Democrats, others call for Wis. Medicaid expansion
MADISON, Wis. -- Democratic lawmakers and others who are calling on Gov. Scott Walker and Republicans who control the Legislature to expand Medicaid coverage in Wisconsin pointed to a new analysis Tuesday that said the state could save $65 million by accepting the federal money.
The savings would come by replacing state money to cover childless adults with money from the federal government made available under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law. The analysis was done by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau at the request of Democrats.
Walker has not said if he will take advantage of the voluntary expansion, which the U.S. Supreme Court allowed last year in its ruling upholding the constitutionality of the health care law. Walker has already rejected setting up a state-run health insurance exchange, deferring to the federal government.
Walker wasn't expected to announce his decision on Medicaid until he releases his budget on Feb. 20. His spokesman issued a statement expressing caution, noting that Congress hasn't appropriated the funding to pay for the reimbursements to states promised under the law.
"There is a possibility that the federal government will not fund the spending in this bill, which would ultimately result in state taxpayers picking up the additional cost," Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said.
An estimated 1750,000 childless adults in Wisconsin are expected to qualify for Medicaid starting in 2014 under the expansion. To qualify, the household income must be below 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $15,414 for an individual this year and $20,628 for a couple.


Feb 6, 2013 at 12:06 p.m.
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"So in your mind, it makes the slaughter of babies justified."
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I've noticed you have difficulty comprehending what is written, wislady and you most certainly can't read minds.
I'm not the one arguing that as a society we don't have a responsibility to help those in need, you are.
Feb 6, 2013 at 11:47 a.m.
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WHY WORK anymore? There are soooo many capable people in this State that are able to get a job (there ARE jobs out there!) but why? Everything is "free" to them! What is the incentive to go to work everyday when they can hang out in their government paid housing, food, heat and now they even get cell phones (in case there is an emergency you know). I get so frustrated with this scenario! Democrat or Republican....our Government is BROKE! How can we keep paying for this?
Feb 6, 2013 at 11:36 a.m.
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wislady - for your infromation I am against using abortion for birth control.
Because I am no more intelligent than you, I do not want to make medical decisions for people and cases that I know nothing about, however.
There is the difference between you and me in this instance. You would support a hard and fast rule on abortion not caring about people and cases that you know nothing about.
Feb 6, 2013 at 11:30 a.m.
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"So who has been helping to feed, clothe and provide health insurance for some of those NOT aborted over the past 40 years, wislady?"
Common sense says that responsibility to clothe etc is the responsibility of the parents of said child? Is that hard to figure out? Or are you one of those people who think big government should take care of you for everything? This ISN'T free money, it comes from the taxpayers pockets and since it is provided from the federal government, it also comes with their rules and regulations.
Feb 6, 2013 at 10:47 a.m.
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Congressional Budget Office (CBO)......
"entitlements and ObamaCare spending will comprise 53 percent of all federal spending over the coming decade, totaling $24.9 trillion"
Feb 6, 2013 at 10:19 a.m.
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Today, Governor Scott Walker announced a near $30 million investment in state taxpayer funds for mental health programs to enhance and expand services provided by state and local governments to individuals living with mental illness. The initiatives being funded in the budget will build on proven, evidence-based strategies, expand successful programs, and address the most urgent needs identified by patients and families receiving care, providers, and advocates throughout the state.
http://165.189.60.210/Default.aspx?Page=...
Feb 6, 2013 at 10:13 a.m.
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PanamaRed
So in your mind, it makes the slaughter of babies justified.
Feb 6, 2013 at 8:56 a.m.
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"Keep that idea in mind, as you reflect on the 55 Million aborted babies in the last 40 years. Then tell me again, who values "human life."
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So who has been helping to feed, clothe and provide health insurance for some of those NOT aborted over the past 40 years, wislady? Judging by the comments, you and your fellow conservatives don't want to help. Conservatives only value human life until birth.
Feb 6, 2013 at 8:41 a.m.
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"If I were the devil, I would take from those who have and I would give to those who wanted, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious." Paul Harvey
Feb 6, 2013 at 7:55 a.m.
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fordfan
Keep that idea in mind, as you reflect on the 55 Million aborted babies in the last 40 years. Then tell me again, who values "human life".
Feb 6, 2013 at 7:36 a.m.
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At least with numbers attached, we know what human life is worth to the pro-life Republicans. Everything has a price in the alternative universe of the Republicans.
Feb 6, 2013 at 7:35 a.m.
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So either way it is government funded, yeah that is the right way to go, good lord, we never learn do we?
Feb 6, 2013 at 7:15 a.m.
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(a)Is $15,414 the Federal poverty level for a single person, or is that the 138%?
(b) Are there really 1750,000 qualifying childless adults in Wisconsin? Or is that a typo?
Feb 6, 2013 at 6:37 a.m.
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Democrats and health care advocates gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday to urge Republican Gov. Scott Walker to include an expansion of the state's BadgerCare health care program as part of his budget proposal. The Democrats' bill would expand the program by changing Medicaid eligibility standards for the state and, in doing so, trigger federal funding. The federal health care law provides for initially covering the full cost of expanding Medicaid coverage for adults with incomes of up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level.
Feb 6, 2013 at 6:34 a.m.
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Wislady Not one worthy news site backs your 7 million comment Just Righty Tighty sites. As to Walker getting the credit for Medicaid expansion Please give credit to the right party....
Democrats pointed to the fiscal bureau's memo, calling the Medicaid expansion a "deal" that would benefit Wisconsinites in need of health care.
Read more: Democrats, others push for Medicaid expansion in state budget
Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-...
Feb 6, 2013 at 6:21 a.m.
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If these adults have no children, why aren't they working more jobs to pay for insurance. I thought Obamacare was going to make healthcare cheaper. Talk about lying. These healthy adults weren't required to have insurance before.
Feb 6, 2013 at 6:14 a.m.
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Once again WALKER will show his skill at being a college dropout and NOT take the 12 Billion in Federal money. This is a no brainer - except - for the faithful Walker Lemmings that will follow Scotty off a cliff.
"Wisconsin businesses will pay $120 Million more in Federal Taxes if Gov. Scott Walker rejects increased Federal Medicaid money to expand Badgercare..."
http://www.wrn.com/2013/01/advocates-urg...
Feb 6, 2013 at 2:21 a.m.
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This is another one of our furor's ways of getting over 50% of the voters in the country hooked on handouts - he wants to secure votes while turning our country into a western version of Somalia.
Feb 6, 2013 at 1:05 a.m.
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NO!!! Encourage "work"...don't expand these "aid" programs that foster dependency and reward sloth!
And care for those that EARNED their benefits!
Feb 5, 2013 at 10:35 p.m.
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Funny how some think taking money from a different pile, still funded by tax payers, saves tax payers money.
Feb 5, 2013 at 10:05 p.m.
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AllSeeingEye
Your comment is comical, considering what Obama has done.
Feb 5, 2013 at 9:22 p.m.
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Don't fall for this gimmick Governor. We elected you, and re-elected you, to save us from the wild spending of the furor.
Feb 5, 2013 at 9:01 p.m.
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Walker's Medicare 1.2B increase is actually a half truth. He gave some but took some away in the next breath. http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/stat...
Feb 5, 2013 at 8:49 p.m.
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Anyone remember.....
The last budget Walker signed into law, increased state taxpayer spending on Medicaid by $1.2 billion—the largest increase in Wisconsin history and one of the largest increases per capita in the country.
Feb 5, 2013 at 8:37 p.m.
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I doubt if Governor Scott Walker would be in favor of this. Expanding handouts with an unfunded program is exactly what the democrats stand for (see 'obamacare').
Feb 5, 2013 at 8:19 p.m.
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Come on Walker. Be a leader instead of trying to be a ruler and do what's right for the people for once. Your radical right stance isn't going to get you re-elected or to the White House. People can see through your charades.
Feb 5, 2013 at 7:43 p.m.
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wislady, those 7 million people who you claim will "lose" their insurance under ObamaCare... In reality, they will be switching from job-based health insurance to other insurance and the government will receive an additional $13 billion from those employers that discontinue coverage for their employees.
This is a good trend -- moving away from employment-based healthcare insurance. Health insurance should not be tied to one's employment or limited to the state one lives in. It locks people into dead-end jobs and has resulted in people not being able to re-locate to other states for fear of not being able to acquire competitively priced healthcare insurance due to pre-existing conditions, etc.
Feb 5, 2013 at 6:33 p.m.
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Did our federal government forget they are broke?
Feb 5, 2013 at 5:15 p.m.
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Go scream at Obama.
Seven million will lose insurance under Obama health law
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/insi...
Feb 5, 2013 at 4:56 p.m.
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To save the state money is something Walker is not capable of.....The healthcare act is LAW and will be funded, Again the Republicans of this state are not telling the truth. 2014 cannot come quick enough
Feb 5, 2013 at 4:51 p.m.
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"There is a possibility that the federal government will not fund the spending in this bill, which would ultimately result in state taxpayers picking up the additional cost," Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said. Again half truths When will Walker in his regime TELL THE DAMN TRUTH....
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