ST. PAUL, MN – Today, Governor Mark Dayton released details of proposals for bills, which could be passed in a special session, to provide a 25 percent health insurance premium rebate for Minnesotans facing significant premium subsidy, while completing the tax and bonding bills that went unfinished last session. 

 

“The months spent negotiating every aspect of those three bills have passed,” said Governor Dayton. “Now, in order to have a Special Session, they must be accepted by the four Caucus Leaders, along with a signed agreement to limit the Session to those three bills with no amendments added.”

 

Together, the Governor’s proposed bills would make health care more affordable, keep more money in Minnesotans’ pockets, and invest in good jobs, schools, and infrastructure across the state. In a letter, the Governor called on Legislative Leaders to agree to a special session quickly to resolve these three issues for Minnesotans.

 

In addition to the Governor’s letter, and details of the three bills, Governor Dayton today issued a proposed agreement which, if signed by Legislative Leaders, would set the date and parameters for a possible special session, for next Tuesday, December 20, 2016. The Governor is asking Legislative Leaders to sign onto this agreement by this Thursday, December 15, 2016.

 

Links to all of the materials released today can be found here: 

 

• LETTER: Read Governor Dayton’s letter to Legislative Leaders.

 

• AGREEMENT: See the agreement Governor Dayton is asking Legislative Leaders to sign.

 

• SUBSIDY BILL LANGUAGE: See proposed bill language for health insurance premium relief.

 

• BONDING BILL COMPROMISE: See proposed changes for a compromise bonding bill.

 

• TAX BILL COMPROMISE: See proposed changes for a compromise tax bill.

 

Over the past 47 days, Governor Dayton has called on Legislative Leaders to agree to a plan to help Minnesotans who purchase insurance on the individual market, and are facing significant premium increases in the coming year. The Governor has detailed a plan to provide a 25 percent health insurance premium subsidy, reducing rate increases from 55 percent to 16 percent for the 196,000 affected Minnesotans, on average. Governor Dayton has asked the four Caucus Leaders to agree to this plan as soon as possible, so that Minnesotans needing help would know it is coming. 

 

In addition to the Governor’s detailed plan to provide a 25 percent health insurance premium subsidy to the 196,000 Minnesotans significantly impacted by rising health insurance premiums this year, Governor Dayton has repeatedly called for lawmakers, the public, and all stakeholders – at the state, local, and federal levels – to work seriously on a long-term solution for the challenges facing Minnesotans under the Affordable Care Act.