ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota House has passed a budget for health and social programs that includes small raises for nursing homes and long-term care workers but which critics say isn't enough for financially challenged homes in rural areas.
The House passed the Democratic-sponsored health and human services budget late Monday after almost 10 hours of debate. The 70-64 vote was mostly along party lines but with a few crossovers.
The long debate steered into abortion politics when Republicans and a handful of Democrats successfully attached a provision requiring licensing and inspection of abortion clinics. Gov. Mark Dayton vetoed that requirement last year, and it's likely to face a tougher test in the Senate where fewer Democrats are opposed to legal abortion. A Senate alternative health budget will get a vote in that chamber too, which will set up a House-Senate conference committee.
