MADISON - The Republican-led state Assembly declined early Friday morning to take action on plans to increase treatment for autistic children.
Hours later, Assembly Minority Leader, Rep. Jim Kreuser, D-Kenosha, took specific aim at 80th District Assemblyman Brett Davis, R-Oregon.
In an early-morning news release, Kreuser said Davis "turned his back" on autistic kids by blocking a bipartisan bill passed by the Senate Feb. 26 on a 28-8 vote. That bill requires Wisconsin health insurers to cover the treatment of children with autism.
Late-night talks Thursday and into Friday morning broke down when Democrats rejected a Republican proposal to instead put $6 million into a program to take care of kids and families on a waiting list for state aid for care.
Kreuser accused Republicans of "turning their backs on the kids who live with autism and parents who struggle to afford health care." He took particular exception to the discussion occurring in the wee hours of the morning. Republicans pulled their version of the bill onto the floor at about 9:30 p.m., according to WisPolitics.com, and voting on measures did not begin until after 1 a.m. The session, which included Assembly approval of a compromise virtual school bill led by Davis, did not adjourn until 5 a.m. Friday.
"Waiting for the cover of darkness to do the bidding of the insurance companies leaves families with nowhere to turn," Kreuser said.
Davis on Friday afternoon defended the proceeding and his role in them.
"The minority leader's comments are misguided and very, very partisan," Davis told The Times. "We offered a solution for the problem, and whichever bill had come up I was going to support."
Davis said he voted in favor of the insurance provision in the governor's budget last year.
The GOP-led Assembly spent several hours debating whether to require insurance companies to cover treatment for children or to expand a state-run program for those services.
Democrats urged the Assembly to approve the plan backed by the Democratic-controlled Senate and Gov. Jim Doyle. Hundreds of parents rallied in support of that requirement earlier Thursday.
In the end, both approaches failed to win approval and neither received a final vote because of parliamentary maneuvering.
"Rep. Davis thinks we need a compromise bill," Kreuser said. "We don't need to 'compromise' on a bill that 75 percent of the Senate and the governor supports. We could pass a real bill today that took care of families struggling with autism. Instead Rep. Davis blocked that bill and asked taxpayers to pony up an extra $6 million to save the insurance companies."
"The minority leader is simply playing partisan politics," Davis said. "I expect they are trying to blame people in vulnerable districts that they are trying to win in the November election.
"Unfortunately, they are trying to make every issue a partisan issue. I think that is very disrespectful to the autistic families throughout Wisconsin. I wish the partisan politics would stop at some point."
Hours later, Assembly Minority Leader, Rep. Jim Kreuser, D-Kenosha, took specific aim at 80th District Assemblyman Brett Davis, R-Oregon.
In an early-morning news release, Kreuser said Davis "turned his back" on autistic kids by blocking a bipartisan bill passed by the Senate Feb. 26 on a 28-8 vote. That bill requires Wisconsin health insurers to cover the treatment of children with autism.
Late-night talks Thursday and into Friday morning broke down when Democrats rejected a Republican proposal to instead put $6 million into a program to take care of kids and families on a waiting list for state aid for care.
Kreuser accused Republicans of "turning their backs on the kids who live with autism and parents who struggle to afford health care." He took particular exception to the discussion occurring in the wee hours of the morning. Republicans pulled their version of the bill onto the floor at about 9:30 p.m., according to WisPolitics.com, and voting on measures did not begin until after 1 a.m. The session, which included Assembly approval of a compromise virtual school bill led by Davis, did not adjourn until 5 a.m. Friday.
"Waiting for the cover of darkness to do the bidding of the insurance companies leaves families with nowhere to turn," Kreuser said.
Davis on Friday afternoon defended the proceeding and his role in them.
"The minority leader's comments are misguided and very, very partisan," Davis told The Times. "We offered a solution for the problem, and whichever bill had come up I was going to support."
Davis said he voted in favor of the insurance provision in the governor's budget last year.
The GOP-led Assembly spent several hours debating whether to require insurance companies to cover treatment for children or to expand a state-run program for those services.
Democrats urged the Assembly to approve the plan backed by the Democratic-controlled Senate and Gov. Jim Doyle. Hundreds of parents rallied in support of that requirement earlier Thursday.
In the end, both approaches failed to win approval and neither received a final vote because of parliamentary maneuvering.
"Rep. Davis thinks we need a compromise bill," Kreuser said. "We don't need to 'compromise' on a bill that 75 percent of the Senate and the governor supports. We could pass a real bill today that took care of families struggling with autism. Instead Rep. Davis blocked that bill and asked taxpayers to pony up an extra $6 million to save the insurance companies."
"The minority leader is simply playing partisan politics," Davis said. "I expect they are trying to blame people in vulnerable districts that they are trying to win in the November election.
"Unfortunately, they are trying to make every issue a partisan issue. I think that is very disrespectful to the autistic families throughout Wisconsin. I wish the partisan politics would stop at some point."