Dear Friends,
What an exciting week at the Capitol! I was humbled to take the oath of office on Tuesday and begin my fourth term serving the communities of Apple Valley and Lakeville.
On Thursday House Republicans officially unveiled our top five bills for the 2015 session. I will be carrying House File 5, which works to give Minnesotans more flexibility and choice in their health care decisions.
Eligible Minnesotans should be able to access tax credits under the Affordable Care Act whether they purchase insurance through MNsure, our health insurance exchange, or outside of it through a private company or broker. If Minnesota succeeds in securing a federal waiver, Minnesotans would be given more choices and the ability to decide which plans work best for their family.
In addition, House File 5 works to reign in MNsure by holding them to the same standards we hold our other state agencies. When the legislature established MNsure in 2013, it gave MNsure numerous exemptions from certain privacy and other requirements. It also allowed MNsure to pay its CEO more than other state commissioners, and to hand out bonuses to MNsure executives.
Many Minnesotans were disappointed that while thousands struggled with the broken website, MNsure executives were receiving taxpayer-funded bonuses. This will help put a stop to that and make MNsure more accountable to hardworking taxpayers.
House Files 1-4 are bills that will help grow better-paying jobs, improve education for Minnesota students, protect aging adults' quality of life, and focus transportation dollars on roads and bridges.
These first five bills are a framework for discussion as we start the 2015 session, and I look forward to working with my colleagues, members of the Senate, the Governor, members of the public, and any other people willing to offer input on ways to make these bills better to help address issues facing Minnesota.
Have a great weekend!
Tara Mack
State Representative, District 57A