Wisconsin State Senator Devin Lemahieu
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu of Oostburg joined other Republican leaders in the Wisconsin Legislature to reject Governor Evers’ call for a special session that would accept $1 Billion in federal funds to expand medicaid among other initiatives. In his executive order, the Governor said that the expansion of BadgerCare is “not just a fiscal issue but a moral issue”, and cited opinion polls and moves by 38 other states that have already opted to accept the money.
Lemahieu joined Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in response yesterday by saying that everyone who wants insurance in our state has access and options, and that there was no gap needing coverage, adding that “we will not shift tens of thousands of people off their private insurance to a government-run system.”
Medicaid expansion is a fundamental no-go with Wisconsin Republicans, and two years ago, current Assembly Speaker Robin Vos was quoted as saying that expansion “will be over our dead bodies”.
Tuesday’s special session has little chance of succeeding in much more than political theater, as Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke and Senate President Chris Kapenga went on record by saying “This is a thinly-veiled political maneuver by the Governor. We intend to gavel out this unserious stunt.”
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