A bill designed to combat the spread of measles in Minnesota failed to gain traction at the State Capitol Monday. Representative Ilhan Omar’s emergency measure aimed to set up a one-time $500,000 grant program for certain populations most at-risk of getting measles.
“The best thing that we can do today is act and make sure that no more children are put in harm’s way.”
The funds however, would not have been appropriated until fiscal year 2018. And Representative Jim Knoblach argued that even if the bill passed, none of the money would be available for another two months…
“So members, there isn’t a emergency here that this is going to help.”
Knoblach says if state officials, or the governor become convinced that more money needs to be spent to combat measles, that the matter will get “all the consideration that it deserves.” So far, 34 kids, mostly Somali, are confirmed to have measles in Minnesota.