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BREAKING: Under cover of darkness tonight, Wisconsin's Republicans jammed through committee their plan to refuse $1 billion in federal Medicaid money. The GOP is burning money and hurting people out of ideological spite. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is here to fight back. 1/ 
Story so far:
1 @GovEvers elected on promise to expand Medicaid
2 After huge public consultation, Evers unveils #PeoplesBudget that keeps promise, bringing in $1.6bn in fed $
3 GOP votes to strip Medicaid expansion out
4 Tonight: GOP advances their own proposal, expansion-free
1 @GovEvers elected on promise to expand Medicaid
2 After huge public consultation, Evers unveils #PeoplesBudget that keeps promise, bringing in $1.6bn in fed $
3 GOP votes to strip Medicaid expansion out
4 Tonight: GOP advances their own proposal, expansion-free
What is the GOP rationale for not accepting federal money to expand Medicaid & cover 82k people?
Here's how @SenDarling, GOP co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee explained it: "We're not expanding welfare, that was the big concern," she said.
Hmmm.
usnews.com/news/best-stat…
Here's how @SenDarling, GOP co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee explained it: "We're not expanding welfare, that was the big concern," she said.
Hmmm.
usnews.com/news/best-stat…
Medicaid expansion would benefit every single county in Wisconsin. Check out your own with this handy interactive map. In crucial Waukesha County, for example, 2,411 people would get covered and $81 million in federal funds would flow into the community.
legis.wisconsin.gov/democrats/medi…
legis.wisconsin.gov/democrats/medi…
Rep. Chris Taylor has it exactly right. Republicans had the chance to do something right. Instead, they did something wrong. But here's the thing: this fight is not over.
Tonight was Joint Finance Committee. What comes next:
- Assembly or Senate takes up budget. Could be amend on floor.
- Once passed in both chambers, goes to Gov Evers. Could decide to veto.
- If vetoed, current budget holds until new one passes.
So: nothing's locked in. Fight!
- Assembly or Senate takes up budget. Could be amend on floor.
- Once passed in both chambers, goes to Gov Evers. Could decide to veto.
- If vetoed, current budget holds until new one passes.
So: nothing's locked in. Fight!
HERE'S THE PLAN. We're taking the #Fight4Medicaid directly to the GOP. @WisDems have organized dozens of door to door canvasses & phone banks this June 8-15 to reach out voters in GOP districts & help them call their legislators. Find one and RSVP: secure.ngpvan.com/p/eh27mPeAy0yB…
Simultaneously, we're making our case in the press. You can help here by writing a letter to the editor:
And third: Pick up the phone and make a call yourself!
Up late reading this? Not a good time to knock doors or make calls? Use @resistbot to send a message. DM or text "state" to 50409 and write your message. Here's some handy language courtesy of @WisDems.
Another good late-night thing to do is write letters to the editor of your local paper. Here's a direct link to the @Forward_Wisc tool mentioned above. (Get a letter printed? @ me and I'll RT it.) actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-y…
... and don't forget to sign and share the Assembly Dems petition to expand Medicaid. Why? Because 1) you can be counted, 2) you can share your personal story via the page, & 3) tick the "add me to the email list" box and you'll get updates on the fight.
actionnetwork.org/petitions/peti…
actionnetwork.org/petitions/peti…
Two days ago, I was proud to be elected chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin on the FIRE platform: Fight on issues, Include & Respect everyone, & Empower the grassroots. The fight is here. The issue is Medicaid. And we need everyone, fully empowered.
Expanding Medicaid is the blindingly obviously right thing to do. And @GovEvers put together a plan to not only add Medicaid coverage for 82,000 Wisconsinites but to simultaneously fund other vital priorities: lead poisoning, behavioral health, new moms.
I love that @WisDems started planning these canvasses to fight for Medicaid well before @LadyHawkeLesia & @SnodgrassforWI & I were elected to lead the party. We're Democrats. We believe in people power. Fighting for our values—Wisconsin's values: it's what we do.
Stay up to speed on this fight. Follow @WisDems. And while you're at it, follow @Forward_Wisc and @GovEvers. The GOP wants to get away with this without anyone noticing. We won't let them. Sound the alarms: the GOP is still coming for your health care.
