Accessibility menu
State Representative Bob Dettmer
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4124
For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529
NEWS COLUMN
WE NEED REAL REFORM IN HEALTH CARE
By Bob Dettmer
State Representative
District 52A
As the legislative session keeps moving forward we have begun discussing another important topic. This week we debated on the House Floor, HF3391, which deals with many health care provisions.
The main push in the bill that caused concern for many Republicans was the move towards a government run health care system. This bill lays the ground work for more people to be on government run health care plans, and actively encourages families that make nearly $62,000 to be on state health care programs. It also allows families that make up to $82,599 to receive state subsidies.
That starts us down a path that we should not travel. The sheer cost of this legislation is astounding. To cover all of the costs in the bill the tobacco tax, sick tax, and a conglomeration of other taxes would all have to be increased. On top of that, the fully insured market would be saddled with up to 10.5% in taxes and fees on health insurance premiums. That is not the kind of reform we need in Minnesota.
Instead we need reform that revolves around bringing down the cost while quality increases. If we open the health care industry to the free market we will see costs decrease and quality increase. We see this in every day life when we shop for cars, food, televisions, and most other products. One example this has worked in related to health care is Lasik eye surgery. We have seen the cost decrease significantly in the past several years as it has moved into the free market.
Protecting consumer privacy should also be a big push. It is an all too common occurrence that we hear of laptops with citizens’ data being stolen. If the government puts all of your data on computers, how safe will it be? Can your identity be protected?
Finally, we need to take every precaution necessary to prevent a government take over of health care. Turning over some the great hospitals and clinics that Minnesota has, like the Mayo Clinic, to the government bureaucrats is not a good idea. We need to keep these systems in the private sector and accountable to you, the consumer.
Health care reform is needed in Minnesota. There is no doubt about it. But let’s remember three key principles that will likely resonate with everyone: freedom and choice, privacy and security, no government takeover.
-- 30 --
News Items
- Memorial Day Message - (Posted: May 27 2013 2:18PM)
- Dettmer Statement on HF956 - Omnibus Energy Bill - (Posted: May 8 2013 3:10PM)
- Minneapolis Veterans Deserve Better - (Posted: May 3 2013 3:31PM)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.