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New Projection Shows Wisconsin Would Save $1 Billion if Walker Expands Medicaid

December 16, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement after an updated projection from the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau showed a full Medicaid expansion allowed under Obamacare would save the state more than $1 billion through 2020-21:

"If Governor Walker would just expand Medicaid, our state could save $1 billion. This is a staggering amount of money Wisconsin desperately needs to offset the haphazard budget cuts imposed by Gov. Walker. The fact is because of Walker's actions we are going to face an even worse budget next year, which will yet again fail to provide critical investment in programs that matter most to the people of Wisconsin.

"If we expanded Medicaid, an additional 83,000 Wisconsinites could receive health care coverage and save our state $1 billion dollars in the process. It would be a huge win for our state. Plus, I'm sure we could find a few things to use some of this $1 billion in savings on like restoring cuts to the University of Wisconsin system, properly funding school districts, or maybe even fixing our crumbling roads and bridges, for starters. Now that Gov. Walker is back in Wisconsin, hopefully we can find a path forward for our state that grows our economy and creates good paying jobs."

Issues:Healthcare