Thread by @benwikler

BREAKING: Republicans in Wisconsin began the legislative special session called by @GovEvers to expand Medicaid… and then ended it after 40 seconds without even holding a vote. Here’s what they refused to fund in their own districts: 🧵

https://twitter.com/sbauerAP/status/1397260208037109764

Accepting federal funding for Medicaid expansion—called BadgerCare in WI—would bring $1.6 billion to our state. That would go directly into funding projects benefitting Wisconsinites across the state, *including in Republican state legislative districts.*

https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1396954016093966340

These economic development projects include a slew of proposals that Republicans have specifically urged. So let’s make it crystal clear to voters that their own Republican legislators are blocking funds that would benefit their communities.

Live in Door County? By rejecting Medicaid $, State Sen Andre Jacque and Rep Joel Kitchens (@RepKitchens) rejected $785,185 for the Sister Bay Stewardship Project, $470,250 for the Egg Harbor Stewardship Project, and $5m for the renovation of the Potawatomi Observation Tower.

By opposing the BadgerCare expansion, Republican Senate Leader Devin LeMahieu (@SenatorDevin) and GOP Rep. Paul Tittl (@reptittl) prevented a half-million dollars from going to support the River North Housing Development Project in Manitowoc.

Republican Senator Eric Wimberger (@EricWimberger), as part of the caucus blocking BadgerCare expansion, is keeping $5 million away from efforts to move Green Bay coal piles & invest in neighborhood revitalization—and $2m for the Green Bay Visitor's Center.

GOP State Sen Howard Marklein (@SenMarklein), co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee, and Rep Tony Kurtz (@RepTonyKurtz) are rejecting $220k for the Reedsburg Community Center Project.

https://twitter.com/GovEvers/status/1396989685491249163

Additionally, Sen Marklein, along with GOP Rep Todd Novak (@reptoddnovak), is saying “no” to $4 million to support the replacement of a 69-year old Memorial Hospital of LaFayette County in Darlington by rejecting Medicaid expansion $.

What about in western Wisconsin? By turning down BadgerCare funds, GOP Rep Treig Pronschinske opposed $400,000 for Wisconsin Cranberry Research Station in Black River Falls, our state’s first major research facility for cranberry production.

GOP Senators @kmbernier1 & @SenRobStafsholt & Reps Pronschinske, @RepWarrenPetryk, @rob_summerfield, & Clint Moses, by opposing Medicaid $, prevented investment in the Wisconsin Land Trust Stewardship Project: $706,045 for Dunn County & $460,545 for Buffalo County.

Meanwhile, Republican Sen Jerry Petrowski & Rep Patrick Snyder (@RepSnyder85) refused $5 million for additional mental health beds in North Central Hospital in Wausau by joining their GOP colleagues in rejecting Medicaid expansion dollars.

BadgerCare expansion is overwhelmingly popular in Wisconsin. But Senator Patrick Testin (@SenatorTestin) and Rep Scott Krug (@skrug75) were willing to toss out $50 million slated to go to the VERSO Co-op in WI Rapids in order to prevent BadgerCare dollars from flowing in.

Sen Testin also rejected $5m for the Food + Farm Exploration Center (which would be a facility with educational opportunities & job training for K-12 & college students) & $9.6m for Mid-State Tech in Stevens Point in order to prevent people from getting health insurance.

Now let’s talk about SE Wisconsin. In Waukesha, @SenatorKapenga & Reps Scott Allen & @RepAdamNeylon, by rejecting BadgerCare, turned down a $530k investment in developing a new water supply control system that the City of Waukesha Water Utility specifically requested.

.@SenKooyenga said “no” to BadgerCare… and thus to investing in healthcare research & new lab equipment in Milwaukee: $15 million for Versiti Blood Research Institute, primary supplier of blood to 57 hospitals across Wisconsin, and $400k for Children's Research Institute.

Republican Senator Duey Stroebel (@SenStroebel) & Rep Rick Gundrum (@RepGundrum) are throwing out $617,208 for the West Bend Riverwalk South Stewardship Project in order to prevent BadgerCare from expanding to cover over 90,000 Wisconsinites. They chose lose-lose over win-win.

Are you in Jefferson County? GOP Senators @JohnJagler, Stephen Nass & Reps Dittrich (@RepDittrich), Horlacher (@RepHorlacher) are denying $655,252 for Jefferson County Interurban Trail Stewardship Project, which would’ve come in via BadgerCare funds.

Same goes for the Jefferson Marsh Stewardship Project, thanks to Sen Nass & Rep Horlacher.

https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1397306798609244163

This is just a small sample of what Republicans rejected—in addition to other great projects in districts represented by Democrats… AND statewide projects that would benefit red and blue districts alike. A few of those:

https://twitter.com/Tamarine608/status/1396938129408471040

For a full list of proposed projects that would’ve been funded by expanding Medicaid in Wisconsin, check out this PDF:
content.govdelivery.com/attachments/WI…

Gov Evers is right when he says all of this GOP obstruction is “breathtaking.” Wisconsin Republicans had the opportunity to do the right thing… but turned down over a billion dollars in the name of partisan politics.

https://twitter.com/GovEvers/status/1397255777702891522

At every turn in this pandemic, the Republicans in Wisconsin have been playing political games in order to hurt Gov Evers, all at the expense of our state’s recovery and Wisconsin families.

https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1391827973792219138

Republicans are punishing their own voters in order to hurt everyone else. More than 2 out of 3 states have expanded Medicaid, red & blue alike. Why is the GOP dying on this hill? When will the WI GOP end the partisan obstructionism & start working with Gov Evers for our state?

Add your name to demand that Republicans actually work to help Wisconsinites: wisdems.org/expand-badgerc…