Senator Amy Klobuchar released another part of her plan for governor on health care. Because affordability is top of mind for voters this summer, leading with that seemed like an odd choice from Senator Klobuchar given her pivotal role in implementing Obamacare and the associated near tripling of health care costs since she left for Washington.
25 Republican legislators are cited for just the health care portion of the document were surprised to be credited by Klobuchar for their work. “I was never contacted in any way” said Rep. Krista Knudsen (R-Lake Shore) “I have no idea what bill they are referring to.” Rep Peggy Bennett (R-Albert Lea) also expressed frustration. “When your name is cited, it gives the impression that you worked together on this, but that is not the case, they never called me.”
Klobuchar’s plan reads “Elements of this plan are contained in legislation introduced by Minnesota legislators of both parties including:” But those pieces of legislation are never outlined. In fact, no individual bills are cited at all. The Klobuchar plan simply lists names, party affiliation and district, under vague topic headlines such as “lowering health care costs.”
Including Republicans in her citations gives the impression to voters that the plan is balanced and takes good work product from both sides. It also makes it appear that the GOP legislators are “signed on” to the plan. Clearly that’s how several GOP lawmakers took it to mean, and they were not happy.
When Senator Klobuchar was the outsider applying for the job of Senator, she bested Congressman Mark Kennedy in their 2006 State Fair debate with the zinger: “That’s your economic plan, Congressman. It’s all foam and no beer.”
Twenty years later, she has assembled an economic plan of her own in her bid to become governor and that document that might look and sound like (to 2006 Amy Klobuchar) very much like the product of an empty keg of Grain Belt. The plan promises to not oppose the bill signed by Governor Walz to stand up an anti-fraud office of Inspector General. “Eliminate redundant paperwork” now, that seems like an awfully good idea. A “zero tolerance for health care fraud” also seems popular, but is there really a candidate who supports red tape and fraud?
To be fair to Senator Klobuchar, there are good ideas from both parties to improve health care and save money. I reached out to all 25 GOP legislators to see if the Klobuchar campaign contacted them about working together or asking to include their names. No one reported any contact with Klobuchar campaign.
Senator Jim Abeler is known around the Capitol as an incredibly bipartisan legislator. For 20 years he has been a key member of several health care committees in both the House and the Senate. Democrats sign on to his bills regardless of which party is in the majority. Right now he is locked in a tight reelection battle in Anoka. Abeler’s name was not curiously not cited by Klobuchar in her bipartisan health care plan. By my count, he is currently listed as the chief author or coauthor on 341 bills, nearly all of them health care related.
I caught up with Abeler while he was campaigning. He said that he had not heard from Senator Klobuchar but said he would be happy to talk to anyone when he’s not door-knocking.
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