Posted: 2/13/07
Health care affordability concerns freshman lawmaker
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
His capitol office still looks spartan ó lots of white wall space with the framed pictures to brighten them left unhung on the floor.
And the legislative session is a month old.
But Rep. Ken Tschumper, DFL-La Crescent, has been busy.
"Thereís an immense amount of information to absorb here, and do it rapidly," he said.
Tschumper described a legislative schedule as not unlike that of his profession, dairy farmer.
Rise early, long day, grateful to go to bed in his legislative digs in the nearby Kelly Inn.
The weekend has Tschumper, 57, back in the barn milking.
"I really want to keep my dairy cattle; itís important to me," said Tschumper, who 30 years ago bought his parentsí 300-acre dairy farm and may be the only working dairy farmer in the Minnesota Legislature.
Interestingly, Tschumper decided when elected to the House by the smallest margin of any candidate last election, just 52 votes, that he would not serve on the agriculture committee.
When out campaigning, he realized that health care was the biggest issue voters were concerned about, so he decided to shoot for committees dealing with the subject.
"Itís a crisis of affordability," he said of health care.
Unlike some freshman lawmakers, Tschumper seems willing to speak up during House committee hearings and chuckles at the notion he would not.
Heís been involved in public life for a long time, he explained.
Heís not afraid to speak up.
Indeed, Tschumper views the big freshman class of lawmakers as needing to speak up.
"There was a big change in the state politically with the election. So weíre really representing kind of the cutting edge of public sentiment," he said.
Tschumper says with the DFL gaining control of the Legislature the focus on issues like global warming will be stronger than before.
He likes the vigor of energy debate, and endorses DFL proposals for getting more funding to schools, local government aid, addressing health care.
He also likes the tone at the Capitol.
"I havenít seen any personal acrimony around here at all yet," said Tschumper of the softened partisanship.
"I think the voters said they want less partisanship in the last election ó I think all of us are very aware of that," he said.
Tschumper foresees just one possible fissure etching across the session and thatís Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
He doesnít believe the governor at heart is as moderate as he might want people to believe, Tschumper explained.
Tschumper has a number of bills heís pursuing.
Heís pushing for a ten cent gas tax increase, saying each penny means about $30 million more for transportation.
While not wholly disagreeing with the governorís description of the gas tax as a failing revenue source ó one being neutered by transportation technology ó Tschumper points to the immediate.
"Thereís a long time between now and eventually," he said.
Tschumper is also pushing legislation aimed at making the passage of school building referendums easier to do in Greater Minnesota.
The bill, which attempts to make school referendums less burdensome for farmers, is needed because referendums routinely fail and rural school districts are struggling with declining enrollment and aging buildings, Tschumper explained.
"Itís really important, if we want people to live in rural areas, that we have good rural schools," he said.
Tschumper is not haunted by the election just two years away.
Indeed, he shakes his head like being asked about something trivial.
"Iím a little older of a person ó itís not like Iím starting a (legislative) career," he said.
"If you were thirty-years-old youíd worry about the next election," he said.
"Iím going to serve a few terms and do things important in peopleís lives," he said.
Tschumper serves on the Ways and Means Committee, Local Government and Metro Affairs Committee, Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Committee, and Health and Human Services Committee.
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