MADISON, Wis. – As Vice President JD Vance prepares to head to La Crosse touting President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, Governor Tony Evers’s administration has released a new analysis indicating the bill will cost the state $284 million in future budgets, lead to 270,000 Wisconsinites losing healthcare coverage, and significantly alter the state’s food share programs.
“I’ve been clear from the get-go that Republicans’ so-called ‘big beautiful bill’ is bad for Wisconsin—for the 270,000 people kicked off their healthcare coverage, and the tens of thousands of kids, seniors, and families who won’t be able to afford basic food necessities,” said Governor Evers. “And now, it’s also clear this bill is just as bad for Wisconsin taxpayers, who will be forced to help foot the bill for Republicans’ red-tape requirements just to make it harder for folks to get the care they need and food to eat. Folks, there’s nothing ‘beautiful’ about it.”
Earlier estimates this year from the state indicated 63,000 Wisconsinites could lose Medicaid coverage under the bill.
Analysis released August 28 by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services indicates as many as 43,700 Wisconsinites could lose access to basic food necessities. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as “FoodShare” in Wisconsin “helps provide nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites, including seniors, kids, and families, with basic food necessities,” according to the Governor Evers administration.
The estimates released claim the new changes under the bill will require the Republican-led Wisconsin Legislature to approve nearly $70 million in new funding for immediate implementation costs for the remainder of the current biennium.
A White House spokesperson responded to the Governor’s analysis Thursday, stating the bill would end up saving Wisconsinites an average of $3,183 in 2026 and increasing an average family of four’s take home pay by approximately $10,000.
“The law roots out Medicaid and SNAP’s waste, fraud, and abuse the American taxpayers are currently paying for by removing illegal immigrants and requiring able bodied welfare recipients to actively look for work – a widely supported concept in Wisconsin. Wisconsin taxpayers should be confident that welfare programs are supporting the individuals they were designed to help,” said the spokesperson.
The domestic policy and budget bill reaches full implementation in 2028.
Vice President Vance will speak on August 28 at a steel fabrication facility in La Crosse, a city he last visited one day before the 2024 general election. La Crosse County cast just under 54% of its 72,261 votes for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the election.
His visit also comes one day after Governor Evers formally submitted a request for a disaster declaration from the Trump administration following history flooding in Southeast Wisconsin August 9 and 10. Joint preliminary damage assessments of individual properties were conducted in Milwaukee, Washington, and Waukesha counties earlier this month; Wisconsin Emergency Management and FEMA determined there were 1,500 residential structures that were destroyed or sustained major damage, with total damage costs estimated at over $33 million, according to the Governor.
Author’s note: This story has been updated to provide the White House’s response to the Evers’ administration’s analysis.
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