ST. PAUL – Senator Paul Utke, R-Park Rapids, Lead Republican on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, released the following statement responding to the announcement the proposed merger between Fairview Health Services and Sanford Health, was off: 

“Once again, Democrats have preemptively blocked another business from Minnesota. The ongoing investigation by Attorney General Ellison and broad powers given to him in this process made it clear Democrats are not working in good faith to give every business the opportunity to thrive in Minnesota. This is yet another example of a company realizing the overreach and heavy-handed government from St. Paul Democrats just isn’t worth it.”