Sen. Smith's Statement Regarding Recent HSHS Crisis Claims

 MADISON – Senator Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick) issued the following statement regarding recent claims about playing politics with the HSHS crisis and the $15 million available for area health care providers:

“Senate Republicans like Senator Jesse James (R-Altoona) are scared to face the public. Cutting off debate today over the HSHS closure crisis proves they can’t justify their lies. Instead of simply releasing the money, they want to use the crisis as a political football while our communities suffer. Republicans shouldn’t even have bothered to pass the bill if they weren’t serious about releasing the money.

“The funding is available right now despite disagreement over the details. This was accomplished in a bipartisan way. We passed it into law and now the last step is to release the funds. We are inches away from having $15 million available, but Republicans wanted to travel a mile-long political gauntlet to come back to where we are at today. This all-or-nothing approach leaves all of the Chippewa Valley with nothing at all.

“Since Republicans are blame shifting their obligation to release the money from the Joint Finance Committee due to playing politics, let’s recap how the $15 million was passed into law:

  • Republicans secretly introduced legislation without asking for Democratic co-sponsors.
  • Republicans rejected amendments to target the funding to what health care providers requested.
  • Republicans restricted use of the funds, so Governor Evers vetoed the restrictions and signed the $15 million into law.
  • Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee have rejected two calls from the Governor to release the already approved $15 million.
  • Senate Republicans cut off debate and voted to override the Governor’s veto while still refusing to release the $15 million.

“Overriding the Governor’s veto and ignoring the advice by area health care providers rather than doing what we need to do to address the HSHS closure crisis makes zero sense and would be the definition of playing politics with people who are suffering. Politicians need to get out of the way. Just say, ‘yes,’ and allow Chippewa Valley health care providers do what they do best.”