Pawlenty Rejects "Obamacare" Funding for Minnesota

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Republicans ,; Domestic Issues

Republican Govenors Association Pawlenty

(Credit: AP Photo/John Watson-Riley)

Attacking President Obama's health care reforms from all angles, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty today issued an executive order directing state agencies to turn down any discretionary funding from the legislation.

The health care reform package signed into law earlier this year "represents a dramatic attempt to assert federal command and control over this country's health care system," the potential Republican presidential candidate wrote in the executive order.

Pawlenty is specifically directing state agencies to avoid taking grants in 15 categories, the Associated Press reports. One of the categories is sex education, for which Pawlenty on Monday already rejected an $850,000 grant.

"The boundary between state and federal government must be maintained to prevent an unwise and unsustainable federal takeover of health care in our state," Pawlenty wrote in the executive order.

He criticized the "individual mandate," or the requirement for all individuals to acquire health insurance, as just one of the "unprecedented federal intrusions into individual liberty" included in the reforms. Pawlenty also blasted the legislation for creating "massive new spending commitments at a time when the growing federal government debt threatens private sector economic growth" while relying on revenue from "increased taxes and fees coupled with unrealistic assumptions regarding purported future cost-savings."

Pawlenty said at an event in St. Paul today that he won't turn down federal cash for categories that align with the direction of Minnesota's health care policy, the AP reports. He added that his successor could choose to take other funding "if that's consistent with what they think is wise."

The governor will step down after his second term ends in January. He won't be in office when most of the federal health care reforms are enacted in 2014 and cannot prevent his state from participating in the new federal programs at that point.

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
Follow on Twitter »

25 Comments Have Your Say
Email Story Send to a Friend
Share This Tell Your Friends
Tweet This Tweet This
More Share It

Add a Comment

See all 25 Comments


by DocD--2008 November 12, 2010 4:32 PM EST: I hope this Governor and others like him get stricken down with horrible diseases and end up bankrupting their family with the bills. Then, just maybe they will have a brain, but I doubt it. The Healthcare bill is NOT FOR THE RICH BUT FOR THE POOR. Of course the rich don;t want it, they don't want us regular Americans to have better healthcare, they want to reserve that for us.

Tell ya what Republicans, change our health care plans to the exact same thing you have, great health care with zero cost to yourself, then we can take down the healthcare bill and anything else you want. Just give us all that one helath care plan that you in Congress have, and most of us will vote Republican the rest of our lives. But we all know, that aint gonna happen.

Its easy to put down legislation when it doesn't affect you at all. End Congressional health care and retirement, then come talk to us.; Reply to this comment


by realist51 September 1, 2010 10:35 AM EDT: for all you republican't disagreeers. its not about health care, its about the costs and trying to rein them in. when was the last time your ins went down? for me it was in 93 when president and hillary clinton went to try reforming health care costs after it was pounded into the ground by the repub;ican't all my premiums and expeditures for health care have just gone up eating up pay raises and then some. None of you whine about healthcare organizations and ins companies ripping all of us off. Obama care is not medicare it is not single payer and not goverment option it regulate the health care providers and industry which is now in control of 1/6th of our economy no other indusrty is at that level.; Reply to this comment

by RobAla September 1, 2010 7:05 AM EDT

Pawlenty is right, Obamacare is a disaster. Every state should be rising up against this terrible bill.

Reply to this comment


by Bisk1 September 1, 2010 9:03 AM EDT: I know most Repugs can READ -

Pawlenty is specifically directing state agencies to avoid taking grants in 15 categories, the Associated Press reports. One of the categories is sex education, for which Pawlenty on Monday already rejected an $850,000 grant.

************

No to Abortion and NO to sex education ...... from the Party of NO. But it'd be YES to more federal funds for Iraq. Dumb Dumb Repugs !


by releggneh1 August 31, 2010 10:09 PM EDT: Way to go !!! No all the other states need to do this so we don't get outrageous health care bills@ This health care take over is just that., That is why Pelosi wanted it passed so we would know what was in it@@@; Reply to this comment

by PollutionZero August 31, 2010 9:57 PM EDT

@thatavkguy,

Dude, they're freakin' GRANTS, not loans. There's no strings other than the whole, "Must be spent on healthcare" thing. Course, as a Republican, he'd rather spend that money on strip clubs than on the poor.

Stop watching faux news and get a grip.

As to the Gov. he's just taken millions of dollars from the un/under insured in MN for a seat in the limelight. Nice job Rep's. What's the Republican plan again? Oh yeah, Tax the poor, cut food stamps, cut welfare, cut Soc. Sec. cut education, and give a $137,000 tax break to those earning over a MILLION DOLLARS a year. Cause, you know, millionaires have it rough.

Reply to this comment


by retm-w August 31, 2010 10:31 PM EDT: Dude and you think there are no strings attached to GRANTS, put the kool aide glass down. If there aren't strings prove it.


by Bisk1 September 1, 2010 9:04 AM EDT: retm-w, what are the strings attached to these GRANTS cept for using it entirely on Healthcare ???


by impeachobama2 August 31, 2010 9:55 PM EDT: Pawlenty is making the right move. Obama is doing everything he can to usurp state's rights, next step declare himself dictator of the U.S. Why do you think Obama is looking to U.N. to intervene with Arizona? Every time you turn around, Obama is making a move that is illegal according to our constitution. I hope everyone who idolizes Obama wakes up before it's too late and you no longer have a job, a home, or means to get food. Eventually, we are going to pay such a high price for healthcare trying to support the deadbeats who don't work and want everything from the goverment, which is "we the people", that no one will have healthcare because the money runs out. Obama's healthcare plan, the ultimate Ponzi scheme!; Reply to this comment

by mhandy1 August 31, 2010 9:49 PM EDT

Wise move. At least there is one state that wont be bought. The concept of states rights is a foreign concept for far too many. Even issues the court granted to the States are being taken from them...
Our current winner take all federalist system cannot provide tight legislation to citizens. Which is what the new healthcare policy does!

The republicans interstate commerce clause would have done far more to lower rates than the forced adoption of healthcare by all. That clause essentially operated on the idea that Insurance should not be something that is defined by a state line. I agree it doesn't make sense, no other industry is regulated like this...

Also congress should have an antitrust investigation against current providers. Anti trust investigations is a vital function of the federal government. Forcing citizens to own insurance is not. Technically no one is forced because a fee for opting out of insurance can be paid (I know this)but effectually its a fine.

Reply to this comment


by Bisk1 September 1, 2010 9:07 AM EDT: This dumb repugs tenure ends in January and you still don't understand that this is just Political grandstanding - why would a Conservative reject grants for Sex Education ???

by republicants_sux August 31, 2010 9:43 PM EDT

Just a another gross display how the republicants don't care about people who cant afford the sky rocketing cost of health care. Nor are they willing to find a solution. Just always looking to block and stop any ideas or steps to help Americans in need. I sure if this was more to fund a war I am 100% he would endorse it all the way. Fund wars not people.Especially not your own. Screw the elderly,kids and everyone in between. I sure they rather see them all drop dead so they they don't have keep paying for schools health care and nursing homes. All needed social services.

Reply to this comment


by impeachobama2 August 31, 2010 9:46 PM EDT: Just another dumb liberal democrat who can't see the forest for the trees.


by Bisk1 September 1, 2010 9:08 AM EDT: impeach, what forest for what trees ?? are you really this dumb ?? If you're against anything posted above, just POST it and not resort to insults. Dumb Dumb Repugs n btw i agree with the post by Repugsux.

by virgofromjersey August 31, 2010 9:41 PM EDT

He's taking this position as one of political oppurtunity and it will likely be struck down by the courts. He knows this and is willing to allow people to go without healthcare for the sake of his presidential run sound bite. These are the worst kind of politicians, they don't care about you they just use wedge issues to get voters to the polls.

Reply to this comment


by impeachobama2 August 31, 2010 9:47 PM EDT: The fact that you believe in astrology says it all. I feel sorry for you when you finally wake up from your fantasy.


by bosflier August 31, 2010 9:24 PM EDT: Too bad that for the sake of a sound bite to be used in a future failed presidential campaign ad in Iowa the governor is denying his citizens funding for healthcare reform and support of the un and under insured. In the end, if you don't have insurance you still get emergency care and the rest of us pay through higher fees and premiums. At the convenience store down the street they call that shoplifting, taking something you didn't pay for.; Reply to this comment