Newsmakers: Rep. Carroll Discusses Proposal To Repurpose Ballpark Tax for HCMC
Rep. Ned Carroll, DFL-Plymouth, says the proposal to extend and repurpose the Twins ballpark tax to help fund Hennepin County Medical Center will help support hospitals across the state.
“[HCMC] trains over 70 percent of our doctors in the state and it’s a statewide asset,” said Carroll. “It is critically important.”
Hennepin Healthcare has cut programs and positions to address a major budget shortfall this spring. The reasons for the shortfall include a reduction in Medicaid revenue, losses reported in uncompensated care, and other budget challenges.
Carroll is also working on legislation that would set up an office in the Department of Health to study the effects of gun violence. He is co-authoring the legislation with Rep. Robert Bierman, DFL-Apple Valley.
“It’s especially important after the assassination of speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband and the serious wounding of Senator John Hoffman and his wife,” said Carroll, who also referenced the shooting deaths of school children at Annunciation Church. “It’s a tragic situation all around, so this bill would help look at some of the effects of [gun violence] and what we do to prevent it.”
See also: High School Students Get Hands-On Medical Training at HCMC
