Dayton plans health care opt-in on Tuesday

By Mike Kaszuba

Keeping a key campaign promise, Gov.-elect Mark Dayton said Thursday he would begin his term by signing an executive order expanding the state's Medicaid program. The incoming DFL governor said he would sign the order on Tuesday morning in the State Capitol's rotunda, one day after being sworn into office. Dayton's office, in announcing the move, said the early enrollment in President Obama's health care overhaul would give more than 95,000 Minnesotans new or improved health care coverage and retain thousands of health care-related jobs. The issue had been widely-debated during Minnesota's gubernatorial campaign, and outgoing Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty had opposed the move. As part of a compromise between DFL legislative leaders and Pawlenty earlier this year, Minnesota's new governor was given the sole power to reject or opt in to the expansion by Jan. 15. Dayton meanwhile was critical of the surprising announcement by state officials that the enrollment process could take months to complete. He called the decision not to make the delay known earlier "extremely irresponsible." The early enrollment is expected to bring $1.2 billion in federal funding in return for $200 million from the state – which has already been set aside.