NEWS RELEASE
Minnesota House of Representatives
Rochester Delegation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Marlee Schlegel
651-296-9873 or marlee.schlegel@house.mn.gov
May 16, 2025
House Rochester Delegation Statement on Cuts to MinnesotaCare
Saint Paul, Minn – Thursday, Governor Walz and legislative leaders announced a deal regarding global State budget targets for the upcoming biennium. Included in the many budget cuts is the removal of undocumented adults from MinnesotaCare, whose initial coverage was a provision the DFL-led Legislature previously passed last term.
The House Rochester Delegation released the following statement:
“As it currently stands, this agreement is a non-starter for the Rochester Delegation. Access to healthcare is a right – a right which must extend to everyone in the United States, not just those that Republicans deem worthy. Undocumented Immigrants in our community do essential work, pay taxes, and support families with members who are citizens.
“This fight is far from over. We will continue to fight back against Republicans’ senseless vendetta against immigrants, fueled by the hate, fear mongering, and lies peddled by the Trump Administration.
“Not only does the deal eliminate health care coverage for many of our immigrant neighbors, it also puts the cost of emergency healthcare onto our hospitals, who will not see the patients until they are very sick, and will likely not be paid for the care they provide. Taking away healthcare doesn’t reduce the need for it – it only hurts healthcare providers and the Minnesotans who need it.
“We support the pieces of the agreement that continue providing school lunches, paid leave for workers, and other programs that help ordinary Minnesotans that House Republicans were eager to eliminate, but any bill that dehumanizes our immigrant neighbors will not have our support.”
The House Rochester Delegation includes Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), Rep. Andy Smith (DFL – Rochester) and Rep. Kim Hicks (DFL – Rochester).
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