A Republican state lawmaker says he was just as surprised as anyone to learn about a letter from federal officials ordering the state to lift a cap on the Family Care program.
State Representative Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) was at the press conference Wednesday morning, where Governor Walker announced he was ending the cap because of cost savings found in the program.
Kaufert says no mention was about a letter sent by federal officials earlier this month, which informed the state the cap was not allowed and directed officials to reopen the program. Kaufert says the first he found about it was when the letter became public later that day.
The Neenah Republican, who backed efforts to create the Family Care program, says the letter is clearly what “forced the administration’s hand” on lifting the cap.
AUDIO: Rep. Dean Kaufert (:15)
Despite the omission, Kaufert says lifting the cap is still the right thing to do and more people will now be able to take advantage of the program. However, he says the governor will likely need to do mend some fences to win legislative approval for the expansion plan, which will go before the Joint Finance Committee early next year.
AUDIO: Rep. Kaufert (:09)
The Walker administration insists it was the Governor’s decision to lift the cap, saying he always planned to do so by the end of the year.
Rick Schuh, WHBY