ELECTIONS

Scott Fitzgerald unsure if there's enough GOP support for school funding boost

Molly Beck
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON - Gov. Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Tony Evers have been campaigning on increasing state funding for schools, and Walker has promised a bill to protect health coverage of pre-existing conditions — but the Senate's GOP leader for a time Tuesday cast doubts on the idea of his caucus supporting either plan.

Hours later, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) reversed himself on the issue of pre-existing conditions.

At an early afternoon forum, he first told reporters that some Republican senators oppose legislation aimed at requiring coverage of pre-existing conditions because it is a mandate of health insurance providers.

But he later said the Senate would pass the legislation with his support.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (from left), Gov. Scott Walker 
 and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.

Fitzgerald, though, stuck by his reservations about restoring the state's commitment to funding two-thirds of school costs — which both Walker and Tony Evers have proposed.

"You're talking about a big chunk of change," Fitzgerald said about the increase in funding required to reach the benchmark. "If we can get back there — great. But I just get nervous when we kind of talk about those things not knowing where we are financially."

After the lunchtime forum, Fitzgerald said given the "heat" generated during this election cycle, he wouldn't rule out passing legislation Walker has called for that would require health insurers to provide coverage for pre-existing conditions, if a lawsuit aimed at repealing the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is successful. 

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"But I know I got members who are probably not on board, which is one of the reasons it wasn't something we tackled at the end of session," Fitzgerald said.

But later Tuesday, Fitzgerald issued a statement saying he supports existing coverage of pre-existing conditions and "if it becomes necessary to cover them in the future, the Senate would pass a bill to do so.”

Legislation requiring coverage for pre-existing conditions passed the Assembly earlier this year but was never brought to a vote in the Senate.

Walker has said he would fulfill his promise by calling a special session to pass the bill, while Evers has called on Walker to retract participation in the lawsuit to maintain current coverage of pre-existing conditions.

Tony Palese, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse), said Senate Democrats support the proposal to cover two-thirds of school costs but did not say whether they would support legislation Walker has called for to protect pre-existing conditions.

Palese said Democratic lawmakers oppose the lawsuit to overturn the ACA, and support current protections for pre-existing conditions.