Minn. Rep. Sandstede Issues Statement About Premium Relief Bill

ST. PAUL, Minn., Jan. 26 -- The Minnesota House Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus issued the following statement by Rep. Julie Sandstede:

Today, the Minnesota House passed a bill to provide premium relief for the 125,000 Minnesotans who buy health insurance in the individual market. These Minnesotans have been experiencing skyrocketing increases in the neighborhood of 60 percent. The bill also contained some controversial provisions, including opening the door to for-profit insurance companies to operate in Minnesota.

"I'm sad that we didn't have a clean bill, but admittedly, any fix is imperfect.

"I voted for the bill in an effort to put the needs of those most impacted by these outrageous rate increase ahead of anything else.

"I am hopeful we can now move past this hurdle and start working on meaningful reform. In the end, I think compromise today will become our opportunity to get it right as we move forward."

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