Statewide: Today, Governor Tony Evers, State Senator Jon Erpenbach, and State Representative Daniel Riemer announced their intention to introduce legislation to accept additional federal money to expand BadgerCare at a news conference in Wauwatosa. GOP legislators stripped this provision from the Governor’s budget during the Joint Finance Committee process.

“It’s time for leadership of the Legislature to put the people of Wisconsin first,” said Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. “BadgerCare expansion will provide over 80,000 Wisconsinites who do not receive health insurance at work with affordable coverage, enabling them to receive life-saving treatment and redirect their hard-earned money to other necessities.”

Regional Citizen Action organizers also spoke to the benefits of BadgerCare expansion across Wisconsin.

Eau Claire: “BadgerCare expansion would mean almost 1,400 hard-working Eau Claire County residents would be eligible to receive quality, affordable care,” said Citizen Action of Wisconsin Organizer Noah Reif. “In addition, the expansion would bring millions of dollars in federal healthcare investments back to northwest Wisconsin. As an individual, I have benefited from state health insurance plans when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 2 years old. Simply put, I would not be here if not for Wisconsin’s investment in me and my family. BadgerCare expansion is an opportunity to extend that life-saving investment to other people like me who need it.”

Wausau: “In rural Wisconsin, you often hear folks claim that we send our money to Madison and we don’t get our fair share back,” said Citizen Action of Wisconsin Organizer  Joel Lewis. “Not accepting the Medicaid money is similar in that we sent our money to Washington, DC and when they offered it back, we turned it down. Not only does this make no sense from a budget standpoint, but it also puts people’s lives on the line. This is our money and we need to take it back.”

Oshkosh: “BadgerCare expansion would help thousands of working people in northeast Wisconsin get health coverage,” said Citizen Action of Wisconsin Organizer Jolie Lizotte. “This will help families in the Fox Valley area afford healthcare they desperately need. Expanding BadgerCare coverage to these families is the right thing to do.”

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