Gov. Jim Doyle and Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J. held a conference call yesterday afternoon to discuss the future of Wisconsin's State Children's Health Insurance Program. Many states across the nation are facing immediate funding needs in order to continue this program, due to a projected shortfall of approximately $888 million.
Menendez noted that while it has long been known that states face immediate funding needs, the Republican Congress has failed to address the problem. If no action is taken soon, close to 700,000 low-income children across the country will lose health insurance, Doyle said.
Menendez said he is currently working to resolve the issue in Congress. ""Not a single member of Congress would let their own children go without health care, so why will this congress allow America's neediest children to go without health care?"" he said.
The state of Wisconsin is facing a shortfall of $7 to 10 million, according to Doyle.
""In Wisconsin we have been one of the leading states in health-care reform and one of my top priorities as governor has been to make health care more affordable and available for working families,"" Doyle said.
Doyle noted the core of his effort is the Badger Care program. This program provides insurance for approximately 93,000 working class people, including more than 28,000 kids.
""By next year our goal is to offer health insurance to every child in Wisconsin,"" said Doyle. ""It is extremely disappointing to us that at this time we're working to expand coverage for kids in Wisconsin that Washington and the Republican Congress is turning its back on some of our very specific needs.""
Doyle said he hoped Congress would resolve the issue in the next few weeks. ""It seems to me unthinkable that Congress would adjourn for the year in October without getting this done for the more than 700,000 kids who depend on this program nationwide,"" Doyle said.
