Letter: Why would we want to go back to the failed policies of the past?

To the editor:

It's true that nursing homes in Northwest Minnesota are having a tough
time.  Nursing home workers are doing an incredible job of caring for
our parents, brothers, sisters and neighbors, even under difficult
circumstances.

A lot of our nursing homes' problems stem from 2003 state budget cuts.
In the name of "balancing the budget without raising (state) taxes,"
our former representative Doug Lindgren and others forced the state's
most vulnerable populations to bear most of the burden.  Lindgren
voted for House File 437, a bill that cut $100 million out of the
heart of nursing home revenues. Lindgren voted to:
  - Impose surcharges of over $2,000 per year on private pay nursing
home residents
  - Reestablish the old age lien law that made it more difficult for
farmers to pass property along to their children
  - Increase fees by $171 million
  - Shift $322 million in health and human services costs from the
state to county property taxes

This was a terrible – even tragic – piece of legislation for every
nursing home resident, and Doug Lindgren supported it.

Every legislator faces tough votes, and Lindgren chose to side with
his party leaders over the seniors and families in Northwest
Minnesota.  Doug Lindgren was defeated in 2004 because of his cuts to
nursing homes; why would we want to go back to the failed policies of
the past?

Sincerely,

Arvayda Carter

Park Rapids, MN.