ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A bipartisan group of Minnesota lawmakers who want to increase state funding to nursing homes say failing to do so means more long-term care facilities will close.

A group of House and Senate members unveiled their proposal Tuesday. It calls for boosting state nursing home reimbursements by $56 million over the next two years.

That would be a substantial increase over the $382 million the state gave to nursing homes in 2012. But lawmakers from both parties say nursing homes in their districts are struggling to stay afloat even as demand for their services increase due to an aging state population.

Republican Sen. Julie Rosen of Fairmont says nursing homes are the largest employer in many towns she represents. She says state spending on them is an investment in jobs.

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