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State Representative Joyce Peppin
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-7806
For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529
OP/ED COLUMN
HEALTH CARE SPENDING IS BREAKING THE BANK
By Joyce Peppin
State Representative
The Minnesota Legislature was hard at work last week passing bills that are not sustainable with our current budget and, if signed by the governor, will require dramatic tax increases. One of these bills is the omnibus health bill, which would increase the amount the state spends on health care by more than 42 percent from the 2006/07 biennium to the 2010/11 biennium.
In addition to the sheer cost, one of my biggest disappointments with this big spending bill is that it rolls back successful welfare reform measures that have saved the state millions of dollars and moved people from welfare to work during the past eight years. By removing work and education requirements, the state risks losing up to $26 million in federal funding under the federal Deficit Reduction Act and sends the absolute wrong message to folks on welfare.
Rolling back welfare reform will translate into millions of dollars of state spending. In addition, it will further open the door for illegal immigrants to receive benefits. It would attract people from other states to Minnesota to receive welfare benefits. Moving Minnesota backwards and providing more government handouts will cost you, the taxpayer, an estimated $29.6 million in 2008 and 2009. The cost would be just under $50 million in 2010 and 2011
That money could be much better used for education, transportation, tax relief, or many other worthy state investments. It is simply not good practice for our state to raise taxes so we can give government hand outs.
Another feature of the bill includes forming a commission to “study” health care options. The commission would be blatantly skewed towards members of the Universal Health Care Coalition who feel strongly that universal health care is the direction the state should go.
So what exactly is universal health care? It is the idea that everyone should have access to affordable, high-quality health care. While the concept may be appealing, implementing universal health care in Minnesota would cost about $1.6 billon next year alone. By the year 2030, the state’s entire budget would be consumed by such a health care plan.
Not only would such a plan have an unsustainable price tag, it would ruin our tradition of great health care. Minnesota currently has the lowest uninsured rate in the nation according to a recently released United Health Group report. The report also declared Minnesota the healthiest state in the nation. Implementing government run universal health care would be a step backward.
Universal health care would lead to rationing of health care. It would allow the government to tell you what doctor you could see, and what treatment you could get. It wouldn’t matter if the doctor knew your medical history or not. I believe you should have the choice as to which doctor you visit, which clinic you visit and what treatment you receive.
There are better ways to provide insurance to those who are uninsured in Minnesota. For starters, we need to open up the market. Currently only three companies can offer health insurance in Minnesota. There’s very little competition, so these companies can set prices without fear of losing patients. The more companies that can offer products here, the lower the cost will be and the better the products will be. Another government program is not the answer. The free market should be the driving force behind improving the health care industry.
This bill is just one of the many big-spending omnibus bills which passed on the House floor last week. The state currently has a $2 billion surplus. If all these bills are signed into law, there will be no way to sustain our budget without major tax increases. I for one believe the state should live within its means like families do everyday. As I have often said: Let’s be known for fiscal responsibility and accountability, not frivolous spending.
Please contact me with any questions or opinions you have on health care or any state legislative issue. I can be reached at rep.joyce.peppin@house.mn or 651.296.4124. Mail should be sent to Rep. Joyce Peppin, 331 State Office Building, 100 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.
News Items
- PEPPIN REPORT: NW SUBURBAN FAMILIES WILL BE HIT HARD UNDER DAYTON AND DFL BUDGET - (Posted: May 28 2013 4:35PM)
- Rep. Peppin’s bill would lessen unfair fiscal disparities tax burden on Rogers - (Posted: Apr 3 2013 9:36AM)
- PEPPIN REPORT: FEBRUARY FORECAST REVEALS FOURTH CONSECUTIVE STATE SURPLUS - (Posted: Feb 28 2013 12:00AM)
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