Robert Kraig

Growth of Poverty Wage Jobs Makes Rejection of BadgerCare Dollars a Fiscal Threat

The number of Wisconsin workers eligible for BadgerCare and who work for large poverty wage employers has increased by 8% over the last year.

Citizen Action Applauds Outsourcing Accountability Bill

On Tuesday Citizen Action of Wisconsin called on the Legislature to enact stronger accountability measures.

Outsourcing Scandal Re-emerges at WEDC

“It is scandalous that state policy still allows public money to go to corporations engaged in outsourcing jobs.”

Military Spending Not BadgerCare Real Threat to Wisconsin Budget

Over 25% of Walker’s budget proposal comes from the federal government.

Report Reveals Wisconsin Health Insurance Rates Still Dramatically Higher than Minnesota’s

Milwaukee Health Insurance Costs 52% Higher than in Minnesota

Campaign on State Supreme Court Amendment a Distortion of Democracy

Phone Calls Turn Up Massive Voter Confusion

Walker Denies His Responsibility to Safeguard Health Care for Over 184,000 Wisconsinites

Greater Milwaukee Data on Impact Released Today

New Wisconsin Poll Shows Public Wants Major Changes to Budget on Health Care

The polling shows massive public support for Wisconsin to take the enhanced federal funding for BadgerCare rejected in the Governor’s budget.

Walker Signs So-Called Right to Work at Outsourcing Multinational Corporation

"Walker’s economic policy is based on the blind trust of corporate CEOs who sell out working families."

The Path Forward After Passage of So-Called Right to Work

"The passage of this bill is another step in the conspiracy of multinational corporations and right wing billionaires to rig the economy against average working people."

Legislation Announced to Accept Federal BadgerCare Funds on Iowa Terms

The bill adopts the approach taken by Iowa’s Republican Governor Terry Branstad.

Pressure Mounting to Overturn Walker’s Budget Stances on BadgerCare and UW System Cuts

“We have not seen this level of activity in our grassroots networks since the protests of 2011.”

UW System is Collateral Damage from Walker’s Rejection of Federal BadgerCare Dollars

This headless decision is a disaster not only for health care but also for higher education.

Indiana Makes Wisconsin Last Great Lakes State Not to Take Medicaid Dollars

Indiana’s Republican Governor reached a deal Tuesday to accept enhanced federal dollars to strengthen its Medicaid program.

Iowa a Model for How Wisconsin Can Accept Federal Funds for BadgerCare

Iowa Has Same Eligibility, Mix of Public and Private Insurance, but Feds Pay for it and make affordable for consumers

WEDC Merger Must Include Fix to Outsourcing Loopholes

oday Citizen Action of Wisconsin called on Governor Walker and lawmakers to use the proposed merger of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) as an opportunity to fix the loopholes that allow public economic development dollars to go to companies engaged in outsourcing jobs.

Milwaukee Area Physicians to See Major Pay Cut Without Immediate Legislative Action

Up to 1,439 primary care physicians in Greater Milwaukee to face 45% cut in Medicaid payments unless Walker and Legislature act to continue enhanced reimbursement levels.

Health Reform Saves Lives in Wisconsin

Prevention of hospital acquired conditions saved 50,000 lives nationally, an estimated 959 saved in Wisconsin

Outsourcing Loopholes Never Fixed by Walker Administration

Outsourcing Safeguards Were Never Implemented

Largest National Health Insurer Got Over $12 Million from Walker BadgerCare Decision

Wellpoint Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin got over $12 million from BadgerCare decision.

State Records Show Insurance Industry Lobbied on BadgerCare

Lobbying records from (GAB) call into question Governor Walker’s blanket denial that the insurance industry lobbied his administration to reject federal funds for BadgerCare.

Contribution to Robert Bauman of $50

Walker Stumbles Badly Explaining Insurance Industry Influence on BadgerCare Decision

Gov. Walker was caught off guard and stumbled through his response.

Campaign Contributors Benefited from Walker Rejection of BadgerCare Dollars

Insurance Companies getting windfall of public dollars also donated big money to Walker and legislators

Good Government Advocates Call for Walker to Step Down from WEDC

In light of conflicts of interest, emergency action needed to protect public job creation dollars from legal bribery

Coalition Highlights New Model of Preventing the Heroin/Opioid Health Crisis in Wisconsin Youth

Healthy Youth, Bright Futures Coalition launches during National Recovery Month to showcase prevention efforts to curb youth drug and alcohol misuse in Wisconsin

Milwaukee Small Group Insurance Cost Over 33% Higher Than Minneapolis

Report finds Wisconsin small businesses paying more for health coverage than Minnesota on average because of failure to use available tools.

Citizen Action Calls on Walker Administration to Release 2015 Health Insurance Rates

Walker Administration withholding 2015 Healthcare.gov insurance premium rates while most states have released them.

Citizen Action Praises Fed Decision to Grant Special Enrollment Period for 38,000 Wisconsinites Forced into Coverage Gap

The special enrollment period will give these Wisconsin residents 60 days to enroll in the Federal health insurance marketplace for 2014.

Citizen Action Urges Special Enrollment Period for 38,000 Wisconsinites Forced into Coverage Gap

Supports Senator Baldwin’s Request to Reopen Enrollment for Wisconsinites forced off BadgerCare by Governor Walker

One Third of Wisconsinites Will Have BadgerCare Referendums on the November Ballot

Eight counties advance advisory referendum on accepting the federal funds for BadgerCare, covering 1.97 million Wisconsin residents.

Latest Enrollment Numbers Prove Forcing Thousands off BadgerCare a Mistake

The decision to force low income residents into the private market has created a new coverage gap for 38,000 in Wisconsin.

Citizen Action Wisconsin Endorses Marina

Citizen Action of Wisconsin has joined a growing number of organizations endorsing Marina Dimitrijevic for the State Assembly.

Healthcare Organizations Say “Vote YES!” on Milwaukee BadgerCare Referendum

15 health organizations encourage Milwaukee county residents to vote “YES” on referendum to accept federal funds for BadgerCare

Citizen Action Calls on Walker Administration to Release Critical BadgerCare Numbers

Despite claim by Walker Administration that the numbers of residents who had signed up for Marketplace plans after being forced off BadgerCare would be released in June, enrollment numbers are still missing.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin Takes New Approach to Keep Youth on Healthy Path

Proven Strategies Can Improve Access to Screening, Intervention for Risky Drug and Alcohol Use By Teens

Eau Claire County Approves Referendum to Accept Funds for BadgerCare

Earlier this week the Eau Claire County Board approved placing an advisory referendum on the November ballot asking voters whether the State of Wisconsin should accept enhanced federal funds for BadgerCare rejected by Walker and conservatives in the Legislature.

Gov. Walker Rejection of Federal Funds for BadgerCare Costs Wisconsin over $1 Million per Day

Wisconsinites forced off BadgerCare have until end of month to sign up for private coverage

New Data: New WEDC Job Numbers Shows Massive County Disparity in Economic Development.

Many counties with high unemployment ignored by WEDC, Waukesha county largest beneficiary

Report: ACA Enrollment Before March 31st a Powerful Job Creation Tool.

Premium tax credits inject needed revenue into local economies. 1 job created for every 30 people signed up.

Walker Defends Funneling More Job Dollars to Republican Districts

Over the weekend Governor Scott Walker responded to a recent report by Citizen Action of Wisconsin

WEDC Data Shows Partisan Correlation to Job Creation

Report finds WEDC job creation/retention figures much higher in Republican districts, large geographic variation

Growth, Age, of Wisconsin Healthcare Signups Continue to Raise Concerns

Wisconsin's enrollment falls behind MN, IL, Nation both in increase in enrolled and in average age.

Walker’s Roadblocks to Affordable Care Act Enrollment Support Unconstitutional

An important court decision late last week calls into question the constitutionality of additional burdens placed on health care enrollment navigators by the Walker Administration.

Legislators Seek to Outlaw Discrimination Against Long-Term Unemployed

At a media event Wednesday at the State Capitol, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, State Representative Mandela Barnes and State Senator Dave Hansen announced legislation banning employment discrimination against the long term unemployed.

Citizen Action Alarmed by Gov. Walker’s Support of Poverty Wage Agencies

Governor Walker's support of less-than-minimum-wage industries reveals shocking disregard for fair pay

Unaffordable Care

Citizens Action of Wisconsin conference shows impact of the Affordable Care Act and Gov. Walker’s decisions on Medicaid.

Health Insurance Costs 44% Less in Minnesota

Silver tier plan under Obamacare costs $192 month in Minnesota; same coverage is $344 here.

Citizen Action Applauds Senator Baldwin’s Call to Delay Cuts to BadgerCare

Citizen Action of Wisconsin applauds Senator Baldwin’s common sense proposals to assure that Wisconsin families who need health coverage do not fall between the cracks.

New Report Confirms Citizen Action Research on Wisconsin-Minnesota Health Insurance Rate Disparity

St. Paul Pioneer Press and Kaiser Family Foundation Research Confirm Citizen Action’s Report

New Report Explains Why Wisconsin Health Insurance Rates Dramatically Higher than Minnesota’s

Decisions made by Wisconsin explains massive health insurance premium disparity between MN and WI on new health insurance marketplaces

Obamacare Haters Help People Sign Up

State's Republican politicians who oppose law are helping enroll their constituents.

Leaders Propose Granting Federal Medicaid Funds to WI Counties, Cite Ohio Model

On 48th anniversary of the start of Medicaid, county leaders point to alternative means of covering citizens

Alberta Darling Stonewalls on Venture Capital Bill’s Economic Basis

Denies clear and reasonable open records request just ahead of Senate vote, denying public and legislator information needed for informed judgement.

Venture Capital Bill Should Be Delayed Until Evidence of Job Creation Produced

Under the guise of job creation, the State Senate is poised to pass Venture Capital Legislation (SB 169) on Tuesday. The companion bill (AB 181) has already passed the Assembly.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin Supports Congressman Pocan’s Stance on Protecting Medicare & Medicaid

Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) spoke to seniors today on the need to protect vital programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Robert Kraig

An activist with a Ph.D, the Citizen Action leader is working to change history.

The Sequester That Didn’t Have To Be

Citizen Action of Wisconsin Calls on Congress TO End the Cuts by Reining in Pentagon Waste and Making Big Corporations and Millionaires Pay Their Fair Share

Pull the Pork From the Pentagon!

With Sequester Looming, Community Groups Demand Senator Ron Johnson Protect the Interests of the People of Wisconsin, Not Corporate Special Interests and Defense Contractors.

Congressman Pocan and Citizen Action of Wisconsin Urge Action to Avert the Sequester and Protect Wisconsin Jobs and Middle Class Families

Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) held a media conference today with Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin Robert Kraig, highlighting the urgent need to avert the sequester and protect Wisconsin jobs and middle class families.

Budget Response: Walker’s Medicaid Plan Immorally Places Politics Above the Health Security of Wisconsin Citizens

In anticipation of Governor Walker’s budget address this evening, when he will formally announce his plan to turn down billions in health care reform dollars earmarked for Wisconsin, Citizen Action of Wisconsin Executive Director Robert Kraig made the following statement

Initial Reaction to Walker Decision to Turn Down Medicaid Money

At a news conference in Madison this afternoon Governor Scott Walker announced his plans to turn down billions of dollars in new federal Medicaid money to fill the holes in Wisconsin’s BadgerCare program.

Walker Injects False Issue in Medicaid Decision

In response to growing pressure to accept billions of dollars in federal Medicaid money to fill the holes in BadgerCare, and guarantee that over 170,000 Wisconsinites have access to the secure health care they need to prosper and succeed, Governor Walker has been injected a false reason for not taking the money.

Wisconsin Mental Health Agencies Will Lose Out on Millions if Walker Rejects Medicaid Dollars

At a press conference Thursday morning health advocates highlighted a crisis fast approaching.

Wisconsin Business Taxes Will Increase Millions if Walker Rejects Medicaid Dollars

On a Media Call Friday morning health advocates discussed new research that shows that Wisconsin businesses will pay $120 million more in federal taxes if Governor Scott Walker rejects increased federal Medicaid money offered by the Affordable Care Act, the national health care reform law.

New Wisconsin Health Insurance Cost Ranking

Milwaukee and Racine Have Highest Health Insurance Costs in State for 2013

Walker Reversal on Same Day Registration Does Not Go Far Enough

According to press reports today Governor Walker has reversed himself on repealing same day registration, stating he would not sign a bill that cost as much money as the Government Accountability Board has estimated.

Is There a Walker Secret Health Exchange Plan?

Open records suggest Walker may propose substandard exchange, setting up a showdown with the Federal Government