Gov. Tony Evers announced Wednesday he is calling a special session for the Wisconsin State Legislature to expand BadgerCare and invest the $1 billion into the state’s economic recovery realized under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Evers signed Executive Order #116 calling a special session for the Wisconsin State Legislature to take place Tuesday, May 25 at 1 p.m. Wisconsin officials recently learned the state will receive $700 million less under the ARPA than previously expected due to the state’s higher employment numbers.
“From Superior to Darlington, Eau Claire to Manitowoc, Wausau to Racine, and everywhere in between, we’re going to take the savings we’ll realize by expanding BadgerCare and invest them into more than 50 projects and economic development initiatives across the state,” Evers said in a statement.
“It’s time for Republican leadership to put politics aside, and let’s work together to invest in our economic recovery and development so we can bounce back from COVID-19 stronger, healthier, and better than we were before this pandemic hit.”
Republicans have long resisted Medicaid expansion and voted to remove Medicaid expansion from Evers’ 2021-23 biennial budget proposal earlier this month.
