Dear Friends,
It’s always a sad realization when another wonderful Minnesota summer officially comes to an end. With Labor Day weekend now upon us, I hope this week’s update finds you well rested and ready for the 2019-20 school season.
Everyone seems to adjust quickly when the school buses come rolling along as kids get excited to be in their new classrooms. I want to thank our educators, administrators, bus drivers, and school support staff that make educating our most precious loved ones their number one priority. I have been in many classrooms and witnessed firsthand the challenges and rewards teachers are presented with every day. I hope our local school systems at NL-S, ACGC, and Willmar have a great year!
I also wanted to share my recent concerns with headlines on a proposed opioid settlement involving the manufacturer of OxyContin, Purdue Pharma.
It is not surprising that these drug companies want to throw “pallets” of cash at states and local jurisdictions to make active lawsuits go away. As for myself, I remain focused on getting honest answers that will help us better understand the origins of this epidemic instead of allowing a financial settlement to close the book on the companies responsible for the crisis.
I will be adamant in getting answers to these questions and have shared my concerns directly with our state’s attorney general. If he does indeed choose to settle, drug companies must be ready to provide answers.
So many processes failed and safety nets were overlooked that ultimately led to 200,000 people dying from opioid overdoses over the last 25 years. We must learn from this colossal disaster and make sure we begin using opioids safely like we had been doing for decades.
Much more to follow on this subject.
Staying in Touch
Please be sure to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-6206 or via email at rep.dave.baker@house.mn.
It’s an honor to serve the wonderful people of Kandiyohi County and I hope you enjoy the long weekend!
Dave