February 28, 2006

Robson: We Can Do Better on Health Care

Democratic Leader Offers Affordable Health Care Amendment

Legislation that passed the Senate today meets some health care needs, but falls far short of fundamental reform to bring down health care costs, Senate Democratic Leader Judy Robson said today.

“The people we’re elected to serve are looking for leadership,” Robson said. “They’re desperately trying to ensure the security of their families, their farms, and their small businesses. Instead of a patchwork approach to health care reform, let’s work together to bring down costs for everyone.”

“The people who elect us want health care policies that offer more than just a bandage here and a brace there,” Robson said. “Legislators owe it to their constituents to examine the root causes for why health care costs are so high in this state. We owe it to Wisconsin’s small business owners and farmers.

“We talk a lot in this body about promoting economic development and jobs.
We talk a lot in this body about the high cost of government. Yet, we seem unwilling to address one of the core reasons why business growth is stymied and why communities are cutting vital services.”

Robson offered an amendment to a bill before the Senate that would adopt the goals of the Action Plan for Affordable Health Care: to bring down health care costs by 15 percent by 2010. The bill requires a bipartisan commission to develop a plan to bring down health care costs and ensure that at least 98 percent of Wisconsin residents have health care coverage.

The amendment was rejected on a party-line vote of 19-14 with all Republicans voted against and all Democrats in favor.

The amendment is identical to Senate Bill 416/Assembly Bill 834, which have been awaiting a public hearing since they were introduced in November.

“Four months ago, Senate Democrats offered legislation to bring lawmakers to the table to work together on a solution,” Robson said. “Four months later, we’re still waiting for a public hearing. Our invitation to come to the table to talk about real kitchen-table issues has been ignored.”

Robson praised the bipartisan bills that address aspects of the health care system, including a bill to help farmers and small business owners pool their purchasing power; a bill to make information about health care costs and quality more accessible to health insurance plans; and a bill to increase the Medicaid reimbursement for nursing homes.

“These bills have their role and their place, but we can do better,” Robson said.