For Immediate Release
January 19, 2018
Contact: Brad Bainum, [email protected]
MADISON — Right-wing state Sen. Leah Vukmir today doubled down on her support for cutting Wisconsinites’ earned benefits, using an appearance on the Jay Weber Show to cheer Governor Scott Walker’s latest plans to put Wisconsinites’ access to Medicaid, food stamps and welfare at risk — praising Walker’s effort as “actually compassionate” and a “Christian way to approach public policy.”
“Vukmir’s cruel enthusiasm for cutting Medicaid is disturbing. Medicaid is a vital health care program that covers one-in-three Wisconsin kids, 60% of Wisconsinites who live in nursing homes and half of Wisconsinites who have a disability,” said Brad Bainum, DPW spokesperson for the 2018 Senate race. “There’s nothing compassionate or responsible about taking people’s health care away.”
Vukmir’s primary opponent Kevin Nicholson has similarly endorsed broad cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
WEBER: We’re talking with state Senator Leah Vukmir who’s running for the US Senate. You know, Medicaid reform and welfare reform are becoming bigger issues with the governor and with President Trump talking about different types of welfare reform, including rules that would have able-bodied adults working for those benefits. Senator Baldwin is gonna be in favor of no changes, no cuts. I assume you’re gonna be in favor of reforms and/or cuts. Is this a popular position in a general election in a state like Wisconsin? We have to make people work?
VUKMIR: It absolutely is and we’ve talked about this — this has been part of the governor’s focus in his administration, and many of the reforms that we have done with him as a legislature. And I think it shows responsibility.
As Republicans, look, we believe that it’s very important that we have a safety net for people who are in need, but we also have to make sure that people aren’t dependent on government. We want to give people that hand up, and not have them to continually need the services of government. I think that is just the responsible, actually compassionate, Christian way to approach public policy in these arenas.
