Bill sponsor, Sen. Chris Eaton (DFL-Brooklyn Center)
A hearing this afternoon (noon start) in a state Senate committee on a highly-controversial bill that would allow patients with terminal illness to obtain medication to end their lives. Opponents alleged backers of the bill from other states got notice of the hearing before others. Cambridge Senator Sean Nienow said, “It is terribly bad form if a date-certain has been set so that out-of-state special testimony can get it on their calendar to show up, on the proponent side, but the opposition is unaware.” Mankato Democrat Kathy Sheran, chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee responded, “I will simply not stand for any suggestion that I’ve used my authority in a way that has created a disadvantage” to any group. Bill sponsor, Brooklyn Center Democrat Chris Eaton apologized, saying she guesses a proponent group from California spread the word around even though she asked them not to.