Last week, the Joint Committee on Finance had their first executive session on the 2019-21 budget, with 14 agencies being exec'd. This was the first of several executive sessions, but the most intense due to the committee voting 11-4 to remove Medicaid Expansion from the budget. In total, 131 policy items were removed by the committee. As there isn't enough time or space to address the 131 items that were removed, I'm going to briefly mention the big ticket items.
Medicaid Expansion & La Crosse County
As you may already know, Medicaid Expansion would allow our state to bring in a $1.6 billion in federal funding for our health care system. Currently, 1.1 million Wisconsinites rely on Medicaid for high-quality care. This expansion would have, if accepted, 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.
Governor Evers' budget reinvested these savings into new initiatives to improve health care access and quality for all La Crosse County residents, not just those enrolled in Medicaid. When we combine state, federal, and the Department of Health Service programs, Medicaid Expansion would have provided $2.6 billion in new funding. $53 million of that would have been invested into La Crosse County.
Investments in La Crosse County
$11.7 million in Expanding Medicaid to 1,365 county residents
$15 million in increased hospital funding
$17.5 million for continuing to provide coverage to current Medicaid, BadgerCare Plus, SeniorCare, and Foodshare Employment and Training program members, also ending the wait-list in the Children's Long-Term Support Waiver Program.
$1.1 million in increase funding for physicians
$1.7 million for new community health programs and postpartum coverage for new mothers.
$760,000 for increasing payments to dental providers, including those who serve disabled populations.
$2.1 million to prevent childhood lead poisoning
$937,000 for expanding access to behavioral health services
$1.9 million in increased funding for providers in long-term care programs, family care, nursing homes - and boosting personal care worker wages.
Further Omnibus Budget Motions
Republicans primarily make up the Joint Finance Committee: 16 total members, 4 being Democrat. Because Republicans have the majority in both houses, many proposals in Governor Evers' budget will be removed by the party during these executive sessions. Below are just some of the provisions that were removed last week:
Housing and Energy
Establishing the Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy
Sales and Use Taxes
Repeal Sales Tax Exemption for Clay Pigeons and Game Birds
Repeal Sales Tax Exemptions for Farm-Raised Deer
Higher Educational Aids Board
Student Loan Refinancing Study Committee
Legislature
Legislative and Congressional Redistricting
Marijuana Provisions
Medical Marijuana Oversight and Regulation
Decriminalization, Expungement, and Dismissal of Certain Marijuana Offenses
Public Instruction
General Public School Funding
Capping of Private School Vouches
Special Needs Scholarship Programs
Special Education Funding
Paid Planning Time for Teachers
Public Service Commission
State Broadband Access Goal
Municipal Broadband Facilities in Undeserved or Unversed Areas
Energy Efficiency and renewable Resource Programs
State-Carbon-Free Electricity Goal
Shared Revenue and Tax Relief
Levy Limits - 2% Minimum Increase
Dark Property and Leased Property Tax Assessments "Dark Stores"
Motor Vehicles
Driver Licenses and Identification Cards for Undocumented Immigrants
University of Wisconsin System
Nonresident Tuition Exemption for Undocumented Individuals
Workforce Development
Teacher Development Grants
Eliminate Wisconsin Career Creator Program
Equal Rights
Minimum Wage increase
Right to Work
Prevailing Wage Law
Project Labor Agreements
Job Applicant Conviction History
Further Executive Sessions
This week, there are two executive sessions scheduled: Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, JFC members are voting on various environmental provisions Governor Evers has in his budget. On Thursday, the committee is expecting to vote on a variety of initiatives to combat homelessness in Wisconsin, which WHEDA will play a big role in. Next week, I will send out another update on the items that were removed by the committee.
Regardless of the decisions made in the next two executive sessions, I'm going to continue working along side my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure a fair budget is passed. There's no time to play political games - we must set our differences aside and move Wisconsin forward in the best way possible.
Until next time,
Steve
| State Rep. Steve Doyle - PO BOX 8952, Madison 53708 |
Governor Evers' budget reinvested these savings into new initiatives to improve health care access and quality for all La Crosse County residents, not just those enrolled in Medicaid. When we combine state, federal, and the Department of Health Service programs, Medicaid Expansion would have provided $2.6 billion in new funding. $53 million of that would have been invested into La Crosse County.