Department of Health Services 

Governor Evers' proposed budget called for Medicaid Expansion, which would have allowed our state to bring in $1.6 billion in federal funding for our health care system. Expansion would have covered childless adults, parents, and caretakers with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level. It also would have provided healthcare to 82,000 additional Wisconsinites while saving our state $324 million. When we combine state, federal, and the Department of Health Service programs, expansion would have provided $2.6 billion in overall funding. However, this motion got rejected for the second time by the Joint Committee on Finance. 

Instead, the committee decided to fund the department at $1.6 billion over the biennium; $197.5 million less than Governor Evers' proposal without Medicaid Expansion and $900 million less including expansion. Below are a few of the motions the committee made: 

• Increases funding for nursing homes by $37 million GPR over the biennium, with an increase of reimbursement rates by 6 percent over the next two years.
• Increases funding for personal care workers: $16.73 to $18.24 an hour 
• Provides $10 million in additional GPR funding for Rural Critical Care Supplement Program

While I applaud the committee for providing a significant investment into Wisconsin's health services, I would have liked to see them accept the expansion. La Crosse County would have received $53 million for investments in our hospitals, physicians, postpartum coverage for new mothers, and many other community health initiatives. However, these investments made by the committee are a small step in moving Wisconsin forward. 

Further Budget Motions 

Department of Children and Families  

• The committee voted to increase funding for the department at $125.5 million: 
  • Increases reimbursement rates for child care providers by $56.5 million 
  • Increases foster care reimbursement rates by 4% in 2020 
• Funds the department $66 million less than Evers' proposal.

Department of Transportation 

• $484 million increase in funding for the department
  • The committee rejected Evers’ plan to increase the gas tax. Instead, they decided to increase vehicle title fees by $95 and registration fees by $10. This would generate $393 million in new revenue, using another $90 million from the state’s general fund to pay for road projects.
  • The committee approved Evers’ proposal to increase aid to local governments by 10%
  • $90 million to pay for local road projects in counties, towns, and municipalities. This would come from the state’s main account, which funds schools and other programs.
  • Authorized a $2.5 million study of tolling or other systems that would charge fees to drivers based on how many miles they drove.

Office of Commissioner of Insurance 

• The committee approved $72 million in new state funding for the state’s reinsurance program created under former Republican Gov. Scott Walker to reduce premiums paid by people who purchase health insurance on the individual market. However, the committee rejected Evers' plan to hire another person to oversee administration of the reinsurance program.

Department of Justice 

• The committee provided 10 more positions at the state department to staff the state's crime labs, digital forensic unit and child pornography task force.
• Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul proposed 19 new positions for those efforts.

Broadband

• The Governor proposed $75 million toward improving broadband service in rural Wisconsin. The committee agreed to use $44 million.  

Further Executive Sessions 

Overall, there are two agencies that still need to be exec'd on: Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and the Department of Revenue. On top of those two, the Capital Budget still needs to be exec'd on. The committee plans to meet this week, which would conclude the committees' executive sessions. 

Wisconsin's Stewardship Program

Many of you have contacted me regarding the vote to reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund. The committee still has not voted on the program, but when the time comes I'm hoping they will continue to preserve and protect Wisconsin's outdoor heritage.

This program not only reflects our Wisconsin outdoor heritage, but also our conservation values. From its establishment in 1990, it has protected the best of our outdoors by expanding our state parks and forests, preserving wildlife habitat and protecting natural areas. So far, the Stewardship Fund has protected more than 600,000 acres of our natural resources which would have otherwise been lost to development. Our tourism industry, forestry, and hunting and fishing industries have come to depend on the land and water resources that have been preserved by the Fund. I encourage you to contact members of the Joint Finance Committee and tell them to reauthorize the Wisconsin-Knowles Nelson Stewardship Program. 

Until next time, 

Steve