MN GOP Healthcare Plan “Not Vetted” Says DFL

Minnesota House Democrats complain not only about the content, but also about the how a Republican health care plan was brought to a floor vote during a rare Saturday session. The plan had a hearing Friday night on one hours notice and no amendments were allowed to it on the House floor because it had been included as part of a conference report.

The bill allows insurance brokers to manage health insurance trust accounts, giving them complete authority over the administration of payments to insurance companies.

“To the degree to which this bill would further complicate our already confusing health insurance system, it is unacceptable that Republicans have not vetted the issue through the proper legislative channels,” said Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth). “If Republicans were as serious as they say they are about improving our health care system, they would have allowed for public input.”

“There is a very clear conflict of interest with this legislation,” said Rep. Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul). “We should be empowering consumers, not empowering health insurance companies to continue on with the status quo. Unfortunately for Minnesotans, passage of this bill is yet another example of Republicans championing corporate interests over those of consumers.”

The bill passed 69 to 60

MN GOP Denies it Copied Health Care Bill From ALEC

House DFLers offered evidence that Republicans have “cut and pasted” model legislation from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC has come under fire the past month as several large corporations have pulled out of it. Representative Steve Gottwalt (R-St. Cloud) says his health care legislation was not authored by ALEC. He says it was written by people in other states and then was adopted by ALEC.

‘Don’t’ Mess With My Momma’s Medicare’

A bill that would ask Congress to let Minnesota keep the health care dollars it sends to the federal government passed the MN State House 70 to 59. Opponents argued it would “mess with” Medicare. The bill now goes to Governor Mark Dayton for a signature or veto.

“Being a Woman Shouldn’t be a Pre-existing Condition”

“There should be no cost to a human life; there should be no price tag,” Abby Schanfield, a teary-eyed University of Minnesota student born with a “pre-existing condition” said Friday morning on the two-year anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act — the Obama administration’s landmark health care legislation. “With the implementation of the law, I can stay on my parents’ (insurance) plan until I’m 26, which is a huge relief, because facing that uncertainty is extremely scary.”

The Affordable Care Act will face what could be its ultimate test this week when the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments against, and in defense of, the controversial health care legislation. The high court’s decision, expected in June, is expected to play a huge role in this year’s presidential campaign.

Schanfield was born with a rare parasitic congenital disease called Toxoplasmosis, which forced her to have brain surgery when she was 10 months old and caused her to begin losing the vision in one eye when she was 17 years old. She and other women whose families have faced precarious health care predicaments gathered at the home of Minnesota Nurses Association president Linda Hamilton to share their stories about experiencing health care insecurity, worrying about gaps in coverage for themselves, a spouse, parent or child, and facing financial hardship and discrimination from insurance companies.

Seated on Hamilton’s couches around the living room were U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Senator Al Franken, Congresswoman Betty McCollum and Governor Mark Dayton. For her part in the conversation, Secretary Sebelius highlighted how the Affordable Care Act has put many Americans back in charge of their health care since it was signed into law on March 23, 2010. Sebelius discussed how women in particular are disproportionally impacted by insurance company abuses such as discrimination on pre-existing conditions, coverage recessions and lifetime limits on care. She added that, as a result of the Affordable Care Act, being a woman will no longer be considered a pre-existing condition.

How To Design MN’s New Health Care System

Major decisions are being made now about the development of a Minnesota Health Care Exchange, at the legislature and by the health insurance industry. Minnesotans from around the state, concerned about the future of health care in Minnesota, will join together on Sunday to inform decision-makers about the best way to design our new health care system, reduce health inequities and reform the insurance industry.

The Affordable Care Act that was passed into law and signed by President Obama two years ago empowers each state to set up a health care exchange. A Minnesota Health Care Exchange, if established properly, would provide the opportunity to reform the health care system in Minnesota and buy down the cost of insurance for thousands of Minnesotans based on income.

Expected to attend are more than 400 people organized by leading consumer groups including:Churches United in Ministry (Duluth), TakeAction Minnesota , Minneapolis Urban League, Land Stewardship Project, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and AARP.

Sen Hayden Hopeful For Undocumented Immigrant Medical Help

Hospitals paying for undocumented immigrants cut off from state-provided dialysis and chemotherapy may get some help. Senator Jeff Hayden says Governor Mark Dayton has proposed reinstating the Emergency Medical Assistance funding. However Hayden says Republicans oppose paying for it by closing corporate tax loopholes.

As part of last July’s budget deal that ended the state’s shutdown, undocumented immigrants were tossed off of Emergency Medical Assistance, forcing hospitals to pay for their care since December

Contraception Without A Co-Pay

Women’s health care is “under attack” says Representative Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul). So she wants Minnesota to join 28 other states that already require insurers to cover all FDA approved contraceptives without charging a co-pay.

Jessica Pieklo, a mother of two, talks about how important contraception has been for her family planning and without it how hard it would be to remain in the middle class.

Full video of the news conference and press release from the DFL: … Continue Reading

Embrace or Reject Federal Health Care Reform?

Minnesota Republican legislative leaders put forth an health insurance proposal that counts on the 2010 federal health care law being overturned, while DFLers offer one that they say meets the federal guidelines. States have until January 1, 2014 to develop health care exchanges that allow consumers to compare and purchase health insurance polices. The federal government will step in and create a health care exchange if states don’t do it by then.

The Republican plan put forth by Senator David Hann (R-Eden Prairie) and Representative Steve Gottwalt (R-St. Cloud) allows people to open personal health premium accounts that would allow people to pool money from several sources, including employers, other family members and even charitable organizations to buy health insurance.

The DFL plan offered by Senator Jeff Hayden (DFL-Minneapolis) and Representative Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) would create a new website with comparison of private and public health care options and negotiate on behalf of consumers and small businesses for more affordable coverage options.

Senator Hayden hopes that Republicans will give the DFL bill more than an “informational hearing” so there can be a full debate on the ideas both parties are offering.

Full video of both press conferences … Continue Reading

Not “Yes HE Can”, But “Yes WE Can” Says Rep. Ellison

Despite Republican congressional resistance that’s made it difficult to make headway on progressive issues, Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison is optimistic about 2012.

“America is ready” Representative Ellison told a supportive crowd at the “Blue State Ball”. “This is a progressive moment.”

Republicans have made a lot of mistakes since winning a majority in the US House. The latest gaffe of opposing a payroll tax cut has hurt their standings in polls even more than Democrats. However Representative Ellison says despite that, and a group of Presidential candidates that even the Republican base finds uninspiring, Democrats need to unite and fight or they will not take advantage of the moment.

“We cannot depend upon the incompetence, ignorance and bigotry of our opposition. We have got to hang together and move forward. We are in a progressive moment, y’all.”

Movement needs to power Obama, not the other way around … Continue Reading

Progressives Challenge Obama In Iowa

Video by Roger Routh

For three years progressives have been trying to get President Barack Obama to live up to their expectations. And so far according to the founder of Progressive Democrats of America, they’ve been disappointed.

That’s why Tim Carpenter is organizing people to go to the Iowa caucus and vote for “uncommitted” as a way challenge President Obama.

“We’re organizing uncommitted slates to go to the caucus on Tuesday to challenge Barack Obama because he gave up on his promise to single payer (health care). He took too long to get troops out of Iraq. There’s still troops in Afghanistan. And we need a financial transaction tax.”

Carpenter’s call to action can be backed up with political muscle. Progressive Democrats of America was formed out of the people who fueled the Presidential campaigns of Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich.

Carpenter appeared with the Reverend Jesse Jackson at an organizing meeting in a Des Moines area church this week. They both endorsed an “inside outside” strategy — asking activists to go to the caucuses and work inside the Democratic party as well as participating in the “occupy” movement that works outside the party.

Transcript of Progressive Democrats of America Founder Tim Carpenter’s remarks … Continue Reading