Those concerned that very poor Minnesotans soon will lose their health care coverage are wasting no time to press their case to legislators: they’re rallying at the Capitol Thursday morning, the first day of this year’s session.
The Save GAMC Coalition, which includes more than 40 organizations that advocate for the poor, will rally at 11:40 a.m. tomorrow in the Capitol rotunda, then gather in front of the governor’s office to talk with the media.
The coalition says they want to see lawmakers find a way to redesign the program to provide health care to 33,000 low-income Minnesotans who stand to lose their coverage April 1, after Gov. Tim Pawlenty unallocated the program as a way to balance the state budget.
State officials say many of those affected can transfer to other state programs, says the Star Tribune, but advocates fear others will be lost in the shuffle. DFL leaders have mounted an effort to continue the program another year, but it’s unclear how the governor would treat any such bill.
Among the groups in the coalition sponsoring tomorrow’s rally are: the St. Stephen’s Human Rights Program, Office for Social Justice at Catholic Charities of St. Paul/Mpls, TakeAction Minnesota, Legal Services Advocacy Project, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless, Jewish Community Action, ISAIAH, Minnesota Nurses Association, Service Employees International Union, Joint Religious Legislative Coalition and Churches United in Ministry.
