Governor Doyle Statement on House Vote for Medicaid, Education Jobs

Statement

Governor Doyle today issued the following statement on the House passage of legislation to extend the enhanced federal assistance for Medicaid and education jobs:

"I've said it many times, we cannot ask a second grader to come back and complete their studies five years from now when the economy has turned around. The education we provide now will be the strength of our state and nation for decades to come.

"The education jobs funds that the House passed today are essential to reinstating laid-off teachers and hiring more teachers to fill critical openings in our schools before the new school year. Superintendent Evers and I are working with the school districts to ensure that this funding will be used carefully and without delay to ensure that our students have additional good, quality teachers in front of their classrooms this fall.

"The House also passed Medicaid funding that will help alleviate severe stress on our balanced state budget as a result of increased demand in Medicaid. Without this funding Wisconsin would have faced significant job losses in the private health care industry.

"I would like to thank President Obama and Congress for their work to protect health care and ensure that students and schools are taken care of during this critical time."

Under the bill, Wisconsin would receive $185 million in Medicaid (FMAP) assistance and $180 million to save and create education jobs.

Governor Doyle has been a national leader in developing strategies to ensure that education does not deteriorate during the Great Recession. Governor Doyle has worked with the White House, House and Senate leadership, key Administration officials and fellow Governors to minimize the effect that the national recession has on Wisconsin schools and other local services, like public safety and health care.

In addition to the $180 million to save and create education jobs, in the first year of the Recovery Act, Wisconsin received over $1 billion for education because of the Governor's leadership. Without those additional education funds, Wisconsin schools would have had to make 15 to 20 percent cuts to their budgets -- devastating schools across the state.

Without the $185 million in Medicaid assistance, Wisconsin would have faced significant job losses in the private health care industry and $647 million in cuts to Medicaid that would affect thousands of families.

Governor Doyle thanked President Obama, Congressman Obey and the other members of Congress who voted for this legislation.

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