Leaders of faith organizations spoke out at the state Capitol Monday against Gov. Tim Pawlenty's plan to cut more than 30,000 people from the state health care program.
The plan "fails the moral standards of decency, human rights and compassion," by not addressing health insecurity, and by raising costs and cutting benefits to Minnesota's poorest citizens, said Brian Rusche, executive director of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition. Members of the coalition include Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish and Muslim faith communities.
Other speakers at the event included the Rev. John Estrem, Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis; Bishop Craig Johnson, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America - Minneapolis Synod; and Sister Mary Heinen, president-elect, Catholic Health Association of Minnesota.
Some 145,000 people depend on the state health care program, MinnesotaCare, for basic coverage.
"These folks, who would be dropped, are mentally ill, disabled, oftentimes they're veterans. They're widows," said Rusche. "These are the poorest and most vulnerable and medically-needy people in the state, because they don't have their own insurance, and they can't afford it."
Religious leaders said they felt compelled to speak out because access to health care is a moral issue.
"If they lose their coverage, we are all going to have to pay more, because they will delay care, they will go to the emergency room when they do have medical problems. And, it's going to be more expensive. So, we think it's inhumane, it's short-sighted, it's inexpensive, and it shifts costs onto all of us," said Rusche.
Minnesota faces a $700 million budget deficit. The governor calls health care spending "out of whack," and wants $274 million in overall health spending cuts. Opponents say that would push more people into the welfare system, costing the state even more.
Rusche says the faith community understands the need for a balanced budget, but there are better ways to achieve it than by taking health care away from the neediest.
"This proposal, to drop these many people from health coverage, is clear evidence that we need to have a tax increase," he said. "I'm convinced that the governor's done as good a job as he can in finding efficiencies. And, if he is willing to deny health care to needy Minnesotans, that's evidence that we have to look at revenues."
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Leaders of faith organizations spoke out at the state Capitol Monday against Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s plan to cut more than 30,000 people from the state health care program.
The plan “fails the moral standards of decency, human rights and compassion,” by not addressing health insecurity, and by raising costs and cutting benefits to Minnesota’s poorest citizens, said Brian Rusche, executive director of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition. Members of the coalition include Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish and Muslim faith communities.
Other speakers at the event included the Rev. John Estrem, Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis; Bishop Craig Johnson, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America – Minneapolis Synod; and Sister Mary Heinen, president-elect, Catholic Health Association of Minnesota.
Some 145,000 people depend on the state health care program, MinnesotaCare, for basic coverage.
“These folks, who would be dropped, are mentally ill, disabled, oftentimes they’re veterans. They’re widows,” said Rusche. “These are the poorest and most vulnerable and medically-needy people in the state, because they don’t have their own insurance, and they can’t afford it.”
Religious leaders said they felt compelled to speak out because access to health care is a moral issue.
“If they lose their coverage, we are all going to have to pay more, because they will delay care, they will go to the emergency room when they do have medical problems. And, it’s going to be more expensive. So, we think it’s inhumane, it’s short-sighted, it’s inexpensive, and it shifts costs onto all of us,” said Rusche.
Minnesota faces a $700 million budget deficit. The governor calls health care spending “out of whack,” and wants $274 million in overall health spending cuts. Opponents say that would push more people into the welfare system, costing the state even more.
Rusche says the faith community understands the need for a balanced budget, but there are better ways to achieve it than by taking health care away from the neediest.
“This proposal, to drop these many people from health coverage, is clear evidence that we need to have a tax increase,” he said. “I’m convinced that the governor’s done as good a job as he can in finding efficiencies. And, if he is willing to deny health care to needy Minnesotans, that’s evidence that we have to look at revenues.”