Gilbert Gutknecht: “I can speak for over a quarter of a million Minnesota public employee union members who want to have access to health…”

“I can speak for over a quarter of a million Minnesota public employee union members who want to have access to health savings accounts. Will they all choose them? I do not know. But I have letters here from the Minneapolis Police Relief Association thanking me and encouraging me to make certain that they have access to health savings accounts. I have a letter here from Teamsters Local 320 that represents public and law enforcement employees in the State of Minnesota both at the State and local level. They are encouraging me to make certain that they have access to health savings accounts. I have a letter here from the Minneapolis Firefighters' Relief Association. They want access to health savings accounts. I have a letter here from the Public Employees Retirement Association of Minnesota representing over 150,000 Minnesotans who want access to health savings accounts. I have a letter here from the Minnesota State Retirement System. Mr. Chairman, what we have here is a conflict of visions. This is an important and very critical debate in where we go with health care reform.”