One of Wisconsin's largest business groups has come out in support of a proposed hospital assessment in the Governor's budget repair bill.
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce now favors the proposal, which Governor Jim Doyle says is needed to help fix the state's $652 million budget deficit. Doyle says the group understands that the measure will help the state access more federal Medicaid dollars, which will reduce the amount of uncompensated care private insurance has to help cover. WMC opposed the measure when it was included in the last state budget.
Doyle says the change in position should convince Republicans to drop their opposition to the proposal. Assembly Republicans left the assessment out a budget repair bill they passed before adjourning for the session. GOP leaders say the assessment is a tax that will be passed on to the public.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:10)
