U.S. Senator Joni Ernst is marking her final year in office with a bipartisan push to crack down on federal waste. Speaking on today’s Iowa Business Report, the Red Oak Republican—who announced her retirement last September—says the move is necessary to stop “fraudsters” from exploiting the U.S. Treasury.
“Leader Thune tasked me to bring together my colleagues and present a package of anti-fraud bills that will really combat and get at the type of fraud and crimes like we saw in Minnesota. We have a lot of fraudsters that are using the U.S. Treasury like their own piggy bank, but that is something that has to stop.”
While Ernst has endorsed Congresswoman Ashley Hinson to succeed her, she says her focus remains on this 17-bill package. Hinson currently faces a June primary challenge from the right by former State Senator Jim Carlin. Ernst argues the legislation implements common-sense transparency that federal agencies have long resisted.
“We have wrapped up seventeen separate bills into one package. We have thirteen different authors of those bills amongst my Senate colleagues, and we will be presenting this then for a vote in the United States Senate very soon. Things that this broad package would do: require every Treasury payment to have a description and to be able to cross-check it, which seems very simple — we do that at the local level and at the state level.”
The package is expected to reach the Senate floor before the June primary. Analysts say the move helps cement Ernst’s legacy as a fiscal hawk before Hinson and Carlin face off for the GOP nomination.
