Category Archives: Post type

On November 8th the Minnesota Department of Commerce held its first meeting of the Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Task Force which is charged with providing options in setting up a health insurance exchange for Minnesota in compliance with the federal Affordable Care Act.    In his opening remarks,  Chair and  Commerce Commissioner Rothman informed the Task Force that not only will  their recommendations impact the health insurance market but also public health.

We appreciate the steps taken by the Dayton Administration to implement the Affordable Care Act (ACA) here in Minnesota and applaud the Governor’s commitment to making sure all Minnesotans have access to quality health care.

It is that commitment that the Task Force and its working groups should keep in mind while sifting through the “nitty-gritty” of the Health Insurance Exchange.  The Task Force should keep its focus on the people the ACA was enacted to serve.  – not simply setting up a ‘Travelocity’ for health insurance.  But in this first meeting, I observed the same tendency we’ve seen before to equate health insurance with the actual delivery of health care.

Setting up a new marketplace for insurance companies would not automatically eliminate racial and economic disparities in health care. … Continue reading »

The first deadline of the Congressional “Super Committee” is now fast approaching.

The bipartisan Super Committee is charged with developing a plan to reduce the national deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next ten years – and getting the rest of Congress to agree.  The twelve-member committee is the byproduct of the agreement between President Obama and Congressional Republicans that ended the “debt ceiling” standoff of summer 2011.  The Super Committee must create recommendations by Thanksgiving and have them voted on by Christmas.  If they fail to do so, major across the board spending cuts will be triggered in military spending and most domestic programs starting in January 2013.  A few select programs (including Social Security and Medicaid) would be protected against the “across the board” cuts, but many critical social programs would face brutal cuts, including public health, education, and the environment, and financial assistance available to families under the Affordable Care Act.

TakeAction Minnesota is fighting to get increased revenues – rather than deep spending cuts – into the Super Committee’s recommendations.  Two hundred members of TakeAction Minnesota joined others in a march to Wells Fargo in mid-October, urging the bank to join us in support of revenue increases from the Super Committee. … Continue reading »

Like TV Land’s beloved show “The Jeffersons,” TakeAction Minnesota is moving on up into a new, better office space one block south of University Avenue on Raymond. But the lessons and memories of our past stick with us.

Today, November 1, 2011, is another milestone for TakeAction Minnesota.  We’ve outgrown our old office space and are now, officially, in a brand new office.  It’s strange to see bright colors, fresh paint, new carpet, windows, and realize that this is our home for the foreseeable future.  It’s stranger still to leave behind five years worth of paint chips, stains on the carpet, a leaky ceiling, and a labyrinth of hallways…how many volunteers left our office to find the bathroom and never found their way back?

When we started out five and half years ago, we were an organization of 1,800 individuals and 30 organizations.  We had a staff of 7.  We didn’t have a name for our new organization yet and called ourselves “TNT (the new thing)”.  We had the wisdom and expectations of our founding members, but hadn’t yet figured out how to make their vision a reality.

5 1/2 years hence and we are bursting at our seams.  TakeAction Minnesota has a membership of more than 11,000 individuals and 26 organizations, and a staff of 30. … Continue reading »

After a powerful week of direct actions, Friday, October 14th was the big march.  Those of us working to pull it off were very excited as we prepared to go begin the event.

We were also nervous.  This is a big deal, what we’re doing here.  We are standing up against an awful lot of power.  We aren’t just confronting the biggest banks in Minneapolis and pushing the limits of the law, we are also making a bold stand in the public eye. We are risking public condemnation and disapproval from those we know.  But to let the fear of taking that risk hold us back would be to let injustice win.

Before the march, we heard speakers describe the shame and misery that bank foreclosure brings to families.  It is outrageous how hard people can work at their jobs and in navigating the mortgage-default bureaucracy and still lose their home.  And it is infuriating how much damage is caused by foreclosures, discriminatory lending and bad financial practices. Especially when you look at how people of color and poor people are affected the most, in a time when racism is supposedly a thing of the past.  So by the time the march began, I was angry. … Continue reading »

Thursday, October 13th, our actions against the big banks got personal.

On Wednesday, while calling people for the big march at the end of the week, we talked to one guy who was especially excited to come.  “Are you going to march on U.S. Bank?” he asked.  “Yeah, why?”  “Well I got a few words for them.  I just got a foreclosure notice from them.”

That is how we knew where to take our action on Thursday.

Back to U.S. Bank, to get them to stop the Sheriff’s sale and to work with him to renegotiate his loan.  We had a large group in the bank lobby demanding that management come downstairs and talk with us.  While this was going on inside, I went out on the sidewalk to pass out fliers.

A lot of the people walking by stopped and told me how encouraged they are to see us doing this.  How they are glad that someone is finally standing up to the greedy bankers and wall street traders.  A number of people specifically thanked me — and us — for being there.

Even people working at the banks have told us “you know, you‘re right.”  All week, security guards and the bank tellers have told us under their breath “I don‘t want to lose my job, [who can blame them in this economy]  but I agree with you.”… Continue reading »

We are at our best when we come together to take action as a strong community.  By Wednesday of this week, Minnesotans for a Fair Economy (MFE), TakeAction Minnesota, and partners had already taken action about 10 times.  Longtime activists and newbies alike have taken to the streets together to make change.

For a lot of us, this idea of taking action was scary.  People are joining MFE this week from all walks of life.  We are healthcare workers, neighborhood people, retirees, grocery store workers, parents, immigrants, students, union workers, and others.  On Monday morning many people talked about how they had never done anything like this before.  We were always the following the rules types, the don’t stand out types, the quiet types.  We can speak our mind when we have a receptive audience.  But out in public in front of a crowd, taking risks, that is a different story.

Many of us had never protested or marched before.  Many of us had never passed out leaflets.  We had never gone chanting into a big corporate office or bank lobby.  We had never held open the doors and marched past frustrated security guards to go in somewhere to make our voice heard.… Continue reading »

Everybody has something to say about what’s wrong and how everything is messed up.  But most of the time we don’t get heard — we just complain, and nobody listens.  But it doesn’t have to be that way.  We can make sure our complaints and concerns get heard and begin to get results by taking action as an organized group.  I did it Monday (read about it here), and I did it again bigger and better on Tuesday.

Almost 300 people, from all different walks of life marched on Wells Fargo Tuesday to demand they respond to the concerns we delivered the day before.  Members of TakeAction and Minnesotans For a Fair Economy joined with others from the spontaneous ‘Occupy Minnesota’ movement, and filled the same Wells Fargo lobby in downtown Minneapolis that we went to Monday.  (Think they heard us this time?)

But the economy is busted, and it’s going to take more than a march to fix it.  So that afternoon, I joined with dozens of members of Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC), to ask the Minneapolis School Board to quit doing business with Wells Fargo.  Home foreclosures have a devastating affect on the School District and make racial disparities in education even worse. … Continue reading »

Today I joined over 300 people marching from Government Plaza to the lobby of Wells Fargo because I won’t be silent while Minnesotans are denied health care by HMOs holding millions of dollars in excess reserves. Because I won’t be silent while 45,000 Americans die each year because they don’t have health insurance.  And I won’t be silent knowing that members of Congress and corporate executives have access to high quality health care while many Americans must choose between food and medications.

I believe everyone in this country deserves health care. So when I see members of Congress threatening to destroy critical healthcare and social service programs like Medicaid and Social Security, I get angry. Cuts need to come from big corporations and big banks. Banks that are sitting on billions in reserves and pulling in profits hand over fist.

The action in downtown Minneapolis today was inspiring!  TakeAction folks were joined by Occupy MNt as well as people off the street.  Much to the dismay of the guard at the door, we poured into the Wells Fargo lobby.  After the representative we spoke with was not “able” to arrange a meeting with the head of the bank, our group left the premises on our own volition, chanting, “We will be back.”  … Continue reading »

Everyone is worried about the economy.  There are not enough jobs, people are broke, and corporations are holding onto to much wealth for things to improve.  We’re mad about it.  We complain about it.  And usually we can’t do anything about it.  If we are on our own, that’s the way it is.

But on Monday, October 10th, I was able to do something about it.  Along with 60 other people.

As part of a week of actions organized by Minnesotans for a Fair Economy, I joined 60 people in going into two of the biggest banks in downtown Minneapolis — Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank — and demanding they clean up their act.

As a solid group of people, with a plan and a purpose, we went in and delivered a letter to each of those banks asking that they start doing the right thing:  pay what they owe to turn the economy around.

It felt good.  As just one angry guy, I could have gone in, had no effect, and left.  But with 60 people, they had to pay attention to us.

At both banks, they tried to give us the runaround and tried to stall.  But together we stood our ground, we were calm and we didn’t back down. … Continue reading »

Here are three facts about our economy that make me mad.

Fact #1: The median wage for American workers have barely increased in 30 years.  As prices rise and consumer needs have changed, more people are working longer hours and going deeper into debt just to keep up.

Fact #2: The richest 1% of Americans now controls more than 40% of our nation’s wealth.

Fact #3: The largest corporations in America have $2 trillion dollars sitting in their bank accounts.  Yet they continue to seek – and receive – tax breaks and government subsidies.

While the current economy is bad for most of us, it isn’t bad for all of us.  Some are profiting handsomely as the rest of us are left further behind.

Despite what pundits and cable TV might lead us to believe, America’s prolonged recession is not the result of some act of god or natural disaster.  Far from it.  In fact, income inequality, wage stagnation, and crushing personal debt are the result of decades of intentional political decisions driven by the selfish self-interest of the largest corporations and the super rich.

Yet, all these facts notwithstanding, there appears to be more cynicism and depression amongst progressives than there is action and outrage. … Continue reading »

From the Arab spring to the protests over union rights in Wisconsin, and from Minnesota’s state government shutdown to the debt ceiling debate, 2011 stands out as a year where our movement for justice and grassroots democracy has been tested. Our progressive movement has emerged stronger, more organized, and ready to fight back in 2012.

Each year at our Annual Leadership Awards Celebration TakeAction Minnesota honors people and organizations that demonstrate outstanding progressive leadership and achievement. We need you to nominate progressive champions who made a difference in the last year by advancing social, racial and economic justice. Then we need you to join us on Friday, November 18th for the BIG event.

Who do you believe should be recognized this year? Which person or organization do you see doing exceptional work to build the progressive movement? Who demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to social, racial and economic justice? Who shows real leadership and inspires others to act? Who won a significant victory that made a difference in the lives of Minnesotans? Take a moment to nominate them now.

And make a plan now to join the best progressive party around on Friday, November 18th. Buy your tickets today to take advantage of early bird pricing.… Continue reading »

What do super-heroes, super-villains, and the Super Committee have in common?

Complicated origin stories, huge ambitions, and the future in their hands. Oh – and a good bit of secrecy.

Earlier this summer, after the Republican party took our government hostage over raising the debt ceiling, Congress came to an agreement with President Obama that lifted the debt ceiling while protecting Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security from immediate cuts.  But as part of that agreement, Congress has created a “super committee” charged with finding an additional $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction measures over the next 10 years.

Tomorrow, September 13th, we’ll find out a little more about what they do. That’s the date for the Super Committee’s first public hearing. The 12 members of the committee have until November 23 – just two months from now – to present a deficit reduction plan to Congress for a vote.

Many leaders in Congress have already put a target on Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, making it clear that they will use the process to try to secure deep, harmful cuts to these important programs – all while protecting tax giveaways for corporations and the mega-rich.

Today and tomorrow are the first of several key pressure points in the next 4 months when each of us has an important role to play to make sure the “super committee” members know: Americans demand a sensible, balanced deficit plan – NOT cuts to vital health care services like Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act!… Continue reading »

Leaders and staff from TakeAction were proud to join members of the Minnesota Nurses Association at the fair yesterday evening to tell Minnesota’s Congressional Delegation to “Tax Wall Street to Heal America.”

Nurses, backed by a chorus of “This Land is Your Land,” told stories of what they see each day in their work. One told the story of a sister who was recently diagnosed with diabetes and can’t afford health insurance. Another told of a patient going deeply in debt because she fell in the Medicare donut hole and couldn’t afford her medication. Other nurses talked about the effects of the economy on their patients – people who are out of work, facing foreclosure, and living in poverty. One of TakeAction’s members told the crowd that she and her husband can only afford a health insurance plan that carries no prescription coverage and a $15,000 deductible. All the storytellers asked their Senators and Congress people to support a financial transaction tax on Wall Street trading, a tax that would generate billions of dollars for our economy and discourage reckless trading, create jobs, and protect and expand essential services like Medicaid and Medicare.

Although a corporate fat cat (actually an MNA ally in disguise) booed and hissed at this idea, the nurses and crowd watching the action shouted down his protests.… Continue reading »

What happens when people come out of prison after serving their sentence?  Are they truly done serving their sentence?  These days, with most employers refusing to consider those with a criminal record, people are finding themselves locked up in prison and then locked out of society.  Returning Citizens end up serving a life time sentence after leaving prison.  I know this is true because I am a Returning Citizen.

You see I made a mistake over thirteen years ago. I took responsibility for my mistake.  I served my sentence.  Well, I served the sentence the judge handed down to me.  I made changes in my life while serving.  I’ve been out of prison for over seven years, and crime free, but I’ve found myself locked out of both jobs and housing.  I am not alone. There are many Returning Citizens like me.

I applied for over 500 jobs over the last seven years.  I was even offered four or five of them.  I was offered these jobs because of my education, experience and my interview.  With each offer I was asked to fill out an application.  I faced the background question and answered it truthfully.  Each of those times I was told, “Sorry, we don’t hire ex-felons.” … Continue reading »

As you read this, central Minnesota farmer and LSP member Nolan Lenzen is in Washington, D.C., carrying a simple, but critical, message: agriculture is a growing and vibrant sector of our nation’s economy, and it provides many opportunities for young producers such as himself. Yet farming is also one of the most difficult occupations to enter. Limited access to markets, hyper land price inflation, high input costs, and a lack of sufficient support networks are just a few barriers new agricultural entrepreneurs face. It doesn’t need to be this way.

Lenzen, a graduate of LSP’s Farm Beginnings program, is joining beginning farmers from across the country this week in a fly-in to meet with agricultural policymakers in Congress and to discuss ways to expand and improve a comprehensive beginning farmer and rancher initiative that breaks down barriers to entry and gives real support to small and mid-scale producers across the country.

As was recently described in a Land Stewardship Letter profile and podcast featuring Lenzen, he started out as a conventional dairy farmer, but soon found himself on a speeding treadmill of mounting debt, an unsustainable workload and dwindling market opportunities. A few years ago, Lenzen transitioned into a grass-based organic system, finding it better for his bottom line, his cows, his family and the environment.… Continue reading »

Since January, state policy makers have looked under every sofa cushion and in every old pickle jar for spare change to solve Minnesota’s revenue crisis.  With a gaping $5 billion hole needing to be filled, Minnesota needs a permanent revenue solution that puts us on a path to a better, healthier future.  One area of common ground for Republican legislative leaders and Governor Mark Dayton should be to reclaim the excess reserves of private health insurers to mitigate cuts to state health care programs.

For decades private health insurers (health maintenance organizations or HMOs) have profited from state contracts to provide care for programs like Minnesota Care and Medical Assistance.  In 2010, the state’s four top insurers, Medica, Blue Cross Blue Shield, HealthPartners, and UCare, had a banner year making a combined $130 million from public programs.  Together, these four insurers have amassed more than $1.5 billion in their reserves – more than 350% of the minimum reserves level recommended by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

How did public programs become so profitable for private HMOs?  First, in 2004 HMOs successfully lobbied legislators and the Pawlenty administration to eliminate caps on their reserves.  That meant these “nonprofit” insurers had no limit to how much profit they could squirrel away (the previous cap had been 90 days operating expense on hand). … Continue reading »

Today I joined over 600 Minnesotans in the middle of the workday to rally against the anti-marriage amendment at the Capitol.

African-American Lobby Day was going on just below us at the same time and Governor Dayton spoke to the crowd about the devastating impact of the conservative majority’s all-cuts budge.

I was struck by the seriousness of the problems that we face in Minnesota, and how crazy it is that the legislature is spending large chunks of the precious time left in this session not figuring out how to ensure Minnesotans have health care, not figuring out how to give our children the best education possible, and not figuring out how to make sure that we invest in the future of Minnesota.

Instead, they are wasting time trying to enact angry, bigoted legislation that doesn’t change a thing.  This amendment would only serve to bring a hate-filled and expensive fight to Minnesota, create countless problems for LGBT Minnesotans, and cause shame to future generations of Minnesotans.

The worst part is that they have spent entire days on this legislation before producing a balanced budget.

Stop wasting our time on hateful legislation that causes problems for thousands of Minnesotans, and start getting real about how we are going to create a budget that invests in Minnesota’s future. … Continue reading »

This Thursday, April 28th the Minnesota House Public Safety Committee will hear HF1467, an omnibus gun bill commonly referred to as “Shoot First.” Introduced by Tony Cornish (R), “Shoot First” would:

• Radically rewrite and expand existing self-defense law to include peaceable and lawful entry where there is some minor physical act, such as turning a doorknob or opening an unlatched gate. The proposed law significantly extends the places where this standard applies to include fenced yards, garages or sheds, or occupied vehicles – even if the person approaching is peaceable, unarmed, and not making any threats. This includes postal workers, volunteers, neighbors, children playing, and kids delivering the newspaper.
• Require that Minnesota recognize all other states’ permits to carry pistols, allowing out- of-staters to carry loaded guns in public in Minnesota without restriction or oversight. Minnesota would be forced to recognize permits even from states like Indiana, where permits are valid for life; and Georgia, Idaho, South Dakota, West Virginia, New Hampshire and Mississippi, where no gun safety training is required and background check standards are among the lowest in the country.
• Impose a blanket restriction on the ability of Minnesota law enforcement to confiscate guns and gun purchase permits, including during emergencies, which would limit officers’ ability to remove firearms from the homes of domestic abusers.

… Continue reading »

A few weeks ago, on a morning talk show on KDWB, a song was written and performed by Steve LeTart entitled “30 Hmongs in a House”.  The lyrics are full of racism, sexism and bigotry and the delivery was full of smug disdain for a culture different from that of the three white talk show hosts chuckling behind their microphones. When I first heard the song, my reaction was not one of anger and shame (at first).  My reaction was one of deep and profound sadness. I realized in that moment that because of our society’s deeply inbedded structural racism and tolerance for public intolerance, my children would someday soon face a very difficult decision.My one and three year old children are raised by dear friends of ours while my husband and I are at work each day.  We truly count this family among God’s greatest gifts to us.  Mommy Niam, Daddy Ger and their children are our second family and thanks to them our lives are more full of love, care, culture, and joy. The day that I heard the ugly words delivered by a so called comedian, my heart broke.  It broke because I realized that I would not be able to protect my children from someday hearing similar racist sentiments.… Continue reading »

On Tax Day this year, I have been thinking about all that I have to thank taxes for, and the list is long.

Thanks to taxes, I got a great education in our public school system, then went on to college with low-interest loans. My wife was able to buy our house in 2005 thanks in part to a no-interest down-payment loan for new homeowners. Our house has clean water, electricity, and natural gas. Last year we made huge energy efficiency improvements in our 100-year-old house thanks to government energy programs. Our street is cleaned and plowed; our trash and recycling are picked up. We listen to public radio and go to art museums and orchestra concerts. If there’s a fire, firefighters will come to save us. If there’s a crime, the police will come to help us. To get there, these brave men and women will drive on public roads. When my car is in the shop, I can take the bus to work. Soon I will be able to take the light rail. We borrow books from our library. Government rules and regulations keep us safe from corporate abuses. In the summer, we can go to the Boundary Waters, one of the most pristine natural environments in the world, because our government had the foresight – and the funding – to protect it.… Continue reading »

Not every gets a fair chance in Minnesota.  We pride ourselves on being good neighbors and good community members, but we still live in a state that doesn’t really offer opportunity for all.

One out of every five Americans has a prior criminal record.  Current hiring practices make it almost impossible for someone with a prior record to get a job, no matter how hard you try, no matter how qualified you are, and no matter if your record has nothing to do with the job to which you’ve applied.  Steady work is one of the strongest factors in helping people put their lives back together after prison.  A new Pew study recently reported that Minnesota leads the nation in recidivism.  When you can’t find work after months and years of trying, going back into the system can become the only option.

This isn’t simply about fairness.  It’s about race, and it’s not an accident.  People of color bear the burdens of our criminal system at a staggeringly higher rate than white people .  People of color make up less than 15 percent of Minnesota’s total population but more than 46 percent of those in prison.  This is not because people of color commit more crimes, but because of proven patterns of racial profiling and a history of racial inequity in our country.… Continue reading »

Last week, Victori Vu’s response to the KDWB song “30 Hmongs in a House,” And You Thought That Was Funny? appeared on this blog.  The lyrics of the song were an attack on Hmong people and culture, and a misogynist objectification of Hmong-American women.  The song was badly rhymed, ineptly metered, and is still, one week later, not at all funny.

Words hurt.  Having your culture and community degraded and stereotyped hurts.  That hurt matters.  It spills into our collective practices and into our civil society and tears at our sense of connection to and appreciation of one another.   The worst part is, you’re told it’s your fault.  Suck it up.  Don’t be so sensitive.  Why are you making such a big deal out of this?  Like, lighten up dude.  Oppression on top of oppression in the form of dismissal.  Thanks but no thanks.

I’m white.  I get to walk around with all sorts of privilege.  I don’t have to see it, or claim it, or ask for it.  It is simply the air that I breathe.  Yet as a queer woman and member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Two Spirit, Intersex, and Queer community, I know what it’s like to be made fun of for who you are.  … Continue reading »

When TakeAction Minnesota’s Together for Health Care team launched our campaign on February 26th, one of our goals was to highlight ways that HMOs and private insurance companies are profiting from our public medical assistance programs.

We objected to the billions of dollars of surplus and profits held by these insurance companies in their “reserves.” We stated that tax dollars appropriated for health care should be spent on health care.

At the time of our launch, we requested meetings with several HMOs to discuss these concerns. Since that time, we have had meetings with the four biggest HMOs in Minnesota, and, quite frankly, our concerns remain.

The HMOs in our state continue to sit on massive reserves. The state’s four biggest HMOs—Medica, Blue Cross, Health Partners, and UCare—have $518 million dollars in excess reserves—that’s money OVER AND ABOVE a reasonable reserve level.

And we continue to see this disturbing trend. With the recent release of their financial reports for 2010, we have learned that the state’s non-profit insurance companies generated profit margins by administering Minnesota’s public programs that in some cases were double what they earned on their private health insurance business. This profit, instead of being returned to the state or used to provide health care, will add to their reserves.… Continue reading »

In 2009, I joined the Hmong Organizing Program at TakeAction Minnesota. I took on the role as the secretary in the Hmong Education Committee. That year the education committee launched the work to get Hmong history implemented in Saint Paul Public Schools. Throughout my leadership growth at TakeAction Minnesota, I’ve learned appropriate tools to build effective relationships, attended trainings and did research visits with SPPS board members along with meeting the Superintendent Valeria Silva. As a leader at TakeAction Minnesota I had a wonderful opportunity to attend the Gamaliel Foundation Training in Illinois. During this weeklong training it taught me what public and private life mean. I have always lived a private life where only my family, relatives and friends mattered to me. What I didn’t realize was that my community mattered to me as much as anything. With clarity about my path to power, I knew that I can do more than just creating change within my immediate family; I wanted to create change in the community and in the state.

I grew up attending Saint Paul Public Schools and I didn’t have the chance to learn about my history, which for many reasons has affected decisions that I’ve made in life.… Continue reading »

Growing up, I used to be a KDWB listener. I’d tune in every morning as it kept me company on my drive from home to college every day. I was a KDWB fan even before Dave Ryan joined the radio station in the early to mid 90’s.

Last month, KDWB made a mockery of the Hmong American community.  Their so called parody stereotyped the whole Hmong Community as people who live in homes with over 30 family members and women who give birth by the age of 16. By the age of 30, they’re over the hill. I’m offended that they would mock my family and my community with such racist view and dictate how others should view my community and me.

I personally did not grow up in the kind of environment that is portrayed by Steve-O’s “parody.” I do not know of one family who lives in this kind of environment.

Like me before them, my pre-teen children used to listen to KDWB daily.  They didn’t see this amusing or as a joke either. Matter of fact, my 11 years old and 14 years old said this is unacceptable and WE DO NOT DESERVE these kind of derogatory view and stereotyping of Hmong American women.… Continue reading »

Today I joined other TakeAction activists to visit the offices of the Minnesota Council of Health Plans, a group that represents HMOs in Minnesota.  We wanted to speak with them about the $518 million in excess reserves that the 4 largest HMOs (Blue Cross Blue Shield, Health Partners, Medica, and UCare) in this state are currently sitting on.

Yes, you read that number right.  $518 million in EXCESS. That’s money over and above a reasonable level of reserves at the same time our state is facing a $5 billion dollar budget deficit. These HMOs’ bloated bank accounts are full of millions of public dollars that are decidedly not being spent on health care for Minnesotans. Meanwhile, the Minnesota legislature is scrambling to find ways to plug the state’s $5 billion budget shortfall without eliminating the essential services that Minnesotans rely on. Something is very wrong with this picture.

We arrived at the office to tell the HMOs that the agreement they made with the Governor yesterday (1% cap on this year’s HMO profits) is insufficient. We were ready to present our $518 million bill from the taxpayers of Minnesota to the group and to demand the immediate return of these reserves to the state to be spent on the health of Minnesotans.… Continue reading »

My family and I came to Minnesota in August 1983. We came here as political refugees from Laos. My father joined the war when he was 14. Almost all my uncles from both sides of the family served in the war. Our family was sponsored by an elderly white couple. I don’t remember their names and didn’t speak their language at the time. They had grayish white hair and wrinkles on their faces. They didn’t walk with a straight back. They walked slowly to and from their car when they visited. As a young boy I didn’t need to know their language to know that they were kind and loving. This is the story I tell my children.

I’ll be honest. I am no magician and I don’t have all the answers to dismantling racism in Minnesota. What I do know is that many Minnesotans are smart. You know there is discrimination in the world. There is poverty, classism, and racism and all of these evils are very real. You know white Minnesotans want the same opportunity as people of color. You know people of color want the same opportunity as whites. You know most Minnesotans don’t endorse the evils I mentioned above, but over the ages these evils have become like the air we breathe.… Continue reading »