What an outrageous flurry of lies from Republicans at today's Medicaid signing by Governor Dayton

Jake McMillan was one of the protesters who spoke at the podium at today's signing of the new Medicaid expansion to help pay for the health care of poor and mentally ill adults in Minnesota. He was the final person to speak in opposition to Governor Dayton's executive order.

McMillan stated that what Governor Dayton was doing, by signing onto the expanded health care coverage, will "destroy our society" or something outrageous like that.

Follow this link to read more on Jake McMillan, who is nothing less than a very deranged and dangerous individual connected to an inflammatory gay-bashing group called "You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International, Inc." based in Annandale, MN.

http://www.bluestemprairie.com/bluestemprairie/2011/01/dayton-office-protestor-jake-mcmillan-cant-hide-from-bradlee-dean-connection.html

After following that link, you can watch a video clip of the entire event (Dayton's signing of the Medicaid expansion) for yourself.

It's interesting how childish and rude the Republican protesters were during this event. Just as interesting as it was to hear that idiot talk about his 41 years of V.A. medical care, while in the same breath saying how terrible it is that government has to get involved in health care.

To anyone who thinks that you can turn a blind eye to the uninsured in this country, that it doesn't affect you if you have your own health insurance and pay a premium every month...the joke is on you!, assuming you pay a health insurance premium. Hospitals charge health care providers more than the actual cost of providing health care for the insured, so they can pay for the uninsured. To all Republicans out there, you are already paying for the health care of the poor in this country! It is being done so through the horribly inefficient method of providing health care through our hospital emergency rooms.

I'm tired of the constant lies being told about health care in this country.

Health care reform and small business - myths and realities

by John Crabtree johnc@cfra.org
Center for Rural Affairs

Unfortunately, rural small businesses find it increasingly difficult to provide their employees health insurance. Entrepreneurs' hesitancy to leave employment with insurance for their business start-up creates a barrier for rural America's most effective development tool.

Small business has been used as a foil for opponents of health care reform. Considering the impact of reform and of skyrocketing health insurance costs on small business should be an important consideration in this debate. It's crucial, however, that those who reference small business get the facts straight.

A new Center for Rural Affairs report - Health Care Reform: What's in It for Small Business? - challenges four major myths about the impact of health care reform on small business. The health care reform law will not force small business to provide health insurance for their employees because most small businesses (50 or fewer employees) are exempt from the mandate and freed from any penalties related to the mandate. Moreover, the law establishes a Small Business Tax Credit for providing health insurance for employees. The tax credits, available in tax years 2010 through 2013, provide some immediate relief in making health care more affordable and offer an incentive for small businesses to provide insurance.

As the features of health care reform are implemented, small, rural businesses will reap the benefit of larger group coverage providing comprehensive, affordable and continuous health care coverage for their business and their employees. In the meantime, find out more about health care reform and small business at (http://files.cfra.org/pdf/Small-Business-Health-Care.pdf).

Sitting in on the Minnesota Farmers Union agriculture discussion at Lakeside Ballroom in Glenwood

Minnesota Farmers Union president Doug Peterson and some of his staff are on hand now at Lakeside Ballroom in Glenwood.

Tom Meium of Congressman Collin Peterson's office said the following:

Collin favors these parts of the health care reform bill: ends the pre-existing condition exclusion - children covered up to 26 - health insurance companies can no longer drop you if you get a serious illness

Collin heard mostly from farmers, independent business owners who pay for their own insurance - they expressed grave concerns about rates going up. It was not addressed in the bill, even supporters of the bill acknowledge that insurance rates will go up.

Inflation rates and uncontrolled expenses that have been going up for quite some time have not been addressed.

Eleven percent of the CD7 do not have health insurance. About 1/3 of those will be covered. That's disappointing to Collin. He was hoping more of the uninsured would be covered.

That plus the expenses out of consumers pockets not being addressed led Collin to vote No on the bill.

If you compare legislation to a football game, we're probably at about halftime.
The first half was developing a bill. The second half will be implementation of the bill.

Health and Human Services will bring this to reality over the next 4 to 5 years. "Rubber hits the road" - the legislative intent will be put into action.

Collin pledges his support to the work of the second half. He won't be a part of the political games and rhetoric about repealing the bill.

He supports several parts of the bill. He will work with his colleagues of both parties to address the cost issue and make it a workable program.

• Other issues were discussed throughout the forum, with a heavy emphasis on health care reform and agriculture concentration.

More will be posted on this meeting on Wednesday.