Dear Neighbors,
The legislature recently took a weeklong recess to observe Easter and Passover, and during this, it was great to connect with many folks on the Range and hear their priorities for the rest of the legislative session. Part of this was a visit to Bigfork Valley Hospital. The senior living services and care provided there is quite innovative, crossing the continuum including adult day stays, home care, and memory care, all on the same campus. Nearby, they have a long term care facility for those 50 or older. They also have a daycare on site, which is helpful in recruiting talented employees and can help address the workforce shortage. Fixed wing ambulances can access the hospital via the airport which is nearby.
The campus does face some challenges though. First, they only have access to a single well, and it could pose significant problems should this freeze or otherwise fail. Featuring a trail of continuous potholes, Highway 38 is also in desperate need of updating. However, despite these challenges, through a long-term vision, CEO Aaron Saude and the team have developed a wonderful facility. I hope other communities can look to Bigfork Valley for ideas about how to better deliver care.
I also had the opportunity to visit the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Togo. The professional staff there do perhaps the most innovative work anywhere in the correctional system through the Challenge Incarceration Program (CIP). This voluntary, intensive, boot-camp style program allows nonviolent offenders a chance at early release through successful completion of a structured multiphase program. Offenders are able to receive chemical dependency treatment, cognitive skills training and other programming to prepare them for reentry. I had the chance to speak with some of them, and you can tell just how life changing this experience is for them. The program is highly effective, and recidivism is reduced by 35 percent for those who participate. As we look to address prison overcrowding, it’s important for us to take advantage of proven strategies like the ones utilized by the CIP at Togo. I thank Captain Zuk and Warden Anselmo for the tour.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections is seeking $2 million to renovate the facility so it can admit more offenders, make repairs to the septic system, repurpose space for medical exam and treatment rooms, and make electrical upgrades. Gov. Dayton supports this funding too, and it’s part of his $1.5 billion bonding proposal, funding improvements to our state assets all over Minnesota. These include our colleges and universities, water infrastructure, rail safety upgrades and others.
Currently, the House Republican Majority has yet to unveil a bonding proposal of their own. Last year you may have seen, as part of a frantic end to the session, House Republicans failed to pass such a bill when a compromise was unable to be reached. I am concerned that instead of putting a proposal on the table for the public to see and to provide input toward, they may be seeking to again use a bonding bill as a bargaining chip. This is a reckless strategy, and with time running out, it would be irresponsible to again fail to make these critical investments.
The longer we wait, the more expensive investments like this become, and with future low interest rates in question, we cannot keep putting this off. A bonding bill is also unique in that it requires a 3/5ths supermajority, meaning it requires bipartisan support. I’ll continue to work for a statewide bonding bill that takes care of infrastructure needs across the state while putting Minnesotans to work.
There are just four weeks left in the legislative session. House/Senate conference committees have been appointed to work out differences between each chamber’s budget bills. For my part, I remain committed to a state budget that improves opportunity for all Minnesota families through quality education, good jobs, and responsible budgeting. I hope you’ll stay in touch with your input as we hopefully head toward a productive end of the session with results that benefit Minnesotans. Feel free to call or email me any time.
Sincerely,
Julie Sandstede
State Representative