Fogelman, others call for resignation of Walz over fraud issues

A collection of Minnesota House and Senate Republicans that includes District 21B Rep. Marj Fogelman of Fulda is calling for the resignation of Gov. Tim Walz after increased scrutiny into the state’s fraud issues.

Minnesota State Sens. Bill Lieske of Lonsdale and Nathan Wesenberg along with State Reps. Drew Roach of Farmington), Mike Wiener of Long Prairie and Fogelman (R-Fulda) released a joint statement together:

“Minnesotans have been watching the fraud crisis get worse and worse for years. It has gone on long enough. This is not about politics or stunts, and we do not make a call like this lightly. The office of the governor deserves respect, and we have tried to give Gov. Walz time to act.

“But leadership means doing the right thing even when it is difficult, which is why we are calling on Gov. Walz to resign. We are talking about billions of dollars in fraud that should have gone to vulnerable Minnesotans. The red flags were everywhere. Yet, year after year the fraud kept growing, and year after year, nothing changed.

“People in our districts raise this issue constantly. It is the number one issue we hear about. They want to know why nobody is being held accountable. They want to know when somebody is going to fix it. And they want to know why the governor isn’t resigning.

“What we are seeing from the governor is what nonfeasance looks like. When a governor fails to do what he is required to do, when he watches a crisis spiral out of control and does nothing to stop it, that is nonfeasance. The governor had a duty to oversee his administration and protect these programs. He failed. There needs to be consequences.

“For the good of the state, Gov. Walz should step aside. Minnesota needs accountability, a reset, and new leadership that can get us back on the right track.”

The legislators said they are not launching a recall effort against Gov. Walz but believe a constitutional standard also supports resignation.