$360 Million Elephant in the Room
Medicaid Expansion Gets a ‘No’ Vote from JFC Republicans
MADISON–Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) issued a statement today following the Joint Finance Committee’s executive session on the 2015-17 State Budget, which took up certain Health Services issues including the Medicaid expansion.
Rep. Gordon Hintz’s (D-Oshkosh) statement:
“As health care access remains an issue in our state, the $360 million federal dollars seems to look more and more like a solution to the Governor’s budget that drastically cuts and eliminates many important programs in Wisconsin. Medicaid expansion is a smart and clear choice that we should have done for the hardworking, honest taxpayers in our state. Rejecting this money is the most irresponsible budget decision we have made yet.
“Wisconsin’s Republicans have accepted additional federal funding throughout other parts of the budget. However, they oppose taking Medicaid expansion funding in order to carry a soundbite opposing the Affordable Care Act. Remember, this $360 million soundbite comes at a time when next week we are debating the largest cuts in Wisconsin’s history to the UW System.
“Governor Walker is selling us out for his presidential campaign. Now members of the Joint Finance Committee are battling long nights picking up the pieces left behind by a Governor who cannot spare the time to author a budget that creates true opportunity for Wisconsinites.”
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.