Politics & Government

Greendale Residents Speak Out About Mental Services, School Vouchers

One Greendale resident spoke out against the expansion of the school voucher program. Another resident spoke out in favor of expanding the Medicaid program.

A number of Greendale residents spoke out about a number of issues that include the expansion of the school voucher program and mental health services at the Joint Finance Committee hearing on the state budget held Thursday at Greendale High School. 

The hearing was the first of four being held around the state to give residents the chance to have their say on Gov. Scott Walker’s 2013-15 budget. After the hearings, the committee will vote on any changes before sending their version on to the Assembly and Senate.

School Voucher Program

Kathleen Wied-Vincent, who recently ran for the Greendale School Board, spoke out against the expansion of the school voucher program.

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Wied-Vincent, who has taught in public, private and charter schools, told lawmakers the expansion of the school voucher program would dismantle the public school system in Wisconsin. 

Gov. Scott Walker announced a plan earlier this year that would expand school vouchers to families in a number of school district who have underperforming schools.

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She told lawmakers the same high-level of education given at Greendale should be given at all public schools across the state.

"As I stand here before you tonight we have always prided ourselves in the District of Greendale on the high level of education we provide all students," Wied-Vincent told lawmakers. 

Wied-Vincent also said voucher schools don't have the same accountability that public schools have. 

Medicaid Purchase Plan (MAPP) 

Kathy Clemsi, a new resident to Greendale, asked lawmakers to consider the expansion of the MAPP program, which offers people with disabilities the opportunity to buy health care coverage through the program.

Clemsi has lived with a mental illness since her teenage years. Despite her illness Clemsi graduated college and became a health inspector in Southeastern Wisconsin. Eventually, her symptoms became too much and she could no longer work.

She asked legislatures to keep people like her in mind during the budget process.

"I feel like I matter but living with mental illness I don’t matter," Clemsi told lawmakers. "There are people out here like me that do matter."

Under his budget, Walker is rejecting the expansion of the Medicaid program that would be federally funded. Instead he plans to switch some Medicaid patients to a government-subsidized private insurance that starts next year, reported the Wisconsin State Journal.

Clemsi told lawmakers her medicine could cost up to $10,000 a year and for people with mental illness Medicaid is an extremely important program.


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