The Minnesota legislature has passed a bill banning illegal aliens from receiving taxpayer-funded healthcare through the state’s MinnesotaCare program. The measure, backed by Republicans, passed both chambers and now awaits the signature of Democrat Governor Tim Walz, who is expected to approve it, according to CBS News.
Republicans filed the bill amid growing concerns over fiscal responsibility, arguing that Minnesota cannot sustain offering free healthcare to tens of thousands of undocumented migrants. GOP lawmakers in both the House and Senate voted as a bloc to push the legislation through as part of critical budget negotiations aimed at avoiding a government shutdown.
MinnesotaCare initially enrolled more than 20,000 illegal aliens, resulting in costs of $4 million. Projections estimated the program would balloon to $1.3 billion by 2027. Republican Rep. Harry Niska questioned the state’s financial logic, referencing similar rollbacks in other Democrat-run states. “If California and Illinois can’t make the numbers work, what makes us think Minnesota can?” Niska asked.
Even Democratic leaders acknowledged the pressure. Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, a member of the Democrat-Farmer-Labor Party, voted in favor of the rollback after committing to do so to finalize the state budget. Despite her vote, Murphy vowed to reinstate the program in the future, calling it “one of the most painful votes” she’s taken.
Minnesota is the latest in a series of blue states discovering the unsustainable costs of offering healthcare to illegal immigrants. Illinois and Colorado have also reversed course after costs far exceeded expectations. Illinois’ program ballooned hundreds of millions past projections, forcing Governor JB Pritzker to roll it back. In Colorado, the Cover All Coloradans program grew from $2 million to $16 million in just two years and is expected to hit $32 million next year.
