GAMC Veto Override Fails On Party Line Vote - But Bill Is Still Alive - VIDEO

March 1, 2010
State Capitol - By Marty Owings

The Minnesota House today attempted to override Governor Tim Pawlenty's (R) veto of the General Assistance Medical Care program. After nearly two hours of debate, the measure was defeated along party lines. The DFL controlled House needed at least three Republicans to support the vote, but none did.

At one point, Republican Larry Howes said he would be willing to vote for an override if negotiations were allowed to continue for 48 hours. DFL Law Makers including the bill's chief author, Erin Murphy said they needed to act today in order to avoid auto-enrollment for GAMC recipients in MN Care, a program they say won't serve the needs of recipients.

Some DFLer's indicated that the Governor has not been negotiating in good faith and that his intentions all along were to end entitlement programs altogether. Governor Pawlenty has called such programs "unsustainable" in the past. In spite of this, Murphy says that negotiations will continue until a compromise can be reached, saying, "This issues is too important to the people who rely on the program to simply give up".

In a parlimentary move, the Bill was kept alive for further consideration. Many at the Capitol say they hope an agreement can be reached.

Here are video clips of the debate - courtesy of the The Uptake.