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Mike Hatch says governor needs to be active on national level Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Question: Rural education faces unique challenges because of declining enrollment. How can the state keep funding adequate for smaller schools with state funding based on enrollment?
Answer: We used to have a formula that tried to equalize the funding. Several years ago we adopted an approach where money follows the child. There is no equalizing as the district loses a child creating a situation where students are not getting a uniform education. This system must be fixed or there will be lawsuits. Declining enrollment isn't unique to rural Minnesota.
Question: What can the state of Minnesota do to help the self employed afford health care insurance?
Answer: The hemorrhaging in uninsured is happening in the self employed and in small businesses. Only 40 percent of businesses with 20 employees or less offer health insurance compared to 97 percent of businesses with 200 employees or more. Small employers are deciding not to offer health insurance because of skyrocketing premiums that result from one cancer case or one bad heart. Pooling small employers doesn't work. If 20 small employers work together, pooling 500 employees, and a couple businesses have less healthy employees, the businesses with healthy employees will leave because they can get a better quote somewhere else.
Employers should be able to buy group coverage for all employees with a provision that they buy a policy from the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association for their high-risk employees, which should give them a predictable rate. MCHA assesses the fee back to all who have coverage. This is done with autos and homes and should be able to be done with health care insurance. Why should employers who hire less healthy people be penalized? There's already companies that are circulating memos directing managers to avoid hiring people who are obese.
Question: What's the state's role in furthering the development of renewable fuels?
Answer: I support 20 by 20. Minnesota is going to need 3,500 megawatts of new power by 2015 and it's not likely it's going to come from nuclear or coal and Minnesota is at the end of the natural gas pipeline and susceptible to price volatility. It's logical and makes sense to encourage wind technology. A predictable credit is needed from Congress. No. 2, the power line issue needs to be addressed and the issues surrounding the use of eminent domain for placing transmission lines need to be resolved. Wind turbine manufacturing in Minnesota should be strongly encouraged.
Question: How can the governor strengthen agriculture and the rural economy in Minnesota?
Answer: When I meet with farmers, I'm always struck by the number of people who are employed in a regional city to get health care insurance. Fiber optic cable needs to be laid in rural areas to move a massive amount of information very quickly. This creates job opportunities in an area where there is generally less turnover than in the Twin Cities.
No. 2, the governor needs to be engaged in Washington, lobbying on behalf of Minnesota. The farm bill and trade talks have a significant impact on our ag economy.
No. 3, there's a future with renewable energy.
Question: What is the role of the state agriculture department?
Answer: The department is primarily a regulatory agency. The ag commissioner should promote agriculture and champion rural interests.
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