patching...
Update: Keep up with Brookfield buzz — get our daily email with best of Brookfield: http://brookfield-wi.patch.com/newsletters
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Affordable Care Act

Friday, November 16, 2012

Gov. Walker Will Not Build State Health Insurance Exchange

The state will still have a health insurance exchange, something required under Obamacare, but the federal government will create and run it.

Gov. Scott Walker sent a letter Friday to the federal government that he will not build a state-based health insurance exchange. The letter was addressed to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and outlines the governer's basic objection to any of the options offered. "No matter which option is chosen, Wisconsin taxpayers will not have meaningful control over the health care policies and services sold to Wisconsin residents," Walker's letter reads. The options mandated by the Affordable Care Act are as follows: an exchange built and managed by an individual state subject to federal control; a partnership plan requiring the state to perform functions on behalf of the federal government; or a federal …

Comment_arrow

Lex Parsimoniae

11:20 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012

What exactly are "French benefits"...higher taxes? I know actually reading the U.S. Constitution is beyond 60% of the U.S. population's mental capacity, but you think some of you may have picked up something from "School House Rock". "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote …   more ›

Friday, October 26, 2012

Mammographies Made Cheaper Through Obamacare

Local health insurance experts weigh in on the Affordable Care Act's impact on the cost and access to mammography and other preventive cancer screenings.

Like other types of cancer, early detection is one of the most important factors in successfully fighting breast cancer. Now, mammographies are available through most private health plans without requiring a co-pay, co-insurance or other type of cost-sharing. This change, which effects insurance policies renewing on or after August 2012, was made under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, which was signed into law in 2010. This new insurance change is significant because studies show copays – even moderate copays – for mammograms and Pap smears are enough to deter women from obtaining these screenings, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In Wisconsin, it seems most health insurance plans already …

Steve Ebbie

3:18 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012

One has to wonder why anyone would think that making this diagnostic procedure more affordable can be anything but good. If you follow facts... insurance companies are now required to spend 80 percent of premiums collected on patient care. There is where the money comes from. If they do not spend it on care, they must provide a refund. If you know other facts... finding an illness in later stages…   more ›

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Paul Ryan Sought Obamacare Funding for Health Clinic

Even though he's pushing for the repeal of the federal Affordable Care Act, a report says Republican vice presidential nominee requested money from the law to help a Racine clinic.

Like most Republican candidates in this fall's election, vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan is adamant about calling for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare." But a report published Wednesday said Ryan didn't have a problem nearly two years ago asking for federal ACA money to establish a neighborhood health clinic in Racine. In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services in December 2010, Ryan asked officials for due diligence in reviewing a grant application from the Kenosha Community Health Center to establish similar medical services in Racine, according to a story from Lee Fang at TheNation.com. Ryan recommended approval to “serve both the preventative and comprehensive primary healthcare needs …

Comment_arrow

Bydand76

11:31 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012

Canned green beans are awesome Fresh green beans are butt nasty.... Except when served with asparagus! ;-)   more ›

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Wisconsin's GOP Senate Primary Now a Close Three-Way Race, Poll Suggests

The latest survey from Public Policy Polling shows Hovde and Thompson still ahead, but Neumann is catching up just two weeks before the primary.

Just under two weeks from the Aug. 14 primary, the GOP race for Wisconsin's open U.S. Senate seat is up for grabs, according to a new poll from Public Policy Polling. The poll shows businessman Eric Hovde in the lead with 28 percent of the vote, followed by former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson and businessman and former congressman Mark Neumann, each with 25 percent. But with the margin of error at plus or minus 4.9 percentage points, it could be anybody's race. The poll surveyed 400 likely GOP primary voters, asking who would get their vote "if the election was today." It was conducted via automated telephone message on Monday and Tuesday. The surge from Neumann, who in polls conducted earlier in July had dropped to 10 percent, marked a …

Kathy Appazeller

8:41 am on Monday, August 6, 2012

Tammy Baldwin all the way. Go Tammy Go!!!!!!!!   more ›

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Wisconsin U.S. Senate Race Roundup: July 26

Here are the latest updates from the campaign trail in the race to be the next U.S. senator from Wisconsin.

Leading up to the Aug. 14 primary, Patch will regularly bring you the latest news from the campaigns for Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seat in play this election cycle. WISN cancels debate WISN-TV (Channel 12) on Tuesday cancelled a debate planned with GOP candidates due to scheduling issues between the station and Eric Hovde's campaign. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, representatives of the station were able to get commitments from the Tommy Thompson, Mark Neumann and Jeff Fitzgerald campaigns, but they did not come to a consensus with Hovde. The debate was set to take place at the Marquette University Law School on July 31, Aug. 2 or Aug. 7. A debate is still planned for the winner of the Aug. 14 primary and Democratic candidate …

Keith Best

6:33 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

ABB-------Anybody But Baldwin!   more ›

Monday, July 16, 2012

Wisconsin U.S. Senate Race Roundup: July 16

Here are the latest updates from the campaign trail in the race to be the next U.S. senator from Wisconsin.

Leading up to the Aug. 14 primary, Patch will regularly bring you the latest news from the campaigns for Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seat in play this election cycle. GOP Hopefuls Issue Dueling Ads, Release Second Quarter Fundraising Totals As the negative sparring among GOP candidates picks up, their respective campaigns are turning on the heat with new advertisements. Following an ad aired Friday by the conservative Mark Neumann-backing political action committee Club for Growth, the Eric Hovde campaign quickly released an ad of its own, responding to what it called an attack from the Neumann campaign. The markedly-negative ad from the Hovde camp highlights Neumann's voting record and cites his "attack" on Gov. Scott Walker, ending with "We'…

Comment_arrow

James R Hoffa

1:51 am on Friday, August 3, 2012

@$$andNonsense - And I suppose that you were one of those who condemned the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy for his communist witch-hunts, while giving the Kennedy's a free pass while they engaged in similar, if not more outrageous communist witch-hunts of their own. Accusing Hoffa of being a communist! Only a Kennedy would even dare! Your revisionist histrionics make Hoffa ill!   more ›

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Washington Report

On Top of Everything Else, Obamacare Slaps Tax on Religious Freedom

Not only does health care law expands the role of government to unprecedented levels, its taxes also decimate our religious liberties.

The Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare, gives the federal government the tools to tax religiously-affiliated schools, hospitals, universities and soup kitchens right out of existence if they object to a government mandate. Last week, I voted to repeal Obamacare because the entire law is bad policy, the mandate expands the role of government to unprecedented levels, and the taxes decimate our religious liberties. This cannot stand. We have heard a lot about the mandates in the law, but we have not heard much about these hidden taxes on religious freedom. Obamacare includes provisions that trigger penalties already written into our current tax code if the employer chooses not to comply, based on religious or moral convictions, with …

Comment_arrow

John Wilson

12:16 pm on Monday, October 1, 2012

Keith Best - I want freedom FROM religion! You flat-earthers have just about killed everything beautiful on this planet!   more ›

Friday, June 29, 2012

Wisconsin Reaction on Supreme Court Ruling Divided by Party Lines

Wisconsin Republicans say that 5-4 ruling to upheld the federal Affordable Care Act will strengthen their resolve for to push for repeal, while Democrats praise the ruling.

In a highly anticipated ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court today upheld the Affordable Care Act, the health care reform law that President Barack Obama signed into law in 2010 and his top priority in the first two years of his administration. The high court, by a 5-4 vote, upheld the entire law. The controversial law — known as "Obamacare" to critics — expands health care coverage to millions of uninsured Americans. In Wisconsin, the reaction was divided along political lines. Republicans said the ruling would motivate them even more to push for the repeal of the law, while Democrats lauded the decision. Gov. Scott Walker, in a statement, said Wisconsin will not take any action to implement the provisions of the federal law. "I am hopeful that…

Jack Sparry

11:22 pm on Thursday, July 5, 2012

The Anti-Alinsky, so you are telling me that the reason why the Romneycare is ok because it was passed in one state? It still means that in Romney vision, he wanted a health care law passed. If the health care law Obama passed was different, you would have a valid point that there is a difference. According to Scott Walker, he will not pass the law in WI. So what is everyone argument. If Romney …   more ›

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Conservatives Rally at 'Hands Off My Health Care' Event

Waukesha County woman at Americans for Prosperity rally in Waukesha predicts Supreme Court ruling is "the nail in his coffin" for President Barack Obama's re-election possibilities.

Kim Kubena, a Waukesha County woman, was among those conservatives who were disappointed with the Supreme Court’s upholding of the Affordable Care Act. Kubena, a small business owner from Delafield, has many reasons she’s against the legislation. Beyond projected costs increases for health insurance, she doesn’t feel government should mandate health insurance. She is also opposed to it for religious reasons – as a Christian she doesn’t think abortions and birth control should be covered as health care reforms signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010. Kubena was among hundreds rallying at the Country Springs Hotel in Waukesha with the Americans for Prosperity group. Conservative talk show host Vicki McKenna was among those speaking…

superdavefive

10:20 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012

People are out there who don't want or need health insurance? They might not need it now, but what happens when they get sick or hurt. I personally don't need auto insurance. I'm not planning on getting into an accident. This may sound silly to you, but sounds about the same to me. If people don't want dental insurance that is fine. Let their teeth fall out. If people don't want health insurance …   more ›

Experts Say Both Sides Win With Health Care Decision

Academic experts weigh in on what the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act in its entirety means for citizens and the political parties.

With the U.S. Supreme Court Thursday upholding the Affordable Care Act as constitutional, elected officials and hopefuls alike should be pretty satisfied, according to one Wisconsin professor. "The general status quo is that Republicans are against the health care law and Democrats are for it," said Charles Franklin, an expert in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and director of the Marquette University Law School poll project. "So, really, the high court's decision should make both sides politically happy because they can stick to their talking points." For the Obama Administration, they can say they did the right thing because the law passed constitutional muster, he added. Mitt Romney, whom President Barack …

robert heule

4:08 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012

Johnny, regardless of what you think of the Supreme Court Justices, to call them government workers is an insult to the Court in general. As much as I would like to see Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia leave the Court, I wouldn't refer to them as you did, even though your terminology may be technically correct.   more ›

Got a Hot Tip?
 
 

Videos