Minnesota House lawmakers have a roundtable at the State Capitol this morning, trying to turn up pressure on Senate Republicans to approve an emergency insulin assistance program. Senator Michelle Benson from Ham Lake objects every proposal she’s seen would build a “massive” program at the embattled state Human Services Department. “They want any new programs, they’re gonna have to have their house in order — and it’s not just one, it’s any,” Benson says. Democratic Representative Michael Howard from Richfield responds, “It’s very difficult to take Senator Benson seriously when she’s offered excuse after excuse after excuse in terms of why the Senate Republicans won’t take action on the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act.”
The sticking point appears to be over how much money that insulin manufacturers would kick in.