Capitol Report
By State Representative, Leon D. Young
Truth be told, there’s no shortage of mean-spirited, draconian initiates in Scott Walker’s 2015-2017 state budget. With the exception of the $300 million cut to UW system, budget recommendation that heretofore has garnered the most opposition is the GOP’s plan to eviscerate the SeniorCare program.
Seniorcare provides low-cost, life-saving prescription drugs to approximately 85,000 Wisconsin residents aged 65 or older.
Unlike Part D, Seniorcare has a simple enrollment process, a $30 annual enrollment fee, income-based deductibles and co-payments of just $5 for generic medications.
Under Walker’s current proposal that defunds the program by $15 million over biennium, SeniorCare would be drastically altered. Wisconsin seniors would now be forced to enroll in the federal Medicare Part D program in order to receive SeniorCare services from the state.
More specifically, this new requirement would result in two negative outcomes for Wisconsin seniors: A radical reduction in prescription drug coverage and a sharp increase in prescription costs.
With that being said, there now appears to be some push back regarding SeniorCare stemming from the Republican ranks – of all places.
In a statement by Joint Finance Committee co-chair John Nygren (RMarinette), he indicated that Seniorcare could still see some changes but noted [Republican] lawmakers won’t approve Walker’s plan to force tens of thousands participants in it to enroll private plans available through the federal Medicare Part D benefit.
As we have seen so often, the Republican controlled Legislature has virtually been in lockstep with Scott Walker’s political agenda – Act 10, Voter ID and Right-to-Work are just three examples.
So, why are fellow Republicans strategically departing ways with Walker now on the Seniorcare issue?
The answer is simple: SeniorCare a highly popular and successful program that boasts a hefty enrollment membership statewide.
More important, seniors vote early and in high numbers.
Hence, elected officials (even Republicans) don’t want to stir up the ire of this formidable voting group.