Yesterday, Bluestem posted Michael Struck's widow to receive $191 month pension; donate to children's education fund, an entry about the woeful pension that would come to the widow and small children left behind by MNDOT worker Struck, who died while battling flooding on the Minnesota River.
Governor Dayton is proposing a measure of financial relief for the family, and fortunately, this press release from his office describes something both parties will support:
Governor Mark Dayton today proposed legislation that would increase by 10 times the pension for the family of Mike Struck, a MnDOT employee who was killed last week while working on emergency flood response. He is survived by his wife, Amber, and two children, ages six and four.
Under current law, Mr. Struck’s family would receive a survivor's pension of only $191 a month. This bill would increase that amount to almost $2,000 a month, similar to that of the family of a state patrol officer, who was killed in the line of duty.
Governor Dayton said, “Mike Struck gave his life in service of the people of Minnesota. It would be shameful to leave his widow and her two young children with a pension of less than $2300 a year. My proposed legislation shows them the compassion that their terrible loss deserves. The people of Minnesota will know in their hearts that this is the right thing to do."
The bill will be introduced with bipartisan support.
Thank you, Governor Dayton, and thank you to the legislators from both parties who will carry the bill. And yes, readers, you can still contribute to that education fund:
Mike Struck Memorial Fund
c/o Nicollet County Bank
220 South Third Street
St. Peter, MN 56082
Photo: MNDOT worker Michael Struck.
Thank you, Governor Dayton.
And thank you, Mr. Struck, for your service and sacrifice.
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | Apr 03, 2011 at 12:45 AM