Over a hundred Minnesota House lawmakers are in southeastern Minnesota for a three-day “mini-session” based in Winona and with hearings and site visits in Austin and Rochester today. Republican leaders say Democrats have refused to hold hearings about “ongoing chaos” at the state Human Services Department. Majority Leader Ryan Winkler responds Senate Republicans already had a hearing and the House will also. He says, “In my mind, Republican leaders are just cheap politicians playing cheap politics. We have real work to do, and grandstanding over one agency is not the only thing that the Minnesota House of Representatives should be focused on.”
Governor Tim Walz and fellow Democrats are again pushing Republicans to approve an assistance program for those who can’t afford insulin, as the three-day “mini-session” begins. Senate G-O-P Majority Leader Paul Gazelka responds Tuesday’s announcement on health insurance rates is more proof that Republican health care solutions work for Minnesota families. House Democratic Majority Leader Ryan Winkler about Gazelka’s statement, “I think that he is stalling, and it is time to get to work on insulin…. He should appoint three members of the Senate who are prepared to negotiate on behalf of the Senate with House members to get a solution to this.”
At issue is whether drug manufacturers will be charged a fee to help pay for an emergency insulin program.