Contact: Kenza Hadj-Moussa, 612-386-9556
October 26, 2017
NEWS RELEASE
Outraged Minnesotans demand that Medica returns public-interest assets back to its nonprofit company
(Minnetonka)—Today, dozens of TakeAction Minnesota members protested Medica, after the HMO funneled $120 million out of their nonprofit company to other operations. The controversial move by Medica drew outrage and attention from Minnesotans, including faith leaders and health care professionals. The money can now go to Medica’s for-profit companies, even though the assets belong to the public’s interest.
“If elected officials don’t check corporate power, then who will? That is the job of our public leaders,” said David Zaffrann, health care manager at TakeAction Minnesota. “Today, we’re telling Medica to return the assets that belong in the interest of Minnesotans. But what we need is elected officials who will take the reins. Medica’s move may have been legal, but it’s not right.”
The move generated pushback from Governor Dayton, Attorney General Lori Swanson, and Representative Erin Murphy, among others. Loopholes passed by Minnesota’s Republican Legislature made the transfer legal.
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TakeAction Minnesota is a statewide, multi-racial people’s organization. We advance democracy and equity through organizing, political action, and policy campaigns.
