Event Notices • Feb 2013 • Health Care Reform - Obamacare • Health Exchanges -Obamacare • Minnesota Engagement

CCHF Action Alert - 2/26/13

 

CCHF MN ACTION ALERT!
 
Please Come Tonight -- Obamacare Exchange Bill (Tues, Feb 26)!
 
Tonight is the final committee hearing on the MN Exchange bill before both the House and the Senate version head to the floor for votes. Please come tonight and be a strong presence in the room. Or if you can't come, send an email today asking all the committee members to vote NO on House File 5, the health insurance exchange bill. (see bullet points below)
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6:00 PM (Tuesday, February 26, 2013)

Ways and Means

*** Note: *** Change in meeting room
Chair: Rep. Lyndon Carlson 
Room: 5 State Office Building 
Agenda: Pending re-referral on the floor on Monday, the committee will take action on HF5. Deadlines for amendments is 3:00 pm, Tuesday, Feb. 26th.
HF5 (Atkins) Minnesota Insurance Marketplace established, powers and duties prescribed, right to not participate established, open meeting requirements and data practices procedures specified, and money appropriated.
 
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For a few reasons to oppose the bill, see our 12 bill-specific concerns listed at the end of this email, or read our Exchange Realities #1 - #8, or use our 15 Reasons to Oppose the Exchange or go to www.nixthehix.org for more information and diagrams. 
 
In short, House File 5 is the imposition of Obamacare, the federal takeover of health care. And the cost of building the Minnesota arm of the federal insurance monitoring and IRS enforcement system will be at least $60 million per year. It'll have a board of seven people appointed by the governor who are empowered to oversee and make decisions about insurance and health care. They will follow the federal health care reform law and enforce its regulations. 
 
Then prepare to come next week for the floor debates. Our current understanding is that the House will debate HF5 on the floor on Monday, March 4 (likely starting at 3:00 p.m.), and the Senate will take up the bill (SF1) on Thursday, March 7 (likely starting at 11:00 a.m.). The debates are expected to last 6-8 hours. Stay a few hours or the entire time. Bring a sign. Talk to legislators. You never know what might happen or what could turn the tide in a different direction. Please be engaged. 
 
Be a supportive presence to the legislators standing in opposition!
 
Twila Brase
President