Cooperatives Applaud Rep. Kline’s Committee Promotion 
ST PAUL, Minn. (June 18, 2009) Cooperative Network, the trade association for Minnesota and Wisconsin cooperative businesses, congratulated U.S. Representative John Kline (R-Lakeville) for his selection by the U.S. House Republican Steering Committee as the ranking member of the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee.
“Congressman Kline, as the ranking member of the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, will be in a key position to influence the future of federal healthcare reform,” said Bill Oemichen, Cooperative Network President & CEO. “There are few issues of more importance to Minnesota cooperatives than ensuring affordable, quality health care is provided to Minnesota agricultural producers and rural small businesses.”
Oemichen testified on April 24, 2009, before the Education and Labor Committee’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) subcommittee on the concept of authorizing multi-state health cooperatives under federal law as an effective method for bringing agricultural producers and rural small businesses together in a large group for the purpose of purchasing affordable health insurance. Oemichen’s testimony was in response to the key role Cooperative Network played in creating the Farmers’ Health Cooperative of Wisconsin and in assisting in the creation of a number of other small employer health cooperatives across the state of Wisconsin. Similar efforts are being pursued in Minnesota by Cooperative Network, thanks to funding in 2004 and 2005 from the congressional delegation in Minnesota and Wisconsin and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Congressman Kline served as the ranking member of the HELP Subcommittee during that hearing.
Cooperative Network is working with AgStar Financial Services headquartered in Mankato, United Farmers Cooperative (UFC) headquartered in Winthrop, and other cooperatives to develop a similar health care cooperative for Minnesota agricultural producers and rural small businesses.
“Congressman Kline’s promotion is very good news for Minnesota because he will be in a key position to ensure cooperatives are part of the federal healthcare reform plan,” said Oemichen.
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