Milwaukee: Today Governor Scott Walker announced that he is punting the creation of a health insurance exchange to the federal government.
Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, made the following statement in response to the decision:
"It is astounding that Walker is putting the demands of ideological extremists over the interests of health care consumers across Wisconsin who need access to quality affordable health care options. Guaranteeing that health care consumers can have a choice of competing health plans, and establishing rules of the road to make sure consumers are not ripped off or denied coverage based on pre-existing conditions should not be controversial. The extreme tea party response to common sense reform is a real barrier to governing in the public interest. Given Walker’s strong opposition to the goals of health care reform, it is likely much better that the federal government operate Wisconsin’s health insurance exchange. Given Wisconsin’s well earned tradition of effective and innovative government, it is a shame that we have a governor who does not want to take responsibility guaranteeing that everyone has some where to go to buy quality affordable health care."
Tea Party pushes for stunningly extreme “nullification” of federal law"
The decision Governor Walker has to make by Friday on whether to opt for a state-run health insurance exchange is shaping up as a battle between the Tea Party and a uniquely bipartisan group of leaders, advocacy groups, and trade associations spanning the political spectrum, including core institutional supporters of GOP candidates and policies. If Walker were to opt not to create a state-run exchange, it would be a sign of stunning Tea Party influence in the Wisconsin State Legislature and in national Republican politics.
A Walker decision to forgo a state exchange would also give credence to the stunningly extreme Tea Party position that the states can nullify federal laws. The concept of “nullification” was developed in the 1830s by South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun to defend the institution of slavery from the federal government. In 1832-33 President Andrew Jackson had to threaten to use federal troops to force Calhoun’s South Carolina to adhere to federal trade policy.
Tea Party groups and extreme right wing legal scholars have brought the concept back to challenge ObamaCare, despite the U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming it’s constitutionality. Wisconsin Tea Party groups are circulating a petition entitled “Nullify ObamaCare,” and 20 Wisconsin Tea Party groups have sent an open letter to Walker. Patrick Marley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that 9 members of the next Wisconsin Legislature pledged to the Tea Party group Campaign for Liberty that they would support legislation to “nullify ObamaCare and authorize state and local law enforcement to arrest federal officials attempting to implement the unconstitutional health care scheme known as ObamaCare.” If Walker heeds the demands of the Tea Party and forgoes a state-run health exchange, it will be a sign that he fears that their influence is too powerful in the Legislature for him to successfully enact enabling legislation next year, or that he believes his future in national politics is best served by conforming to the Tea Party line. The Center for Media and Democracy reports that the effort to “nullify” ObamaCare is part of a broader campaign supported by Koch Brother funded groups such as American for Prosperity and ALEC.
“It is shocking that as we try to solve the 21st Century problem of access to quality affordable health care that we are being forced by Tea Party extremists to debate discredited constitutional concepts that were used to defend slavery before the Civil War,” said Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. “It would be a stain on state history if a Wisconsin Governor put the bizarre demands of right-wing extremists over the need of every Wisconsin citizen to have the freedom to control their own health care decisions.”
Walker faces Friday federal deadline to decide whether WI will create health insurance marketplace. Extension of deadline for full blueprint creates opportunity for public input, end to secrecy.
On Friday afternoon the federal government gave Scott Walker and other governors a partial reprieve by extending the deadline for submitting a full blueprint for state health insurance exchanges until December 14. However, the letter to governors from HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius also maintained the Friday, November 16 deadline for states to submit a declaration letter indicating their intent to establish a state-based health insurance exchange. The federal government will operate exchanges for those states which do not meet the Affordable Care Act’s statutory deadline.
So far Governor Walker, Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith, and Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel have refused to indicate what course the administration will take.
Sign our petition urging Gov. Walker to stop his secretive attempts to block health care reform in Wisconsin
Last week Citizen Action of Wisconsin revealed open records which together suggest that the Walker Administration may have developed a health insurance exchange blueprint in secret that would permit substandard health insurance plans, without input from the public or stakeholders. Numerous press reports indicate that major health care stakeholders have not been included in the Walker Administration's planning for a health exchange. Last week 18 state legislators, led by Sen. Jon Erpenbach and Rep. Jon Richards, called on Governor Walker to open up the process to the public and to health care stakeholders, experts, and consumers.
“The extension of the deadline for submitting Wisconsin’s blueprint for a health insurance exchange offers a tremendous opportunity to open up the planning process to the public and major stakeholders,” said Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of
Sign our petition urging Gov. Walker to stop to blocking health care reform in Wisconsin. Please share our petition with your fiends.
Open records suggest Walker may propose substandard exchange, setting up a showdown with the Federal Government
With the federal deadline for Wisconsin to decide to create its own health insurance exchange a week away, speculation is turning to whether or not the Walker Administration has developed a secret plan. Despite Governor Walker’s public position that the state would do no planning until after the election, internal documents obtained by Citizen Action of Wisconsin and released Wednesday reveal that a top official told Walker’s Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith that Wisconsin can be prepared to submit its blueprint for an exchange on November 16. This suggests that substantial planning may have been taking place behind closed doors and without input from stakeholders, legislators, and the public.
Governor Walker faces a choice between accepting a federal health insurance exchange, working with the federal government to create a “partnership” exchange, or proposing his own state exchange. Top Walker Administration officials have refused to comment on whether planning for a Wisconsin exchange has taken place.
However, records obtained by Citizen Action of Wisconsin under the state’s open records law shed light on the direction Walker will take. In June of 2011 Walker’s Office of Free Market Health Care produced a PowerPoint for a briefing of legislators entitled: “Preliminary Plan for Building the Wisconsin Health Insurance Portal and Interchange.” This document is the closest thing we have to a blueprint for the Walker’s Administration’s position on exchanges. From it two key conclusions can be drawn.
(1) Governor Walker is unlikely to opt for a federal exchange in Wisconsin or to develop a partnership exchange with the federal government. The Walker Administration is hostile to the creation of a federal health insurance exchange. Citing the original executive order creating the Office of Free Market Health Care, the document refers to “protecting Wisconsin from the establishment of a federal health benefit exchange” and makes it an explicit goal “to minimize federal interference.”
(2) The Walker Administration opposes the minimum consumer standards mandated in the Affordable Care Act for insurance sold on health insurance exchanges. It complains in its preliminary plan of a “one size fits all approach,” that minimum coverage standards “will force” consumers and employers “to purchase richer benefits” or to “buy up,” and proposes to “allow all current plans to be marketed” on the exchange, and to “open [the exchange] to the development of new products.” This would mean allowing plans which do not meet minimum federal standards for coverage, or cost sharing, on to the exchange. The document also makes a selective use of MIT Professor Jonathan Gruber’s actuarial analysis of the impact of the Affordable Care Act in Wisconsin to argue that some individuals and small groups will pay more, strongly suggesting that they will seek to design an exchange that permits the sale of lower quality insurance that does would not meet minimum standards. Citizen Action of Wisconsin has previously critiqued the Walker Administration's use of Dr. Gruber’s analysis.
“The Walker Administration is clearly in a bind because it does not want a federal exchange nor does it want a state exchange which meets minimum consumer protection standards,” said Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. “Based on the record, our concern is that the Walker Administration will try to square the circle by submitting a plan for a substandard exchange which allows health insurers to sell inferior insurance. This could set up a showdown between Walker and federal authorities that could further delay planning for the implementation of health care reform in Wisconsin.”
Now that President Obama has been re-elected, the Walker Administration faces a major deadline for a core element of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). The statutory deadline for submitting Wisconsin’s blueprint for a new health insurance exchange is November 16. Governor Scot Walker took the public position after the U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the law that Wisconsin would not to do any planning or take any action until after the election. Amid indications that the Walker Administration may be secretly working on a blueprint for a Wisconsin health insurance exchange, without any input from health care advocates and other stakeholders, Citizen Action of Wisconsin filed multiple open records requests in September. Although the Walker Administration has to date not provided recent information on the plan for a health insurance exchange, citing various exclusions including attorney-client privilege, Citizen Action did obtain emails which shed light on the critical decision.
Internal emails obtained by Citizen Action of Wisconsin suggest that top Walker Administration officials believe they can meet the deadline, but have not decided whether or not to proceed. In a key email Department of Health Services Secretary Dennis Smith asks J.P. Wieske, the Legislative Liaison & Public Information Officer for the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance: “Are you all prepared to say that based on the outcome of Nov 6, we will meet the Nov. 16 date? Thanks Dennis.” The email was copied to both Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel and Deputy Commissioner Dan Schwartzer. Wieske responds to Secretary Smith: “We think we can be ready to file by Nov 16th, if there is interest in moving forward.”
This vital decision, which must be made in the next 9 days, will determine whether Wisconsin builds its own state health insurance exchange or whether the federal government does it for us. The design of this new competitive health marketplace is critically important. The exchange will provide high quality affordable health coverage for Wisconsinites who do not have good employer-based coverage, and either face discrimination at the hands of the insurance industry or cannot afford coverage on their own. The population most benefited will be the 1.3 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions which put them at high risk for the denial of coverage, or excessive and unaffordable rates, if they every have to buy health insurance on their own.
“Now that the election is over and the Affordable Care Act will be implemented, it is time for the Walker Administration to stop playing political games with the health of Wisconsin’s citizens,” said Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. “The new health insurance exchanges, along with the expansion of Medicaid (BadgerCare), will guarantee for the first time that everyone can control their own health care decisions and will have the peace of mind of knowing that there is a place to go, no matter what, to get quality affordable coverage.”
Washington, DC– Here is a statement on tonight’s historic election result from Ethan Rome,executive director of Health Care for America Now:
“After two years of raging debate about health care and the most expensive and polarizing presidential election campaign in our nation’s history, Obamacare won tonight – and it's here to stay. The re-election of President Obama seals the deal.
“This election secures the guarantee of high quality, affordable health care for every American, without insurance company abuses and hassle.
“This is extraordinarily good news for every family worried about getting the health care they need without being buried by medical bills. It’s huge news for the 129 million Americans with pre-existing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure who won’t face insurance company discrimination any more. It means 30 million uninsured Americans will finally have health care.
“America made a choice between two fundamentally different visions of our nation’s future: One says every family should have health care and peace of mind and that no one should be only one illness or accident away from financial ruin. The other says we throw our sick to the wolves in the name of free-market ideology.
“Progressives won a historic victory in 2010 when Congress passed the Affordable Care Act. A conservative U.S. Supreme Court found the law constitutional earlier this year. Now the American people have voted to end this 100-year debate once and for all. It's time for opponents of health care to accept this law so Washington can move on to other pressing issues like creating jobs.
“This election was a tremendous victory for America’s middle-class families and those working their way into it. It was an affirmation that people want a government that solves problems and works for them. It was a rejection of the “You’re on your own” philosophy that tears down protections for seniors and working Americans while giving tax breaks to the super-rich and corporations like Big Oil.
“Finally, it’s safe to say that Obamacare is here to stay.”
Health Care for America Now, the nation’s leading grassroots health care coalition, led the fight to win health reform. HCAN works to promote the Affordable Care Act, protect Medicare and Medicaid, and keep Congress from being steamrolled by corporate special interests. HCAN is a powerful ally of Citizen Action of Wisconsin.
Announce formal complaint against Rite-Hite CEO Michael White’s illegal voter intimidation
Citizen Action of WI's Jennifer Epps-Addison speaks at media conference
This Monday morning at a major media event in Milwaukee, faith and community leaders announced the filing of a formal complaint with the Government Accountability Board (GAB) against Rite-Hite CEO Michael White for violating Wisconsin election law. The complaint states that White’s illegal and misleading communication with employees, sent the week of October 21, 2012, was an attempt to intimidate more than 1,400 employees into voting for Mitt Romney.
In his message, chairman and owner Michael White, urged employees to “understand the personal consequences . . . if President Obama is re-elected.” The letter goes on to threaten the security of employees' retirement accounts and health care plans, stating that if the President is re-elected, "Every opportunity to make up for lost profits to taxes will have to be evaluated." This is a violation of Wisconsin election law.
Rev. Gregg Lewis addresses the media
“What Michael White did was wrong; morally wrong, ethically wrong, and illegal according to Wisconsin law,” said Minister Greg Lewis. “We can not sit idly by and watch employers abuse their power and intimidate workers into voting a certain way. We filed this complaint to stop this abuse of power and to protect our democracy,” continued Lewis.
“Our election laws are set up to protect employees from undue influence and intimidation. The statute is a codification of the very basic notion that bosses do not have the right to threaten the security of their employees’ jobs, retirement accounts, or health care plans based on who they vote for in a presidential election,” said Jennifer Epps-Addison, Economic Justice Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin.
“Voting is a Constitutional right. No worker should fear retribution or retaliation from an employer when they cast their ballot,” said Cody Misiak, a Milwaukee grocery worker. “As a worker, after seeing a coercive email like that, the only thing that would set things right is if the boss took back what he said and apologized for abusing his power," continued Misiak.
“We demand that Michael White immediately retract his email, apologize to employees, and post that apology publicly at the workplace.” said Mike Wilder, Director of the African-American Civic Engagement Roundtable, and a member of the staff of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. “Democracy only functions if workers are free to vote however they choose without fear of reprisal from their boss.”
Mike Wilder, Director of the African American Civic Engagement Roundtable and a member of the staff of Citizen Action of Wisconsin; Christine Christie, a Milwaukee resident; Minister Greg Lewis; Larry Miller, a member of the Milwaukee School Board; and Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, filed the complaint with the Government Accountability Board. More than 25 community organizations, faith leaders, labor unions and elected officials have sponsored the complaint. Organizations supporting the complaint include: Citizen Action of Wisconsin, the African-American Civic Engagement Roundtable, Wisconsin Jobs Now, AFT Local 212, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, AFT Wisconsin, SEIU, MTEA, United Steelworkers of America, Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, Voces De La Frontera, SEIU Local 150, All Black Everything (ABE), ATU Local 998, The Transit Riders Union, The League of Young Voters Education Fund, 9to5 Milwaukee, Urban Underground, True Skool, Reproductive Justice Collective, MICAH, NAACP Milwaukee Chapter, Afro World Enterprises, the Center for Progressive Leadership, Alderman Tony Zielinski, School Board Director Larry Miller, and School Board Director Peter Blewett. The applicable part of Wisconsin law reads as follows:"No employer or agent of an employer may distribute to any employee printed matter containing any threat, notice or information that if a particular ticket of a political party or organization or candidate is elected or any referendum question is adopted or rejected, work in the employer's place or establishment will cease, in whole or in part, or the place or establishment will be closed, or the salaries or wages of the employees will be reduced, or other threats intended to influence the political opinions or actions of the employees." Wisconsin Statute 12.07(3)
The "Health Crisis Ambulance" will be traveling to Appleton, WI today, October 29th at 1 PM to highlight the growing threat to quality affordable health care. Advocates, volunteers, and health care consumers will talk to local residents about threat to Medicaid and Medicare. They will also discuss efforts to make it legal to discriminate against people with preexisting conditions and to deny access to quality affordable health care.
• WHO: Citizen Action of Wisconsin “Health Care Crisis Unit” Ambulance • WHAT: Ambulance tour to highlight health care crisis • WHERE: Outside the Appleton Post Crescent office, 306 W Washington St, Appleton • WHEN: Today Oct 29th, 1 pm
Citizen Action of Wisconsin is a state-wide organization which advocates across Wisconsin for quality affordable health care. More information is available at our dedicate health care website, www.gothealthcarewi.com
Anita Johnson speaks at Media Conference in Milwaukee
Today members of the African-American Civic Engagement Roundtable in Milwaukee and community partners held a press conference to demand that Clear Channel take down billboards that display threatening messages intended to intimidate voters in primarily low-income communities of color. The coalition has requested that Clear Channel replace the biased and misleading advertisements with information that will help voters exercise their fundamental right to vote in this year’s election.
“Voter suppression threatens the very foundation of our great democracy. For more than 150 years, our nation has been expanding access to the voting booth. Yet this year, voting rights have been attacked with an aggression not seen since Reconstruction. A democracy is judged it’s ability to ensure that all of its citizens participate and have a say in their Government,” said Mike Wilder, Director of the African American roundtable and a member of the staff of Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund.
“Since many of the Voter ID laws have been found unconstitutional, the proponents of Voter ID and other voter suppression tactics are using these anonymous ads to mislead and intimidate voters. These ads serve no other purpose than to confuse voters and prevent people in low-income communities of color from Voting on November 6,” said Jennifer Epps-Addison, Economic Justice Director for Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund.
At least twenty billboards have been placed throughout the metro-Milwaukee. Hundreds of others have been placed in low-income communities in states like Ohio and Florida.
“In the Latino community these signs are particularly harmful,” said Juan Carlos Ruiz, spokesperson for the Latino Roundtable. “Our community deserves accurate information aimed at helping people access the ballot box, not suppressing the vote.”
As of Monday, Clear Channel has yet to return phone calls from Coalition members asking that the misleading billboards be taken down.
The Roundtable’s “Silent No More” civic engagement program is a nonpartisan effort that seeks to increase the African-American vote share by engaging drop-off and non-traditional voters. These voters include new voters, voters who have moved since the last election, and voters who voted for the first time in 2008 and haven’t voted since.
Members of the African-American Civic Engagement Roundtable include Citizen Action of Wisconsin Education Fund, Wisconsin Voices, ATU Local 998, The Transit Riders Union, The Advancement Project, The League of Young Voters Education Fund, 9to5 Milwaukee, Urban Underground, True Skool, Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association, Reproductive Justice Collective, MICAH, NAACP Milwaukee Chapter, Afro World Enterprises, and the Center for Progressive Leadership. The Institute for One Wisconsin, United Steelworkers, Wisconsin Election Protection, and League of Women Voters Wisconsin also participated in the media event.
