Dear Neighbors,
Here is an update from the Capitol.
House File 211
Earlier this week, the Greater Minnesota Economic and Workforce Development Policy Committee heard and passed my bill, HF 211.
HF 211 addresses a critical need for health care professionals in Greater Minnesota by recruiting young graduates where they're needed the most. It also helps retain those individuals in rural communities by providing student loan forgiveness incentives.
It is estimated that the bill could add 200 new health care providers to rural Minnesota over the next four years including 60 primary care physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, 50 registered nurses to nursing homes, 30 dentists, pharmacists and nursing faculty, and 60 mental health professionals, public health nurses and dental therapists.
This is a great bill for District 1B and for all of Greater Minnesota, and I will continue to work for this bill to become law. Rural Minnesota has a unique challenge with a severe shortage of health care professionals, and this bill is a step in the right direction that can help remedy the problem.
Pay Raises for Politicians
The legislature recently learned that Governor Dayton approved substantial pay increases for his commissioners and political appointees, many of whom already make six-figure salaries. These pay raises of between 19 and 58 percent raise the top salaries up to more than $155,000 a year and could cost taxpayers more than $1.6 million over the next two years.
These pay raises don’t reflect the priorities of taxpayers or the economic realities of average Minnesotans. It’s unfortunate that Governor Dayton chose to support these pay raises without any public input from taxpayers.
Constituents at the Capitol
It was great to meet with a number of constituent groups over the past two weeks including the Soybean Growers Association, the Minnesota Nurses Association, and the Minnesota Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.
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If I can ever assist you or your family on a matter of state government, please don’t hesitate to contact my office. I am here to serve you!
Have a great weekend!
Deb
**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/01B