Pawlenty rejects health care funds

Posted at 1:37 PM on August 31, 2010 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)
Filed under: Pawlenty travel, Tim Pawlenty

Gov. Pawlenty today signed an executive order directing state agencies to decline all discretionary participation in the federal health care legislation.

"Obamacare is an intrusion by the federal government into personal health care matters and it's an explosion of federal spending that does nothing to make health care more affordable," Pawlenty said in a news release. "To the fullest extent possible, we need to keep Obamacare out of Minnesota."

A spokesman for Pawlenty hasn't returned a question on how much federal money is at stake.

Democrats in the Legislature say Pawlenty is "putting his personal political ambitions ahead of the future of Minnesota." DFL Senator John Marty says he can't understand why Pawlenty is rejecting money that could help the state's bottom line.

"It doesn't matter if anybody supports it or not. The question is whether you turn down the money or not. The plan is going ahead. It's a question do we want to turn down our share of the money that our taxpayers paid for. Why should we turn down the money when the other states are taking it?"

It isn't certain how much money is at stake. DFL legislative leaders say state law does require Pawlenty to apply for some of the funds. They say there's a possibility the Legislature could take him to court if the doesn't apply.

Pawlenty is taking steps to run for president in 2012.

Here's the Executive Order:

EXECUTIVE ORDER 10-12

DIRECTING STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES

REGARDING DISCRETIONARY PARTICIPATION

IN THE FEDERAL HEALTH CARE LAW

I, TIM PAWLENTY, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and applicable laws do hereby issue this executive order:

WHEREAS, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA" or "the Act") (Pub.L. 111-148) was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010; and

WHEREAS, the Act represents a dramatic attempt to assert federal command and control over this country's health care system, which accounts for one-sixth of our nation's economy, thereby reducing individual freedom for health care decisions; and

WHEREAS, the Act includes unprecedented federal intrusions into individual liberty, including the mandate that individual citizens are compelled to purchase health insurance under penalty of law; and

WHEREAS, the Act was passed with massive new spending commitments at a time when the growing federal government debt threatens private sector economic growth; and

WHEREAS, the revenue to pay for the Act is based on increased taxes and fees coupled with unrealistic assumptions regarding purported future cost-savings; and

WHEREAS, this legislation includes a multitude of programs and demonstration projects intended to speed the transition to federally-controlled health care; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Laws of Minnesota 2010, 1st Special Session, Chapter 1 (Special Session Chapter 1) my Administration has determined Minnesota will not participate in the early expansion of the Medicaid entitlement program offered by the federal government as part of the legislation; and

WHEREAS, consistent with this determination and in recognition of my obligations to protect Minnesota's sovereign interests and those of its citizens, the boundary between state and federal government must be maintained to prevent an unwise and unsustainable federal takeover of health care in our State.

NOW, THEREFORE, I hereby order that:

All executive branch departments and agencies are directed that no application shall be submitted to the federal government in connection with requests for grant funding for programs and demonstration projects deriving from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ("PPACA" or "the Act") (Pub.L. 111-148) unless otherwise required by law, or approved by the office of the Governor.

Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 2009, section 4.035, subdivision 2, this Executive Order will be effective fifteen (15) days after publication in the State Register and filing with the Secretary of State and will remain in effect in accordance with Minnesota Statutes 2009, section 4.035, subdivision 3.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have set my hand this 31st day of August, 2010.

Comments (3)

I live in New York State and agree that the federal government should not compel anyone to have health insurance. My wife & I do not believe in the Western Medicine concept that there is a pill for any illness. Traditional Chinese Medicine with herbs & Acupuncture can build up any human's immune system to ward off any illness. This is not covered by any insurance approved by the federal government. If every person takes Krill Oil, Resveratrol (Grape Seed Extract), & Ubiquinol (reduced form of Ubiquinone, (CoEnzymeQ10) while avoiding High Fructose Corn Syrup & Aspertame, there is no need for Big Pharma's killer pills. Statin drugs eliminate CoQ10 from the body. Ubiquinol gives Oxygen to every cell in the body. Cancer cannot live in a cell that has Oxygen in it. Lets back your Governor and urge him to call for an investigation of the FDA and the WHO over the phony H1N1 virus scare that was plotted by the companies that made the vaccine. Western Medicine is good for micro surgery, limb replacements, and reconstruction of body parts after accident & trauma. The pills are killers, every one of them affect the liver. Lets see if your Governor is in the pockets of the AMA & Big Pharma. Most Republicans & Democrats are.

Posted by Pete Mare | August 31, 2010 4:19 PM

Does Pawlenty still believe in representative government? Isn't dismissing laws unilaterally what dictator's do?

Posted by plaincitizen | September 1, 2010 9:17 AM

First; Pete Mare should do his advertising some place else than on Public Broadcast blog. He does have a point with the problem of politicians being overly lobbied and maybe worse by big pharma and the insurance giants. Also, I have to agree with plaincitizen. I just don't understand how this works, where a govenor can unilaterally dismiss getting federal money, that could be a great aid to the state. Doesn't the legislature have a say in what federal or other moneys the state can obtain and what programs the state can enter into? If, they cannot at least vote on whether the state should go into these programs, then the laws need to be changed.

Posted by John Magnusson | September 1, 2010 11:29 AM

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