Nurses endorse Rep. Thissen for governor

Thissen is in his fourth term as a state representative for District 63A in Minneapolis. He is one of several DFLers who hope to run in the 2010 election for governor.

“Paul Thissen is a champion for Registered Nurses,” said MNA President-Elect Linda Hamilton, RN. “From his work to make sure all children have health insurance, to his advocacy of adequate RN staffing for patient safety, he exemplifies the characteristics we expect of a governor. We look forward to working with a governor who puts patients before profits and who appreciates the role of Registered Nurses.”

Thissen thanked the MNA for its support.

“I have met with nurses across the state about staffing and the real, on-the-ground challenges they face,” he said. “Those visits, tours and discussion have shaped, and will continue to shape, my views . . . I will focus on slowing the increase of health care costs within our state budget, but not (like the current governor) by throwing people off health care. Rather, we can bend the curve by caring for people in a smarter, more efficient way.”

Thissen was named MNA’s Legislator of the Year this year and an MNA All-Star for his authorship of the MNA-backed Health Security Act and his work on legislation to set staffing standards in acute care facilities.

The Minnesota Nurses Association Political Committee conducts a rigorous screening process which includes reading candidate questionnaires, interviewing candidates, and studying the positions of candidates in the 2010 gubernatorial race to assess their support for MNA policy priorities, the union said.

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