APNewsBreak: Memo says Doyle could use veto power to create public option health care plan
By Scott Bauer, APThursday, April 8, 2010
APNewsBreak: Doyle could create public option
MADISON, Wis. — Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle could use his veto power to create a state-funded public option health insurance plan in Wisconsin that would extend coverage to virtually everyone, according to a memo by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.
The memo obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday was requested by the Republican leader of the state Assembly, Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, and delivered April 2.
Doyle’s office adamantly denied that the governor planned to do any such thing.
“The suggestion is ridiculous,” Doyle spokesman Adam Collins said. “This is just another desperate attempt by a few Republicans to stop a good program that will help tens of thousands of people get access to very basic health care at no cost to taxpayers.”
The lead sponsor of the bill, Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, also denied that was the goal.
“This grand conspiracy out there that there’s going to be some grand public option isn’t realistic,” Erpenbach said.
Many things would have to happen in order for Doyle to do what the memo says he can.
First, the Legislature must approve a bill backed by Doyle that creates a state-run program for 34,000 adults with no minor children currently on a waiting list for the BadgerCare health insurance program. That bill passed the Senate in February and is expected to pass the Assembly later this month.
Under that proposal, only childless adults who meet income guidelines and who have applied for the BadgerCare Core Plan but have been placed on a waiting list could qualify for the new program, dubbed BadgerCare Basic.
Assuming the bill passes in its current form, it would then head to Doyle to either sign or veto. The Fiscal Bureau, writing at Fitzgerald’s request, said Doyle could use his expansive line-item veto power on the bill to create a much broader health insurance program.
Essentially, Doyle could eliminate the requirements that the state-run program be available only to those on the waiting list. He could also veto any limits on the benefits that people in the program could receive, the memo said.
The bill as it passed the Senate allows for only very limited benefits, such as doctor’s visits and prescription drugs, which would be paid for through premiums and copays. Doyle and backers of the plan tout it as being self-funded, with no contribution from the state.
Republicans have said the state could end up footing the bill if premiums aren’t enough to pay for it.
The Fiscal Bureau memo, written by the office’s director Bob Lang, notes that Doyle could expand the program and have it be paid for at least in part by the state Department of Health Services, but there is no additional funding available to do that.
Fitzgerald said he asked for the opinion because he wondered if the potential was out there for Doyle to expand the program through his veto, but he had no reason to believe that was the governor’s plan.
“I just thought it was interesting what he could do with just a couple strikes of the pen.” Fitzgerald said.
What happens to the 34,000 people on Wisconsin’s waiting list could be a moot point under the new federal health care law. The majority of those people are expected to receive coverage under that law starting in 2014.
Tags: Access To Health Care, Government Programs, Government Regulations, Health Care Industry, Health Issues, Industry Regulation, Madison, North America, United States, Wisconsin
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April 8, 2010: 9:40 pm
I want to commend all of you for working so hard and being so strong at helping the whitehouse and congress begin to address our U.S. and Global healthcare crisis. You have been AWESOME! my fellow Americans and peoples of the World. America and the World is better and safer for it. My greatest pride is the knowledge that I am one of you. And that you really get it. You really understand the importance of it all. There are some potentially very good things in the healthcare legislation. Especially with the reconciliation fix’s. The Democrats, Bernie Sanders and the Whitehouse did a GREAT! job of fighting to produce the best healthcare legislation that they could. They have earned all our strong support. And we should give it to them. But it was your relentless pressure and hard work that made the difference. Whatever good comes from this healthcare legislation, America and the peoples of the World will have each of you to thank. You were smart, creative, courageous and relentless. You fought together for the best legislation possible. And when you had to, you fought alone. No matter who stumbled and fell you continued to push and forge ahead. Fighting for the lives and health of the American people and the World. YOU SHOULD BE PROUD OF YOUR-SELVES It may come to pass that future generations will look back on us and say that we were ALL Americas Greatest Generations. And that healthcare reform was our finest hour. You should be proud of our leaders President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid and the many other Democratic and independent fighters for the people in congress. They proved them-self worthy of the leadership of a GREAT! PEOPLE. But we are not done yet. This was just the beginning of healthcare reform, not the end. WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, ARE NOT! divided on healthcare legislation. The vast majority of you have been consistently crystal clear that this legislation does not go far enough. You want a strong Government-run Public Option CHOICE!! available to everyone on day one. And you want it NOW! YOU MUST NOT ALLOW AN INDIVIDUAL MANDATE TO STAND WITHOUT A STRONG GOVERNMENT-RUN PUBLIC OPTION CHOICE! AVAILABLE TO EVERYONE. WE THE PEOPLE have been crystal clear that we want an end to dependence on for-profit healthcare and the for-profit proxies called private for non-profit healthcare. The American people want the CHOICE! of a strong Government-run Public Option to replace their need or dependence on healthcare providers whose primary motivation is profit. Rather than providing the highest quality, easiest accessible and most affordable medically necessary healthcare possible. This is what the rest of the developed World has. And the American people want it too. They want healthcare ASSURANCE! Not, for-profit health insurance. And they want it NOW! Now is the time to continue the push for a strong Government-run Public Option CHOICE! available to everyone that wants it on day one. Rationally it’s clear what we have to do to get this done. SUPPORT THE DEMOCRATS that supported you with a Public Option, and REMOVE as many republicans as you can. Not one republican in congress was willing to step across the isle to support a strong Government-run Public Option CHOICE!! available to everyone on day one. NOT ONE! Let no candidate prevail this November that does not support a Strong Government-run Public Option. 47,000 AMERICANS die each year from lack of healthcare. 120,000 die from treatable illness that don’t die in other developed countries. Hundreds of thousands of you are dieing from medical accidents in a rush to profit. And Millions are injured. Millions are driven into bankruptcy. All for the privilege of paying two to three times as much as any other people in the developed world for healthcare. HOGWASH! Additionally, tens of thousands of you and your children were killed and millions sickened and injured from a terror attack with H1N1 (swine flu). Released on the American people and the World by the for-profit healthcare industry. All in an attempt to panic and frighten you into excepting the oxymoronic criminal enterprise of private for-profit healthcare (The most costly, deadly, dangerous, and disgraceful product sold in America). H1N1 is still sickening people and killing them. Especially children, the young and the middle aged. And there will be a third wave. These are the terrorist you need to worry about the most. Even the so-called international terrorist would not do something so INSANE! But greed driven medical profiteers would and did. Apparently as far as republicans in GOVERNMENT are concerned, YOU! my fellow Americans - CAN JUST DROP DEAD! Including their own family members. Fools! Hundreds of thousands of you, and possibly millions of you will die from the long-term effects of your infection and poisoning with H1N1. So my fellow Human Beings. Rest-up, Take good care of the basics (Balanced nutrition, hydration, exercise, rest and POSITIVE emotional supports). Then wade back into the FIGHT! for a strong Government-run Public Option CHOICE! available to everyone on day one. Drug re-importation, Abolishment or strong restrictions on patents for biologic and prescription drugs. And government controlled and negotiated drug and medical cost, NOW! You must take back control of your healthcare system from the Medical Industrial Complex. This is a matter of National and Global security. There can be NO MORE EXCUSES. God Bless You My Fellow Human Beings. I’m glad to know of you. And proud to be one of you. See you on the battle field. Sincerely jacksmith - WorkingClass |
jacksmith