Replenishing the UI Trust Fund, Restoring the Nursing Profession

As Minnesota businesses continue to navigate the many uncertainties caused by the pandemic -- workforce shortages, supply chain snags and inflation -- an additional financial hit may be just around the corner if the legislature does not act. Senator Eric Pratt, R-Eden Prairie, is chair of the Senate Jobs and Economic Growth Committee, and he joins Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to talk about the Senate bill to restore the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Trust Fund.

The nursing profession, like so many others, is struggling to cope with a workforce shortage that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, is a registered nurse and Senate author of a bill called, 'Keeping the Nurses at the Bedside Act'. She joins Shannon to talk about the challenges facing health care workers.

Also in the program are highlights from the week: the Senate passed a bill to provide $2 million to aid in the recruitment of peace officers; current and former athletes at the University of Minnesota testified about the closure of their sports programs; a bipartisan group of Senators called for the legalization of sports betting; and a handful of Senate Republicans outlined proposals to ensure parents' rights in their children's education.