GOP lawmakers slam Tim Walz over fraud comments in State of the State
Walz faces backlash for taking his share of fraud crackdown
Townhall.com columnist Dustin Gage joins ‘Fox & Friends’ to discuss the growing backlash against comments made by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz that many claim he is trying to ‘take credit’ for a crackdown on fraud in the state.
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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz gave his final State of the State address earlier this week, and his comments toward the end of his speech about the state’s massive fraud scandal quickly drew backlash from Republican lawmakers in the state who spoke to Fox News Digital.
“That was ridiculous,” state Rep. Kristin Robbins, R-Minn., chairwoman of the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, said of Walz’s comments on the fraud scandal. “He kind of said, ‘Oh, I’m keeping this to myself,’ but then he quickly moved on to blaming everyone else.”
While Walz praised fraud prevention efforts during his speech, he claimed red states have more fraud than blue states and suggested the legislature should do more to pass his anti-fraud proposal.
“We have created additional checks and balances,” Walz said. “We brought in more investigators, more auditors, more law enforcement and an outside firm to look into high-risk programs. Those who defraud us are caught and will go to prison, just like today..”
‘INCOMPETENCE OR FRAUD’: REARS MINNESOTA Rep. TIM WALZ AS GOVERNMENT FRAUD LOSSES INCREASE
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz testifies at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on March 4, 2026. The hearing examined allegations of misuse of federal funds for Minnesota social services and Medicaid programs. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Walz’s “today” statement was about federal raids in Minneapolis earlier that day, for which the governor has come under criticism. Including FBI Director Kash PatelApparently after gaining credibility from actions the federal government says it directed and regulated.
“Minnesota consistently ranks as one of the best states to live because we invest in programs that support children, parents, seniors and people with disabilities,” Walz said in his speech. “But as we’ve seen in recent months and today, the more generous your support system is, the more oversight you need to make sure people aren’t taking unfair advantage.”
Walz pointed to the legislature and urged them to adopt his anti-fraud plan. Robbins said that would “do nothing but create more bureaucracy” and said the Republicans’ proposals were more “serious” to actually address the issue.
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“He can keep gassing people, but no one’s buying it anymore,” Robbins said.
State Sen. Mark Koran (R-Minn.) reacted to the speech, telling Fox News Digital that “Governor Walz is trying to wallpaper over his legacy by praising his failed policies and massive government expansion.”
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Minnesota State Representative Kristin Robbins testifies before Congress during the hearing. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“The reality is that he leaves behind a legacy of widespread fraud, higher taxes for Minnesota families, and a reckless 40 percent increase in government spending.”
State Sen. Michael Holmstrom (R-Minn.) told Fox News Digital that the governor treated the speech as a “farewell victory lap” but that “his history of failed leadership and abuse will be his legacy.”
Walz’s speech was also criticized by conservatives on social media, including on the Republican National Committee’s social media account at X. sent“CRAZY Tim Walz blames Minnesota’s ‘generosity’ for billions of dollars in fraud he authorized.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Walz’s office for comment.
