A common thread of the near split-screen: These are honorable professions, but they're being mistreated and society is suffering.
Although the two events weren't coordinated, the parallels were striking:
Officers are retiring early and the pool to replace them is small, the result of anti-cop sentiments felt across Minnesota at a time — a crime wave — when they're needed most, according to Republican lawmakers who introduced the first of a suite of proposals to recruit, train, hire and retain officers.
As for nurses, they too are retiring early, the result of exhaustion and burnout, as well as anti-medical-establishment sentiments seen throughout the state, also at a time — a pandemic — when they're needed most, according to Democratic lawmakers and unionized nurses who have their own plans to recruit, train, hire and retain nurses.
COP PLANS
Top Republicans , who control the state Senate , announced a series of bills Monday that could direct as much as $64 million toward recruiting new officers. Sen. Justin Eichorn , R- Grand Rapids , wants to offer $1,500 annual grants to Minnesota students pursing degrees in law enforcement. Sen. Paul Gazelka , R- East Gull Lake , suggests $10,000 bonuses for new cops after their first year on the job.
Senators said more bills are coming that address officer retention.
The message was as important as the substance, said Senate Majority Leader Jeremy Miller , R- Winona . "The number one thing public officials can do right now is show police officers the respect ... they deserve," he said.
Republicans aren't alone in calling the police officer shortage a priority.
House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler , DFL-Golden Valley , said in a statement that House Democrats "understand that police recruitment and retention is a challenge for many communities right now. We have a proposal that we will announce in the days ahead, and we welcome collaboration with Senate Republicans to find areas of agreement."
DFL Sens. Karla Bigham of Cottage Grove and Aric Putnam of St. Cloud said they will propose hiring bonuses, free community college tuition and mortgage and tax benefits for officers. No dollar figures are attached to any DFL proposals yet.
NURSING PLANS
Senior House and Senate lawmakers from the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party introduced several measures Thursday that aim to increase nurse staffing at hospitals with an eye toward pressures on emergency rooms and intensive care units that have been especially stressed during the coronavirus pandemic.
Proposals range from student loan forgiveness to a plan that would set up committees in every hospital to establish staffing levels — nurse-to-patient ratios.
The lawmakers were joined by representatives of the Minnesota Nurses Union , and some elements of their plans are related to changes the union has sought with hospitals during contract negotiations. Several unionized nurses blamed hospital leaders for putting profits ahead of quality care — an accusation hospital officials have denied. A representative for the Minnesota Hospital Association could not be reached for comment.
At least some of the union-backed ideas figure to get a warm reception in the DFL-controlled House but a cool one in the Senate.
Republicans haven't publicly floated proposals to directly address hospital staffing, but several top Republicans back plans targeting nursing homes, long-term care centers and places that serve people with disabilities.
POLITICS AT PLAY
The Legislature just convened Monday, so it's too early to tell what ideas may come to fruition. And partisan politics will play a role.
It's an election year with every seat in the Legislature on the ballot, and several Republicans are vying to unseat Gov. Tim Walz , a Democrat.
Several Republican lawmakers Thursday blamed police officer staffing shortages on the "defund the police" movement, a far-left idea that gained momentum in the wake of George Floyd's murder by a now-former Minneapolis officer in 2020. So far, actual examples of police funding cuts are hard to come by, but Republicans are eager to tarnish the entire DFL Party with the association.
On the DFL side, boosting the ranks of cops isn't the only answer. They don't think that will ease tensions that are especially frayed between mostly white police departments and the communities of color they patrol.
"In our engagement with police chiefs, sheriffs, and local officials, Democrats are hearing that police departments want to diversify their workforce and ensure officers are committed to service in their communities," Winkler said.
Republicans often have balked at such talk of diversity and equity in hiring.
In the realm of nursing, the gorilla in the room is the coronavirus and the political stripes now associated with it — namely, that vaccination rates are lower among Republicans , and misinformation about COVID-19 is more prevalent. As such, many Democrats essentially blame Republicans for at least some of the added strains on hospitals and nurses.
Unvaccinated people are at much greater risk of winding up in the hospital, and the repeated surges of COVID-19 patients — especially since vaccinations became available for anyone 5 or older — are the primary cause of nurses retiring or requesting reassignment, several nurses said Thursday.
"We have nurses. They are still here," said Daniel Clute , a registered nurse and union board member. "Many actually want to come back, but they will not under these circumstances. Not when the working conditions are so poor and the moral distress is so great. And I can tell you this new generation of nurses will not put up with it either."
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