Senate DFLers call for special session before Election Day to deal with insurance premiums
Dayton, who is empowered to call the Legislature back to
But Senate Majority Leader
The special session idea drew scorn from
The timing of the Senate DFL gambit could lead to high-stakes political election maneuvering as state leaders look to help thousands of Minnesotans hit by higher health insurance premiums.
A special session would allow the DFL to show voters they took action to fix the problem.
In a statement released Thursday, House Speaker
The premium hikes of 50 percent or more for those who buy their health insurance on the individual market -- about 250,000 Minnesotans -- have become a dicey election year issue for DFLers who helped implement the program in 2013.
Bakk, who said he disagrees with Dayton's assessment of the law, said that nevertheless his caucus feels urgent action is needed: "This is an economic catastrophe for these families," he said.
Senate DFLers sought to help an endangered colleague by turning to an idea already developed by Sen.
Bakk said the primary motive is to help people in need, but he acknowledged the political potency of the issue.
"I asked members, 'What are you hearing about when you're out on the doors?' " he said, referring to senators door-knocking for their re-election efforts.
"It was clear to me that we're hearing from too many Minnesotans that this is just too big a burden on them," he said.
Of those Minnesotans younger than 65 and therefore not on
Sen.
He said a long-term fix for the individual market would have to wait until next year.
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