Working in St. Paul to help southern Minnesota
By state Sen. Sharon Erickson-Ropes

We will remember the summer of 2007 as a time when Minnesota endured many shocking challenges. Before national leaders began to assess the staggering flood damage in southeastern Minnesota, it was clear to me on day one that the personal, agricultural, small business and public infrastructure loss was massive.

I feel a profound sadness for those who have lost loved ones. My heart has been in my throat as the utter devastation to families and businesses continues to reveal itself. My days have been spent in every affected city and across ravaged townships, working with city and county officials, sheriffs, firemen and volunteers. I cannot say enough about the selfless responders and caring communities in Winona, Houston and Fillmore counties.
Devastating scenes have Velcroed themselves to my life’s priorities. My experiences sitting with survivors in shelters, airboating through flooded neighborhoods, making emergency phone calls for the stranded, cleaning out muddy living rooms and breathing in the overwhelming losses will strongly guide my legislative advocacy. You will go with me to St. Paul, and your stories will ring in the Capitol chambers.

Last Sunday in the mud of Stockton, I pressed Gov. Tim Pawlenty to put southeastern Minnesota on the agenda for a special session. I also advised him that a comprehensive state transportation package is essential. We have more bridges in the blufflands than any other region of Minnesota.

We lost some of those bridges, but many others remain untouched and in desperate need of repair. I have seen bridges buttressed with timber scaffolding. Although our flood-gouged roads are front and center, many of our other roads have a life expectancy of zero to three years, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Southeastern Minnesota has an acute crisis, and the state’s overall transportation system is on life support. Bumper-sticker slogans from the governor are useless. We need emergency assistance and responsible investment now.

Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark and Sen. Ann Lynch of Rochester responded quickly to do a tri-county tour with me. Every day, I am on the phone with key state leaders to build alliances for southeastern Minnesota. The Legislature is anxious to help and is waiting on the governor. Rep. Ken Tschumper and Rep. Gene Pelowski are working with me to draft disaster-relief legislation. This special-needs bill will help to fill some gaps following federal and state assistance. No one will get all of their losses covered, but the government will be able to give some protections and relief.

During my Katrina deployment in Louisiana as a Red Cross disaster relief nurse, I learned about forbearance. After hearing a troubling number of stories about insurance problems and bill payment worries, I called Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson. I asked Lori to call upon the lending institutions to accept delayed payments from disaster-affected residents. We are determined to ensure your protection against late fees, increased percentage rates and bad credit reports due to flood-related hardship. The attorney general will also oversee the insurance claim process to ensure that paperwork and outrageous denials do not keep us from pounding nails.

Call my office (651) 296-5649 or Attorney General Lori Swanson (800) 657-3787 for a copy of the press release on forbearance. For your convenience, I put copies at each recovery center. Insert one as needed with your bill envelope. We want to hear of any troubles with insurance companies or lenders. While we cannot legally force them to act in good faith, Lori and I will certainly compel them to do the right thing. I can also work to legislatively improve the coverage policies in Minnesota.

I am so proud of Southeastern Minnesota. We are a closely-knitted region of incredible people. Disaster headlines will soon fade from state and national media, but I am in it for the long haul. We are all in this together.

Ropes is the state senator from Senate District 31.

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