ST. PAUL – House Democrats approved a bill Tuesday which Rep. Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, said ignores a long-term care crisis in our state by severely underfunding this portion of the state budget.
Niska roundly criticized the House Human Services Finance omnibus package (S.F. 2934) for its lack of funding for nursing homes, which came to the floor accounting for just .01 percent of the Democrats’ $72 billion budget proposal that consumes the state’s $19 billion surplus and increases state General Fund spending by 40 percent.
“It is a disgrace for House Democrats increase state spending by 40 percent and blow through the state’s $19 billion surplus, yet fail to support our most vulnerable citizens and the workers who care for them,” Niska said. “The majority party is blatantly choosing to fund political paybacks to interest groups over Minnesotans most in need.”
Meanwhile, Niska said Minnesota is in the midst of a “silver tsunami,” with more than 1.3 million state residents aged 65 or older. As these residents age, he said, their need for care grows and it is unfortunate to see Minnesota is not keeping up with these needs.
Niska indicated 2,597 nursing home beds have been taken out of service in Minnesota since 2020, the equivalent of shuttering 52, 50-bed homes. The long-term care industry in Minnesota, he said, currently is operating with a worker shortage of 53,000 and that, in the month of October alone, 11,000 elderly residents were turned away from nursing homes – largely due to lack of staff.
Niska said the inability to fully staff our nursing homes then places added strains on hospitals, with nearly 20 percent of their bed space taken up by people who could be better served recovering in nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
“Minnesotans deserve better than what they are getting from this dangerous and extreme agenda House Democrats are pushing,” Niska said. “There’s time for a conference committee to fix this bill before it comes back for a vote on final passage. Let’s hope Democrats will feel the pressure from Minnesotans who just want the Legislature to do what’s right by supporting people in need of long-term care and the people who care for them.”
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