Ohio 59th district representative Tex Fischer penned a letter to Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber for a review of state funds allocated to childcare and healthcare amidst Minnesota childcare fraud allegations.

The letter was cosigned by 42 other state representatives from the Ohio House.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services froze childcare funding to Minnesota on Dec. 30 while federal probes launched an investigation into alleged fraudulent activities.

Several Minnesota childcare facilities have pushed back against these accusations, with some releasing security camera footage of children entering their daycares.

In the letter, Fischer claims that some Ohioans have raised concerns about similar alleged fraudulent activity. 

Fischer says it is important to make sure public funds are used appropriately in Ohio. 

"We need to make sure that all these programs are above board and actually serving the people they are intended to serve," he said.

Fischer plans to introduce legislation that would expand the auditor's ability to initiate performance audits.

The current Ohio Performance Team under the Ohio Auditor of State must receive a request from an organization that pays for the audit.

"If you're committing fraud, you're probably not gonna be too excited about inviting the auditor of state to come and tell you you're doing wrong," he said.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine defended the state's childcare facilities in a statement to the Ohio Capital Journal on Friday, Jan. 2 where he said that he believes people are right to be suspicious of alleged Minnesota daycare fraud, but claims that Ohio childcare facilities have methods of preventing fraud, such as rewarding funds based on attendance instead of enrollment.

On Jan. 2, Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber announced in a press release that the Auditor's website would allow Ohioans to report potential fraud in public benefits programs.