Minnesota Nurses

MNA Legislative Update February 17, 2012

Right to Work
“Right to Work” constitutional amendments that would weaken unions and undermine workers’ rights have been introduced at the Capitol. These bills are unnecessary, unsafe and unfair. They will not create jobs and will not help our economy. They will make all of our families unsafe if professionals like nurses, firefighters and police officers have their voices silenced in the workplace. Minnesota has the third highest quality of life in the United States. We have a far lower rate of unemployment than the national average. States that already have Right to Work laws have lower qualities of life and higher unemployment than states with strong collective bargaining rights. Learn more at www.mnnurses.org/rtw.

Action: After overwhelming turnout at the last briefings, the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation is holding several more Right to Work briefings all over the metro area for any interested union members:

• Saturday, February 18, 10:00 AM

CWA 7200 Hall, 3521 East Lake Street, Minneapolis

• Thursday, February 23, 6:30 PM

Spring Lake Park VFW, 8100 Northeast Pleasant View Drive, Spring Lake Park

• Thursday, March 1, 5:30 PM
  Discovery Center, Board Room, Door #2
  301 2nd Ave NE, Buffalo
• Saturday, March 3, 10 AM
  Mound Depot
  Mound Bay Park, 5801 Bartlett Blvd, Mound
• Thursday, March 8, 6:30 PM
  Golden Valley VFW
  7775 Medicine Lake Road, Golden Valley
• Saturday, March 10, 10:00 AM
  Boilermakers Local 647
  9459 NW Hwy. 10, Suite 105, Ramsey
• Thursday, March 15, 6:30 PM
  Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota
  3200 Main St, Suite 360 (Wells Fargo Bank Building), Coon Rapids
• Tuesday, March 20, 6:30 PM
  Chaska American Legion
  102 West Fourth Street, Chaska
• Tuesday, March 27, 6:30 PM
  Minnetonka High School
  18301 Hwy. 7, West Entrance, Minnetonka

HMO Transparency Hearing

This week the two House Health and Human Services Committees met jointly for a hearing to gather information about the state’s payment of nearly $4 billion to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) for their management of Minnesota’s public health care programs.  One bill addressing the lack of oversight of the program has been introduced, and more may be coming.

MNA has been following this issue for a year, because we are concerned that when the state privatized our public health programs back in the 1990s, we lost the ability to oversee the program funded by taxpayer dollars. There is so little oversight of the HMOs now that there is a federal investigation into Minnesota’s HMO payments.

Pioneer Press article: Feds Investigate state over Medical Assistance program

Star Tribune editorial:  Is state overpaying health plans? Federal investigation adds urgency to HMO transparency push.

Felony Criminal Neglect of a Vulnerable Adult

MNA worked closely in the past weeks with Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, Health and Human Services Reform Chair Steve Gottwalt, other health care unions, and long term care facilities to come to a compromise over strengthening the punishment for those guilty of criminally neglecting a vulnerable adult.  The compromise was an effort between all parties to protect the rights of workers in cases of understaffing, while giving the county attorney the right to charge someone who intends to neglect a vulnerable adult with a felony as opposed to a gross misdemeanor.  Minnesota is the first state to make this crime a felony while protecting the rights of the workers.

MNA Nurses Day on the Hill
Nurses will be bringing patient advocacy from the bedside to the Capitol on Tuesday, February 28. We’ll brief you on the issues and make appointments for you to meet your legislators with other nurses from your area.

• Monday, February 27, 2012 – Member Education Program, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
  Crowne Plaza Hotel, St. Paul
• Tuesday, February 28, 2012 – Capitol Visits start at 8:00 a.m., Action at 12:30 p.m.
  State Capitol and State Office Building, St. Paul

So much of patient safety and nursing practice policy is decided at the state capitol. If we don’t advocate for our patients and our profession, no one else will. You can find more information and sign up here.  

MNA Legislative Update February 10, 2012

Right to Work
Senator Dave Thompson (R-36, Lakeville) and Representative Steve Drazkowski (R-28B, Mazeppa) introduced a so-called “Right to Work” constitutional amendment.  To read these bills and follow their progress, visit the bill status pages on the Legislature’s website: Senate File 1705, House File 2140.

This legislation, backed by employers, will weaken unions, cut pay and benefits, and worst of all, will take away nurses’ power to advocate for our patients’ safety and our practice. “Right to Work” doesn’t create any jobs, and workers in Right to Work states actually earn significantly less than workers in collective bargaining states. Learn more about this legislation at the MNA website. MNA is continuing to meet with legislators of both parties to educate them on the disadvantages of passing this amendment.

Action: After overwhelming turnout at the last briefing, the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation is holding two more Right to Work briefings for all interested union members:

• Saturday, February 18, 2012, 10:00 AM

CWA 7200 Hall, 3521 East Lake Street, Minneapolis

• Thursday, February 23, 6:30 PM

Spring Lake Park VFW, 8100 Northeast Pleasant View Drive, Spring Lake Park

Action: Keep talking to your fellow nurses about the threat of Right to Work, especially the effect it will have on nursing practice and patient safety. Please call the political organizer for your region to let them know how your conversations are going. We are looking for feedback from members on the best ways to talk about this issue with other nurses, so your input is important.

• Northern Minnesota: Grant Bendix, 651-414-2830, grant.bendix@mnnurses.org
• Metro area: Geri Katz, 651-414-2855, geri.katz@mnnurses.org
• Southern Minnesota: Julia Donnelly, 651-414-2833, Julia.donnelly@mnnurses.org

HMO Transparency Update

Due to whistleblower Dave Feinwachs, last session we learned a lot about the Health Maintenance Organizations’ “black box,” the $3 billion in taxpayer dollars (now up to $4 billion) they receive from the state every year to administer public health care programs. The HMOs do not have to report how they spend this money, or what percentage goes to provide health care versus administrative costs, bonuses and marketing.

Legislators are currently crafting a bill that would address this issue. There will be an informational hearing on Tuesday, February 14. No public testimony will be taken at this hearing, but there will be opportunities later in the session. If you are interested in attending:

When:             Tuesday, February 14, 2012 – 12:30-4:00 pm
Where:            Room 200 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. St. Paul

Felony Criminal Neglect

SF 1586 would make it a felony to intentionally neglect a vulnerable adult.  MNA supports this concept in principle, but we are concerned that the language in its current form would have unintended punitive consequences for nurses facing situations of short staffing.  We are continuing to meet with the bill authors and stakeholders to strengthen the language and protect nurses when the neglect is due to issues regarding staffing, supervision or institutional policies beyond the nurse’s control.

MNA Nurses Day on the Hill
Nurses will be bringing patient advocacy from the bedside to the Capitol on Tuesday, February 28. We’ll brief you on the issues and make appointments for you to meet your legislators with other nurses from your area.

• Monday, February 27, 2012 – Member Education Program, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
  Crowne Plaza Hotel, St. Paul
• Tuesday, February 28, 2012 – Capitol Visits and Action, Start at 8:00 a.m., Action at 12:30 p.m.
  State Capitol and State Office Building, St. Paul

So much of patient safety and nursing practice policy is decided at the state capitol. If we don’t advocate for our patients and our profession, no one else will. You can find more information and sign up here.

Precinct Caucus Update

On Tuesday, Minnesota’s political parties held precinct caucuses, and many of you have reported attending and moving resolutions concerning Right to Work and other important statewide issues. Thanks to everyone who took the time to participate. We heard reports back from many nurses who attended DFL and Republican caucuses. If you have an experience about your caucus you’d like to share, please email geri.katz@mnnurses.org.

MNA Legislative Update February 3, 2012

Right to Work Bill Introduced

Yesterday Senator Dave Thompson (R-36, Lakeville) announced he will introduce a so-called “Right to Work” constitutional amendment. This legislation, backed by employers, will weaken unions, cut pay and benefits, and worst of all, will take away nurses’ power to advocate for our patients’ safety and our practice. “Right to Work” doesn’t create any jobs, and workers in Right to Work states actually earn significantly less than workers in collective bargaining states. Learn more about this legislation at the MNA website. While Governor Dayton strongly opposes Right to Work, he does not have the right to veto a constitutional amendment if it passes both houses of the Legislature. Instead, it would go on the November 2012 ballot.  MNA is continuing to meet with legislators of both parties to educate them on the disadvantages of passing this amendment.

Action: The Minneapolis and St. Paul Regional Labor Federations are both holding Right to Work briefings for all interested union members on February 8:

• Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, 6:30 pm, 312 Central Ave, 2^nd Floor, Minneapolis 55414. RSVP to adam@minneapolisunions.org or 612-222-5500.
• St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, 6:00 pm, 411 Main Street, St. Paul, 55102. RSVP to kpeterson@stpaulunions.org or 651-222-3787, x18.

Hospital Privatization and Nurse Pensions

As the trend towards privatization of public sector hospitals continues, MNA members are being forced out of the Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) system and into private sector retirement accounts.  Unfortunately, when members leave PERA, their benefit amount is frozen unless their public sector employer pays an augmentation rate to PERA prior to the takeover.  Because the augmentation rate can mean millions of dollars for local governments, this option is rarely utilized and our members end up with a frozen benefit.  MNA worked with Senator Julie Rosen (R-24, Fairmont) to author an amendment to lower the augmentation rate, making it easier for public sector hospitals to ensure employee pensions continue to grow, even after they leave PERA.  The amendment was heard by the Pension Commission on Tuesday evening and was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus pension bill.  We will continue to meet with legislators to ensure this important piece of legislation makes its way to the Governor’s office.

Legislation

• Legislation to define the Community Paramedic services that are eligible for Medical Assistance reimbursement was introduced in the Senate by Senator Rosen (R-24, Fairmont) as SF 1543 and by Representative Mack (R-37A, Apple Valley) in the House as HF 2060. Click here to read MNA’s letter in opposition to this bill.
• Last week’s update informed you about SF 1586, a bill which would make it a felony to intentionally neglect a vulnerable adult.  Although MNA supports this concept in principle, we are concerned that the language in its current form would have unintended consequences for nurses facing situations of short staffing.  The bill was heard in the Judiciary Committee on Thursday and laid over for further conversations.  We are continuing to meet with the bill authors and stakeholders to strengthen the language and protect nurses.
• Representative Downey (R-41A, Edina) introduced a bill, HF 2033, requiring the Commissioner of Management and Budget to conduct a study comparing the compensation for public sector department staff to those in the private sector.  This bill perpetuates the myth that public employees are paid too much. State nurses, for example, make significantly less money than their counterparts in private hospitals.

MNA Nurses Day on the Hill
Nurses will be bringing patient advocacy from the bedside to the Capitol on Tuesday, February 28. We’ll brief you on the issues and make appointments for you to meet your legislators with other nurses from your area.

• Monday, February 27, 2012 – Member Education Program, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
  Crowne Plaza Hotel, St. Paul
• Tuesday, February 28, 2012 – Capitol Visits and Action, Start at 8:00 a.m., Action at 12:30 p.m.
  State Capitol and State Office Building, St. Paul

So much of patient safety and nursing practice policy is decided at the state capitol. If we don’t advocate for our patients and our profession, no one else will. You can find more information and sign up here.

Student Nurse Day on the Hill

Over 350 nursing students from across Minnesota came together on Thursday for Student Nurse Day on the Hill.  Students met MNA members who are leaders at the bedside, in the community and the Capitol. They heard from speakers about the importance of telling their personal stories to elected officials, and were briefed about the most important policy proposals affecting nursing practice. Special guests Representatives Jim Abeler (R-48B, Anoka) and Erin Murphy, RN (DFL-64A, St. Paul) spoke to students about building relationships with their elected officials and being effective advocates for their profession and their patients.

Precinct Caucuses

Tuesday, February 7 at 7:00 pm Minnesota’s political parties will hold precinct caucuses. This is a chance to discuss the issues with your neighbors, and help decide which candidates your party will support, and which policy positions your party will take.  Click here to find out where your party’s precinct caucus location is.

Legislation to define the Community Paramedic services that are eligible for Medical Assistance reimbursement was introduced in the Senate by Senator Rosen (R-24, Fairmont) as SF 1543 and by Representative Mack (R-37A, Apple Valley) in the House as HF 2060. Here is a link  to MNA’s letter in opposition to this bill.  mna position community paramedic

First Week of Session

The 2012 Legislative Session began this Tuesday, with commitments from legislative leaders that it will be a short session, with the goal of ending by April 2. The biggest issues of this session are likely to be constitutional amendments, a bonding bill, and a Vikings stadium.

Of most concern to MNA are constitutional amendments that will hurt working families. We are again dealing with a divided government, with the Senate and House in Republican control, and a Democratic governor. The legislative majorities, anticipating that Governor Dayton would veto a number of their more controversial priorities, have chosen a strategy that bypasses the Governor and asks the voters to write policy changes directly into the constitution.

• “Right to Work” Amendment: Rather than creating jobs, this deceptively-named amendment would weaken unions, result in a pay cut for workers, gut our contracts, and worst of all, take away nurses’ ability to advocate for our patients. You can learn much more about Right to Work here. MNA is working with our allies in the labor movement and legislators from both parties to stop this amendment.
• Budget Amendments:  Amendments have been introduced that would require a supermajority of legislators to raise taxes or use reserve funds, or would restrict lawmakers from using available resources. These amendments would make the gridlock at the Capitol even worse, increase the use of budget gimmicks and ultimately would damage Minnesota’s economy. Much more information is available from the Minnesota Budget Project.

Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact
The Interstate Nurse Licensure Compact is a way for nurses to practice in another party state (a state participating in the compact) without obtaining a nursing license in that state. While this may sound like a good idea, MNA is very concerned that the Compact will hurt patient safety, won’t increase access to health care or address the nursing shortage, and will take away Minnesota’s ability to regulate the nurses practicing here. We are also concerned that the Compact will allow health care corporations to move large numbers of nurses across state lines under the regulatory radar, in order to intimidate nurses trying to organize or bargain a contract.

We are hearing that this bill is a major priority this year for some of the biggest health care corporations in the state and it will undoubtedly be up for more public debate in the next months. Stay tuned.

Criminal Neglect of Vulnerable Adults

You may have read a recent news story about a case of neglect of a vulnerable adult. Minnesota vulnerable adult neglect laws are weaker than other states, so Senator Warren Limmer and Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman recently announced new legislation that would make it a felony to neglect a vulnerable adult. 

As nurses, there is nothing more important to us than ensuring our patients- especially the most vulnerable- are protected and given the best medical care and treatment possible. While we fully support increasing penalties for those neglecting a vulnerable adult, we are worried that inadequate staffing inside our hospitals, nursing homes and other care facilities will inadvertently put a nurse in a situation where she or he is unable to provide adequate care for all of their patients.  This could lead to severe penalties for nurses in a situation that they have no control over.

MNA will be meeting with Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman to discuss alternatives to this legislation that will encourage safer staffing models and protect the reputation of nurses who trying to serve each patient to the best of their ability.

 View a video of the Pre-Session Rally, featuring MNA President Linda Hamilton

Nurses Day on the Hill
Nurses will be bringing patient advocacy from the bedside to the Capitol on Tuesday, February 28. We’ll brief you on the issues and make appointments for you to meet your legislators with other nurses from your area.

• Monday, February 27, 2012 – Member Education Program, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, February 28, 2012 – Capitol Visits and Action, Start at 8:00 a.m., Action at 12:30 p.m.

So much of patient safety and nursing practice policy is decided at the state capitol. If we don’t advocate for our patients and our profession, no one else will. You can find more information and sign up here.

Welcome MNA’s Newest Government Affairs Team Members

In the last few months, MNA has welcomed three new staff members who will be working on Government Affairs. Shannon Cunningham is our new lobbyist, and Grant Bendix and Julia Donnelly are our new Political Organizers. The full team is:

Andrea Ledger, Director of Political and Legislative Action

Carrie Mortrud, RN, Government Affairs Specialist

Shannon Cunningham, Government Affairs Specialist

Geri Katz, Metro Area Political and Community Organizer

Grant Bendix, Northern Minnesota Political and Community Organizer

Julia Donnelly, Southern Minnesota Political and Community Organizer

Eileen Gavin, Government Affairs Administrative Assistant

If you are interested in getting more involved in MNA’s policy advocacy, please contact the political organizer who works in your region.

The American Crystal Sugar workers have been locked out since August.  In solidarity, the MNA Board of Directors is encouraging all members to boycott American Crystal Sugar products until a settlement is reached.  This includes many local store brands because they get the sugar they use from American Crystal Sugar.  It is recommended to use C and H or Domino Sugar instead.  Thanks for your support!  Keep up to date on Sugar Workers’ news, and learn how you can help.

Love this: Our nurses can never hear “Thank You” enough! http://ow.ly/6Sykx http://ow.ly/i/iU7a

MN Rep. John Kline on the attack (again!) vs. Labor Unions – http://ow.ly/6QWCi