WI Lawmakers Call on Walker to Follow Health Care Law

By CnAgri2012-09-27 19:44:49 Print

Two Wisconsin state lawmakers are heading up an effort to urge Governor Scott Walker to begin implementing the federal health care reform law. Senator Jon Erpenbach and Representative Jon Richard drafted a letter that was signed by 37 Democrat legislators asking Walker to reconsider his decision not to establish policies that are in line with the controversial 2010 Affordable Care Act.

Specifically, the group wants the governor to create a special bi-partisan committee to restart work on a health care exchange, which is allowed under the law. They say a deadline for setting up that exchange is approaching in November.

"I think Governor Walker needs to wake up and recognize his reality here," Erpenbach said. "It's the law. We will have an exchange and it's up to Governor Walker whether we run the exchange or the federal government runs the exchange."

Exchanges are designed to give people an easier way of buying health insurance.

Walker says he wants to wait on making that decision until after the November election because Republicans are promising to appeal the law if they take control of the Senate and White House.

Erpenbach says he doesn't believe the so-called Obamacare bill will be overturned no matter who gets elected.