HEALTH092607
On the homepage
Petters
Out There
Burning
Cameron Coffee
Pawlenty close to naming new health commissioner
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on DiggMore from Politically Connected
Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Tuesday that he will name a new health commissioner within days.
In a letter to the governor Tuesday, several DFL House members urged Pawlenty to pick someone who will be aggressive on environmental health issues and quick to tell the public about health risks.
Commissioner Dianne Mandernach leaves office next Tuesday. She resigned after intense criticism for withholding for a year information about a rare cancer that strikes Iron Range taconite miners, saying she delayed release of the news until March so her department could conduct more studies.
The legislators said they want a commissioner who will aggressively pursue the issues of industrial and farm chemicals in water, cancer surveillance and other health issues.
Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis, said the Health Department is "at best skirting the law" by not collecting job and residence histories from cancer patients as a way to better detect patterns of cancer, such as those detected on the Iron Range.
In addition to Clark, those signing the letter were DFL Reps. Tom Rukavina of Virginia, Ken Tschumper of La Crescent and Shelley Madore of Apple Valley.
Through a spokesman, Pawlenty declined to respond to the letter Tuesday. Speaking about a new commissioner, Pawlenty said that he's considering several "very solid and wonderful candidates."
WARREN WOLFE
Recent Politically Connected stories
Senate confirms controversial Obama nominee for Chicago appeals court - September 25, 2007
Senate confirms controversial Obama nominee for Chicago appeals court - The Senate on Thursday confirmed U.S. District Judge David Hamilton for the Chicago-based federal appeals court, approving a nominee targeted by conservatives as a liberal activist. More
- Obama to unveil plan to add troops in Afghanistan
- List of White House state dinner guests
- Palin stops in Fla. town that feted her in 2008
- Fed says recovery will be gradual with jobless rate dropping 'slowly' over next few years
- GOP opens probe into climate science e-mails
- Weaver opts against run for Minn. governor
- No guarantees on Senate health bill's public plan
- Health care issues: US costs vs. other countries
The Whistleblower blog has moved
The Star Tribune is still blowing the whistle, but our look and location have changed. Click here to get to the new blog. If you want the actual URL, it’s www.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower.html. Our blog posts will now be easier to search on the web site, but you’ll need to register to post a comment. In the [...]
Recent posts
  Open positions!A new career awaits. Look through thousands of listings to find your new job. Start now! No resume? No problem!Create a skills profile in minutes, let a recruiter match you to an open position. Click here to get started. |
Comment on this story | Be the first to comment | Hide reader comments