Minnesota is a model for delivering quality health care and I applaud our doctors, nurses, hospitals, and health care professionals and policymakers for their partnership that works better than anywhere else.

If this Committee is serious about investigating Medicare fraud, for-profit and nonprofit health plans must be required to open their books.

Starting January 11th, Democratic Governor Mark Dayton's administration took bold action to increase transparency and accountability for taxpayers.

I am glad Ms. Bachmann has seen this as a way forward for the Federal Government to move on.

I am proud of the health care system we have in Minnesota and we will continue to make it better for the people we serve and for the taxpayers we are responsible for.

Governor Dayton has said that legislation to authorize the bridge should be enacted by September 30, 2011.

Proposing a new plan at this stage is just, quote, disingenuous.

I urge you and your colleagues to support it and move it quickly through the process so work on this important project can resume as quickly as possible.

The president looked at a dozen more pictures of abuse and reportedly shook his head in disgust but the apologies, regrets and mea culpas are now history. It's back to business as usual.

But 'Congress' covers a multitude of sins. I am only one.

What you are getting today are questions, and I have these questions as well, about whether the deployment timetable is being dictated by professional judgments or political pronouncements.

I think we have succeeded in very important respects.