Asked what he was doing to help lower costs, Hagedorn comes up short
It was billed as a roundtable discussion on agriculture, but according to newly obtained audio, a recent event quickly moved off-topic as southern Minnesotans used their time with Congressman Jim Hagedorn to confront him on another major issue – health care.
Grilled on how he would protect people with pre-existing conditions, Hagedorn doubled down on his support for junk insurance plans and high risk pools – policies that have historically left families with astronomical costs. Instead of providing real solutions, Hagedorn deflected questions and reminisced on failed legislation that would have ripped away coverage from Minnesotans.
Attendees pressed Hagedorn repeatedly on what he’s doing in Congress to lower premiums for hardworking families and… it didn’t go well. Here’s a look:
CONGRESSMAN JIM HAGEDORN: We can have all sorts of ideas, concepts—you know—high-risk pools for people with pre-existing conditions, so the insurance companies can insure people up to a certain point, but when they hit a certain point, then they get taken over and put in a high-risk pool…
[…]
CONSTITUENT: …We can blame Obamacare all we want, we are in a new system now with new leaders, and what are you going to do now?
[…]
HAGEDORN: Well ma’am, Republicans don’t control the floor of the house, we can’t bring these bills to the house floor…
CONSTITUENT: We’ve got a town full of people who need medical care and can’t afford it.
HAGEDORN: Well we have programs for that and if folks are destitute, for instance, if they are older they’re on Medicare. If they happen to not have the means, there’s Medicaid
CONSTITUENT: I know that.
[…]
CONSTITUENT: You have to be destitute in order to get help though and meanwhile are farmers and independent business people are draining their monthly medical premiums.
HAGEDORN: I know. And I just explained how that happened. They passed Obamacare and it went through the roof.
CONSTITUENT: …Obama’s not here anymore. It’s a new leadership and what are you going to do to change it?
HAGEDORN: Okay. I am one person in the House…
[…]
Listen to full audio from the event HERE.
While out of touch, Hagedorn’s lack of focus on health care isn’t surprising. Earlier this year, Hagedorn was the only member of the Minnesota congressional delegation not to sign onto a letter opposing cuts to MinnesotaCare that would put coverage for more than 80,0000 Minnesotans at risk.
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