GAMC Rescued - Agreement Between DFL Law Makers and Governor Pawlenty Saves The Program - Full Audio

March 6, 2010
State Capitol - By Marty Owings

After nearly nine months of work and countless negotiating sessions, Law Makers and Governor Pawlenty finally reached a compromise on a plan that will save the General Assistance Medical Care program. Senator Linda Berglin (DFL) emerged from an afternoon meeting in the Governor's office today to say that an agreement had been reached. Berglin said that the agreement required some very significant sacrifices, but that no recipients currently on GAMC were at risk to lose their coverage. Berglin said that the agreement reflected the best they could have hoped for in the current economic climate.

The specifics about the agreement began to emerge as Legislators discussed the negotiations with Reporters. Berglin said that the program was reduced by 77% and had gone from being a program of over $500 million dollars to just around $164 million. Another downside, according to Representative Tom Huntley (DFL) was a huge cut to providers. Huntley warned that some Hospitals may collapse or just raise their rates for others.

Representative Erin Murphy (DFL) who was the architect of the revised bill and the DFL's lead negotiator said the whole idea was to work on a way to preserve the safety net for the GAMC recipients. She added that the net might now be more like a lifeboat. The GAMC program covers single adults, ages 21-64, making less than $7800 a year.

Here is the full Audio of the developments:

Law Makers Announce Breakthrough on GAMC and discuss detials:
Click Here For The Audio.

Rep Tom Huntley (DFL) - What Led To The Breakthrough:
Click Here For The Audio.

Governor Tim Pawlenty (R), GOP and DFL Law Makers Press Conference:
Click Here For The Audio.

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