The public has focused, with good reason, on collective bargaining restrictions in Gov. Scott Walker's budget-repair bill. But other items deserve more scrutiny, and to get it, they should be stripped from the bill and debated separately.
A few examples:
• Under the bill, the administration could rewrite the rules governing the state's Medicaid program on eligibility, benefits and cost-sharing, reviewed only by the Legislature's budget committee - co-chaired by members of Walker's Republican Party.
Those enrolled in the state's BadgerCare Plus and Core plans, FamilyCare and SeniorCare and Medicaid for those with disabilities and the elderly could be affected.
There is a shortfall in the state's health care efforts of $214 million this year and $1.8 billion over the next two years. But maintenance of care for the least vulnerable among us has to be a priority. Undue cuts to the Core program, in particular, would be disturbing.
The state persuaded Milwaukee County to give up its program to aid childless adults, taking on the responsibility itself. Walker, the former Milwaukee County executive, likely knows this. Even if the poverty level standards have changed, this is called bait and switch.
And the Department of Health Services, in any case, should not be able to make sweeping changes without more legislative, public and stakeholder input. True, there are federal constraints, but Walker proposes seeking a waiver from those constraints.
Our fear is that people - irrespective of need - will be bumped off the health care rolls, only to have them show up in emergency rooms for care. Hospitals will pass on costs to those with insurance.
• Another measure would allow Wisconsin to sell or contract out state-owned heating, cooling and power plants "with or without solicitation of bids."
There are concerns that this is payback for a major Walker campaign contributor, Koch Industries Inc., which says it isn't interested in the plants. If such sales do go to this company, we would share these worries. But "with or without solicitation of bids"? This reeks of sweetheart deals not in the best interests of taxpayers. Bad idea.
• Walker's collective bargaining proposal could jeopardize federal transit funding for mid-size Wisconsin cities because the feds require that these transit employees be able to bargain collectively.
We support some aspects of Walker's collective bargaining proposals, but even there, believe the governor has overreached. As for these other ideas? Strip them from the bill and have a legitimate debate.
Due to the Blizzard moving in our area,
