s any ground that’s unplowed when they’re through with their hearings,” Hortman says.
One big issue is allegations that fraud in the state’s Child Care Assistance Program was covered up.