Thanksgiving has come and gone with still no agreement at the State Capitol on an assistance program for those with diabetes who cannot afford insulin. Democrats and Governor Tim Walz have been calling for public meetings, while Republicans insist progress is being made in private talks. The governor responds, “The reason that there are some folks [who] don’t want to it publicly is because the leverage will be immense once it comes out into the public.”
Walz is urging lawmakers to agree on a short-term emergency assistance program, saying he’ll then call a special session before Christmas — and lawmakers can deal with a long-term fix when they come back into regular session in February.
There’s been little information coming out of lawmakers’ private meetings. There’s at least one major sticking point that apparently still remains: Whether insulin manufacturers should help pay for the program.