Dear Neighbor,
Democratic majorities are looking to raise our taxes at every turn this session. The first such bill to pass the full House is the poster for government growth, inefficiency and waste.
Both bodies passed a bill this week which would form a state-run health care insurance exchange. The intent was to tailor a plan to fit Minnesota’s needs as opposed to adopting the federal government’s one-size-fits-all Obamacare model. The plan is to begin enrolling consumers in October, with assistants in place to help citizens navigate the online marketplace.
There are huge flaws in this bill and many unanswered questions remain. It is unsettling how members of the Legislature seem so bent on rushing this monstrosity through the process that they are wearing blinders and ignoring the details. You know a bill is ill-advised when even Gov. Mark Dayton calls it “a big gamble,” as he did during a recent radio interview.
The three things Minnesotans care about most with health insurance are: affordability, choice and privacy. This health insurance exchange fails on all three fronts.
It would cost us hundreds of millions of dollars to operate and include a 3.5-percent tax on insurance premiums to fund a brand new government “super agency.” This politically appointed agency would be subject to limited legislative oversight and have broad authority over our health insurance market.
The exchange also establishes a system whereby seven politically appointed board members pick the winners and losers as to who can sell insurance plans in the market. The board would be accountable to no one, will have unchecked power, and will drastically effect your pocketbook, your freedom of choice, and the well-being of your family.
Many data privacy concerns are being raised over the personal data that will be reported to federal agencies like the IRS and the Dept. of Homeland Security for "compliance" purposes. This is an extremely slippery slope.
Our state is a national leader in health care and in health insurance. We have too much to lose in rushing to pass this new government program that seems built to fail, sending us to a full-blown government-run system. About the only good news on this matter is we added an amendment to the bill preventing abortions from being covered under the plan.
I welcome your input on this issue and here is a video where I provide more thoughts on the matter: http://youtu.be/hVuGJw9Dcz8.
Sincerely,
Tom