Wirch Defends Dems' Universal Health Plan at KABA Breakfast
Local lawmakers also discuss water diversion, economic development

By Joe Potente
Kenosha News

While the continuing state budget slowdown likely weighed on the minds of everyone, local lawmakers also touched issues from water diversion to health care Friday, at the Kenosha Area Business Alliance's latest legislative update breakfast.

In front of a potentially tough audience at the Kenosha Country Club, state Sen. Robert Wirch, D-Pleasant Prairie, took another shot at defending the Senate Democrats' Healthy Wisconsin universal health plan, which budget negotiators officially removed from the table last month. The KABA board took a formal position against it in August.

"At least we put a proposal on the table, and we think it's a good proposal," Wirch said. "Is it a perfect proposal? No. We want a dialog."

Wirch said observers should expect to see Democrats reintroduce the measure as proposed legislation that will try to be more helpful to small businesses.

As proposed as part of the Senate budget package, the plan would have levied $15.2 billion in new payroll taxes annually - 10.5 percent on wages paid by employers and 4 percent on employees' wages - to fund a mandatory program that would offer all residents the same health coverage state employees receive.

In staking out its position against the proposal, the KABA board expressed concern that the tax would have a significant negative effect on economic development and new business starts.

At Friday's breakfast, Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Randall, argued the plan would make Wisconsin a haven for people with "high-cost" illnesses.

"Healthy Wisconsin does nothing to address health care costs," she also said.

Wirch countered with his belief that Healthy Wisconsin would lower employers' health care costs. Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser, D-Kenosha, credited it for elevating the state's intellectual debate on health care.

As for water diversion, Wirch updated the audience on the state's effort to sign onto the Great Lakes Compact, which would regulate how bordering U.S. states and Canadian provinces treat the lakes. Talks in the Capitol stalled recently, amid debate about the merits of allowing communities such as Waukesha to siphon water outside of the Great Lakes watershed.

Wirch noted that Pleasant Prairie holds the first ever diversion permit, though he said the Kenosha area is a good steward of water - it returns more water to Lake Michigan than it removes, he said. Wirch promised that Kenosha's economic development interests would be reflected in the final compact that the state approves.

On economic development, Rep. John Steinbrink, D-Pleasant Prairie, said too many politicians try to paint a negative picture of the state, rather than trying to attract new jobs and new employers.

"People look to Kenosha, Pleasant Prairie, Somers - all of the southeast region - as a great location for business," Steinbrink said.

Rep. Thomas Lothian, RWilliams Bay, also attended Friday's breakfast but did not speak.