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Doyle introduces new basic health-care plan By Cathy Martin The Daily Cardinal
Gov. Jim Doyle introduced a health-care plan Thursday aiming to cover thousands of low-income, childless adults, but critics questioned a lack of details about the plan. The new plan, the BadgerCare Plus Basic Plan, will provide limited health-care access to those on the waiting list for the more comprehensive BadgerCare Plus Core Plan. The Core Plan, which was introduced last summer, halted its enrollment in October 2009 at 64,000 because of budget constraints. According to a statement from Doyle’s office, the Basic Plan will be a temporary solution for those who have been turned away. The Basic Plan will be funded entirely through an individually paid $130 monthly premium and will include some physician, hospital and prescription coverage. Kelly Becker, spokesperson for state Sen. Jon Erpenbach,
D-Waunakee, said though the plan is just a “bare-bones option,” it could help prevent cases of medical bankruptcy, one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the state. Robert Kraig, executive director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, said in a statement that though it remains to be seen how many eligible individuals will be able to afford the premiums, providing them with another possibility is a “very smart step.” Others are not so sure. Jim Bender, spokesperson for state Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, said none of the plan’s details are available, making it impossible to evaluate. How long the plan will be available is unknown. Stephanie Smiley, spokesperson for Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services, said as the economy improves, people will find jobs with employer-sponsored insurance and move off the Core badgercare page 3
U.S. Supreme Court overturns campaign funding restrictions By Hannah Furfaro The Daily Cardinal
Corporate donations to legislative and presidential campaigns are no longer restricted to maximum caps on their amount after a U.S. Supreme Court decision Tuesday overturned a 63-year-old law. In a 5-4 decision, the court decided corporations should be allowed under the First Amendment to draw from their own treasuries to fund campaigns. The ruling also effec-
tively overturns part of the McCain-Feingold Act restricting corporate-funded issue ads. According to Jay Heck, director of the government reform group Common Cause in Wisconsin, the decision “opens up the floodgates” for special interest funds. Heck said the net effect in Wisconsin will be an influx of money in legislative and gubernatorial elections. “For those of us who think campaigns page 3
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Weekend, January 22-24, 2010
UW-Madison student Tyler Lark (left), a member of Engineers Without Borders, helps fix a pipe in Haiti shortly before the earthquake. Students back in Madison are now doing what they can to help.
Photo courtesy eyleen chou
Campus unites to help in Haitian relief efforts By Kelsey Gunderson The Daily Cardinal
UW-Madison junior Maggie Baker is not the only student on campus who was devastated to hear about the earthquake in Haiti and felt compelled to do something to help out. Many UW-Madison students and organizations on campus are making an effort to provide relief to the people of Haiti. Baker is currently in the process of organizing a campuswide clothing drive to benefit those in Haiti. She said although UW-Madison students may be short on money, she believes it is still important to make the effort to help out.
“The clothing drive is an easy way to get a large number of people involved to promote the cause without necessarily asking for money,” she said. Baker said she is still working out the details of the drive but plans to have places for students to donate in common campus buildings like the Student Activity Center, the SERF and residence halls throughout next week. Several other UW-Madison students have planned events on campus throughout the next few weeks as well, including those in the Greek community. “We’re a connected world, and we need to help those in need, especially when we have the
money and resources and time on our hands to give to them,” said Betsy Pike, president of Gamma Phi Beta. Pike is one of over 200 UW-Madison students planning on attending the “Dance for Haiti” event Jan. 23, organized by the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. In addition, the Associated Students of Madison have discussed plans for a “Haiti Day of Action,” the Greek community plans to host a “Pray for Haiti” event Friday and, according to a UW-Madison release, UW Health donated about $15,000 to the Red Cross. Students can make Red Cross donations at redcross.org.
ASM negotiating with Madison Metro Transit over expiring bus pass contract
The Penn is mightier
By Samuel Berg The Daily Cardinal
lorenzo zemella/the daily cardinal
Badger basketball players Tara Steinbauer, Alyssa Karel and Taylor Wurtz (left to right) walk off the court after a 54-43 loss to Penn State at the Kohl Center Thursday night. Turn to Sports on page 8 for full coverage.
The future of the Associated Students of Madison bus pass program was the subject of discussions at the Downtown Coordinating Committee’s first meeting of the year Thursday. Committee members also discussed new electronic parking meters and the possible introduction of longer, articulated buses. The most pressing issue discussed at the meeting was the upcoming expiration of ASM’s agreement with Metro Transit that provides UW-Madison students with unlimited-ride bus passes. ASM and Metro Transit are currently negotiating the contract, which expires at the end of the 2009-’10 school year. It is not clear how last April’s bus fare hike
will affect the bus pass agreement. Bill Knobeloch, Madison’s parking operations manager, discussed the new computerized parking meters that will be installed throughout the city. Officials intend to replace 10 of the old parking meters with the new models by as soon as February. The new machines will accept credit and debit cards. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 8, brought up the possibility of paying via text messaging. Metro Transit General Manager Chuck Kamp said the city is considering the possibility of articulated buses, large buses with accordion bends in the center, being introduced into the transit system in the future. The new buses would have transit page 3
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”