Because of the large number of contacts I have received regarding federal health care reform, I recently joined with a number of other state senators to contact Senators Klobuchar and Franken.

In the letter, we stressed the need for a reduction of premiums on hardworking middle class families, as well as make improvements to quality of care and accessibility. We are concerned that the Senate bill does not move measurably in this direction, while sacrificing care for senior citizens. Furthermore, the bill would likely reduce competition, increases taxes on small businesses, directly or indirectly fund abortions and hurt Minnesota's medical devices manufacturing industry.

We also strongly appealed to Minnesota's senators to demand that real reform include true market competition including buying of insurance across state lines, allowing of individuals, small businesses, and trade associations to pool together and acquire health insurance at lower prices, and enacting lawsuit reform.

Writing a letter, like my colleagues and I have done, is something you can do too. I would encourage all Minnesotans who recognize how much this would cost our state to contact our U.S. Senators Klobuchar and Franken and urge them not to support this healthcare plan which would hurt Minnesota.

State Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen can be reached at 651-297- 8063, by mail at 123 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155, or via email at sen.bill.ingebrigtsen@ senate.mn.