Hello from St. Paul,
A recent update from the Minnesota Department of Health finds the state’s decision to provide free health care to illegal immigrants has become much more costly than anticipated.
In 2023, a Democrat-led legislature and Governor Walz expanded MinnesotaCare eligibility to illegal immigrants. MinnesotaCare is a health coverage program for low-income individuals and families who do not have access to employee-sponsored health insurance and do not qualify for Medical Assistance. Unlike other Medicaid services where the federal government pays 90% of the costs for enrollees, illegal immigrants don’t qualify for federal matching funds, meaning Minnesotans now pay 100% of their health insurance costs.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, 17,396 illegal immigrants are now enrolled in MinnesotaCare, more than twice the original estimate of 7,700. Originally projected to cost $196 million over four years, state taxpayers are now on the hook for an estimated $550 million, and that number is growing by the day.
We have a $6 billion deficit to tackle in the future, yet we are spending more than half a billion dollars on health care for individuals who shouldn’t be in this country in the first place. It’s time to start using common sense.
ALL ABOARD… TO MONTANA?
We hear our share of “you’ve got to be kidding me” bills in our House committees, but one that came up this week was a real doozy.
In Ways and Means, we heard about a Democrat plan to study a new rail line from Chicago to Big Sky, Montana, which would obviously cut through our state. Cost of the study: $200,000.
So, let’s review. At a time when we are looking to dump the Northstar Commuter Rail, which is a master class in over-promising and underperforming when it came to ridership, now Democrats want taxpayers to be on the hook for a train to Montana? As we prepare for a $6 billion deficit?
Thankfully this proposal did not move forward.
Also, Republicans were able to delay implementation of greenhouse gas mitigation by three years. This proposal alone would add millions of dollars to each road project the state undertakes.
Democrats simply do not understand that we are facing what is likely to be the largest deficit in our state’s history, and it’s embarrassing.
PUBLIC SAFETY/JUDICIARY FINANCE PROPOSAL DEBATED TOMORROW
As co-chair of the House judiciary finance committee, I helped craft the plan that will fund agencies that fall under the jurisdiction of Minnesota’s court system for the next two years. This plan was recently combined with public safety finance legislation and is scheduled for debate on the House floor tomorrow. I will be sure to provide you with an update after the debate has ended.