Capitol View: November 8, 2011 Archive

Dayton says Hann is blocking funding for health care

Posted at 12:36 PM on November 8, 2011 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2012, MN Legislature, Mark Dayton

Gov. Dayton says one Republican member of the Minnesota Senate is putting the lives of sick children and the elderly in jeopardy by putting a hold on federal funds directed to the state of Minnesota.

Dayton says Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, requested a review of $25 million in federal health care grants - essentially putting a hold on the funds. Dayton said Hann's action may be unconstitutional.

"That any single legislator could arbitrarily and unilaterally block money that comes from the federal government through a competitive grant process, a lawful process, and be used for the benefit for Minnesotans all over the state," Dayton said. "To have all of that blocked by one member of the Legislature is to me just undemocratic."

Dayton says his administration will try to convince Legislative leaders to approve the funding. If they don't approve, the administration can request a hearing from the Legislative Advisory Commission and can eventually get the money. Dayton says his concern is that the federal government could choose to give the money to another state in the meantime.

Hann is holding a 1 p.m. news conference to react to Dayton's assertion. Hann is defending his decision to raise questions about federal health care grants given to the state. Governor Dayton today criticized Hann for playing politics with money that will help the sick and elderly. Hann, who chairs the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said the Dayton Administration shouldn't have sole power to determine how to spend federal grants.

"My intent, as I said, was to make sure that we had a chance for the Legislature more than just me to look at this," Hann said. "I don't think I should be the guy that determines whether or not we should spend $60 million or not. I don't think the governor should be either. I think that's something for the public and the Legislature to do in the light of day."

Hann said state commissioners who oversee the grant money assured him that no one would be harmed if the money wasn't released immediately. He says he intends to hold a hearing on the federal funds.

In the meantime, here's his letter:

DHS_Sen Hann Ltr

Ellison, Rybak and Wasserman Schultz talk jobs in Minneapolis

Posted at 5:00 PM on November 8, 2011 by Catharine Richert
Filed under: Campaign 2012

Three Democrats touted President Barack Obama's stimulus plan at a rock climbing facility in south Minneapolis Tuesday.

It would appear an unlikely spot for Mayor R.T. Rybak and Reps. Keith Ellison and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who also serves as the Democratic National Committee's chair, to spend the afternoon.

But the facility is a stimulus success story, the trio said.

"This is a great thing," said Ellison as rock climbers scaled the wall behind him. "Not only is it going to add interesting, vibrant amenities for people here...but it is going to be a place of employment."

Ellison said that Vertical Endeavors, which combined private, city and stimulus dollars to pay for the building's $1.3 million renovation, will support 35 full-and-part time jobs.

In this economic climate, job creation has emerged as a central theme to Obama's campaign. Wasserman Schultz, who's primary job will be to raise money for and campaign for Obama and other Democrats, said that the renovation would not have been possible without stimulus funding.

"These are the types of projects that remind us that in the 2012 election, our country is really going to have a very clear choice," she said. "We have Mitt Romney and Republicans who oppose job creation and investments like this one in small businesses."

Just a year out from the 2012 election, Wasserman Schultz also touted Obama's second jobs bill that has largely stalled in Congress.

Among other things, the nearly $450 billion proposal would put resources into infrastructure such as bridges.

"No one knows better than Minnesotans how important it is that our nation's bridges are sound and not failing," said Wasserman Schultz.

UPDATE: A spokesman from the Republican National Committee sent us this comment, saying Wasserman Schultz was spinning Obama's "failed record."

"Instead of sending surrogates to campaign to save the president's job, Barack Obama should be focused on jobs for Minnesotans," said RNC spokesman Ryan Mahoney. "Unfortunately for unemployed Minnesotans, campaign pitches for more of the same failed policies from the first stimulus won't put people in Minneapolis back to work."