MINNEAPOLIS, February 25, 2010 – The Minnesota Senate on Thursday overrode Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto of a DFL bill that would restore a slimmed down General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) program.

The vote was 45 to 21 in favor.

Pawlenty vetoed the GAMC bill last week even though it had strong support in the House and Senate.

The DFL has a veto-proof majority in the Senate but would need 3 Republican votes to override Pawlenty’s vote in the House.

Republican House Minority Leader Kurt Zellers have said Republicans will uphold Gov. Pawlenty's veto. He said the debate over GAMC should be a part of an overall budget agreement.

On Wednesday, lawmakers and the governor met to try and negotiate a solution to the GAMC impasse, according to news reports.

The MMA continues to oppose the 50 percent cut in reimbursement rates for services provided to GAMC enrollees that is included in the DFL bill. However, it is the least worst option currently available. 

"As bad as that is, we still think it's better than allowing (GAMC) to fail or dumping it into MinnesotaCare," said MMA President Benjamin Whitten, M.D., in a recent Pioneer Press article.