Republicans Again Put Extreme Special Interests above People
Republican Legislature Passes Bills to Endanger Health Care Access for 50,000 Patients While Refusing to Protect Taxpayers
MADISON – Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) called out Republican legislators for continuing to advance their extreme right-wing agenda in the legislature. The Republican Assembly today passed a bill to endanger basic health care service for 50,000 patients. Assembly Republicans also voted down a Democratic resolution that would have protected taxpayers by requiring Gov. Walker’s failed presidential campaign to swiftly repay all the travel and security costs from his presidential bid.
“Today we saw Assembly Republicans continue their brazen efforts to put extreme politics and special interests above real people in Wisconsin,” Rep. Barca said. “Now that the Governor’s presidential campaign is over, he should first pay back the people of Wisconsin for his campaign travel and second put an end to his party’s divisive and damaging agenda. Instead of putting an end to the extreme right-wing agenda that has so badly divided Wisconsin over the past five years, Republicans are taking even more steps to harm the people of this great state.”
The policies Gov. Walker and the Republican legislature have rammed through our state to benefit their political fortunes have left Wisconsin with struggling public schools, crumbling infrastructure and a declining middle class. Republican bills passed today continue these negative effects on basic health care access.
Assembly Bill 310 targets women’s health centers and threatens access to basic healthcare services like birth control and cancer screenings. These clinics would not likely be replaced – when Republicans defunded state funding to Planned Parenthood clinics previously, five health clinics closed and they have not been replaced.
“Republicans are threatening basic health care services for 50,000 patients. It is solely meant to carry out a political vendetta but the outcome will be to restrict access to birth control and critically necessary cancer screenings.”
Today Assembly Democrats also put forward a resolution to require Gov. Walker and his campaign to reimburse the state for all out-of-state travel and security costs related to his failed presidential bid.
“At a time when our infrastructure is crumbling, schools are struggling and middle class is declining, Wisconsin cannot afford to foot the bill for Gov. Walker’s failed presidential bid,” Rep. Barca said. “Gov. Walker should never have relied on taxpayer dollars to fly him around the country and world for his presidential ambitions, but now that he has disbanded his campaign Wisconsin taxpayers should be immediately reimbursed for the travel and security costs.”
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by State Rep. Peter Barca
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Feb 5th, 2018 by State Rep. Peter BarcaRTA Builds Transportation Options in Southeastern Wisconsin
Statement from Rep. Barca on Republican Budget
Sep 6th, 2017 by State Rep. Peter Barca"Republicans should be ashamed of this budget."
Statement from Rep. Barca on the Assembly Passage of Foxconn Bill
Aug 17th, 2017 by State Rep. Peter Barca"Along with my Democratic colleagues, I’ll work tirelessly to make this a better deal."
Since these are Federal funds, how can they do this? I saw where someone said it was Federal funds, but given to the state in a block grant and block grants can be used by the state in any way they wish. Is that correct? So they could use those funds to plug holes in their budget just to balance a budget rather than using the money for what it was intended? If all this is true, then they are denying reproductive health care to women just to give tax breaks to the rich and corporations. So much for a government for the people, huh? Just some of the people.
I don’t know how you can possibly have a conscience and do stuff like this? To do this there is no God in your life and you have no soul.
I thought everyone knows Republicans take an oath not to represent their constituents but to represent corporations with deep pockets that buy them. You know the ones that are people too. Not you regular folks that expect them to work for them. Just try calling them on the phone & see if you get a return call from one of them personally. If the people don’t vote EVERY Republican out of office then you should not complain when you or a family member,friend spouse ect. get sick & die because you re-elected them. The state of Wisconsin shouldn’t be griping about lazy Scooter either. You had the chance to get rid of him & you didn’t. You allowed white fear & bigotry to trick you into voting against what’s in your best interest yet again.
It’s a good thing Planned Parenthood is only located in areas that have plenty of other low income healthcare clinics… that way no one has to die just because Republicans are in office.
Ah yes the myth that women can simply go somewhere else.
http://www.vox.com/2015/9/24/9373721/planned-parenthood-go-somewhere-else
Oh, well… if a blogger on Vox..com says it can’t be done, it must be true.
Nationally, I don’t know the planned parenthood footprint. However, in WI every location planned parenthood is in has other options for low income women. The idea that we can’t build the capacity at other clinics is pretty short sighted. Even if some women have short term delays in getting in to another clinic (of which I’m not convinced), I’ll feel better knowing the subsequent (proven) decline in abortions will save the lives of many unborn children.
Why would you be convinced? Conservatives don’t need pesky things like facts or research or data. They just know low-income women will easily find other healthcare options and that PP needs to go. And ad hominem attacks are beyond pathetic and weak.
Vincent, what facts are you referring to? The only facts I saw in your linked blog post was that if a woman has to drive over 100 miles for “reproductive care” that she is 10% less likely to do so. From what I’ve seen, that won’t be a problem in Wisconsin…
Meanwhile, even if (IF) it takes longer to get an appointment for birth control, that same blog points out this will lead to fewer babies being killed in the womb. That’s a win in my book. Saving a life > convenience to get a depo shot.