Sen. Jon Erpenbach's reintroduction of the Healthy Wisconsin universal health care proposal has received virtually no attention thus far. In great part, that's because even Erpenbach acknowledges there really is no opportunity for valid consideration of the plan before the end of the current legislative session.
It's a shame Erpenbach did not resubmit Healthy Wisconsin earlier. But then again it's unlikely this Legislature, which some have dubbed "do-nothing," would have bothered to give it the attention it deserved.
Erpenbach, D-Middleton, reintroduced the controversial plan Thursday. It was scheduled for a public hearing at 10 a.m. today with the Committee on Health, Human Services, Insurance and Job Creation.
Healthy Wisconsin, you'll remember, was an early sticking point in the state budget process last summer. Senate Democrats added the universal health care proposal to their budget, with a $15.2 billion payroll tax plan to cover all Wisconsin residents beginning in 2009. Republicans distorted the plan by saying it was an additional $15 billion tax, and refused to budge in budget discussions. Erpenbach and some other Democrats pointed out that the payroll tax would replace individual health care premiums. Their claim was that it actually would save Wisconsin residents a $1 billion a year - a claim that deserved closer scrutiny. Without the backing of Gov. Jim Doyle, Healthy Wisconsin had no chance to be included in the final budget and was pulled from discussions in the early fall.
Erpenbach promised then to resubmit Healthy Wisconsin in the next legislative session. Unfortunately, that has occurred near the end of the session. Erpenbach, in a news release, acknowledged it's too late for meaningful action this session.
But, he said, that shouldn't stop lawmakers from talking about health care.
"This issue doesn't go away when we walk off the Capitol steps," Erpenbach said in a news release. "Every legislator in this building that does doors this summer will hear about health care. I want people to ask them what they are going to do about this epidemic and I want the answer to be Healthy Wisconsin.
"Legislators always come back with renewed commitment to their constituents at the beginning of a new session and Healthy Wisconsin will be waiting on their desk when they come back. Maybe we will even see a few new faces willing to think without the shackles of special interest; I always remain hopeful."
Erpenbach has modified the Healthy Wisconsin plan in two important ways.
One is to phase in employers with 10 or fewer workers. Businesses must contribute to the payroll tax. Fair criticism of the first proposal was that it could be devastating to small businesses. The new plan would allow the really small businesses to only pay one-third of the tax the first year and two-thirds in the second. The change still may not help enough small businesses.
The second alteration is to put a cap on the amount that dual-income households are assessed. That, too, may address a legitimate complaint about the plan.
While Erpenbach was reintroducing Healthy Wisconsin, Assembly Republicans also were moving their own version of health care reform. They voted to improve communication between doctors and patients with the eHealth Care Quality Act, which is intended to lift the veil of secrecy over what medical procedures actually cost. They also voted to eliminate state taxes on health savings accounts.
The Assembly votes also received little attention, again because they come too late in the session to expect any action from the Senate.
Unfortunately, the debate is at a point where too little, too late is better than nothing. We'll hope, again, that health care is a first item of discussion when the Legislature reconvenes. But we won't hold our breath.
It's a shame Erpenbach did not resubmit Healthy Wisconsin earlier. But then again it's unlikely this Legislature, which some have dubbed "do-nothing," would have bothered to give it the attention it deserved.
Erpenbach, D-Middleton, reintroduced the controversial plan Thursday. It was scheduled for a public hearing at 10 a.m. today with the Committee on Health, Human Services, Insurance and Job Creation.
Healthy Wisconsin, you'll remember, was an early sticking point in the state budget process last summer. Senate Democrats added the universal health care proposal to their budget, with a $15.2 billion payroll tax plan to cover all Wisconsin residents beginning in 2009. Republicans distorted the plan by saying it was an additional $15 billion tax, and refused to budge in budget discussions. Erpenbach and some other Democrats pointed out that the payroll tax would replace individual health care premiums. Their claim was that it actually would save Wisconsin residents a $1 billion a year - a claim that deserved closer scrutiny. Without the backing of Gov. Jim Doyle, Healthy Wisconsin had no chance to be included in the final budget and was pulled from discussions in the early fall.
Erpenbach promised then to resubmit Healthy Wisconsin in the next legislative session. Unfortunately, that has occurred near the end of the session. Erpenbach, in a news release, acknowledged it's too late for meaningful action this session.
But, he said, that shouldn't stop lawmakers from talking about health care.
"This issue doesn't go away when we walk off the Capitol steps," Erpenbach said in a news release. "Every legislator in this building that does doors this summer will hear about health care. I want people to ask them what they are going to do about this epidemic and I want the answer to be Healthy Wisconsin.
"Legislators always come back with renewed commitment to their constituents at the beginning of a new session and Healthy Wisconsin will be waiting on their desk when they come back. Maybe we will even see a few new faces willing to think without the shackles of special interest; I always remain hopeful."
Erpenbach has modified the Healthy Wisconsin plan in two important ways.
One is to phase in employers with 10 or fewer workers. Businesses must contribute to the payroll tax. Fair criticism of the first proposal was that it could be devastating to small businesses. The new plan would allow the really small businesses to only pay one-third of the tax the first year and two-thirds in the second. The change still may not help enough small businesses.
The second alteration is to put a cap on the amount that dual-income households are assessed. That, too, may address a legitimate complaint about the plan.
While Erpenbach was reintroducing Healthy Wisconsin, Assembly Republicans also were moving their own version of health care reform. They voted to improve communication between doctors and patients with the eHealth Care Quality Act, which is intended to lift the veil of secrecy over what medical procedures actually cost. They also voted to eliminate state taxes on health savings accounts.
The Assembly votes also received little attention, again because they come too late in the session to expect any action from the Senate.
Unfortunately, the debate is at a point where too little, too late is better than nothing. We'll hope, again, that health care is a first item of discussion when the Legislature reconvenes. But we won't hold our breath.
