ST. PAUL, Minn. — Two huge, nonpartisan health advocacy nonprofits are coming out in favor of making Minnesota's provider tax permanent to protect the state's popular Health Care Access Fund.
The American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society are joining the state's hospitals in lobbying lawmakers not to let the 2 percent provider tax expire at the end of the year. Justin Bell, vice president for health strategies with the Heart Association, said they didn't want to get into the issue. But he said unless lawmakers act, the Access Fund - a big reason Minnesota has a high level of health coverage - could be at risk.
“(It’s) A stable funding source for public programs like Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare, which is how over a million people in Minnesota access health care,” Bell said. “The programs themselves are too important, and we haven't seen a viable alternative."
The state medical association argued providers should not carry the full burden of paying - and just as importantly, the headache of administering - the tax. It brings in between $600 million and $700 million a year, but will sunset at the end of December unless lawmakers act.
According to the American Cancer Society, the provider tax and the access fund mean more than health insurance for low- and moderate-income folks. Emily Myatt, government relations director for the Cancer Society, said they fund important prevention efforts - reducing obesity and tobacco use, and providing key early screenings for people who otherwise might not be connected to health care.
"We know that cancer patients who are uninsured when diagnosed with cancer are 60 percent more likely to die,” Myatt said. “If the provider tax sunsets, hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans are going to be at risk of losing their health-care coverage."
On Tuesday, the Heart Association will host a Twitter chat. The group encouraged the public to find out more by following the hashtag #DontLetTheSunSet at noon.
Information from the Minnesota Department of Human Services is available at mn.gov/dhs.
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President Joe Biden has entered a "lame-duck" period, prompting a Michigan political science expert to analyze his potential actions before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.
Outgoing presidents typically work on a smooth transition while the president-elect fills key positions. As Biden nears the end of his term, he has approved long-range missiles for Ukraine to strike inside Russia, marking a significant shift in U.S. policy.
Jordan Cash, assistant professor of political theory and constitutional democracy at Michigan State University, examined the possible reasons behind Biden's actions.
"He's trying to find some way to push Ukraine and Russia to a certain end point in the war," Cash explained. "Perhaps to get a final foreign policy victory to vindicate his administration at the end, or perhaps because he fears the way President-elect Trump is going to approach the Ukraine war."
Most political experts agree with Congress divided, it is unlikely much will be accomplished before the new session starts in January. However, they said it wouldn't be surprising if Biden takes other bold or controversial actions as he prepares to leave office.
Cash pointed out while lame-duck periods can have advantages, such as settling electoral disputes or confirming votes, they also come with risks. He warned an extended lame-duck phase, which is typical in the United States, can encourage an outgoing president to make partisan decisions, potentially leading to actions driven more by political motivations than the public good.
"Bill Clinton commuted several dozen sentences, including for Mark Rich, who had been convicted of tax fraud but whose wife was a major Democratic donor," Cash recounted. "President-elect Trump commuted a bunch of sentences including pardoning his former adviser Steve Bannon."
The term "lame duck" originally referred to a financial trader on the London Stock Exchange in the 18th century who defaulted on debts. It was later adapted to describe politicians with reduced influence or authority.
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House lawmakers have passed a bill advocates said will be harmful to nonprofits in New York and nationwide.
House Resolution 9495 passed with a 219-184 vote after failing to get a two-thirds majority in the chamber last week. The bill gives the Treasury Secretary power to rescind tax-exempt status for nonprofits considered "terrorist supporting organizations." On its first vote, it had strong bipartisan support.
Jeff Ordower, U.S. Lead for the group 350 Action, said President-elect Donald Trump's rhetoric about "the enemy within" makes this bill's return troubling.
"They are trying to consolidate the number of tools in their toolbox," Ordower contended. "So they can move quickly to call some people the enemy within and shut down organizations that are supporting causes that are unpopular, supporting causes that are fighting corporate power, fighting structural racism."
Voting in favor of the bill were 15 Democrats, including Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y. It could be due to its other provision giving tax breaks to Americans wrongfully imprisoned abroad or held hostage by terror groups. Ordower noted it is the result of a push by groups who want Israel and Gaza's status quo before Oct. 7 restored, which aid organizations could jeopardize.
Beyond public concern, some experts feel the bill's primary goal is helping President-elect Trump consolidate power within the Executive Branch. Ordower pointed out it is one of the many battles with the second Trump Administration about what defines a healthy and sustainable democracy.
"What we need in order to really have a good fight that defends civil society, that leads us towards and continues some of the ways that are flourishing democracy is to have lots and lots of groups that are able to push their agendas, and not just groups with particular ideologies or point of views doing that," Ordower stressed.
Ordower is surprised by lawmaker's persistence to pass this bill given wars occurring across the world, as well as ongoing economic, climate and immigration issues at home. Some 150 groups including the ACLU signed a letter to House lawmakers urging them to oppose the measure.
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The Indiana Chamber of Commerce outlined six key priorities for lawmakers ahead of the legislative session in January.
Rather than releasing detailed policy positions, the Chamber emphasized broad focus areas, including workforce, education, economic growth, infrastructure, quality of place and community health.
Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, House Minority Leader, responded to the Chamber's priorities, highlighting the need to address child care as a factor in economic development.
"We talk about economic development with things that impact economic development here in the state. Child care is really one of those," GiaQuinta contended.
The organization stressed the critical role of affordable child care in workforce development, citing a report estimating Indiana loses $4.2 billion annually, including $1.7 billion in tax revenue due to child care challenges. High costs force some parents out of the workforce, straining the state's economy.
Statehouse leaders acknowledged the issue but differ on solutions. Democrats argued child care deserves more state investment, while Republican leaders believe the private sector should play a larger role.
Todd Huston, R-Fishers, Speaker of the House, said businesses should not expect the state to solve their child care problems entirely.
"They've done a lot of different things to try to support families and young families. We will continue to do that," Huston stated. "But I think we also have to set a level of expectations that we're not going to; the state's not going to be funding all universal pre-K."
The Chamber plans to release detailed policy proposals in January, aiming to guide lawmakers toward strategies to strengthen Indiana's economy and workforce.
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