February 12, 2009: Legislative Report #17
Universal Healthcare
The Senate held a 3-hour hearing on SF0118, Universal Healthcare for Minnesota, on Wednesday 2/10/09 in the State Capital Building. People gave testimony, both pro and con, in the filled to capacity room. Campaign Committee for Constitutional Republicans is opposed to this legislation for the following reasons:
- The constitution of Minnesota, the document dictating government authority, prohibits State Government from controlling or manipulating a healthcare program.
- No one has a clue the annual cost of SF0118 to taxpayers and citizens, including **John Marty, the bills chief author. A plan to study the cost of SF0118 (companion in House is HF135) is costing $300,000.00 of taxpayer’s money. Some discussion concluded a general cost of $35,000,000,000.00 to $50,000,000,000.00 a year to operate Universal Healthcare in Minnesota.
- Government has no capacity to operate a healthcare system. State government has authorization to facilitate solutions between groups on state matters. Revising Minnesota’s healthcare system could be a proper function for state to facilitate corrective healthcare measures.
- The federal government has started a national Universal Healthcare, the first phase buried in the just passed Economic Stimulus package.
- Healthcare has national problems, government dictation of coverage’s; locations of hospitals are just a few government actions contributing to a failed healthcare system. Further government control or intervention could only compound the breakdown of medical services in America.
In conclusion, instead of finding solutions to solving a $7,000,000,000.00 budget shortfall, Carolyn Laine has chosen to support HF135 a destructive Government controlled noncompetitive healthcare bill. It appears Carolyn considers “governance” to be expanding state government by 250%, and sending state spending into the stratosphere. Minnesota Legislators need to focus real “governance” on the issue at hand “BALANCE THE STATE BUDGET”.