Assembly approves bill that would give budget committee oversight of health insurance program

MADISON — The Wisconsin Assembly has approved a bill that would give the Legislature's budget committee the power to sign off on changes to the state's health insurance program, even though Gov. Scott Walker has promised to veto the proposal.


The bill would give the Joint Finance Committee oversight of the Group Health Insurance Program, which covers thousands of state and local public employees. The finance committee's leaders say they want oversight as the program's board contemplates moving to a self-insurance model.

The Assembly approved the bill on a 90-2 vote. It now goes to the Senate.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says given bipartisan support for the measure, he hopes Walker will not veto it.

Walker says the Legislature's employment committee already oversees the program and additional oversight would only create delays.