By David Heiller

I donít know which bothers me more, Governor Pawlentyís proposed health insurance cuts, or the words he is using to describe them.

The proposal was in the headlines last week, to eliminate MinnesotaCare for about 33,000 childless adults as part of the governorís proposed budget.

MinnesotaCare is a state-subsidized health insurance program. Your premium varies depending on your income, but you do pay monthly premiums.

People who are dropped will have to try to find coverage on their own, which will be nearly impossible, because they wonít be able to afford it. Thatís why they are on MinnesotaCare in the first place!

You might disagree with that, if you believe most people on MinnesotaCare are chisellers who are trying to save money and beat the system.

I donít think thatís the case. I think MinnesotaCare is being used by people, many self-employed, who are barely getting by, who are making minimum wage or a little more. They are paying their way, and paying taxes, as best they can.

So if these folks using MinnesotaCare are dropped, they will either go without insurance, or they will have to go down to General Assistance Medical Care. I say ìgo downî because it is offered only to people who make less than 75 percent of the poverty level, or about $7,000 a year. Many people would have to spend down their assets in order to qualify.

Now thereís a great incentive for people. Let me get rid of almost everything I have worked for my entire life so I can get decent health insurance.

Itís a ridiculous proposal, and made more so by Pawlentyís mantra of no new taxes. Letís cut services to our needy folks, but donít ask anyone else to help out. What garbage.

Then thereís the governorís ham-handed reference to MinnesotaCare as ìwelfare health care.î Does he think we are idiots with his use of such a polarizing phrase?

If he is going to call it welfare health care, then he had better change his references to some other programs and industries.

Letís see, thereís welfare agriculture, because we offer cost sharing for things like the construction of push-up ponds and the Conservation Reserve Program. Those are subsidies.

Thereís welfare logging because the DNR helps manage forests on our state land and sells timber rights to loggers.

Hey, I went to school on the G.I. Bill. Guess I got a welfare education.

A gas tax is paying for highway upkeep, which truckers use for business. Thatís welfare trucking.

Your grandparents are getting help paying for their medical bills through Medicare. More welfare!

Social security? Better call it welfare, Governor.

Itís all baloney. Subsidies are a part of our way of life, and to put a stigma on MinnesotaCare as ìwelfare health careî shows a total lack of class and leadership.

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