Minority will uphold GAMC veto, leader says
Posted on 26. Feb, 2010 by Chris Dohman in Health, Other Source, State Legislature
photo by MN House of Reps Public Info Services
House Republicans say they will work with Democrats and the governor’s office over the weekend to find a compromise on controversial health care legislation.
Should those discussions fall through, House Minority Leader Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove) said his caucus members will uphold Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto of HF2680/ SF2168*, which would create a 16-month version of General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC). Funding for the current program, which serves low-income childless adults, is scheduled to end April 1. (Watch the press conference)
Zellers did not say if the House would attempt an override of the governor’s veto. He criticized the Senate, which voted to override Thursday, of not giving GAMC legislation the attention it deserves.
“This is an issue of extreme significance and should be treated that way,” he said.
Rep. Matt Dean (R-Dellwood) said he is hopeful all parties will reach some kind of consensus before the full House convenes Monday. There is widespread agreement that the GAMC population needs better care at a cost that is sustainable in the long-term, he said.
“I think we’re very, very close,” Dean said, but finding a bill that the governor can sign and attempting a veto override are two mutually exclusive efforts.
Pawlenty has said he would like to address the GAMC issue in the context of the budget situation. In his veto message, he called passage of the GAMC legislation “premature.”
