McCollum Slams Pawlenty for Blocking Much-Needed Health Care Reform in Minnesota

Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov

Governor's Move Halts Medicaid Expansion, High-Risk Insurance Pools, and Insurance Exchange

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) issued the following statement, regarding Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty's recent Executive Order to prevent health care reform from being implemented in the state. Governor Pawlenty's action will block Medicaid expansion, stop funding for high-risk insurance pools, and prevent an insurance exchange for Minnesotans to shop for health coverage. The amount of these rejected funds totals over $1 billion.

"Governor Pawlenty's executive order truly is a political manifesto to the most extreme Republican/Tea Party elements in America. This decision is a sad example of the governor playing political games with people's lives - denying available federal funds for health care. It is offensive to me that our governor would use his power to hurt the most vulnerable in our society."

Congresswoman Betty McCollum serves on the House Appropriations and Budget Committees.

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