Wisconsin Democratic candidates for governor call for expanding health care in joint event

Taking the same stage for the first time Monday, the crowded field of Democratic candidates for governor called for expanding the state's health care program for the needy.

One after another, a parade of candidates responded to a question from the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans by saying they supported accepting federal tax dollars to expand the state's BadgerCare health coverage. 

GOP Gov. Scott Walker, who will face the primary winner, has avoided taking this additional Medicaid money because he says federal officials might someday withdraw it.

"We need to take that Medicaid money and take it now," state Schools Superintendent Tony Evers told the luncheon audience at the Italian Community Center.

Political activist Mike McCabe and former state Democratic chairman Matt Flynn went further and called for allowing state residents to buy into BadgerCare as a so-called "public option," which would be a coverage alternative offered by the government.

"We have an economy that works exceptionally well for a privileged few but leaves a lot of people behind," said McCabe, who also called Monday for allowing Wisconsin residents to buy into the state pension system. 

State Republican Party spokesman Alec Zimmerman said Walker had allowed for a smaller expansion that — while not not drawing additional money — provided some additional BadgerCare coverage for single adults without children who are below the federal poverty line. Adults with incomes above that amount were moved onto the separate federal insurance exchanges created under the Affordable Care Act of 2010. 

"Governor Walker's bold reforms allowed Wisconsin to cover everyone living in poverty — without taking the restrictive and costly federal mandates under Obamacare," he said. 

Medicaid expansion also was backed by Milwaukee businessman Andy Gronik; Pat Kreitlow, who spoke on behalf of Rep. Dana Wachs of Eau Claire; recent Stanford graduate Bob Harlow; and by several potential candidates for governor: businessman Kurt Kober, firefighter union President Mahlon Mitchell and former state Rep. Kelda Helen Roys of Madison. 

"It shouldn’t be that some people get health care and some people don’t. That’s not who we are in this state," Gronik said. 

But as confident as the candidates were in their rhetoric, expanding Medicaid won't be easy even if one of these Democrats is elected. 

He or she would still likely face a Legislature controlled by Republicans who share Walker's opposition to a Medicaid expansion. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) underlined that opposition in a tweet Monday responding to Evers' speech.

"So is he planning on being a governor with no Legislature?" Steineke asked of Evers. "Because if not...#GoodLuckWithThat."

Sen. Kathleen Vinehout of Alma, another announced candidate for governor, did not attend Monday's event.

The winner of the August primary will run in the November general election against Walker, who was also invited to the luncheon but did not attend.