Neighbors,
Last spring, Gov. Tim Pawlenty tried balancing our state’s budget on the backs of our poorest, sickest, and most vulnerable citizens. He vetoed funding for General Assistance Medicare Care (GAMC), a program which provides health care for childless adults earning less than 75 percent of the federal poverty guideline.
Think about this for a second: Gov. Pawlenty cut health care for Minnesotans earning less than $8,122 per year. His action will hurt working Minnesotans who rely on MinnesotaCare for their health care needs. He plans to shift GAMC patients to MinnesotaCare, and to bury our hospitals beneath additional uncompensated care costs caused by increased use of emergency rooms for primary care.
Is this the Minnesota we grew up in? Where we stand by and let our governor’s national political ambitions yank basic health care from our most vulnerable citizens, many who are literally living on their last dime? Many are seniors. Or homeless. Or mentally ill or chemically dependent. Many are veterans who answered our nation’s call when we needed them most.
I don’t think so. Neither did a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives and Senate who voted this week to restore funding for this program. Unfortunately, Gov. Pawlenty vetoed the program again yet again, even though bipartisan coalitions approved funding 47-16 in the Senate, and 125-9 in the House. Republican Rep. Mike Beard of Shakopee was part of that majority.
Monday the House of Representatives will likely vote to override Gov. Pawlenty’s veto.
However, regardless of the overwhelming, bipartisan vote in St. Paul, Republican leaders are boasting that they will uphold the Governor’s veto. Their bragging leaves us with one simple question for Rep. Beard:
WHERE DO YOU STAND ON HEALTH CARE FOR THE POOREST MINNESOTANS?
Join me in asking Rep Beard whether he will vote for the well-vetted, bipartisan effort to restore health care funding for 77,000 Minnesotans who need it the most and override Gov. Pawlenty’s veto–or will he prop up a lame duck’s presidential ambition by sustaining his veto?
Health care, civic, and religious groups support overriding Gov. Pawlenty’s veto of GAMC. St. Cloud’s Catholic Bishop, the Most Rev. John F. Kinney says to “Please contact your Representative and urge him or her to vote yes on a vote override. Our neighbors with the greatest needs are counting on us.”
We know where Senator Claire Robling and Rep. Mark Buesgens (representing Savage, Jordan, Elko New Market) stand on health care funding for the most vulnerable Minnesotans by their floor votes: they are against it. Residents of Prior Lake and Shakopee, however, have a right to know where Rep. Mike Beard’s priorities are.
You can find out: CALL, E-MAIL, OR VISIT HIM. You can reach Rep. Beard by phone at 651-296-8872, by e-mail at rep.mike.beard@house.mn and at his office in room 207 of the State Office Building, across from the State Capitol at 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Some tips for contacting Rep. Beard.
-Be firm, but respectful! He is elected to represent you and your viewpoints, but your message won’t get heard if it is overshadowed by personal or overly partisan attacks.
-Whether you talk to Rep. Beard himself or a staffer, keep your message brief and concise. Get their attention, but don’t unnecessarily ramble; Rep. Beard needs to understand why he should vote to override above all else!
-If you or someone you know has been effected by GAMC or MinnesotaCare, let Rep. Beard know the story.
-If you get a response, let us know! It’s important we all find out where Rep. Beard stands on this issue.
Thank you for assisting in this effort. Together, we will remind Rep. Beard of our priorities as a community.
Bruce Barron Chair, Senate District 35 DFL
February 26th, 2010 | Category: Community, Issues & Opinions, Mike Beard 35A, Uncategorized | Leave a comment
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