Thread by @benwikler

THREAD: @GovEvers has called our GOP-led state legislature into special session tomorrow to accept the federal dollars that come with BadgerCare/Medicaid expansion. This *should* be the world’s biggest no-brainer. But here’s what Robin Vos & the GOP have been saying…

First, quickly, some background: right now, the federal gov’t reimburses Wisconsin for 60% of the cost of Medicaid, which covers ~975k Wisconsinites. If we agree to accept it, that reimbursement would jump to 90% and make another ~90k folks eligible.

The math works out to $1.6 billion in federal dollars coming into our state, in “exchange” for agreeing to expand the population eligible for Medicaid insurance by about 10%. It’s a gigantic win-win. By comparison: state funding for the UW system = $1.2bn/year.

As the Journal-Sentinel put it, “To get the money, the state would have to allow some people to get health insurance through BadgerCare Plus instead of private coverage subsidized by the Affordable Care Act.” It’s basically an administrative tweak.

The Wisconsin GOP’s reaction to Medicaid expansion, which most red and blue states alike have now enthusiastically accepted: hysteria and refusal.

There’s scaremongering about what it would be like to administer Medicaid expansion, a task that 38 states + D.C. have achieved. WI Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (a Republican): “Now is not the time to throw a monkey wrench into the system...”
jsonline.com/story/money/bu…

Instead of focusing on how the BadgerCare expansion would expand healthcare access to tens of thousands of Wisconsinites during a deadly pandemic and fund tons of other priorities, Wisconsin Republicans decide to villainize those who need affordable care.

GOP Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said expanding BadgerCare would “trap people in the life of poverty” and that no amount of federal money would be “right” to accept. (Evidence on this, by the way, is the opposite: insurance helps people *escape* poverty.)
jsonline.com/story/news/pol…

Here’s Robin Vos again: “The very concept that we need to have more people on welfare or people dependent on the government when the job market is super robust in a lot of Wisconsin… it just runs at odds with what I see.”

Using racist dog-whistle terms like “welfare” and blaming Wisconsinites who need access to healthcare is not uncommon for the GOP. Most Wisconsin Medicaid beneficiaries are white. But the GOP wants white voters to think programs are for “others.”
washingtonpost.com/news/postevery…

Gov Evers’ proposal would not only bring the state over a billion dollars, but also invest that money in much-needed projects across Wisconsin—in projects that have bipartisan support and Republicans have requested.
wisconsinexaminer.com/2021/05/19/gov…

We’re talking broadband expansion, economic development loans, mental health and rural emergency services, supporting veterans and strengthening our agriculture. Investments that all Wisconsinites and especially the most vulnerable can benefit from.

.@GovEvers is fighting tooth and nail so that our state can bounce back from this pandemic. BadgerCare expansion is a key part of that agenda. It’s always been overwhelmingly popular across the state (70% support in 2019!) and it’s even more important now.
wbay.com/content/news/M…

How did Republican Speaker Vos respond to the intense bipartisan popularity of Medicaid expansion in 2019? “Sometimes you have to lead by what you believe in and not just follow public polling.”
madison.com/wsj/news/local…

The Wisconsin GOP has been “no” on BadgerCare expansion at every step, going as far as to say “It will be over our dead bodies.” And they’re saying “no” now, while even bright-red states like Oklahoma accept Medicaid expansion funds.
apnews.com/article/ff86cd…

Wisconsin is now among just 12 states in the country refusing to act. It’s time now to stop playing politics with our health and our economic recovery. In tomorrow’s legislative special session, Republicans should do the right thing & expand BadgerCare.
kff.org/medicaid/issue…

If Republicans continue to block BadgerCare expansion, they’re choosing to refuse $1.6 billion, all in the name of partisanship.

If you think that’s wrong, add your name here: wisdems.org/expand-badgerc…