Childcare fraud prevention takes center stage in Minnesota gubernatorial debate

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Childcare emerged as a defining issue in Minnesota’s gubernatorial race — raised repeatedly during the debate and again in post-debate interviews with both candidates.

Both U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and House Speaker Lisa Demuth said ensuring public dollars are used responsibly and children are kept safe will be a top priority if elected.

Demuth pointed to a bill she backed in 2019 that would have required daily attendance records at childcare facilities receiving state funds:

“Something as simple as that coming back to make sure that there is verification of the kids that are there and the money that is going to those childcare facilities, regular inspections, and making sure that we balance out the family childcare providers and the center-based providers too,” Demuth said. “Those are just common sense. Those are internal controls that any business person would put into effect anyway, and it should apply the same with all of the programs to the state government.”

Klobuchar called for surprise in-person inspections — not virtual checks — along with better record-keeping and a statewide tracking system for offenders:

“The second piece of this is to have the surprise in-person inspections, not by Zoom, because anyone can show something by Zoom. It’s doing it in person, so you don’t know when they’re going to show up,” Klobuchar said. “And making sure that you keep the kind of records, whether it’s attendance or otherwise, to make sure you know what kids are in the daycare. And then the final thing is the do not fraud list, basically, where it’s making sure that anyone that’s been convicted of anything, that we keep track of it.”

Tuesday night’s face-off was the only statewide televised gubernatorial debate ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

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