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Some Republican legislators are claiming that Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton is exceeding his authority by setting up a state health insurance exchange without their input.

Minnesota received a $4.2 million federal grant last week to help establish the exchange, which is a key piece of the federal health care law. GOP lawmakers fundamentally oppose the law. Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, the chair of the Senate health and human services committee, said today that the administration is wrong to move forward on its own.

"We believe that they do not have the authority, and we are going to pursue every means available to us as a Legislature to prevent that from occuring," Hann said. "They should not be taking Minnesota down the path to enacting this law in the way that they're doing it without the counsel of the Legislature, without the input of the stakeholders in the health care community."

Health insurance exchanges will allow consumers shop for coverage and compare available plans beginning in 2014. State Commerce Commissioner Michael Rothman said last week the grant will be used in part to set up an advisory task force and choose a chief financial officer.

Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman issued the following statement in response to the GOP news conference:

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They claim legislative and public input is being ignored.

GOP blasts health exchange moves

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