Capitol View: March 17, 2010 Archive

State lawmakers weigh in on federal health care bill

Posted at 1:14 PM on March 17, 2010 by Tim Pugmire (1 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature

Republicans in the Minnesota Senate are calling on the state's congressional delegation to reject a federal health care reform bill.

They're also asking the state attorney general to file a lawsuit, if the bill passes, to protect Minnesotans from what they see as an unconstitutional measure. Both requests are included in a resolution that Republicans want considered on the Senate floor Thursday. During a news conference today, Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, said the federal bill would impose an unequal tax and take away the right to not buy health insurance.

"There's also a really great premise in our government," Ortman said."It's the premise of divided government, where the state government has its rights and can control the federal government when it's overreaching. And with the federal health care bill, the federal government is proposing unconstitutional actions."

State Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, also sent a message on health care, specifically a harshly-worded letter to Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Emmer, who's a GOP candidate for governor, told Klobuchar that her job is to represent the citizens of Minnesota.

"If you vote for the health care reform bill you have failed in that job," Emmer wrote. "It is reckless to vote for a bill most of you have yet to read and certainly do not fully understand."

Democrats were quick to respond. Sen. Linda Berglin, DFL-Minneapolis, said the federal health care bill would provide needed insurance protections to many Minnesotans. She described the GOP constitutional claims as "a bunch of baloney."

"We have a partnership with the federal government in many, many area of health care, and Medicare is one of them," Berglin said. "I don't think that violates the constitution."

Rep. Tom Huntley, DFL-Duluth, pointed out the financial implications of the federal bill.

"At at time of record deficits and unemployment, GOP senators are proposing a plan that would cost Minnesota $3 billion," Huntley said. "This national health care legislation is the beginning of real payment reform that will reduce the cost of health care for every Minnesotan."

Comment on this post

About that funny money...

Posted at 9:40 PM on March 17, 2010 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor, MN Legislature, Tim Pawlenty

House Democrats released their budget targets today and they're banking on a pot of money that they criticized Governor Pawlenty for using. Democrats are budgeting $408 million in federal Medicaid money that hasn't passed into law yet.

House and Senate Democrats criticized Pawlenty for relying on the funds in his budget plan to help erase a nearly $1 billion budget deficit. DFL Representative Loren Solberg said he's more confident the state can rely on the funds since Congress is poised to pass it.

"When we questioned it, we said 'What's the status of it?' We said 'prove it to us.' We've been in contact and verifying their sources as well. Nothing is guaranteed on this but I feel a lot better about now than I did when the governor first submitted a proposal to us."

GOP House Minority Leader Kurt Zellers called Democrats hypocrites for ripping Governor Pawlenty for using the unallocated funds but are now relying on the same funds to balance the budget.

"From our standpoint, it's just a lot of hypocrisy. It's a lot of what I would call political jabbing one day or one week and then come back and use some of the same things..."

The targets also call for another $155 million in HHS cuts, $146 million in savings from the General Assistance Medical Care deal and few cuts to early childhood or K12 schools.

Comment on this post