MADISON – Today, on the final day in which the Wisconsin State Assembly plans to meet, the body passed a bill that would expand Medicaid to women a full year following childbirth. Over the course of several sessions, the bill has received wide bipartisan support, with activists across the political spectrum pushing for passage. However, despite majority support within their caucus, Assembly Republicans have been unable to push their leadership team to allow the bill to move.
Over the course of this session, with stronger numbers due to fair maps, Democrats have renewed their efforts to pass the legislation. Yesterday, Democrats launched an all-out effort to amend every proposal in front of the body to include postpartum medicaid expansion. After hours of Republican procedural maneuvering to avoid a vote, Republicans broke for partisan caucus, eventually reconvening and announcing the vote would be allowed to move forward today. Representative Lisa Subeck released the following statement:
“After many long years of fighting for this legislation, many long years of advocacy, of doing everything we can to get this bill to the floor, thousands of new mothers across our state will finally have access to the vital health care they need. Over all those years, Robin Vos fought us, and even fought his own members, every step of the way. Now, as he ends his final session in the Assembly, the people finally won.
“No new mom should go without healthcare after giving birth. Healthy moms lead to healthy babies and healthy families. This is a resounding victory for Wisconsin families, and a resounding victory for anyone who believes in the power of democracy.”
Rep. Subeck represents the 79th Assembly District and serves as Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus.
