They’re celebrating Greek Independence Day!  (Duh.)

Here’s MinnPost’s line up of speakers for the event. The itinerary seems strangely focused on health reform…but since the ACA turned one back on Wednesday…and Greek Independence Day is TODAY, I think we all know what’s going on here…a surprise celebration! Which is why I’m showing up at the rally with a flag,  plates for everyone to break, and some flaming cheese.  We’ll see who is surprised then!  See. You. There. Opa!

(Hill on “Reform Week” around the nation)

Warren Wolfe piece on GOP HHS bill (read me)

SC Times on Abeler Gottwalt bill

Hann takes heat in his district

Jean Abraham on the need for more primary care docs post-health reform

Watch testimony on Wednesday’s Federal Health Care waiver hearing

And finally, this is my final post.  What a fun last week it was.   Thanks for reading!

Who knew meaningful change happened so rapidly.  After 8 years of Pawlenty, we grew accustomed to waging year-long fights that ended in disappointment.  This is so glorious…I’m convinced there’s a catch.  Is there a catch?  Or is this what happens when we elect progressive leaders?

Should I stay on the couch?  Is it like watching the Eagles?  Will we only score when I’m out of the room?  Because if sitting here chewing lozenges will lead to a progressive tax structure or gay marriage, I’m willing to do my part. 

From MPR

KARE, includes quotes from familiar names like Leitz

From FOX

From KSTP

from Strib

PP on the bill Hann introduced yesterday. Read this.

And this on the same from Scheck

Gottwalt’s bill from SC Times

Dayton admin responds to GOP HHS bills

Cravaack on the ACA’s birthday

UCare Board Members respond to Strib Editorial

Franken’s Happy Birthday ACA Tweet

How the Ihle’s became famous

Paulsen’s medical device tax repeal

Finally, I hate this part of the ACA that went into effect yesterday.  Happy Birthday, here have some cake. (600, 720 a la mode)

How much surplus cash do the state HMOs need? From Snowbeck

TakeAction is growing and our rockstar (or as we say at TakeAction, “folk star”) new communications associate will soon be sending daily clips  far and wide so…the blog just isn’t necessary anymore.

But…please tell me you’ll miss me, because I will totally miss you.  We had quite the year together, right?  It was momentous, really, this exact week last year was the vote  for PPACA (as it was known way back then) and the GAMC agreement.

A number of the people who read this blog were instrumental in shaping how those things happened, and I just want to say one final time how impressed I am by all of you.

The weekend wrap-up:

I don’t know how I feel about this article in the PP entitled “Minnesota Food Producers Fed the Nation, and the Nation Got Fat”.  I’m still mulling it over. Eh.

I do however know how I feel about this. It’s silly.

Kaiser Health asks a bunch of experts, including David Godfrey, to make predictions for year 2 of ACA.

Anyhow, quick round up as I’ve got a parade to catch.

UCare from:

Snowbeck

Strib

The Abeler bill (read this)

Mac Thornberry (R-TX) channels Michael Hutchence when talking about Michele Bachmann

Finally, from Patrick Ness.  30 years later, they still crack me up.

This is a huge organizing win.

More on Medica’s lame er…”edgy” advertising campaign

“You have a heart of gold, show it to the world” (this sounds so wholesome,  yet what she’s actually directing you to do is arch your back and stick your boobs out)

“Feel your power!” (you’d think this would be the same move, right?  but this means, I think, that you do this move where you squat like you do over a camping latrine, then jump up real fast, like you discovered that a squirrel was in the latrine)

I could share a few more of her doozies but that’s not what you came here for:

Julie Brunner OpEd in Strib, Responds to Jesson

MPR on Medicaid expansion and rural poor

Strib piece on BCBS/Fairview and ACOs (like the Politico article last week it focuses on the Geraghty/Eustis trip to DC last week)

AP piece on Nienow’s bill to to prohibit implementation spending

Both Pawlenty and Ezra address a room full of doctors

Fairview’s Eustis and BCBS of MN Geraghty talk unicorns with Politico

Fischbach v. somatic cell nuclear transfer

Nationally:  Justice Dept has requested an expedited review of Vinson

Personally:  Are you going to Madison tomorrow?  I can’t decide.  Holler if you are.  When it comes to protests or second helpings — I’m easily swayed.