State of the State Address

I had the privilege this week of attending the State of the State Address for the fifth time since I was first elected to the Assembly in 2014.

It was reassuring to hear Gov. Tony Evers spend a good portion of his speech encouraging bipartisanship and reaching across the aisle to improve the lives of all Wisconsin residents. I completely agree that, with a divided government, both Republicans and Democrats will have to work together to get things done.

I am entirely committed to finding common ground whenever possible, and I believe the Assembly’s decision earlier this week to amend the Pre-Existing Condition Guaranteed Coverage Act to address the governor’s concerns demonstrates our willingness to compromise.

There is general agreement on both sides of the political spectrum on the issues that we must most urgently address. Our disagreements come over the role of government and how to best handle these problems. In the end, it is important to remember that we both want what is best for the people of Wisconsin as we work together toward solutions.

As co-chairman of the bipartisan Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding, I share the governor's passion for education. I look forward to collaborating closely with the governor to implement the many recommendations made by the commission to better educational opportunities for students throughout Wisconsin.

I am hopeful Gov. Evers will be supportive of most of the proposals since there is a great deal of commonality in what he is going to request in the state budget. Although the governor has called for a more ambitious education spending plan, the commission’s recommendations tackle many of the same topics while staying within the fiscal capabilities of the state.

I was also pleased when the governor declared 2019 to be “the year of clean drinking water.” As chairman of the Assembly Environment Committee, I pledge to work with Gov. Evers and his administration to protect our ground and surface water without economically hurting the state. Furthermore, I will continue to bring the agriculture and conservation communities together to keep moving toward that common goal.

Session Highlights

Protecting Pre-Existing Condition Coverage!

It was a tremendous honor to join my colleagues in the state Assembly earlier this week to pass the Pre-Existing Condition Guaranteed Coverage Act.

If the federal Affordable Care Act is ever repealed, the bill requires that every individual and group health benefit plan must accept every person and employer in the state who applies for coverage, regardless of pre-existing conditions.

Assembly Republicans also made the legislation better for consumers by adding an amendment on the floor that prevents insurance companies from putting annual and lifetime limits on coverage.

The bill was passed by a bipartisan vote of 76-19, with 16 Democrats in support. If you would like to see how members of the Assembly voted on the legislation, please click here.
 

I am especially proud of the Pre-Existing Condition Guaranteed Coverage Act because, if Obamacare is eventually nullified, we have pro-actively taken the steps to ensure that some of our most vulnerable citizens will still be able to afford quality health care coverage. We are also fulfilling the promise to our constituents that we believe health insurance is vital for every single person diagnosed with a pre-existing condition.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 852,000 people in Wisconsin have a medical condition that could prevent them from buying health insurance on their own if the ACA was no longer in place.

The legislation will now go before the Senate and, if passed, will need to be signed by Gov. Tony Evers to become state law. While Gov. Evers has suggested that he may not support the bill because it does not go as far as the ACA in regulating self-funded plans, only the federal government can administer those plans. We made sure this legislation actually does go as far as it legally can under federal law.

I’m calling on Gov. Evers to put politics aside and do what’s right for the citizens of Wisconsin. The importance of guaranteeing coverage for pre-existing conditions is something everyone should be able to agree on, and this bill reaches as far as it can to accomplish that without violating federal law. This is clearly a non-partisan issue and we shouldn’t be playing political games over something as critical as health insurance coverage because it impacts each and every one of us.

Upcoming District Events!

What: Door County Talks
Where: Door Community Auditorium, 3924 Hwy 42, Fish Creek, WI
When: Saturday, January 26, at 10:00 am
Details: "Civility and the Public Sphere," presented by Professor Alison Staudinger. This session examines the perils and promise of deliberation and discourse for civic renewal. Donations appreciated."

What: Story Hour & Kids Yoga
Where: Ridges Sanctuary, 8166 Hwy 57, Baileys Harbor, WI
When: Saturday, January 26, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Details: "Experience children's literature that highlights compassion while incorporating movement and mindfulness. This session: "When Winter Comes" by Nancy Van Laan. Participants use their fingers to draw a story on a friends back. Free."

What: Candlelight Ski
Where: Whitefish Dunes State Park, 3275 Clark Lake Rd, Sturgeon Bay, WI
When: Saturday, January 26, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Details: "Join the Friends of Whitefish Dunes State Park and enjoy this annual winter candlelight event. Separate trails available for skiers and hikers. The shelter features a warming fire along with hot beverages, popcorn and baked goods. Please leave your pet at home as they are not allowed on the ski trails or in the shelter building. Event is free but a state park vehicle sticker is required."