I Don’t Hate America!

Crossposted at Minnesota Campaign Report

On Tuesday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced the appointment of two individuals to the state Firefighter Training and Education Board.

According to a press release from the Governor’s office, “the Board of Firefighter Training and Education reviews fire service training needs, establishes standards for educational programs and establishes qualifications for fire service training instructors. The Board consists of 15 members, including 14 appointed by the Governor.”

While these positions are filled by the Mr. Pawlenty, at least one is being pushed off, namely the position of State University student to the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Board of Trustees.

The individual to be appointed was scheduled to begin serving his or her term July 1.

In the mean time, the previous/current/interim/who-in-the-hell-knows-anymore student trustee, Michael Boulton, has continued to serve. During that time the board has taken up important issues such as the system-wide bonding request for the next legislative year, the election of a chairman, the selection of a president at Normandale Community College, and the tuition reciprocity agreement between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Applying for the position are Minnesota State University Student Association recommended candidates Ezra Kazee and Adam Weigold. A third candidate, Luke Hellier, also applied.

Former according to former board Chair Bob Hoffman, the learning curve for this position is “almost two years.” The qualifications of the candidates not even in consideration, how effective can a trustee be when over 5 percent of his or her term is already evaporated before appointment when the term is already barely longer than the learning curve?

The last time we criticized Gov. Pawlenty about his non-appointment we speculated that it may have been due to golfing with other governors.

This time we understand he has been overwhelmed with the I-35W bridge collapse in downtown Minneapolis so greater patience is being given, however, sooner or later this appointment must be made.

While no one will question the importance of quality firefighters, students deserve representation on the statewide board, too.

From the old news that we missed department, MnSCU announced last week that David Olson, president of the Mnnesota chamber of commerce, was elected chair of the system’s Board of Trustees. Ruth Grendahl will be vice chair and Scott Thiss will grab the reins as treasurer taking over for former, ahem, I mean, current, ahem, I mean, soon departing four-year university student trustee Michael Boulton.

The replacement for Boulton, who’s term was scheduled to conclude June 30, has yet to be announced. I am sure candidates Adam Weigold, Ezra Kazee and Luke Hellier are all anxious to find out, not to mention the 70,000 some-odd students at Minnesota’s state unviersities being left hanging.

Is Gov. Tim Pawlenty really trying to wait for the brouhaha to settle down before making an appointment? Did the rounds of golf with other governors in Michigan take up too much of his time?

Really T-Paw, what gives?

Hat tip to Ollie at Bluestem for forwarding me the Colin Peterson (7th district) press release today. It is great to see another MnSCU school receive funding for their nursing department. The current nursing shortage needs to be addressed at the educational level. Through this grant, BSU’s goal will be to accept 250 nursing students a year, starting in four years. Currently, WSU accepts 300 students a year when the Rochester and Winona campuses are combined. MnSCU is responsible for graduating 80% of the state’s nurses so any additional funding for these programs will help our state combat the nursing shortage. We also need men! Official press release:

EDIT:  My original post stated an increase of 250 students a year, but that was incorrect.  250 is the projected enrollment figure for all four years of students both in the four-year track and two-year degree program combined.

Peterson helps secure grant for BSU nursing program expansion

(WASHINGTON, DC)—U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson announced that the Bemidji State University Nursing program has received a three-year, $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to implement funding for the Department of Nursing, help secure the director position for the four-year track, fund supplies and equipment, and assist with expanding the number of faculty.

“I couldn’t be more pleased that BSU was able to get the funding for this important program,” Peterson said. “This proposal to expand their nursing program was something that I was eager to support from day one.”

The DHHS grant comes through the Health Resources and Services Administration, and will allow BSU to begin their four-year nursing program in the fall of 2007. The award also will help the university to improve nursing education access for rural and American Indian students and prepare nurses for work in rural areas.

“If we educate our students in our rural communities, I think there’s an even greater chance that they’ll stay here,” Peterson said. “As our population ages, people living in our rural areas are going to rely more and more on a younger workforce to take care of them”

Dean of the College of Social and Natural Sciences Dr. Ranae Womack said, “Our thanks to Minnesota Congressman Collin Peterson and his staff, and Dr. Kathleen Annette and the Indian Health Service Area Office for their support. I am also grateful for the efforts of Jeanne Larson and the significant contributions of Gwen Verchota and the faculty members of the Department of Nursing who have made this program possible. The support of our Academic Vice President/Provost, Joann Fredrickson, was critically important.”

The new baccalaureate program will augment BSU’s nationally accredited registered nurse completion program and will have a goal of enrolling a total of 250 nurses each year once the program has ramped up to full capacity in four years.

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I’ll be out of town for the weekend on a camping trip. Check out this new nurse networking site and add me while I’m gone, NursingLink.

Nursing… a diverse occupation with limitless opportunities for advancement.  I have been meaning to discuss more about the profession previously, but felt that my lack of “credentials” may hinder my message’s impact.  So what has changed?  I recently passed my state boards, certifying me as a Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of Minnesota.  The ecstatic feeling warrants me to write.  I feel I have now been issued a “go” to improve the profession, as well as the healthcare system in our nation.  The power of one person may be great, but spreading the message is greater.  I plan to delve into the issue of our healthcare crisis by using the power of the blogosphere.  I want to see IDHA! be a notable resource for those wanting information on change, and for those wanting to implement it.  I have focused on healthcare and nursing issues when lobbying at the Capitol during my tenure as student senator of Winona State University.  I’ve been introduced to organizations such as the MUHCC, who outlined a universal healthcare initiative to the state of Minnesota.  Then there is the MNA, who advocates for nurses and our patients which I will be active in very soon.  Being involved in the past was only the beginning.  As an RN, I pledge to do what I can to improve our healthcare system. 

With SiCKO’s recent release, the topic of universal healthcare has an emphatic message.  I feel it is inevitable that the next presidential election will have universal healthcare as either the #1 or #2 issue depending on how the Iraq debate evolves until then.  Seven Democratic candidates pledged working toward universal healthcare if elected.  As far as I have researched, “universal” healthcare was NOT guaranteed by any Republican candidate for the 2008 presidential election.  Most of the Republicans have endorsed a “market-based” healthcare system, creating consumers out of the everyday American.  I am not going to elaborate into market-based healthcare with this post, but be prepared for an inside look into each proposed system in future posts at IDHA! 

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DJ has been doing an excellent job covering Minnesota politics, especially the whole controversy surrounding Luke Hellier.  I served in the student organization (MSUSA) which endorsed candidates Ezra Kazee and Adam Weigold.  I can personally attest to the quality of both men who serve students at MnSCU schools with passion.  To see our Governor show interest into a candidate not even at a MnSCU school displays the lack of commitment to the reason a student representative serves on the board of trustees in the first place.  Students need proper representation from someone who knows what they are going through and has a record for doing everything they can for student interests.  Adam and Ezra both fit the profile, Luke does not. 

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Future topics I will be covering:  Steve Sarvi, possible DFL candidate for CD 2?  Kip Sullivan, voice for universal healthcare.  DM&E, not finished yet.  Jeff Flaten for 28B! Tim Walz news/press releases.  And more!

We’re back after a fantastic Independence Day. It is on July 4 that the title of this blog especially rings true; we do not hate America! We celebrate our independence and freedom as much as anyone else regardless of what the right wing talking points would have you believe.

Hal Kimball continues his coverage of the MnSCU student trustee position situation over at Blue Man in a Red District. He notes that late appointments to this position by the governor are not a new concept.

One of the three candidates, Luke Hellier, has a new item which to place on his resume: number five on the list of the Top Young Conservative Activists in America complied by the Young America’s Foundation.

In all fairness, like I have said before, I have no problems with someone being conservative. In addition, I have no illusions that anyone other than a Republican will be appointed to this job as Gov. Pawlenty’s appointments thus far have been very partisan. (again, Mr. Ibisch, this “hippie” is NOT going “nuts” because a “lib” isn’t “going to get it”).

I don’t even have a problem with Mr. Hellier bringing folks like David Horowitz to campus. While I don’t agree with Horowitz’ outlook of the classrooms in this nation’s colleges (rather I think his rhetoric is more along the lines of demagoguery than anything) it’s certainly a viewpoint which should be given the opportunity to be heard. In fact one of Hellier’s fellow candidates for the position, Adam Weigold, is also a fan of Horowitz and his positions.

This particular article about the top young campus conservative activists though lists one individual brought to campus by Mr. Hellier who is particularly troubling: Jason Lewis.

I say this not because Lewis, the drive time host on KTLK 100.3 FM, is conservative. I find it troubling because he is flat out the most anti-higher education voice around in the media.

If appointed to the MnSCU board of trustees, Mr. Hellier will (or should!) represent the members of the Minnesota State University Student Association. February 14 this year MSUSA held a rally on the steps of the capitol in St. Paul advocating for lower tuition and more state funding of the MnSCU system. What did Jason Lewis think about the students doing this?

On his show prior to the rally occurring, he slapped students in the face by saying that they were nothing more than “rubes and tools” for the faculty so they can have their pay increased.

His other rants about higher education have not only been upsetting to state university students but also misguided. He has spoken about the massive tuition increases of the past decade going to “more liberal programs” in the classroom, failing to cite the individual responsible for appointing members to the board which sets tuition: Gov. Pawlenty. He also fails to cite the party in control of the state house and governor’s mansion during the years of those increases and massive budget cuts: the Republicans!

It all creates some great food for thought: if Hellier were appointed to the board, would he agree (if he doesn’t already!) with his hero Jason Lewis that the students he would be appointed to represent are nothing more than “rubes and tools,” or would he actively advocate for their interests?

Discuss.