The Badger Herald

NEWS

State drops health plan

Looking for a print version?
Simply choose ‘Print’ on your computer and a printer-friendly document will be generated.

Also by Jessi Polsky:

Senate passes 'Frankenstein' veto bill (December 12, 2007)
Labor history 101 in high schools? (December 11, 2007)
'Holiday Tree' no more? (November 28, 2007)
There's no place like home (November 15, 2007)
Senate to hear pros, cons of legalizing medical marijuana (November 14, 2007)

by Jessi Polsky

Monday, September 24, 2007

A plan that would provide basic universal health care coverage for Wisconsin residents was dropped from the state budget during deliberations Friday.

The Healthy Wisconsin Plan was proposed in the Democratic-controlled Senate's version of the budget, yet was continually shot down by Assembly Republicans, who said the $15 billion plan would force a drastic tax increase.

Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, said Democrats agreed to drop Healthy Wisconsin only after Republicans agreed to make health care a priority in the state budget.

"We offer a proposal that is not everything we want, [and] we realize the need to build consensus and reduce conflict," Jauch said in a statement Friday. "In an effort to do our job … and address critical needs in health care, compromise is necessary."

Josh Wescott, spokesperson for Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, said the insurance plan was removed from the budget because Republicans were continually citing it as the main reason for the budget stalemate.

"This is an obstacle or a roadblock, [and] was pinned down as some reason why the other guys didn't want to work on the budget," Wescott said. "[Now] there will be no more excuses [or] different reasons as to why there isn't a budget."

Wescott added that despite dropping the plan, Democrats are striving to improve both children's health care services and coverage for the poor in the 2007-09 budget.

"We asked for BadgerCare Plus and increasing the cigarette tax," Wescott said. "We want to do things that are really basic values, like providing greater access to health care for kids and lower-income folks."

But according to Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, Republicans in both houses say the new proposal, which takes the place of Healthy Wisconsin, is pricy and dishonest.

"Today, [Robson] said Senate Democrats would drop their $15 billion plan to blow up the health care system and put government bureaucrats in charge of health care in Wisconsin, but only if Republicans agreed to more than $1 billion in new taxes and spending," Fitzgerald said in a statement.

Fitzgerald also said the Democrats' new proposal would make Wisconsin the highest-taxed state in America.

According to Jauch, however, the new proposal will insure many living in Wisconsin who currently cannot afford health care. The plan, Jauch added, cuts $24 million in Medicaid spending — a compromise decision for Democrats — while still providing funds to reimburse health care providers.

"Adoption of this proposal will expand health care coverage to all 86,000 uninsured children in Wisconsin, will assure that 50,000 uninsured farmers will have access to health care protection, and will improve coverage for 66,000 of the lowest income adults without insurance," Jauch said in a statement.

Despite continued conflict between the parties, the 2007-09 budget, which was supposed to be completed by July 1, needs to be passed soon, Wescott said.

"This was a good faith effort to get these budget negations going," he added.

Feedback

Show all comments

Hide anonymous comments

Anonymous (September 24, 2007 @ 11:39am):

Bravo Democrats, way to show your spines! While many of our families (and us) are living without healthcare, you bastards are using it as a bargaining chip. Go to hell, you try to present yourselves as alternatives to the Republicans who also have screwed us over for years, yet you're no better.

Anonymous (September 24, 2007 @ 1:03pm):

"While many of our families (and us) are living without healthcare"

So get a job. Most people without heath insurance have none because they spend their money on other things, like tobbaco and booze in some cases.

Anonymous (September 24, 2007 @ 2:25pm):

Way to stereotype a large number of Americans as lazy, drunk chain-smokers. Many of those without healthcare work two jobs or at least full time, and those that do choose to drink or smoke do so simply to escape the miseries of their daily working lives.

Anonymous (September 24, 2007 @ 3:56pm):

"Many of those without healthcare work two jobs or at least full time,"

Then they should apply at WalMart instead.

Anonymous (September 25, 2007 @ 12:04am):

"So get a job. Most people without heath insurance have none because they spend their money on other things, like tobbaco and booze in some cases."

I have three jobs as I try to work my way through school. Unlike you, my mommy and daddy don't have the money to pay for school for me.

And I know how to spell T-O-B-A-C-C-O.

Add a comment

We welcome your thoughts, but please keep your feedback thoughtful, on-topic and respectful. Offensive language, personal attacks, or irrelevant comments may be deleted.