Representative Dean Simpson needs to be commended for his significant change of heart in support for legislation affecting our area children and families. He has introduced legislation in the Minnesota House that would request $260,000 in state bonding funds to build a regional family resource and early childhood center in Verndale. Its about time!
In the recent past, Simpsons voting record has been abysmal on issues that have affected the well being and health of our communitys children and families. The Childrens Defense Fund of Minnesota, in its 2003 - 2004 Legislative Record on issues affecting our children, gave the Representative one of its lowest ratings. He rarely voted for legislation that supported the well being of children and families. Of the twelve votes that had to do with health care, Early Childhood Family Education, Day Care Funding, minimum wages, Head Start programs etc., Simpson only voted to support one of the twelve issues. Our area children suffered from this lack of representation in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
As the current occupant of this House seat, his 2005 voting record didnt get much better. He voted in 2005 to cut $70 million from child care assistance in the HR 1976 House Omnibus Jobs and Economic Development bill.
Lower income people need this assistance if we want them to go to work. We dont allow parents to bring their children to work and be beside them on the job.
In 2004, in central Minnesota,18.4 % of working adults aged 18 - 64 lacked health insurance coverage. They couldnt afford it for their families. Many of these people were parents of young children. Our area has the most uninsured people in the state, and yet the Representative voted in the House Omnibus Health Bill HF 1422 in 2005 to further cut funds for health insurance for the working poor. Thousands of these adults would have been left with no other affordable health care option. The eligibility cuts would have terminated Minnesota Care coverage for 8,000 parents with children.
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Representative Simpson, its great you have had a change of heart on children and family issues. Our area kids need your on-going support.
Its fine to have a new building, but this is a worthless effort if there are limited program dollars in the years ahead to help the kids in the new building. It is imperative that you consider your districts children and families first.
Del Moen
Wadena
