Category: Scott Jensen

Sen. Scott Jensen says he has ‘no regrets’ about his COVID-19 comments

Senate leader says he’s under investigation by state medical board for COVID remarks.

State Sen. Scott Jensen, a physician, said Monday he has “no regrets” over controversial comments he made about COVID-19 that have sparked a state review.

Jensen, a Republican from Chaska, said he believes complaints to the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice that he was spreading misinformation and giving “reckless advice” about the coronavirus may be politically motivated.

The board declined to confirm any complaints or reviews underway, stating that such information is not subject to public disclosure. Continue reading.

State Sen. Scott Jensen says he’s being investigated by the state medical board for COVID-19 commentsState Sen. Scott Jensen says he’s being investigated by the state medical board for COVID-19 comments

Medical board reportedly looking into Jensen’s COVID-19 comments.

State Sen. Scott Jensen, a physician and Republican from Chaska, said Sunday that he is being investigated by the Minnesota State Board of Medical Practice for public statements he’s made about COVID-19.

Jensen criticized the state Department of Health in April for following federal guidance stipulating when doctors should characterize deaths as due to COVID-19. He said he feared that the death toll might be inflated if each state’s allocation of federal funds depended on the number of COVID-19 deaths.

His comments, made in a series of interviews with TV personalities from North Dakota to Fox News in New York, went viral. Some charged they fueled conspiracy theories and disinformation about the coronavirus. He told the Star Tribune in April that he felt his words were taken out of context. Continue reading.

Senator Jensen Caught Golfing During Zoom Committee Hearing

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, Republican Senator Scott Jensen was seen golfing during a hearing of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, which Jensen serves as the Vice Chair of.

The Evidence of Jensen Golfing During a Committee Hearing

The video of the full committee hearing can be found here. Some key moments from the hearing are:

  • 5:39 – Jensen is seen driving at the beginning of the meeting
  • 17:49, 19:01 – The sound of golf is clearly audible
  • 18:13 – Jensen is visible outdoors and someone can be seen with golf clubs behind him, despite Jensen’s efforts to obscure this by holding his camera close to his face
  • 38:14 – A conversation, presumably between Jensen’s golf buddies, is clearly audible during the committee hearing
  • 50:44, 56:30 – Jensen is clearly sitting in a golf cart.
  • 50:55 – Jensen’s golf cart gets so loud that it disrupts the meeting and folks are asked to mute microphones.
  • 51:10 – Senator Hayden jumps in to “ask Senator Jensen how’s he hitting them out there?”

Continue reading “Senator Jensen Caught Golfing During Zoom Committee Hearing”

In the Know: April 13, 2020

Days to the November Election:  204

Agriculture
World’s biggest pork processor closing South Dakota plant where 238 employees have coronavirus, The Week
Minnesota farmers to feel fallout from closure of major pork processing plant, MPR
Dumped Milk, Smashed Eggs, Plowed Vegetables: Food Waste of the Pandemic, New York Times
750 organizations call on USDA to provide direct aid to farmers, AgDaily

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Attorney General Ellison sues second landlord accused of trying to cut off tenant’s water, Pioneer Press

Donald Trump
Trump Makes First Public Rebuke of Fauci With #FireFauci Retweet, Daily Beast
Trump’s tariffs on China could cost the US in its fight against the coronavirus, CNBC
Trump Just Told Governors to Get Their Acts Together on COVID-19. Pot, Meet Kettle., Mother Jones
What Dr. Fauci has coming, Axios
White House advisor to 60 Minutes: Show me your pandemic story, CBS News
Trump Spends Easter Asking Confidants: ‘What Do You Think of Fauci?’, Daily Beast Continue reading “In the Know: April 13, 2020”

In the Know: April 10, 2020

Days to the November Election:  207

2020 Election
Voter suppression in Wisconsin could go nationwide in 2020, MN Reformer
Trump: Absentee Voting Is Fraud Unless It’s My Supporters, New York Mag
Arizonans Love Postal Voting. But Even With the Coronavirus, Its GOP Lawmakers Don’t. , Mother Jones
Wisconsin: the state where American democracy went to die, The Guardian

Agriculture
The Farm-to-Table Connection Comes Undone, New York Times
SBA OFFERS RELIEF DUE TO COVID-19, Successful Farming

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Minnesota attorney general warns businesses that violate stay at home order could face fines, Fox 9
Minnesota Supreme Court Rules Some Voter Data Private, WCCO Continue reading “In the Know: April 10, 2020”

In the Know: July 29, 2019

2020
The 2020 campaign will be more racially divisive than 2016 was, The Economist
The U.S. government needs to protect against 2020 election meddling, Washington Post
Rep. Martha Roby is second House GOP woman to decide not to seek reelection, Greenwich Time
Calm down: MyPillow Guy Mike Lindell isn’t running for office (yet), City Pages

Business
Trump’s Antitrust Cops Fail to Police Big Business—Again, The American Prospect
Trump is approving an anti-competitive merger that will cost you money, Voxƒ

DFL News
DFL Statement on Anniversary of GOP Senate Health Care Vote, DFL.org Continue reading “In the Know: July 29, 2019”

In the Know: July 23, 2019

2020 Election
Republican Sen. Scott Jensen says he won’t stand for re-election, Bring Me The News

Attorney General Keith Ellison
Ellison: State needs plan for police shootings, Valley News Live
Environmental groups ask Minn. Attorney General to investigate PolyMet and Glencore, Duluth News Tribune

Big Business
Some on the Left Want To Nationalize Amazon. Breaking It Up Is a Safer Bet., In These Times Continue reading “In the Know: July 23, 2019”

Physician lawmakers Sen. Scott Jensen and Rep. Kelly Morrison talk health care

Having physicians crafting health care legislation is unusual and closely watched.

Four physicians served in this session of the Minnesota Legislature, including two area legislators. Sen. Scott Jensen (R-Chaska) represents Senate District 47 and is a family doctor. Rep. Kelly Morrison (D-Deephaven) represents House District 33B and is an obstetrician.

The other physician legislators are Sen. Matt Kline, a Democrat representing Senate District 52, and House District 56B Democratic Rep. Alice Mann.

View the complete June 19 article by Lara Bockenstedt on The Chaska Herald website here.