CMPI recently visited the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC and had the opportunity to speak with Governor Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota. As some might recall, Governor Pawlenty was one of the leading contenders for Senator McCain’s VP running-mate.
Governor Pawlenty has been one of the more active governors in the country in advancing free market based healthcare initiatives.
He has been an ardent proponent of electronic health records and co-authored the following Op-Ed last year with Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich:
Read Op-Ed here.
Read Op-Ed here.
We asked Governor Pawlenty if he had any advice to offer President Obama as his administration tackles healthcare reform. Governor Pawlenty said, “I’m afraid that President Obama and the Congress are headed in a very different direction” from free-market healthcare reforms.
He noted, “I think we should get consumers involved” and “let them decide in the marketplace how to best manage their healthcare.”
Let’s hope Administration officials are listening.
