ST. PAUL MN – House Democrats continued to reject efforts to strengthen the whistleblower protections for state employees during a hearing on HF 23 in the Workforce, Labor & Economic Development Committee today.
HF 23 would expand whistleblower protections for state workers by specifying that employees who, in good faith, report on waste, fraud or abuse in state programs or agencies, receive whistleblower protection. It also expands the protection to report to law enforcement officers. Current law only provides protection when reporting to a legislator, the Legislative Auditor, or a constitutional officer such as the Attorney General.
“I am disappointed that House Democrats continue to say this bill is not needed and vote against it when it had bipartisan support in the Senate,” state Rep. Robbins. “Democrats questioned whether there were any examples of waste or abuse of taxpayer money in state government and whether any additional statutory protections are needed. Minnesota currently has $610 million in known fraud—a crisis that has been exposed partly due to whistleblowers within state agencies, many of whom are in fear of losing their jobs or derailing their careers. Those working inside agencies who are trying to protect taxpayers’ hard-earned money and ensure services get to those who really need them deserve explicit protection if they report waste, fraud or abuse.
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