Good morning, and happy Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving.
Nearly four dozen doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists from the U.S. military are on the ground in Minnesota to ease the strain on the state’s health care system. MPR’s Matt Sepic reports that on Thursday, they'll start providing patient care. Gov. Tim Walz asked the Defense Department for help because hospitals across the state are beyond capacity caring for COVID-19 patients. Despite high rates of vaccination and booster shots, Minnesota led the nation last week in new per-capita COVID-19 infections. Hospitals are full as they care for the most serious patients. Two medical response teams of mostly Air Force personnel are shadowing staff at CentraCare Hospital in St. Cloud and HCMC in Minneapolis before they start providing patient care.
Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District would stretch from North Dakota to Lake Superior under a plan released Tuesday by a committee in the DFL-controlled House, reports MPR’s Tim Pugmire. Members of the House Redistricting panel spent only a short time reviewing the proposed map that would also shrink the geography of the 1st District with Rochester at its center and move the 2nd District north into Woodbury and other suburbs. Rep. Mary Murphy, DFL-Hermantown, the committee chair, said adjustments were made to all eight districts to equalize population. “Our error rate is zero voters,” Murphy said. “So, we have met the ideal qualification of 713,311 people.” Rep. Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska, complained that his side had no say in the congressional map or the legislative map the committee released last week. “We heard many times in early committee meetings that the goal was to actually pass maps out of committee and agree with the Senate and get maps on the governor’s desk in time for them to become law. Neither of these maps is a step in that direction. These are highly partisan.” The committee plans to take public testimony on the maps during two hearings in early December. If the Legislature can’t agree on redistricting by mid-February the courts will take over the job.
There’s a hint of progress on a special legislative session. Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and Republican Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller said Tuesday that they expect to resume negotiations soon. They’re trying to reach a deal around special pay for front-line pandemic workers, farm drought relief and emergency nursing home assistance. Those have been hung up over a Senate GOP threat to deny confirmation to Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm and other top advisers of Gov. Tim Walz. Miller told MPR’s Cathy Wurzer on Tuesday that he’s willing to postpone the confirmation debate if Democrats add Republican proposals on coronavirus measures to a special session agenda. The proposals were outlined in a letter Monday and include regulatory relief and up to $250 million for long-term care facilities, as well as lifting some COVID-19 vaccine policies instituted by Walz. "If we can find agreement on the areas that were outlined in that letter, Senate Republicans would be willing to back off any discussions regarding commissioners for a special session," Miller said.
A sad note to end on today. Patrick Flahaven, the longtime secretary of the Minnesota Senate who for decades served as that chamber’s chief administrator and referee of floor proceedings, died of complications from a stroke Sunday at Regions Hospital in St. Paul. He turned 78 that day, writes Bill Salisbury in the Pioneer Press. Flahaven was a true public servant and a gracious and pleasant person. Do yourself a favor and read Bill's obituary.
Have a great Thanksgiving, and I’ll see you again here Monday. | 