Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/author/christina-wessel/)
Last month, I had the privilege to be a part of something special in Minnesota when a whole lot of groups that aren’t usually all on the same page came together to support MinnesotaCare. Continue Reading
Minnesota has a $1.086 billion positive balance projected for the FY 2014-15 biennium. This good news in the 2013 November Economic Forecast released today means Minnesota will finish repaying past debts – including $246 million to fully reverse the school funding shift and $15 million to refill the state airports fund. Continue Reading
Next Tuesday, October 1, is go live day! MNsure, the state’s new health insurance marketplace, will officially open for business. It is truly exciting to think of how MNsure will help hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans get affordable and comprehensive health coverage. Continue Reading
Nearly 1 million Minnesotans will gain access to affordable, quality health insurance beginning next year, thanks to MNsure, the new online marketplace where individuals and small businesses can shop for and enroll in health insurance. Continue Reading
Earlier this month, the Obama administration delayed implementing one component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – the provision that requires large employers to pay a penalty if they fail to offer health insurance coverage. The decision gives the federal government more time to clarify the rules and gives businesses more time to comply. A recent study by the Urban Institute assures us that it will not slow down the ACA’s goal to reduce the number of uninsured. Continue Reading
When the House and Senate released their committee targets in March, we were surprised that the health and human services budget division was required to cut $150 million in the House and $153 million in the Senate. After years of reductions to critical services for Minnesota’s most vulnerable, including $1 billion in cuts in the 2011 Legislative Session, we believed this year would offer an opportunity to start making up lost ground investing in our state’s health and well-being. Continue Reading
The budget targets released by the House and Senate last week invest in many of the building blocks of our economic future, but also call for cuts to health and human services that could harm Minnesota’s most vulnerable residents. Continue Reading
Many Minnesotans have seen the value of public health and human services at some point in their lives, whether it’s child care assistance that enabled a friend to keep her job, nursing home care for an elderly parent, or affordable health insurance for a cousin with a chronic illness. These and other essential services improve the health and stability of Minnesota families throughout the state. Continue Reading
I sometimes think of the State of Minnesota as a ship that’s been heading in the wrong direction. We’ve spent the last few weeks reviewing elements of Governor Dayton’s proposed budget, which includes many ideas that will start to turn Minnesota around and get us back on the right course. His budget also reflects the reality that you can’t turn a ship on a dime. Continue Reading
The state budget plan released by Gov. Mark Dayton yesterday seeks to end the cycle of deficits and put the state on a firmer financial foundation. Continue Reading