Ending Elder Abuse, Public Health Concerns, Civil War Battle Flags

Reports of abuse and neglect of Minnesota's elderly and vulnerable population emerged early this year and became a major focus of the 2018 session. Efforts to address the issue were nullified when Governor Dayton vetoed the omnibus budget bill. Senator Karin Housley, chair of the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee, recently called upon Governor Dayton to convene a special session to address the issue, and she joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to offer her perspective.

Two challenging issues lawmakers continue to grapple with are the health and well-being of elderly and vulnerable adults and the scourge of inadequate mental health care which contributes to addiction and suicide. The Commissioner of the Department of Health, Jan Malcolm, describes the agency’s efforts to tackle these problems.

Minnesota was the first state to respond to President Lincoln’s request for volunteer regiments to defend the Union and raised twenty-one different units (infantry, cavalry, artillery, and sharpshooter) for service in the Civil and U.S.-Dakota Wars. Following the Battle of Bull Run in 1861, Minnesota began a tradition of displaying battle flags in the Capitol. Brian Pease of the Minnesota Historical Society talks about the flags and the restoration efforts to keep these relics accessible for future generations.