ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Legislature voted to delete adults living in the country illegally from the MinnCare health care program. This strips an estimated 17,000 people from state-subsidized medical coverage. The program, for low-income people, will continue to cover children. The passage was a major step toward balancing the state budget for the coming biennium. The vote:
> Senate: 37-30.
> House: 68-65.
The bill had come to the floor from Governor Tim Walz and legislative leaders as a bipartisan compromise to balance the state budget for the next biennium. Almost four hours of rigorous debate dominated the opening day of the Legislature’s special session. A rule for the special session was not to allow amendments to the compromise package — just debate. In general Republicans favored the MinnCare cuts, claiming a $600 million in saving over the next four years. “This is about being fiscally responsible,” said Jeff Backer, a Republican from Browns Valley. “Taxpayers shouldn’t have to subsidize health care for people who aren’t in the country legally.” He seemed to ignore that immigrants also pay taxes. He noted that immigrants can still buy health insurance on the private market regardless of their alien status. Democratic Majority Leader Erin Murphy, of St. Paul, called the bill “a wound on the soul of Minnesota.” She voted for the bill as part of the compromise deal to balance the budget. She called it one of “the most painful votes I’ve ever taken.”
Aggressive agenda
Left-over issues on for special session:
> MinnCare for undocumented adults
> Health and human pervices
> Commerce and consumer protection
> Human services
> Education
> Transportation
> Capitol investment
> Taxes and local aids
> Data Center
> Environment and natural resources
> Jobs, labor, economic development
> Higher education
> Energy, utilities, environment and climate