THEY LAUNCHED HOUSE COMMITTEE WORK THIS WEEK.

[ BANGING GAVEL ] >> THE HOUSE RETURNED TO WORK AND STARTED WITH THE COMMITTEE ON FRAUD AND STATE OVERNMENT.

>> WE ARE CURRENTLY SITTING AT ABOUT $610 MILLION IN RAUD OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

NOT ONLY IS THAT AN APPALLING WASTE OF TAXPAYERS' HEARD-EARNED MONEY, IT IS ALSO AN INDICTMENT OF STATE AGENCIES' FAILURES TO SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY NEED SERVICES.

>> WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON THE PROGRAM AND THE SUPPORTING THE FOLKS AND HELPING.

AND THERE'S A PLACE FOR THAT.

100%.

BUT IT CAN'T BE ALL OF IT.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE STATE AGENCY STAFF ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE STATE MONEY IS USED PROPERLY.

AND, SO, THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE.

>> 592 INDIVIDUAL, UNIQUE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVE GRANTS, A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN, THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, WAS 462, STATE ARTS BOARD WAS 597.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR A COMMITTEE TO POSSIBLY DO DUE DILIGENCE ON THAT MANY NONPROFITS.

>> Mary: SENATE REPUBLICANS ALSO TOOK AIM AT STOPPING FRAUD.

>> THESE ARE BILLS THAT AREN'T COMPLEX, THEY'RE NOT HAD COMPLICATED.

THEY'RE SIMPLY FIXES THAT WE'VE BEEN -- THAT THE ADMINISTRATION'S BEEN IGNORING FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS.

>> REACHED OUT, MY OFFICE CALLED THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

WE NEED A MEETING, WE NEED ONE HOUR OF HIS TIME.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE RESPONSE WAS?

NOTHING.

>> Mary: THERE'S A BIPARTISAN BILL TO CREATE N INSPECTOR GENERAL IN THE STATE, WHILE NATIONALLY SOME WERE LET GO.

>> MINNESOTANS WORK HARD FOR THEIR MONEY.

THEY DESERVE GOVERNMENT THAT IS EQUALLY DILIGENT IN PROTECTING IT.

>> I'D LIKE TO THANK SENATOR GUSTAFSON FOR HER EFFORTS HERE TO BRING PARTIES -- YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PARTIES TOGETHER, MAKE THIS A TRULY BIPARTISAN EFFORT.

>> Mary: AND WITH SENATE DEMOCRATS BACK IN CONTROL, THEY TOOK ON WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON.

>> WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT MINNESOTANS FROM THE THINGS THAT ARE COMING FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THE CHAOS AGENDA, TRUMP AND HIS MUSKETEERS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MINNESOTANS UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE HERE FOR THEM AND FOR OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURE TOGETHER.

>> Mary: THE AGRICULTURE CHAIR SAYS ONE FARMER'S ALREADY LOSING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL FREEZE.

>> THAT LACK OF CERTAINTY IS SOMETHING THAT FARMERS ALREADY STRUGGLE WITH.

WILL THEY HAVE RESOURCES, WILL THEY NOT?

THEY DON'T KNOW.

THAT ADDITIONAL STRESS IS TOXIC FOR FARMERS AND FOR PEOPLE IN GREATER MINNESOTA.

FARMERS DON'T KNOW HOW THE WEATHER'S GOING TO TREAT THEM.

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRUST HOW THEIR GOVERNMENT WILL TREAT THEM.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS I GOT ELECTED WAS BECAUSE OF HIGH EGG PRICES AND EGG PRICES, EGG PRICES HAVE BEEN GOING UP.

ONE REASON HE.

THESE OTHER THINGS, HE KEPT HIS PROMISES TO ATTACK PEOPLE,