The Minnesota Independent looks at veteran activist John Kolstad's concern that Congresswoman Betty McCollum hasn't signed on as a sponsor of single-payer health insurance legislation.

The MI says Kolstad "sent out an email to associates this week imploring someone to mount a challenge from the left to the five-term incumbent."

“People of the Fourth District have not been strongly represented by Betty McCollum,” Kolstad’s note said. “She has done nothing to advance a health care solution and there is clearly one to support in HF 676. The people of Minnesota and America can wait no longer, living in the private health insurance and Big Pharma world.”

Responded McCollum’s political director, Will Blauvelt:

“Congresswoman McCollum is committed to working with President Obama to pass meaningful health care legislation this year that controls cost, ensures quality and increases access for all Americans,” he said in a statement to MnIndy. “Efforts motivated by either ideology or profits that are intended to undermine President Obama’s health care reform agenda should be recognized as more political game playing at the expense of millions of Americans who are demanding real change.”

Kolstad ran for Minnesota attorney general in 2006 as the Green Party candidate, getting 2 percent of the vote. He said he left the DFL party because: “I felt that the DFL did not hold their own candidates accountable to their own platform. I’d vote for a DFL candidate if I felt there was one worth supporting.”