Rochester GOP Sen. Dave Senjem ditched his traditional suit and tie in favor of a tracksuit on Wednesday while urging his colleagues to back a bill aimed at encouraging employers to help employees with the cost of gym memberships.
The Get FIT Bill, co-sponsored by Senjem and Sen. Sandra Pappas, DFL-St. Paul, would provide up to $40 per employee in tax breaks for small- and medium-size businesses that help cover the cost of employees' gym memberships. To qualify, employees would have to use the gym at least eight times per month.
Both Senjem and Pappas donned workout clothes during a Senate Health, Human Services and House Committee. Members of the committee approved the bill on a voice vote, sending it to the Senate Taxes Committee.
During the hearing, Senjem said this bill would encourage employers to invest in gym memberships, which in turn would help boost workers' productivity. He also talked about his personal health transformation. He said that as a young person he thought of himself as a good athlete. But over the years, he failed to pay attention to his health.
"You get a little sloppy, you eat a little too much, you exercise a little bit too little, you maybe take on a little bit too much stress," Senjem said.
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At his worst point, Senjem said he weighed 330 pounds, wore a size 56 suit and had high blood pressure. Since then, he's lost more than 95 pounds and become an avid runner. The retired Mayo Clinic employee said he got frequent reminders while at work about the importance of health.
"All you need to do is walk the hall (of Mayo Clinic) and realize health is really everything," he said. "It doesn't matter how much money you have."
