Healthcare

Wisconsin’s New AG Will Withdraw From Pre-Existing Condition Lawsuit

Written by SK Ashby

In the weeks leading up to the midterm elections, Republicans swore up and down that they would preserve access to health care for people with pre-existing conditions.

That was a lie, of course, as the Republicans who said that were actually leading the charge in a lawsuit intended to invalidate coverage for pre-existing conditions.

For the most part, voters didn't buy the GOP's story and now at least one state will be removed from the lawsuit.

Newly elected Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, has pledged to withdraw from the 20-state lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.

"When I take office, I will also work with [Democratic Gov.-elect] Tony Evers to withdraw from the lawsuit that's seeking to invalidate the Affordable Care Act," he said after his election last week. "No one in Wisconsin should be denied health insurance coverage because of a pre-existing condition. And protections for people with a pre-existing condition shouldn't be put at risk."

Democrats flipped control of seven governor's mansions this month and in many ways that was just as important as flipping control of the House of Representatives.

Republican-controlled states have gerrymandered their districts and led the opposition to social progress at a time when the federal government has been more or less paralyzed by Republican intransigence.

In Wisconsin specifically, Scott Walker's government rolled back labor rights across the board, cut funding for lower and higher education, and set up new barriers to access food stamps and health care. As much as they would have liked to, the Republican Congress didn't do these things; the Republican state government did.

Democrats should fight for control of every state government and stop waiting for a dysfunctional Congress to fix everything.

Don't vote for people who want you dead and good things can happen.