Sen. Michelle Benson (R-Ham Lake)
Expect heated debate in a state Senate committee this week (Wed 3/16 noon) on a bill allowing patients with terminal illness to obtain medication to end their lives. Ham Lake Republican Michelle Benson alleged out-of-state backers of the bill were notified of the hearing before opponents. Benson accused Health and Human Services Committee Chair Kathy Sheran from Mankato of “tilting the table again.” Sheran responded that’s a very unfair characterization. “I really resent any suggestion that I’ve used the authority of my committee to give an advantage to one group over another,” she said. 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.