Even though Congress enacted ObamaCare over the strenuous objections of the American people, Minnesota’s political leaders may enact something even worse. During this biennium, 35 members of the House DFL caucus–2 out of every 5 members–were cosponsors of HF135.
ObamaCare establishes laws and regulations that are likely over time to mean the end of private health care. One thing it does is greatly expand Medicaid, the Great Society program for “poor” people. HF135 takes that one step further and establishes “the Minnesota Plan” for everyone. In other words, it’s a more honest and direct step towards a single-payer system. It doesn’t outlaw private insurance, but it will certainly render it moot.
Not every one of those 35 DFL legislators will be around next session, as some will no doubt retire or be defeated. The upside is that HF135 didn’t get out of committee, even though the party had substantial majorities in both chambers of the Minnesota Legislature. The DFL caucuses will certainly be smaller in the next Legislature. (The party could conceivably lose one or both chambers, though I’m not holding my breath.) If by some reason the party controls both the governor’s office AND the Legislature, though, watch out.
By the way, the list of groups that have endorsed “the” Minnesota plan include the usual suspects of government-employee unions and DFL organizations, as well as the League of Women Voters.