Friends and neighbors,
It has been another whirlwind week at the capitol. Below is a rundown of what we did last week.
Taking care of at-risk veterans
Last year, the Senate secured funding for three brand new veterans homes in Minnesota: one in Preston, one in Montevideo, and one in Bemidji. We chose these communities because currently none of them have a veterans home within 100 miles. We have a responsibility to care for the brave men and women who have returned from valiantly serving their country, but in these communities we are falling short. These homes will help a lot of at-risk veterans.
However, even though the legislature delivered funding for these homes last year, the shovels can’t quite go in the ground. The reason is the federal government is also responsible for a portion of the funding. This week, the Senate Veterans Committee approved a resolution asking the federal government to fund their portion of the costs. The resolution passed on a bipartisan, unanimous vote, and I hope it motivates federal officials to come through with their share of the funding.
Helping students become better readers
As you know, one of the most important indicators in a student’s future success is their ability to read proficiently, especially by third grade. This week, the Senate Education Committee heard several bills aimed at helping more students meet those vital benchmarks by improving teacher training and focusing more intently on identifying dyslexia early on, and getting those students the specialized instruction they need.
In committee, Senator Chamberlain pointed out that 90% reading proficiency is absolutely attainable, we just need to take the next important steps. This is an issue we have been working hard on over the last few years, and I am more optimistic than ever that we will finally be able to get these kids the resources they need.
Waste and abuse in Medical Assistance
One of the things I’m most concerned about in our government is waste, fraud, and abuse. We see it in every area of government, from child care fraud to public health programs like Medical Assistance. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee discussed the latter topic this week. As you may remember, in December the Legislative Auditor released the results of an audit showing we have significant room for improvement in our Medical Assistance program. They found more than 2700 people on the program who did not have a Minnesota address, and were collecting MA benefits anyway. In addition, a sample of enrollees found that 15% of those receiving Medical Assistance benefits were ineligible because they exceeded income limits, yet they also received benefits anyway. Those are pretty striking numbers, and when you’re spending nearly $2 billion on Medical Assistance for able-bodied adults, you can see how there are opportunities for real, significant savings.
As always, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns, I would love to hear them. Please feel free to contact me at 651-296-5981 or sen.bruce.anderson@senate.mn.
Talk to you again soon,