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Fears of job losses from Obamacare could have been prevented

"The heart of it is that we will go out of business. Ninety-eight percent of our revenue is helping people with their health insurance. If you take 98 percent of your revenue away, you no longer exist."

That is the fear of independent insurance agent Sandra Schlaefer as the Dayton Administration moves to implement Obamacare in Minnesota. Insurance agents across Minnesota are growing more upset with how the Dayton Administration is building Obamacare’s health care exchange and are increasingly unsure of what it means for their jobs.

It didn’t have to be this way.

Back in 2010, Representative Peggy Scott proposed an amendment that would have protected insurance agents and their employees from losing their jobs because of Obamacare. Democrats, eager to embrace the health care law no matter what, voted it down.

“No insurance agent or an employee of the agent shall suffer a job loss, reduction in profit, or loss of business as a result of state implementation of the provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and the health care reform provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010."

It’s not just individuals and families who rely on insurance agents to help find coverage, small businesses do as well:

Almost all small businesses use agents when buying health insurance coverage, Merz said, adding that agents often serve as the human resource departments for companies that aren't big enough to handle the chores themselves.

Had the proposal to protect jobs passed, Minnesotans who help families and businesses buy insurance would not have had to worry about losing their jobs. Instead that is exactly the fear they now face. All because of Democrats’ single-minded focus on imposing Obamacare no matter the cost. Even if the cost is jobs.

Speaker Zellers: Mining lease approval imperative for growing jobs

House Speaker Kurt Zellers today sent a letter to Governor Dayton urging the Executive Council to approve nonferrous mineral leases recommended by the DNR.

The letter can be viewed here.

Zellers: Governor Dayton is following in the footsteps of Democrats in Washington

Speaker Zellers today commented on Governor Dayton's bonding proposal:

Governor Dayton is following in the footsteps of Democrats in Washington by proposing stimulus packages under the banner of job creation and economic development. In these economic times, a $775 million bonding bill that puts local spending projects on par with core infrastructure is unwise and ill-advised.

The Minnesota Legislature approved a near $500 million bonding bill in 2011 that made substantial investments in the state's core infrastructure such as roads, bridges and existing building maintenance. Fixing our deteriorating roads that people drive every day should be a priority over sending millions of dollars to staff up for nonexistent light rail lines, or to pay for sculpture gardens and perennial greening, or other local pet projects.

Republicans remain concerned with the rising financial commitment of debt service. If we have learned anything from the mortgage crisis and subsequent high rate of foreclosures, buying more because rates and costs are low isn't financially prudent or sustainable.

House, Senate to hold hearings on decision to parole cop killer

Minnesota House Speaker Kurt Zellers and Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch today sent a letter to Governor Mark Dayton requesting the presence and participation of Corrections Commissioner Tom Roy at legislative hearings to investigate the commissioner's decision to grant parole to an inmate convicted of murdering Oakdale police officer Richard Walton in 1982.