MINNEAPOLIS, January 9, 2009 – A coalition including labor unions, nurses, and the Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota, held a press conference Thursday supporting a bill which would create new state program to provide universal health care coverage, starting first with children.

 

The bill, the Minnesota Health Security Act (S.F. 9), was also introduced into the Senate Thursday. Its lead authors are Sen. Tony Lourey, DFL-Kerrick, and Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis.

 

The bill would mandate that all children in Minnesota have health insurance by 2010. It also calls for the state to develop a plan for making sure all adults have access to health care coverage by 2012.

 

The bill does not include a cost estimate for the proposed program nor does it include a new funding source to pay for such a program.

 

Partners in the "Make Health Happen" coalition that support the bill include the Minnesota AFL-CIO, TakeAction Minnesota, AFSCME Council 5, the Children's Defense Fund Minnesota, Education Minnesota, ISAIAH, the Minnesota Nurses Association and the SEIU Minnesota State Council.