Citizen Action of Wisconsin Hold Rally Calling for the Expansion of Badgercare

Friday, May 12th, 2023 -- 9:00 AM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) Citizen Action of Wisconsin held a rally in Wausau on Thursday calling for the expansion of Badgercare.

Executive director Robert Kraig says Wisconsin remains one of ten states that haven't taken the extra dollars from the federal government. "Fiscally, this doesn't add up at all. This is horrendous public policy of the ten states that are turning down the Medicaid expansion, none of the other nine do it this way."

He says the way Badgercare is currently formulated means the state is paying more to cover fewer people. "We're losing an initial $1.6 billion in the state budget that could be used on anything. It's called General Purpose Revenue. It can be used for schools, universities, shared revenue, etc.{

Kraig says from his perspective the expansion of badgercare is one area where the legislature's priorities simply don't align with the voters who sent them there. "It is amazing. And so really, you know it's a problem when you have a legislative majority that is totally out of step witht the people.:

He says most importantly badgercare expansion would mean a healthier population. "Over half of Wisconsinites have avoided medical care that they need within the last year because they feared they couldn't afford it. The unaffordability of helath care and the lack of access to it and the sky rocketing costs are a huge public concern. And people are skipping medical care they need because they can't afford it."

Badgercare expansion was one of hundreds of items that Republicans stripped out of Governor Tony Ever's proposed two year budget. The joint finance committee is currently writing its own version of the budget.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.