Tom Barrett Was For The Sustainability Of Health Care Before He Was Against It.
In 2010, Tom Barrett Supported The Health Care Reforms That Governor Walker Enacted; But Now He Campaign Against Them:
In 2010, Mayor Tom Barrett Campaigned On Raising Premiums For BadgerCare Plus Enrollees. “such as charging higher monthly premiums for BadgerCare plus enrollees to select a more cost plan and lower premiums for less costly ones.” (Tom Barrett, ”Tom Barrett’s Plan for putting Madison on a diet,” 2010 Campaign for Governor, June 2010)
In 2012, Mayor Tom Barrett Says He Would Undo The Changes That Governor Walker Made To Keep Medicaid Sustainable. (Jason Stein, “Round 2: Walker and Barrett stake out opposing positions,” Journal Sentinel, 5/19/12)
- NOTE: The Estimated Savings From Gov. Walker’s Changes In Premiums Is $28.1 In State Funding. (DHS, “Obama Administration Approves Policy Changes To BadgerCare Plus,” Press Release, 4/27/12)
Tom Barrett Cannot Or Will Not Articulate His Plan For Health Care:
Tom Barrett Said He Doesn’t Have A Plan To Fund The Changes He Wants To Make. “said he doesn’t yet know what changes that would take by lawmakers or where he would get the money.” (Jason Stein, “Round 2: Walker and Barrett stake out opposing positions,” Journal Sentinel, 5/19/12)
Tom Barrett’s Campaign Called The Request Of Sen. Alberta Darling And Rep. Robin Vos To Tell Voters What Path He Would Take For Medicaid A “Political Stunt.” The co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Finance sent a letter to Barrett on May 10th asking him how he would have addressed the $1.8 billion shortfall left by Jim Doyle or if he agreed with the influx of $1.2 billion by Gov. Walker. (Rep. Vos and Sen. Darling, Co-Chairs of Joint Committee on Finance, Letter to Mayor Tom Barrett, 5/10/12)
Gov. Walker Is Providing Care For Those In Need:
Gov. Walker Has Invested More Money Into Medicaid Programs Like Badgercare Than Any Previous Governor. (Dept. of Administration, “2011-13 Budget in Brief,” 2/28/2011; 2009-11 Health Services Budget Summary; 2007-09 Health Services Budget Summary)
- Gov. Walker Increased State Funding To Medicaid By $1.2 Billion, The Largest Single Influx Of State Funding Ever (Dept. of Administration, “2011-13 Budget in Brief,” 2/28/11)
Nearly Every New Dollar Of Revenue The State Will Receive Over The Next Two Years Is Dedicated To Funding Medicaid. (Dennis Smith, “Testimony of Secretary Dennis G. Smith,” 11/10/11)
Despite The Cries From His Opponents, Gov. Walker Is Helping More Wisconsinites Than Ever Before. Total number of individuals in December of 2010 was 1,159,153 and April of 2012 was 1,176,805. (Department of Health Services, “Medicaid (ForwardHealth) Monthly Enrollment Report,” www.forwardhealth.wi.gov/, accessed 5/24/12)
Gov. Walker Is Helping More Children In Need Than Any Previous Governor. Almost 14,000 more children are being assisted through Gov. Walker’s record investment in Medicaid than in the entire history of Wisconsin. (Department of Health Services, “Medicaid (ForwardHealth) Monthly Enrollment Report,” www.forwardhealth.wi.gov/, accessed 5/24/12)
