St. Paul, MN – During the recent special session, the Minnesota Senate unanimously passed Senate File 12 for $30.4 million in aid to disability service providers. Despite unanimous passage and precedent for aid dollars, the House DFL Majority did not bring the bill to a vote.

Senator Gary Dahms (R ‒ Redwood Falls) weighed in on the lack of attention on disability services with the following statement:

“It is clear to me that our state’s physically and mentally disabled citizens are not valued appropriately by the Walz administration or House DFL. The fact that the Minnesota Zoo readily received aid while disability service providers are struggling to stay open and some are closing under heightened costs of operation and stringent mandates is an absolute outrage. The disabled are of infinitely more worth than zoo animals.

“This is a personal issue for me. Service providers are a ray of hope for many who want to lead fulfilling and enriched lives but need some help along the way.

“Minnesota Management Commissioner Myron Frans and Governor Tim Walz showed the most interest in implementing Senate File 12 when they used it as a bargaining chip against some portions of a supplemental budget bill. The disabled and the people who care for them are not up for debate in the negotiation process; we are talking about highly essential workers who care for human life.”

Senator Dahms is in his third term representing Senate District 16, which includes communities in Brown, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Redwood, Renville, and Yellow Medicine counties. He also serves as chair of the Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Committee and is an assistant majority leader.