At a meeting of the Nation’s Governors, President Obama announced over $356 million dollars in Federal Medicaid Assistance funding for Minnesota:

To show you we’re serious about putting this recovery plan into action swiftly, I am announcing today that this Wednesday, our administration will begin distributing more than $15 billion in federal assistance under the Recovery Act to help you cover the costs of your Medicaid programs.

That means that by the time most of you get home; money will be waiting to help 20 million vulnerable Americans in your states keep their health coverage. Children with asthma will be able to breathe easier, seniors won’t need to fear losing their doctors, and pregnant women with limited means won’t need to worry about the health of their babies.

 This is only the beginning of the $2 billion Minnesota is expected to recieve over the next two years through President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

In order to qualify for this aid, Governor Pawlenty would have to drop some of his proposed health care cuts to families and children:

Management and Budget Commissioner Tom Hanson said some of Pawlenty’s proposed cuts to health and welfare programs – such as eliminating MinnesotaCare health coverage for parents – will have to be dropped to get the aid. He said Pawlenty will have to undo planned cuts that could range from $89 million to $200 million or more, depending on federal requirements.

 For more information about the impact of Governor Pawlenty’s health care cuts to families and adults, check out this study.