Senator Michelle Benson’s statement on the OLA report for overpayments to tribal nations:

Following the release of the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s report on the overpayment to Minnesota tribal nations, Senator Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake), Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee provides the following statement: 

“If you want to know how much bureaucracy and unaccountability costs state government, look no further than DHS. There is no record of this payment structure being established, being approved, or being reviewed for at least 15 years.

“Ultimately, DHS management is avoiding accountability at all costs. Several levels of management were either too incompetent or too indifferent to check for and identify obviously erroneous payments.

“There are six managers between the Opioid Treatment Authority Representative and the Commissioner. All of them failed—miserably. If none of them are going to take responsibility, none of them should keep their jobs.”

“I am disappointed the tribes decided not to cooperate with the Office of the Legislative Auditor. I hope they will change their position and help Minnesotans understand the problems at DHS.”

The Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Human Services Reform Committees have a joint hearing scheduled tomorrow, Wednesday, October 30th at 10 am.  

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