{"id":2531807,"date":"2026-01-09T07:07:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T12:07:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thousands-already-applied-for-minnesotas-new-paid-leave-program\/"},"modified":"2026-01-09T07:12:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T12:12:51","slug":"thousands-already-applied-for-minnesotas-new-paid-leave-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thousands-already-applied-for-minnesotas-new-paid-leave-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands already applied for Minnesota\u2019s new paid leave program"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthousands-already-applied-for-minnesotas-new-paid-leave-program%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2531807&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Minnesota&#8217;s new Paid family and Medical Leave (PFML) program, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-restaurant-relief-program-excludes-white-male-owners\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s Restaurant Relief ... Excludes White Male Owners\">began accepting applications<\/a> in early December and started paying claims Jan. 1, has seen heavy early demand and sparked debate over fraud risks and taxpayer costs. State officials say roughly 18,000 applications were submitted before benefits went into effect; DEED reported about 3,510 approved claimants on leave within the program&#8217;s first week, and that 63.5% of 6,300 screened claims were authorized for payment processing. DEED projects about 130,000 approved applications in the program&#8217;s first year (roughly 10,800 approvals per month).<\/p>\n<p>PFML offers paid leave for up to a 12-week coverage period for serious medical needs or caregiving, and claimants can combine claim types to take up to 20 weeks in a year. Benefits replace 55%-90% of wages (depending on income) up to an average weekly wage cap of $1,423 (about $74,000 annually). Workers who have been employed at least 90 days are eligible, and applicants may retroactively claim parental &#8220;bonding time&#8221; for children born or placed in care within the past year.<\/p>\n<p>The program includes several integrity measures-identity and work-history checks, certification by a qualified provider, and cross-checks of administrative data-and DEED says it investigates fraud tips. Critics, including fraud watchdogs and some lawmakers, warn the program could be widely abused; concerns focus on the broad definition of &#8220;family,&#8221; the ability to take multiple overlapping leaves, permissive lists of qualifying certifiers (including out-of-state and some non-physician providers), and outreach that prioritizes access for &#8220;undocumented communities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>PFML is financed by a payroll tax split evenly between employers and employees. A seed fund of nearly $800 million allowed immediate payments at launch; the payroll tax rate was set at 0.88% (up from an initially proposed 0.7%) and will be adjusted annually. Economic analysts and some former state advisers warn the program may see higher-than-expected uptake and that payroll taxes could rise to cover demand.<\/p>\n<p>The law passed in 2023 without Republican support and was promoted by Gov. Tim Walz, who defends the program and rejects broad assumptions of fraud. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >state awarded outreach grants-funded<\/a> from PFML monies-to community groups to reach &#8220;priority populations,&#8221; including limited-English speakers and undocumented workers, and requires employers to post notices about the program in dominant workplace languages.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Thousands already applied for Minnesota&rsquo;s new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-mn-paid-leave-program-open-to-undocumented-workers\/\" title=\"New MN ... open to \u2018...\u2019\">paid leave program open<\/a> to illegal immigrants<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2420708\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A massive influx of applicants filed to take advantage of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/Minnesota\/\">Minnesota&rsquo;s<\/a> new paid leave law before benefits even went into effect, as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fraud\/\">fraud<\/a> watchdogs warn that the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3906777\/tim-walz-minnesota-paid-leave-program-open-undocumented-workers\/\">taxpayer-funded assistance program<\/a>, which is open to &ldquo;undocumented workers,&rdquo; will be widely abused.<\/p>\n<p>Approximately 18,000 applications have poured in since the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/paidleave.mn.gov\/\">Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave Program<\/a> started accepting submissions in early December, according to the Department of Employment and Economic Development, the state agency administering PFML.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4411389\/liberal-nonprofits-could-make-millions-from-earmarks-gop-spending-bill\/\">Liberal nonprofits could make millions from earmarks in GOP-backed spending bill<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4411680\/vance-announces-new-assistant-attorney-general-position-fraud\/\">Vance announces new assistant attorney general position to focus on fraud<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4411614\/lightfoot-ice-accountability-project-after-chicago-immigration-operation\/\">Lightfoot rolls out &#8216;ICE Accountability Project&#8217; in response to Chicago immigration operation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Minnesota began paying out claims on Jan. 1, but the state government <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/deed\/newscenter\/press-releases\/#\/detail\/appId\/1\/id\/717622\">encouraged<\/a> prospective PFML participants last month to &ldquo;get a jumpstart&rdquo; on claiming eligible life events in the coming year.<\/p>\n<p>At least 3,510 approved applicants are already on paid leave less than a week into the program&rsquo;s implementation, DEED <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/deed\/newscenter\/press-releases\/#\/detail\/appId\/1\/id\/718709\">announced<\/a> Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>The deluge of early submissions &ldquo;shows just how motivated people are to engage with this new program,&rdquo; DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek said in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/deed\/newscenter\/press-releases\/?id=717960\">a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Out of the 6,300 claims screened as of Friday morning, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/local\/twin-cities\/2026\/01\/05\/12k-minnesotans-apply-for-paid-leave-in-days-after-launch\">more than three-fifths<\/a>, or 63.5%, were authorized for payment processing, per <em>Axios Twin Cities<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>A bulk of the accepted filings came from parents racing against their child&rsquo;s first birthday.&nbsp;Residents can retroactively claim &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dli.mn.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/pdf\/parental_leave.pdf\">bonding time<\/a>&rdquo; for a baby born in 2025 or a child recently taken into their care. So far, DEED has accepted around half of the 7,000 or so paid leave petitions filed by parents who say they welcomed a new child, including infants, adopted children, and foster care placements, in the past 12 months.<\/p>\n<p>Deputy Commissioner Evan Rowe <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mprnews.org\/story\/2026\/01\/02\/minnesota-paid-leave-program-launches-with-thousands-of-applications-so-far\">told<\/a> reporters that the flood of applications is attributable, in part, to the sign-up portal&rsquo;s early rollout and noted that the numbers at this point are not &ldquo;out of whack with projections.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Based on an actuarial analysis, DEED expects the department to approve about 130,000 applications in PFML&rsquo;s inaugural year, equaling an estimated 10,800 approved claims per month.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fraud-risks-versus-program-integrity-safeguards\">Fraud risks versus program integrity safeguards<\/h2>\n<p>Over a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/deed\/assets\/mn-paid-leave-matter-acc_tcm1045-668394.pdf\">12-week coverage period<\/a> of one&rsquo;s choosing, PFML provides payments to Minnesotans purportedly in need of time off from work for &ldquo;serious health&rdquo; reasons or to take care of a family member, such as a newborn or a sick relative.<\/p>\n<p>The program&rsquo;s stipulations broadly <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stpaul.gov\/departments\/talent-and-equity-resources-human-resources\/benefits\/paid-family-and-medical-leave-pfml\">define<\/a> who is considered a family member to include almost anyone, encompassing those &ldquo;like family&rdquo; that are dependent on a claimant, &ldquo;even if not related by blood.&rdquo; The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/pl.mn.gov\/common-questions\">threshold<\/a> is simply an &ldquo;expectation and reliance for care.&rdquo; Multiple caregivers can take paid leave for the same person, and parties named on the paperwork do not have to live together, either.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Claimants can &ldquo;double dip&rdquo; by combining both types of claims to take off a total of 20 weeks within a single year. For instance, a person could technically take 12 weeks to care for a close companion, then claim another eight weeks for personal medical problems, enjoying months of what is essentially an extended paid vacation.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) praises the Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave Program on Jan. 6, 2026, days after its rollout. (Office of the Minnesota Governor)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Program beneficiaries may &ldquo;top off&rdquo; their leave of absence by adding on paid time off, sick days, and vacation hours, an optional perk known as &ldquo;supplemental payment,&rdquo; if their employer agrees to offer the added-on benefits.<\/p>\n<p>While on paid leave, program beneficiaries <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/pl.mn.gov\/resources\/calculators\/estimate-your-payments\">receive<\/a> partial pay worth between 55% and 90% of their regular wages, depending on income level. The maximum amount allowed is currently capped at the state&rsquo;s average weekly wage of $1,423, which amounts to a $74,000 annual salary.<\/p>\n<p>Workers who were hired a minimum of three months ago are eligible, so if someone has worked in a job for 90 days, they can claim up to 20 weeks, or five and a half months, of paid time off from work.<\/p>\n<p>DEED administrators expressed confidence in the program&rsquo;s vetting protocols aimed at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/waste-and-fraud\/\">fraud<\/a> prevention.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Paid Leave was built with strong systems in place to verify identities and work histories and to detect and prevent fraud,&rdquo; a DEED spokesperson told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;We accept tips about potential fraud from all sources, and we investigate all reports.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The agency representative added that every employee&rsquo;s paid leave claim requires certification from an appropriate professional attesting that their time off is essential. PFML also employs a variety of administrative data sources to cross-check information and ensure accuracy, the department spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/4364152\/walz-allies-led-state-agencies-alleged-somali-daycare-fraud\/\"><strong>WALZ ALLIES LED STATE AGENCIES THAT OVERSAW MASSIVE ALLEGED SOMALI DAY CARE FRAUD<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The program&rsquo;s certification process is &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/pl.mn.gov\/providers-and-certifiers\">streamlined<\/a>,&rdquo; the state says. Applicants fill out <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/deed\/assets\/mnpl-medical-leave-certification-acc_tcm1045-711470.pdf\">a certification form<\/a>, which is then signed by a healthcare provider. Qualified certifiers for medical leave include a wide range of professionals, such as dentists, optometrists, social workers, alcohol and drug counselors, and mental health professionals. Medical providers outside of Minnesota, including those practicing outside of the United States, can certify paid leave.<\/p>\n<p>DEED pointed the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> to a Republican-led House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=XNdlBY5GRUc\">hearing<\/a> held in November to review PFML&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-the-year-in-liberal-celebrity-freakouts\/\" title=\"GRAHAM: The ... In Liberal Celebrity Freakouts\">anti-fraud measures<\/a>. There, the deputy commissioner of DEED testified about the program&rsquo;s integrity components. During the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rand-paul-the-fraud-happened-this-election-in-many-ways-was-stolen-video\/\" title=\"Rand Paul: The Fraud Happened; This Election in Many Ways Was Stolen (VIDEO)\">oversight hearing<\/a>, Minnesota Legislative Auditor Judy Randall <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/XNdlBY5GRUc?si=le7iADrpgfCtmLn0&amp;t=6191\">remarked<\/a> that she was &ldquo;impressed&rdquo; with much of what was presented before the committee, though her office does not conduct prospective assurance reviews.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t say anything definitive, of course, but I listened to the presentation, and honestly, I was impressed with a lot of that,&rdquo; Randall said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-illegal-immigrants-among-prioritized-program-prospects\">Illegal immigrants among &lsquo;prioritized&rsquo; program prospects<\/h2>\n<p>Under a Democratic governing trifecta, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revisor.mn.gov\/bills\/93\/2023\/0\/HF\/2\/\">2023 paid leave law<\/a> passed without a single Republican vote in the state legislature, making Minnesota the 13th state in the nation to provide such government assistance. Since the law&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.house.mn.gov\/NewLaws\/story\/2023\/5501\">enactment<\/a>, the program&rsquo;s execution took more than two and a half years of design, construction, and testing.<\/p>\n<p>Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tim-walz\/\">Tim Walz<\/a> (D-MN), who is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3902001\/minnesota-human-services-tim-walz-massive-fraud\/\">accused<\/a> of allowing welfare fraud to proliferate under his administration,  signed PFML into law and heavily <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/pl.mn.gov\/news\/one-month-out-start-minnesota-paid-leave-governor-walz-announces-applications-open-new-parents\">promoted<\/a> the program ahead of its unveiling.<\/p>\n<p>Pressed about whether PFML would be a target for fraudsters, Walz <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/libbyemmons\/status\/1996198115976843721\">said<\/a> it is &ldquo;disrespectful&rdquo; to assume that ailing Minnesotans will try to scam the benefits program.<\/p>\n<p>Walz has especially been defensive of the Somali immigrants living in Minnesota, dozens of whom face criminal charges for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota-fraud\/\">stealing millions in tax dollars<\/a> from the state&rsquo;s social services.<\/p>\n<p>Following reports of Somali-run sham nonprofit groups exploiting programming meant for struggling Minnesotans, Walz even embraced the idea of more Somalians settling across the state.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3913765\/walz-welcome-more-somalis-minnesota-fraud-investigation-intensifies\/\"><strong>WALZ SAYS HE WOULD &lsquo;WELCOME MORE&rsquo; SOMALIS AS FRAUD INVESTIGATION INTENSIFIES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Employers are <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/pl.mn.gov\/employers\/roles-and-responsibilities#section-456-tell-your-employees-about-paid-leave\">required<\/a> to display a PFML poster at their respective workplaces notifying employees about the paid leave program. The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/deed\/assets\/paid-leave-mandatory-employer-poster-acc_tcm1045-700342.pdf\">poster<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/pl.mn.gov\/toolkits\/employer-resource-toolkit\">available<\/a> in a variety of languages with more versions coming soon, must be displayed in any foreign language that is the primary tongue of at least five workers.<\/p>\n<p>In the lead-up to the paid leave program&rsquo;s launch, the state <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/deed\/newscenter\/press-releases\/?id=1045-716496\">awarded<\/a> public outreach grants to community groups, such as Sub-Saharan African Youth &amp; Family Service and African Economic Development Solutions, supporting efforts to ensure that certain employees, employers, and self-employed individuals from &ldquo;priority populations&rdquo; are aware of PFML.<\/p>\n<p>Emphasizing &ldquo;equity,&rdquo; the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/pl.mn.gov\/resources\/public-outreach-grants\">grant program<\/a> prioritizes proposals aimed at increasing awareness and access among &ldquo;undocumented communities,&rdquo; ethnic minorities, LGBT people, and limited English proficiency speakers.<\/p>\n<p>Funding for the grants comes from an earmarked portion of the projected PFML payments. An available fund of $1.9 million went toward the grants for fiscal 2026 and will increase to $3.7 million the following year.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-burden-on-taxpayers\">The burden on taxpayers<\/h2>\n<p>The paid leave program itself is funded through a payroll tax split evenly between employers and employees. Workers, including <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illegal-immigration\/\">illegal immigrants<\/a>, who pay into the program have their half deducted from their wages.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to almost $800 million in seed money allocated toward PFML&rsquo;s startup costs, a nest fund allowed the state to start paying out claims immediately on Jan. 1, the program&rsquo;s start date.<\/p>\n<p>Payroll taxes, now set at 0.88%, have already been increased since PFML&rsquo;s passage, hiked up from the initial 0.7% rate originally proposed in 2023. DEED is slated to adjust the rate annually after a yearly actuarial evaluation.<\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen whether officials will continue to raise the payroll tax rate to cover the costs of demand. Economic policy experts suspect so, saying that state leaders are grossly underestimating the number of applicants who will seek paid leave.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4410450\/four-takeaways-house-oversight-minnesota-fraud-hearing\/\">FOUR TAKEAWAYS FROM HOUSE OVERSIGHT&rsquo;S HEATED MINNESOTA FRAUD HEARING<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s been the pattern after every new social benefit introduced,&rdquo; said Bill Glahn, a former research consultant for the Minnesota House of Representatives, who advised the economic development and finance committees.<\/p>\n<p>Glahn previously <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/investigations\/3906777\/tim-walz-minnesota-paid-leave-program-open-undocumented-workers\/\">told<\/a> the <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>that he predicts &ldquo;a huge uptake&rdquo; based on those trends. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re immediately going to find themselves in the hole, having to raise that payroll tax again.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>18,000 apply for MN paid leave, undocumented eligible<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3767,"featured_media":2531808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tim-Walz-PFML.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[45876,5698,70454,51850,70455],"class_list":["post-2531807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-employment-policy","tag-minnesota","tag-paid-family-leave","tag-paid-leave","tag-state-benefits"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Tim-Walz-PFML.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3767"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2531807"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2531816,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2531807\/revisions\/2531816"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2531808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2531807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2531807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2531807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}