Almanac: At the Capitol

Health care is the topic today as the House and Senate take up their Health and Human Services bills.  It's the last major budget bill on the docket.  House Health Care Finance Chair Tom Huntley said all health care is cut 3% and said "it's painful but not what the governor proposed."  Huntley said his cut is 1/10 of Pawlenty's.   The chair said the governor kicks 113,000 people off healthcare and Huntley added "those people have to go somewhere, somebody will pay."  He said in his bill there are "minor cuts to nursing homes."  Those on medical assistance and MN Care "won't see any significant decrease in their health care" according to Huntley. 

The Health Care Policy Chair Paul Thissen added there's reform and "we restore that lack of trust between the state and counties." As far as the Swine Flu, Huntley said "our Department of Health is as prepared as they can be."  He said he doesn't think the public understands the seriousness of this because there's not enough space in the Twin Cities' hospitals if there's an outbreak here.  He said patients would have to be sent out to Rochester or Duluth.

Protesters lined up in front of the House Chamber upset about the cuts and defending immigrant benefits.  The Senate says in its bill: 

No health care eligibility cuts were made in this plan. No dental or therapy services were
removed from health care services provided through state health care programs. The
integrity of the Health Care Access Fund was maintained and 20,000 more children will
qualify for health insurance under the Senate’s proposal.

As Democratic Health Chairs Berglin and Thissen rolled out their "Cover All Kids" legislation, the inevitable question came up:  How do you pay for it?  Like everything lately at the Capitol, the answer is the feds.  Democrats aren't the only ones counting on the federal government for a bail out.  As we know from the budget preview interviews Gov. Pawlenty has done, he's counting on the federal government for some dough to lessen the blow of state budget cuts.

Another source of potential revenue seems to be surfacing--expanding the sales tax to services.  Some smart bi-partisan people have been studying the historic volatility of our budget shortfalls and surpluses; they have concluded that our sales tax is narrow.  Now the governor of course won't take a true tax increase, so if services are taxes, he'd want the overall rate lowered so an entire package in revenue neutral.   Speaker Kelliher has been dropping lots of hints about taxing services (like legal services, hair cuts, car repairs).

The governors of Minnesota and Wisconsin announce an initiative to share services, a Senate committee passes a new seat belt law, and hearings are held on providing health insurance for the unemployed.

View the Capitol Update for January 13, 2009.

I think the next governor's race could feature the first shake up when it comes to gender in this state.  If Gov. Pawlenty does not run again, and I'm not sure why he would want to risk running again after watching the close recount and nasty campaign in the Senate race.  Plus, it would be something as Smart Politics writes no Minnesota governor has ever achieved (only gov's who had two-year terms got elected three times).  So having no incumbent could really shake things up and how about when it comes to gender?

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner is running (here's a shot of her literally running in Grandma's Marathon). 

I still hear a lot of (if not the most) interest in Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher who has rural and urban credentials, is greatly respected and was a hockey mom before it became politically popular.

But I wonder if the fact Rep. Paul Thissen is exploring a run means Kelliher is not.  They are close friends and allies and both from Minneapolis.  

Sen. Tom Bakk is also exploring, but it's been a long time since a Ranger made it statewide (think Doug Johnson and Jerry Janezich).

Of course there's the urban mayors Coleman and Rybak who are both able politicians with a built-in base.

On the Republican side, if Pawlenty does not run again Rep. Laura Brod is or could be on the top of a lot of short lists.  She's articulate, attractive and feisty.  I'd suspect Brian Sullivan to be in the mix as well.  Former State Auditor Pat Anderson is also a possibility.  Both women were spokespeople for the Republican Party in anti-Franken press conferences this year.

Today I tagged along with a couple of 2-year-old lobbyists. Really. They are knee-high toddlers who are working with their parents to change the health care system. The center of the story is Henry. He's a big brown eyed and beige suit wearing 2 1/2 year old lobbying force. He is allergic to nearly all solid food. To stay alive he has to drink a specialized hypoallergenic formula. Private insurance companies don't cover the formula, only if it's delivered through a feeding tube would the $15,000 a year nutrition be covered. Henry's family is trying to change that. Six states so far have required insurance companies to cover the medically necessary nutrition. We had amazing access to private meetings with lawmakers today, including the new House Health and Human Services Committee Chair Paul Thissen. So far the results were positive for Henry's family. We'll try to keep you updated about this issue as health care takes center stage. This story was my way of trying to put a human face on the complex issue of health care. Gov. Pawlenty and Sen. Berglin rolled out their health care initiatives this week and they featured a lot of numbers and detailed policy. Henry's bill would be separate from the big health care proposals for now, but could end up in the final omnibus bill.