President Obama has signed federal legislation that will help maintain Wisconsin's BadgerCare Plus program.
The State Children's Health Insurance Program legislation signed Wednesday reauthorizes funding for programs that provide insurance for low-income children, such as BadgerCare Plus. Governor Jim Doyle says the money is badly needed, as the state grapples with a nearly $5.7 billion budget deficit.
Doyle says Wisconsin was facing the possibility of either having to cut kids from the program or cover the missing federal dollars with state funds.
The SCHIP reauthorization provides an additional $10 million worth of federal matching funds to the state for use by BadgerCare Plus. The program provides coverage to about 70,000 children in Wisconsin.
Doyle attended the bill signing Wednesday in Washington D.C. He says the action has been long awaited, after former President Bush vetoed the measure because he “wasn't ready to commit” to long term funding for the program.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:00)
