Idaho Taxpayers Deserve Better Than Minnesota's Billion-Dollar Disaster
We demand fraud prevention measures before releasing $14M in childcare funds
Minnesota just got caught in what investigators are calling one of the largest welfare fraud schemes in American history.
Billions of dollars in childcare subsidies stolen by foreigners while hardworking American families struggle to make ends meet.
This isn’t just happening in Minnesota though. This fraud is rampant everywhere childcare subsidies lack proper oversight, and Idaho has the exact same structural weaknesses that allowed billions to walk out the door in other states. We’re a target. I refuse to sit around waiting to become the next cautionary tale.
That’s why I just sent a letter to the Idaho Department of Health and Human Services requesting an immediate pause on $14 million in new childcare appropriations until we install proper fraud prevention measures.
I voted against Senate Bill 1206 during the 2025 session because it dumped over $14 million into new childcare subsidies without adequate fraud prevention safeguards. The bill throws money at building childcare supply through contracted spots, grants, and subgrants.
But does it ensure that money reaches legitimate providers serving real Idaho families? No.
Minnesota’s billion-dollar disaster proves why safeguards matter before you start writing checks. Look, I’m not trying to stop support for working families who need quality childcare. Those families deserve better than a system riddled with fraud that drives up costs and reduces their access to legitimate providers.
The American worker gets up every day, pays their taxes, expects their government to be a responsible steward of those hard-earned dollars.
This is what being America First is all about: putting Americans first (shouldn’t even be controversial). But when fraudsters exploit weak oversight to steal millions or billions? Working families pay twice. They pay through their taxes, then they can’t find affordable childcare because scammers have crowded out legitimate providers.
Good news though.
We have two former Idahoans serving at the federal level now who understand our systems inside and out. Former IDHW Director Alex Adams serves as Assistant Secretary for the Administration of Children and Families. Former Representative Wendy Horman will soon lead the Office of Child Care. We have an opportunity to get this right before we have a problem.
Along with Representative Josh Tanner, I’ve requested IDHW develop comprehensive fraud prevention measures, review past disbursements for potential fraud, and brief the Legislature on their plan before moving forward. We’ve asked for a response by January 10th.
Working families deserve a childcare system they can trust. I’m going to make sure they get it.
Thank you Brian it is nice to see that we have at least 1 legislator who is looking out for the taxpayers of Idaho but I think most of us are concerned with the people that are steering this ship. When you go from a surplus in the budget to a potential deficit of 500 million that is serious money and someone needs to be held responsible for this problem.
Three cheers to you Sen. Lenney and to Rep. Josh Tanner! Thank you so much for guarding our tax dollars in Idaho. Few have the courage to do what you are doing.
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