Dear Neighbor,
Before we get to legislative news, I want to congratulate the Cass Lake-Bena Panthers boys basketball team for beating Rushford-Peterson in double overtime yesterday in the quarterfinals of this week’s state tournament. That was the 30th win this season for the Panthers, who play North Woods in the semifinals 2 p.m. today at Target Center. Good luck, Panthers!
As for highlights from St. Paul, the red and black plaid was out in force on Wednesday for Bemidji Day at the Capitol. It was good to see familiar faces and we discussed a number of issues, including some very important local subjects.
For one, we talked about the proposed Hagg-Sauer project at BSU and the capital investment bill I have authored to fund the work. And the subject of veterans homes was a major focus as the House State Government Finance Committee reviewed the subject. We also met with the governor’s staff to discuss this issue. While the governor’s people were non-committal on this project, the simple fact they were willing to meet may be a sign of progress after they gave us the cold shoulder last year.
I again this session have authored legislation to help build a veterans home in Bemidji and address the shortfall of beds in our state. We are nearly 250 beds short of meeting demand for treating veterans and there is an estimated 15-month average waiting time for a bed. I have even heard stories of people waiting up to six years. This problem is only going to get worse as the many thousands of Vietnam veterans continue to age.
One point I continue to stress is that, as a state, we cannot allow ourselves to continue getting bogged down in the process and wondering what the federal government might do or not do. Let’s put an end to the paralysis by analysis and get started building beds that veterans need and citizens support. The other details can sort themselves out in the process.
Click here for an article in the Pioneer covering the Bemidji Day, including some other interesting info on these subjects and some additional quotes from me on the veterans hospital issue.
It was a busy week for committees in general with the arrival of the first deadline for bills to receive hearings. A bill (HF 3018) I authored to create a charitable gambling task force was one of the many bills heard. The panel my bill proposes would review the current taxes imposed on lawful gambling to see if the proceeds are reaching the intended organizations and/or how modifications to those taxes could improve things. A report would be due next Feb. 15, with recommendations and the task force would sunset March 1.
Another hearing took place to discuss the bipartisan bill I am co-sponsoring to help exploited indigenous women and children (Rep. Mary Kunesh-Podein is the chief author). As I noted in a recent email, this issue impacts our region directly and the bill being offered would create a task force to look into the situation and hopefully help us arrive at some solutions. We worked to gain a public hearing on this bill and I thank the Government Operations and Elections Policy Committee and Chairman Rep. Tim O’Driscoll for giving us a warm reception. The bipartisan bill (HF 3375) is gaining in sponsorship and support. It remains in the mix, so stay tuned.
On a final note, both legislative bodies gave their final approval to a bill to help keep the state’s new vehicle registration and licensing system operating. To say that system has been experiencing problems is putting it mildly, but it is important to get it functioning so people can complete vehicle/registration transactions. That bill is on to the governor for his action.
Sincerely,
Matt