This release from Senator Klobuchar's office was forwarded to us this morning, but we didn't have a chance to post it until now. As we noted earlier in the week, the Minnesota Medical Association already has sent out a press release about the health care meetings.
From Senator Klobuchar's office:
Sen. Klobuchar and Rep. Walz Join Forces to Meet with Southern MN Residents on Health Care & Veterans Issues
Visits Include Rochester, Albert Lea, Waseca, Mankato & St. Peter
On Monday, August 18, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Representative Tim Walz will join forces to visit five communities in southern Minnesota for a series of public meetings on health care and veterans issues.
The health care meetings in Rochester and Mankato are an opportunity for Sen. Klobuchar and Rep. Walz to discuss how to solve the problem of wide geographic disparities in Medicare spending, which shortchanges Minnesota because of the state's high-quality, relatively low-cost health care providers.
Klobuchar serves on the Joint Economic Committee.
The veterans meetings in Albert Lea, Waseca and St. Peter are an opportunity for Sen. Klobuchar and Rep. Walz to meet and talk with local area veterans about their concerns. Rep. Walz serves on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Below is their full itinerary:
Monday, August 18
9:30 a.m.
Rochester
University of Minnesota Rochester
University Square, Room 417
111 South BroadwaySen. Klobuchar and Rep. Walz will hold a meeting on geographic disparities in Medicare funding and the need to tie medical spending more closely with quality outcomes. Panelists include: Former U.S. Senator David Durenberger, founder and chair of the National Institute for Health Policy; Dr. Denis Cortese, President and CEO of the Mayo Clinic; Dr. Jennifer Lundblad, CEO of Stratis Health (Minnesota's Quality Improvement Organization for Medicare); and Lee Graczyk, Issues Director for the Minnesota Senior Federation.
Noon
Albert Lea
American Legion Post 56
142 North BroadwaySen. Klobuchar and Rep. Walz will meet and talk with local area veterans.
1:45 p.m.
Waseca
VFW Post 1642
113 Elm Avenue
Sen. Klobuchar and Rep. Walz will meet and talk with local area veterans.3:15 p.m
Mankato
Summit Center
518 South 5th Street
Sen. Klobuchar and Rep. Walz will hold a meeting on geographic disparities in Medicare funding and the need to tie medical spending more closely with quality outcomes. Panelists include: Dr. Paul Matson, past president of the Minnesota Medical Association; Dr. Jennifer Lundblad, CEO of Stratis Health (Minnesota's Quality Improvement Organization for Medicare); and Lee Graczyk, Issues Director for the Minnesota Senior Federation.4:45 p.m.
St. Peter
American Legion Post 37
229 Nassau Street
Sen. Klobuchar and Rep. Walz will meet and talk with local area veterans.
Photo: Senator Klobuchar joined Congressman Walz for a Farm Bill listening session in Pipestone in February 21. Photo from the Worthington Globe.
More "vacation" days for Klobuchar and Walz !
Have you thought about a "What I did on my August vacation" posting listing all the public events that Walz has participated in while "on vacation" ? I suspect that if a similar evaluation of the August 2007 recess that Walz had just as many public events ... proving that this is not an election year stunt but an example of an effective committed elected representative.
Ollie Ox replies: Good idea--there's already this post up:http://tinyurl.com/6l7trx
This is a credit to Walz ... obviously there is some chemistry between the two ... and demonstrates a passion for the issue. Klobuchar could have done these alone, or stayed in the Twin Cities area, but she has a committed advocate ready to soldier with her to address proper funding for Medicare. This issue does not get the headlines that a "Drill" stunt does, but many consider Medicare funding (err entitlements if that is your vantage point) at a crisis.
Posted by: MinnesotaCentral | August 16, 2008 at 09:02 AM