This week the House and Senate named members of their Health and Human Services Conference Committee. The conferees are charged with reconciling the differences between the House and Senate positions. This year, they have invited the governor to be more active and present in the negotiation process. Although they are starting early, we anticipate spending a lot of time in conference committee.

The Committee began walking through the spreadsheets and the language. Their preliminary walkthrough of the spreadsheets demonstrated a very small amount of agreement in approach. Because of the differences in approach between the House, Senate and governor, there is a lot of work to be done.

The committee met Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and will meet again on Monday, prior to their Easter/Passover break which begins in the afternoon of Monday, April 18.

The House Conference Committee members are as follows:

Representative Jim Abeler (R-Anoka), Chair of the Health and Human Services Finance Committee,

Representative Steve Gottwalt (R-St. Cloud),

Representative Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake),

Representative Kathy Lohmer (R-Lake Elmo), and

Representative Tom Huntley (D-Duluth).

Senate Conferees:

Senator David Hann (R-Eden Prairie), Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Policy and Finance Committee,

Senator Michele Benson (R-Ham Lake),

Senator Gretchen Hoffman (R-Vergas),

Senator Scott Newman (R-Hutchinson), and

Senator Sean Nienow (R-Cambridge).

If any of these representatives or senators are from your area, make sure to reach out to them, invite them for a tour, and ask them to support funding for older adult services.

Heidi Holste
952.851.2482
hholste@careproviders.org