Gregg Underheim's Opening Statement
I am proud of my record as your representative in the 54th Assembly District. My policy initiaives have been creative, bold, and in the public interest. The area on which I have focused the most attention is health care.
My health initiative include the elimination of pre-exixting waiting periods in group health plans, which was included as an amendment to the W2 wefare reform bill and the creation of an independent external review(IER) process which allows patients to challenge HMO and insurance company decisions which patients believe are inappropriate. In translation that means if you have high blood pressure or diabetes or any other health condition you may move from one group insurance plan to another without having to wait 6 months for your new insurance to start coverage. The IER provision created an independent review board, a board not affiliated with an insurance company in any way, to which insurance company and HMO denials can be appealed. If the IER board agrees with the patient the HMO or insurance company is required by law to provide the coverage.
Additionally I am regarded as the leader in this state and a leader nationally on the issue of health care data. I was invited to speak in front of my peers at the National Conference of State Legislators this summer on this issue. If we are to control cost and improve quality we must get good information about the health care system. I have fought to make certain that patients and purchasers get good information about health care and I will continue to do so.
Another area in which I have passed creative and visionary legislation is the arts. Because of my efforts Wisconsin has a private foundation for the arts. It is funded by private donations that are eligible for tax credits. This is a public private partnership that seeks to provide additional funding for the arts through private gifts. The arts community is just beginning to focus on this funding opportunity and I expect that this will become a well known tool to enhance the arts.
Wisconsin's future will depend on our ability to keep and attract high paying jobs. To accomplish that objective we must keep our tax climate in line, create a regulatory climate that is hospitable to businesses and provide a quality of life that will encourage entrepreneurs to select Wisconsin as the place they choose to start their businesses.
The key to the tax climate is the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. First, we must see that the government sector in Wisconsin does not grow more rapidly than the private sector. Second, we must continue to find ways to improve our tax climate. Our income taxes are still high as are our property taxes. Candidates whose primary support comes from government will resist efforts to control government growth. Nevertheless, a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights will enable us to improve our tax climate.
Our regualtory environment has been a problem, too. Major employers in Wisconsin have decided to expand in other states, but not Wisconsin, because our regulatory environment is very difficult. The DNR seems to rejoice in denying permits to businesses to expand. They take months and longer to grant approvals. And many times those approvals may not be granted at all. Last session of the legislature, the Governor and the Legislature agreed on significant reforms that will make Wisconsin more business friendly. I am the only candidate in this race who has supported those reforms.
Those who lead Wisconsin into the future must have the courage to stand up to special interests and instead favor the public interest. My record is clear here. I have taken on the insurance industry, the drug industry, government employee groups, corporate medicine, and others. I will continue to fight for the public interest. I ask for your support in the 54th Assembly District election.
My health initiative include the elimination of pre-exixting waiting periods in group health plans, which was included as an amendment to the W2 wefare reform bill and the creation of an independent external review(IER) process which allows patients to challenge HMO and insurance company decisions which patients believe are inappropriate. In translation that means if you have high blood pressure or diabetes or any other health condition you may move from one group insurance plan to another without having to wait 6 months for your new insurance to start coverage. The IER provision created an independent review board, a board not affiliated with an insurance company in any way, to which insurance company and HMO denials can be appealed. If the IER board agrees with the patient the HMO or insurance company is required by law to provide the coverage.
Additionally I am regarded as the leader in this state and a leader nationally on the issue of health care data. I was invited to speak in front of my peers at the National Conference of State Legislators this summer on this issue. If we are to control cost and improve quality we must get good information about the health care system. I have fought to make certain that patients and purchasers get good information about health care and I will continue to do so.
Another area in which I have passed creative and visionary legislation is the arts. Because of my efforts Wisconsin has a private foundation for the arts. It is funded by private donations that are eligible for tax credits. This is a public private partnership that seeks to provide additional funding for the arts through private gifts. The arts community is just beginning to focus on this funding opportunity and I expect that this will become a well known tool to enhance the arts.
Wisconsin's future will depend on our ability to keep and attract high paying jobs. To accomplish that objective we must keep our tax climate in line, create a regulatory climate that is hospitable to businesses and provide a quality of life that will encourage entrepreneurs to select Wisconsin as the place they choose to start their businesses.
The key to the tax climate is the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. First, we must see that the government sector in Wisconsin does not grow more rapidly than the private sector. Second, we must continue to find ways to improve our tax climate. Our income taxes are still high as are our property taxes. Candidates whose primary support comes from government will resist efforts to control government growth. Nevertheless, a Taxpayer's Bill of Rights will enable us to improve our tax climate.
Our regualtory environment has been a problem, too. Major employers in Wisconsin have decided to expand in other states, but not Wisconsin, because our regulatory environment is very difficult. The DNR seems to rejoice in denying permits to businesses to expand. They take months and longer to grant approvals. And many times those approvals may not be granted at all. Last session of the legislature, the Governor and the Legislature agreed on significant reforms that will make Wisconsin more business friendly. I am the only candidate in this race who has supported those reforms.
Those who lead Wisconsin into the future must have the courage to stand up to special interests and instead favor the public interest. My record is clear here. I have taken on the insurance industry, the drug industry, government employee groups, corporate medicine, and others. I will continue to fight for the public interest. I ask for your support in the 54th Assembly District election.
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