Minnesota’s rural hospitals seek support, free lunches for Minnesota kids this summer, and the DFL wonders if its package of gun safety bills will even be heard on the House floor.
Transcript
WITH HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE STATE, I’M XAN HOLSTON.
WITH JUST DAYS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ... ONE OF THE MOST EMOTIONAL PUBLIC-SAFETY DEBATES AT THE CAPITOL MAY NOT GET A FINAL VOTE...
[REP. JAMIE LONG: DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW WHERE IT IS? IS IT IN A DRAWER? IS IT IN A LOCKED SAFE?]
-- --
--GUN OMNIBUS BILL--
D-F-L BACKED GUN LEGISLATION PASSED THE SENATE LAST WEEK … BUT IT’S UNCLEAR IF IT WILL EVER REACH THE HOUSE FLOOR.
HERE’S REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BJORN OLSON DURING A SESSION LAST WEEK:
[REP. BJORN OLSON: WE’VE RECEIVED IT, BUT I’VE BEEN INSTRUCTED NOT TO REPORT IT.]
THE PACKAGE INCLUDES SEVERAL GUN MEASURES D-F-L LAWMAKERS HAVE PUSHED SINCE LAST YEAR’S ANNUNCIATION CHURCH SHOOTING ... INCLUDING A BAN ON ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS AND HIGH-CAPACITY MAGAZINES.
THE MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE REPORTS THAT HOUSE SPEAKER … REPUBLICAN LISA DEMUTH … TOLD ANNUNCIATION FAMILIES SHE WOULD NOT BLOCK A VOTE ON GUN SAFETY BILLS.
BUT WITH NO SIGN OF THE BILL COMING TO THE FLOOR … D-F-L REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE LONG SAYS THE DELAY UNDERCUTS THAT PROMISE.
[REP. JAMIE LONG: HOLDING THE BILL … WHO KNOWS WHERE … AND NOT ALLOWING IT TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE COMMITTEE PROCESS IS THE SAME AS BLOCKING THE BILL FROM COMING UP FOR A VOTE.]
POLITICAL OBSERVERS TELL NORTH STAR STORIES DEMUTH IS NOT OBLIGATED TO TAKE UP THE BILL ... AND COULD FACE POLITICAL RISK FROM WITHIN HER OWN PARTY IF SHE DOES.
--340B BILL--
GUNS ARE NOT THE ONLY MAJOR ISSUE STILL WAITING FOR ACTION.
RURAL HOSPITAL LEADERS SAY A DRUG-PRICING BILL COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KEEPING SERVICES OPEN ... OR CLOSING THEM DOWN.
THE BILL CENTERS ON THE 340-B PROGRAM ... WHICH LETS ELIGIBLE HOSPITALS BUY SOME PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AT A DISCOUNT.
HOSPITALS USE THOSE SAVINGS TO HELP PAY FOR CARE THAT OFTEN LOSES MONEY … INCLUDING EMERGENCY ROOMS ... AMBULANCES ... AND SERVICES FOR UNINSURED OR UNDERINSURED PATIENTS.
RURAL HOSPITAL LEADERS SAY MINNESOTA’S CURRENT 340-B LAW NEEDS STRONGER ENFORCEMENT SO DRUG COMPANIES CANNOT BLOCK THOSE DISCOUNTS.
RICHARD ASH IS C-E-O OF UNITED HOSPITAL DISTRICT IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA’S BLUE EARTH … HE SAYS LAWMAKERS NEED TO PASS THE BILL NOW.
[RICHARD ASH: IF THE LEGISLATURE WAITS UNTIL MORE RURAL HOSPITALS ARE GONE AND SERVICES ARE GONE, IT WILL NOT BE A POLICY FAILURE. IT WILL BE A MORAL FAILURE.]
THE MINNESOTA HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION SAYS ABOUT 30-PERCENT OF STATE HOSPITALS ARE OPERATING AT A LOSS ... A RECENT REPORT SAYS SEVEN MINNESOTA SAFETY-NET HOSPITALS ARE AT RISK OF SHUTTING DOWN DUE TO FEDERAL MEDICAID CUTS.
THE 340-B DEBATE IS PART OF A LARGER HEALTH-CARE FUNDING FIGHT LAWMAKERS HAVE YET TO SETTLE … THAT INCLUDES A FUNDING FIX FOR H-C-M-C AND OTHER SAFETY-NET HOSPITALS.
--LEFTOVER BILL SUMMARY--
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS STILL ON THE TABLE … INCLUDING PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND … SOCIAL MEDIA GUARDRAILS FOR KIDS … STRONGER PROTECTIONS FOR PEOPLE SEEKING DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS … AND A BAN ON PREDICTION-MARKET WAGERING.
ALSO STILL IN PLAY.. IMPROVED RENTER AND TENANT PROTECTIONS DEALING WITH EVICTIONS AND UTILITY BILLING … AND A SENATE-PASSED BILL RESPONDING TO FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT.
--BILLS PASSED--
A HANDFUL OF PRACTICAL BILLS ARE HEADED TO GOVERNOR TIM WALZ TO SIGN INTO LAW ... INCLUDING ONE CREATING A NEW STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE FRAUD IN PUBLIC PROGRAMS ... AND A HOMEOWNER ASSOCIATION REFORM PACKAGE WITH LIMITS ON FINES.
--RURAL ECONOMY SURVEY--
RURAL VOTERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE ECONOMY.. ACCORDING TO NEW POLLING... AND IN MINNESOTA.. THOSE WORRIES ARE ALREADY DRIVING FARMING DECISIONS.
BROWNFIELD AG NEWS REPORTS MORE MINNESOTA FARMERS ARE ‘PARKING EQUIPMENT’ THIS YEAR ... NOT FARMING FIELDS.. RATHER THAN PLANTING AT A LOSS.
THE D-N-R SAYS MAY IS GOING TO BE DRIER THAN NORMAL ACROSS THE STATE... ADDING CHALLENGES FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS WHO ARE WATCHING THE COST AND SUPPLY OF HAY.. PASTURE.. AND OTHER ANIMAL FEED...
A NEW CENTER FOR RURAL STRATEGIES SURVEY FINDS 52-PERCENT OF RURAL VOTERS IN BATTLEGROUND STATES.. INCLUDING MINNESOTA... SAY THE U-S ECONOMY ISN’T WORKING WELL FOR THEM.
CENTER PRESIDENT DEE DAVIS TELLS REPORTER MIKE MOEN THAT THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY IS CHANGING HOW RURAL VOTERS TALK ABOUT GOVERNMENT.
[DEE DAVIS: RURAL VOTERS WOULD LIKE SOMETHING SOLID, AND A PLAN THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE TOUGH ISSUES THEY'RE FACING, LIKE COST OF FOOD, COST OF GAS, COST OF ELECTRICITY.]
AND... A MINNESOTA CHAMBER POLL FOUND AFFORDABILITY IS THE TOP PRIORITY FOR STATE VOTERS.
--DWI TREATMENT PROGRAM--
A DULUTH-AREA COURT IS GETTING NATIONAL PROPS FOR ITS TREATMENT PROGRAM THAT HELPS PEOPLE GET THEIR LIVES BACK ON TRACK.
A LEADING NATIONAL NONPROFIT SELECTED THE SOUTH SAINT LOUIS COUNTY D-W-I COURT TO ITS ‘IMPAIRED DRIVING ACADEMY COURTS’ LIST.
THE SOUTH SAINT LOUIS COUNTY COURT PROGRAM IS RECOGNIZED FOR SOBRIETY… EMPLOYMENT… AND GRADUATION RATES OF NEARLY 90-PERCENT.
--SUMMER SCHOOL MEALS--
AND FINALLY...
AS SCHOOL LETS OUT… FREE SUMMER MEALS ARE STARTING UP FOR KIDS ACROSS MINNESOTA AS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S ‘U-S-D-A SUMMER FOOD SERVICE’ PROGRAM.
STARTING MAY 26TH... LOCAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE WILL SERVE FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TO ANY CHILD 18 AND YOUNGER..
FIND LOCAL INFORMATION ON DAILY HOURS, LOCATIONS AND MENUS... ON THE MOBILE APP… CALLED “FREE MEALS FOR KIDS”.
FOR NORTH STAR STORIES, I’M XAN HOLSTON.