Posted: 12/12/06
Ropes a ëfull-time studentí at capitol
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
Newly elected state senator Sharon Erickson Ropes (DFL-Winona) is spending most of her days as a student in St. Paul, learning what she can about the issues before the legislature convenes on January 3.
ìIím in the information mode,î said Ropes, who came away the winner of a three way contest that included Republican Candidate Brenda Johnson and Independent Kevin Kelleher.
With less than 24 hours between her election and her first meeting in St. Paul, Ropes has been dividing her time between the capitol and her home in Winona, trying to keep up with the dozens of phone messages, letters and e-mails she received on a daily basis. ìItís like drinking water out of a fire hose,î said Ropes.
Communication with her constituents will be more efficient once she has an office and office help, she said.
The three-day orientation at the state capitol marked a significant event for the state, said Ropes. For the first time ever, orientation was bi-partisan and bi-cameral. New senators and new house representatives of both parties went through the paces together.
ìThe top leadership in both parties wants us to work together,î said Ropes. ìI thought it was exciting.î It also meshes with her own leadership style of drawing people together, she said.
ìItís good policy to have many diverse people working together,î she said.
Ropes said she was glad to get to know her Republican counterparts, and believes it will be helpful that all will come away from the experience with the same message.
Health care
Since the election, Gov. Tim Pawlenty has announced that a priority for the upcoming session will be to ensure that all children in Minnesota have health insurance.
ìIt was quite a surprise,î said Ropes, who campaigned on health care issues.
Ropes believes that the election results convinced the governor that affordable health care and health insurance is a priority for Minnesotans.
ìWe are all a little cautious,î Ropes commented. ìThe devil is in the details, and we have not yet seen his plan.î
Ropes would like to see a plan that includes psychiatric and dental care in addition to routine medical care. She said she hopes the governorís plan is to provide universal coverage in a way thatís affordable.
ìThe plan canít be to simply require parents to buy health insurance,î she said.
Budget surplus
Ropes is cautious on the issue of a projected budget surplus.
ìWeíre hopeful that there will be some money there,î she said. However, she said the legislature did not factor in inflation when making its projections.
ìWe are not dealing with true numbers,î said Ropes, ìso itís not fair to say we have a surplus. The real numbers will be different.î
If there is a surplus, itís important to remember that it would be one-time money only, said Ropes. She added that she would be in favor of putting money into the reserves rather than spending it.
Committee appointments
Ropes, who is a registered nurse, is excited about her committee appointments, which includes the health care policy and budget committee.
ìI am looking forward to talking with my colleagues on that issue,î she said.
One of her ideas is to establish a statewide pool for the under- insured, uninsured and high risk residents. The infrastructure for such a plan already exists under Minnesota Care.
ìIf we open up that plan, we can roll it into a statewide pool,î said Ropes.
ìSo many people struggle with the high cost, including small businesses individuals and families who need a way out of the health care nightmare.î
Ropes has also been appointed as vice-chair of the Minnesota Senate Agriculture and Veteransí Committee. She said that a priority will be to provide reintegration services to the veterans who will be returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and also to their families.
As for agriculture, Ropes hopes to ìsit around the tableî with members of the ag community and listen to their concerns.
Ropes said she hopes her constituents will feel comfortable contacting her with their thoughts and concerns.
Ropes will be sworn in on January 3, and the first full day of the legislature is January 4.
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