Senate to vote on revised exchange bill

The Minnesota Senate is expected to vote on a revised health insurance exchange bill on Monday in what could be the last stop for the bill before the governor's desk.

The exchange will provide a new online marketplace for more than a million Minnesotans to obtain health insurance starting in October.

The legislation to create an exchange in Minnesota has been controversial from Day 1. As a cornerstone of President Barack Obama's health care law, Republicans have lined up against it, arguing that it's part of a government takeover of health care.

While Republicans blocked the legislation in previous sessions, it has sailed through committees this session since Democrats control the state Legislature as well as the governor's office.

Democrats argue that if Minnesota does not enact its own exchange, it would default to a federally run exchange, which would be operated from Washington.

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