Dear Neighbor,
Greetings from St. Paul, where the 2016 session is now underway. Topics such as taxes (let's give taxpayers a break) and transportation (let's focus on roads and bridges) will make headlines along the way but, to start, I'd like to address a couple other important issues.
First, I have authored a House bill that would repeal Minnesota's state health insurance clearinghouse – MNsure.
MNsure is a redundant, ineffective, colossal waste of tax dollars that still can't meet its chief function of providing access to affordable health insurance. We do not need to keep MNsure around when people can just as easily go to the federal website.
I have heard from a number of local folks who support my proposal and more fellow House members are signing on as co-authors.
It seems the latest disgusting round of bad news may have been the last straw for many people. Reports indicate MNsure has been pushing people into Medical Assistance (Minnesota's version of Medicaid) without making it clear that liens would be placed on their properties to cover the costs. The public would demand prison sentences if a private company operated this way, so why is the state not being held liable?
This all comes back to the fact Democrats who designed this program in 2012-13 seemed so bent on bringing Obamacare to Minnesota they disregarded potential problems and turned blinders toward Republican proposals to bring greater transparency, efficiency and accountability.
There remains a misconception that we would be required to replace MNsure if it were repealed. To the contrary, there is no need to replace MNsure, no mandate forcing us to have this website. Some other states already have cut bait on their faulty programs, but it's better late than never for us to do the right thing instead of continuing to waste more tax dollars.
I also have been receiving significant feedback regarding a letter I recently submitted to area newspapers regarding muskies. The DNR is considering stocking muskies in a number of Minnesota lakes and the Gull Chain of Lakes is on its list of candidates.
Having been on Gull Lake since 1973, I share the opinion with the many area residents who do not want another invasive species – muskies – introduced into the lake. The people who are contacting me overwhelmingly agree. This anecdotal evidence is in addition to a recent survey of Gull Chain lakeshore property owners conducted by the lake's association which indicates 70 percent are against stocking muskies here.
I am working closely with this subject. Let's hope the DNR acknowledges these opinions so our government can start working for taxpayers instead of exerting its will on them.
Your thoughts on these and other issues always are welcome and I will pass along more updates as the session progresses.
Sincerely,
Mark