Despite the increasingly partisan political climate at the Capitol, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle agree on the importance of SeniorCare, a prescription drug program for the elderly that faces defunding in Walker's proposed budget.
According to state Rep. Andy Jorgensen, D-Fort Atkinson, the elderly would have to enroll in Medicare Part D, for which they would pay hundreds of dollars more each year. The tax money needed to support each individual using Medicare Part D would nearly triple from $588 under SeniorCare to $1,690 a year.
Jorgensen said the current SeniorCare program saves lives and state money. ""When something is not broke, you don't try to fix it,"" Jorgensen said. ""We have a governor who wants to tinker with it and there's no reason to.""
State Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and state Sen. Randy Hopper, R-Fond du Lac, who are both being targeted by recall campaigns in their respective districts, have also pledged to support the program.
""As we began to look at the governor's budget, it became clear to us immediately that we needed to preserve SeniorCare,"" Hopper said in a statement. ""I have not had a single senior tell me SeniorCare has got to go.""
Darling said it is important to keep in mind the needs of seniors, who are on fixed incomes and face rising health care costs.
""We will find a way to preserve SeniorCare,"" Darling promised.
—Samy Moskol
