State Rep.

Tuesday, March 20, 2001

State Rep. Rob Leighton (DFL-Austin) wants the state’s health care system overhauled.

State Rep. Greg Davids (R-Preston) is supporting a $17 million disaster relief bill.

Leighton called for major reforms of the state’s health care system, saying that accountability and the interests of patients need to be restored to the system.

The District 27B legislator has introduced legislation that would create a Patient’s Bill of Rights that includes 15 provisions that will restore a degree of balance between patients and health insurance carriers.

"Skyrocketing health-care costs are becoming an increasing burden for families and businesses in our area," Leighton said. "Unfortunately, too many of us are not getting the care we have paid for from our insurers.

"My Patient’s Bill of Rights bill will make sure that everyone who pays for health care will receive the care they need and deserve," Leighton said. "This is a critical issue that needs to be addressed this legislative session.

"All of the 15 measures are designed to hold health-care providers accountable for the level of care they promise and provide," he said. "Hopefully, they will restore the needs of the patient as the top priority of the health care system."

Disaster relief

Preston Republican Davids voted for legislation that would provide $17 million in grants to further assist counties with flood repair and mitigation efforts in the wake of last year’s spring and summer storms.

"The money in this package is intended to further help communities rebuild public infrastructure and to begin flood mitigation projects; some of which may not have been funded under last year’s federal disaster declaration," Davids said.

"The funding would be used to provide matching grants to local public safety agencies to cover their costs from last year’s storms and to provide grants to local units of government for the repairs, replacement or improvement of public facilities such as parks, storm sewers and wastewater treatment facilities," Davids said.

"The funding would also be used to provide grants to help communities adopt flood mitigation measures such as moving houses out of the flood plain areas," he said.

Several severe storms that included hail, high winds and torrential rain blew through southeastern Minnesota last spring.

At one point, precipitation reached 12 inches in some parts of Freeborn, Fillmore and Mower counties.

Call Lee Bonorden at 434-2232 or e-mail him at newsroom@austindailyherald.com.