ERPENBACH DISAPPOINTED BY DELAY

(MADISON)—State Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) was frustrated by a 3-2 vote taken by the Senate Committee on Organization to delay the recommendations of the Senate Select Committee on Health Care Reform, of which he is a member.

“It is certainly possible for the committee to come up with a preliminary set of recommendations. There were several viable options on the table. It doesn’t mean that we can’t keep working to refine and develop these ideas as we continue into the next year and the next legislative session.”

The Senate Select Committee on Health Care Reform had several meetings around the state and in Madison and heard testimony from consumers, doctors, insurance companies, state departments, even private business owners, in order to obtain ideas about how to reform health care in Wisconsin.

“At the very least, these recommendations would give us something to take back to our constituents, to let them know that we hear how important this issue is to families in Wisconsin, and that we are working to come up with real solutions.”

“Small business owners and families continue to face astronomical increases in health care costs. Too many people have inadequate health insurance, and in a growing number of cases, no insurance at all. We owe them a solution.”

With campaigns now in full gear after Tuesday’s primary, Erpenbach believes that the committee missed an opportunity to have health care reform become part of the dialogue for candidates this fall.