Bachmann Plans Run, Demands Medicare Oversight
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann announced on Monday she will be introducing federal legislation that calls for greater oversight of how Medicaid dollars are being spent.
She made the announcement at the Minnesota State Capitol to show her support for similar legislation that is being proposed at the state level.
Minnesota is under federal investigation for how it administers Medicaid insurance payments.
The move comes the week after it was revealed that Minnesota is under federal investigation for its handling of Medicaid reimbursements and whether HMOs are collecting too much for Medicaid services. "It's time that every single dollar of federal funding is accounted for and every single instance of misallocation of funding must be stopped," said Bachmann. "Minnesota taxpayers and the American people deserve nothing less."
Bachmann was flanked by Republican State Senators Sean Nienow and Michelle Benson, who are introducing a state bill that calls for more oversight. It's a bill that also has support from DFL State Senator John Marty.
Political analyst David Schulz says as Bachmann begins her reelection bid after spending a year campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, she is trying to sound a bipartisan theme.
"No one has ever lost votes by calling for more oversight of federal dollars or local dollars," he said.
This is also the day before the announcement of new boundaries for Minnesota Congressional Districts.
"Depending on what happens in her district, she could end up with a whole bunch of people who have never been in her district before. It's a good way to start off with something that is going to appeal to moderates. It's also going to appeal to Democrats too," Schulz said.
While all Minnesota Congressional boundaries are going to change, Congresswoman Bachmann's is the most likely to change because it has 100,000 more people in it that it should. Those new boundaries will be announced on Tuesday.
