Area Legislator Drops Bid Against Medicaid Expansion

Yesterday, State Sen. David W. Hann (R-District 42/ Eden Prairie & Minnetonka), a major legislative player in crafting the state's healthcare laws, dropped his effort against what he's called, "Obamacare."

On Jan. 13, Sen. Hann, Chairman of the State Senate Health and Human Services Committee, introduced SF 33, dubbed the Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act. The bill was crafted as a declaration that every resident of Minnesota has the freedom of choice in healthcare.  This legislation would also repeal Minnesota’s Medical Assistance expansion and help the state block a government requirement that every American purchase health insurance.  

But on Tuesday, Sen. Hann, Chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, dropped his bid to repeal Minnesota’s early expansion of Medicaid under the new federal health care law—health care law which Hann has called unconstitutional. He said the repeal would only add to the state’s looming $6.2 billion budget shortfall. 

In these clips, also from the State Capitol on Tuesday, Sen. Hann answers questions about SF 32— another healthcare bill which he introduced on Jan. 13, which would change the Healthy Minnesota Contribution Program. Under Hann's new provisions, the program would include a waiver of preexisting conditions for persons covered by the healthy Minnesota contribution program as well as redesign service delivery for lower-income 
MinnesotaCare enrollees.

First State Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43/Minnetonka) questions Hann, followed by State Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL-District 41/Minneapolis). 

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Every week, check Minnetonka Patch brings you video segments featuring your local lawmakers: Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 43), Sen. David Hann (R-District 42), Sen. Gen Olson (R-District 33), Rep. John Benson (DFL-District 43B), Rep. Connie Doepke (R-District 33B), and Rep. Kirk Stensrud (R-District 42A).

Video is provided in collaboration with The UpTake-- a non-profit, citizen-driven, online video news gathering organization, established in 2007.