Wisconsin Senate passes Universal Healthcare Plan

This hasn't been signed into law yet, but there's a possibility.

From Madison.com:

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A sweeping universal health care plan that would cover virtually every person in Wisconsin cleared the Democratic-controlled state Senate on Tuesday as part of the two-year budget.

It now heads to the Assembly, where Republicans who hold a slim five-seat majority are expected to delete the plan and a number of other tax increases in the $66.1 billion budget.

Ultimately, it will be up to a special bipartisan committee with lawmakers from both the Assembly and Senate to work out a budget that will be sent to Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle for his signature and vetoes.

Doyle has not said he supports the universal health care plan. But he has not said he would veto it either.

Because the budget won't pass until well after the start of the new fiscal year on July 1, state government will continue operating under existing spending levels.

Much of the debate in the Senate focused on the universal health care plan, to be funded with a $15 billion payroll tax and start in 2009. Various parts of the plan had been discussed for years, but the actual proposal wasn't introduced until Monday when a hearing was held. Many lawmakers argued it was being passed too quickly and without enough review.

But Democrats said the state was on the cusp of a historic change that would make Wisconsin the nation's health care leader.

"Today we have a historic opportunity to give our businesses, our families, our farmers, what they've been asking for for years. ... What they have been asking for are the same health care benefits as their state legislators," said Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson, D-Beloit.

Business groups assailed the proposal as too expensive and too radical a change that would put some small businesses out of business and put the state's health care system in disarray. But labor groups, some small business owners and others praised it, calling it an innovative way to guarantee health coverage for nearly all Wisconsinites.

The number of people without insurance would drop from around 472,000 to 15,000 under the plan. Nearly everyone would be required to participate in the plan and help pay for it through a payroll tax.

The plan is being paid for by payroll taxes. I guess it has to be paid some way and if by everyone paying, it lowers the cost, that's not a bad thing. My medicare is deducted from my Social Security and I still work part time so I am still paying into Social Security and Medicare so I am already on a similar system.