The holiday season is a good time to make your points known because everything slows down. I present you with two easy opportunities below:

1) STATE COLLECTION OF PRIVATE HEALTH DATA

If you don't want the state to claim your private medical record as public property, you must make your voice heard. Proponents of the rule have succeeded in writing numerous letters to newspaper editors and getting them published. Letters from opponents are either not being sent or are being ignored by editors. The upcoming 2 weeks is a slow time for the media and a VERY GOOD TIME to get a Letter to the Editor published. Many of you wrote letters to the health department or the judge. A similar letter will suffice. Consider sending it to your local newspaper and/or the state's two major newspapers:

Star Tribune: opinion@startribune.com (Max: 250 words)

St. Paul Pioneer Press: letters@pioneerpress.com (Max: 225 words)

(REMEMBER to include your name, address and home and work phone numbers!)

And don't forget to contact your legislators directly and let them know your concerns. They are weighing the public's response in preparation for the 2003 session. If you need their contact

information, go to the Minnesota Legislature's web page:

call for information at HOUSE: 651-296-2146, SENATE: 651-296-0504.

2) STATE BUDGET DEFICIT

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A free-market resource for designing the future of health care

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Citizens' Council on Health Care

1954 University Ave.W., Suite 8

St. Paul, MN 55104

651-646-8935 phone

651-646-0100 fax

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Thank you.