Vos once again says no to vote on bipartisan postpartum bill
Assembly Democrats also tried to introduce amendments to a bill already on the floor that would extend postpartum Medicaid coverage, but Republicans blocked them as well.
In the final floor session of the year, Assembly leadership blocked the bipartisan postpartum bill from being taken up for a vote – again.
The bill would allow eligible mothers to keep their Medicaid coverage for a year postpartum. Currently in Wisconsin, mothers only get 60 days of coverage if they don’t otherwise qualify for Medicaid.
Democrats attempted to use a procedural rule to bypass the committee and move the bill directly to the floor for a vote. At the last minute, Republicans pushed the bill to a new committee making that procedural rule moot.
Assembly speaker Robin Vos refused to bring the bill up for a vote, saying simply he doesn’t support expanding “welfare.” Assembly Democrats also tried to introduce amendments to a bill already on the floor that would extend postpartum Medicaid coverage, but Republicans blocked them as well. Vos previously blocked a vote on the bill during the 2023-24 session.
“These are legislators who believe that this bill should become law, so they say, but they have been bullied by their speaker into not pushing for a vote on this bill on the floor,” Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) said. “Frankly, Robin Vos’ move to prevent us from circulating this petition and his refusal to bring this bill to the floor is pathetic, and when moms in Wisconsin and their babies are put at risk, their health and well-being is put at risk, because they do not have adequate health care in the year after they have given birth, it will be Robin Vos’ fault.”
Wisconsin and Arkansas are the only states that haven’t extended postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months. This added coverage will save lives. State Representative Lee Snodgrass said, “With wide bipartisan and bicameral support, Wisconsin is without excuse in refusing to pass this lifesaving care expansion for mothers and babies. Forty-eight other states recognize this. Wisconsin has a moral imperative to join them.”
All 45 Assembly Democratic lawmakers are cosponsors of the Assembly Bill 97 as are over 20 Republicans. Local co-sponsors include Joy Goeben (R-Hobart), Nate Gustafson (R-Omro), Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah), Lori Palmeri (D-Oshkosh), Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca), Lee Snodgrass (D-Appleton), and Rob Tusler (R-Harrison).
The bill already passed in the Senate back in April on a 32-1 vote.
