EAU CLAIRE, Wisc. – Today, Alex Obolensky, campaign manager for Rebecca Cooke for Congress, released the following statement:
We are incredibly disappointed that Katrina Shankland has chosen to attack the broad coalition of support for Rebecca’s campaign and taken this race negative in an attempt to hide her troubling record in the Assembly. For weeks, she has lobbed attacks against Rebecca in both advertising and in candidate debates while our campaign maintained its focus on reaching voters where they are and communicating about Rebecca’s working-class background, track record of delivering results to strengthen our economy, and drive for solutions for our rural communities.
Now, Shankland is once again attempting to muddy the waters in a desperate attempt to hide her record of undermining BadgerCare and siding with other politicians who put self-interest before the interests of the people they are supposed to serve. Shankland is clearly trying to cling to relevance due to her toxic record being exposed. It is frankly embarrassing to see someone who claims to be a public servant crying foul and indulging in vicious, dishonest attacks out of only a shallow sense of personal ambition.
The facts are clear:
- Shankland was the only Democrat to side with then-Gov. Scott Walker and vote in committee with Republicans to block the Governor from expanding BadgerCare, denying coverage to 90,000 Wisconsinites and contributing to hospital closures.
- Shankland has consistently voted with Republicans, including stopping the Governor from reducing healthcare costs and voting for tax cuts for the wealthy.
Shankland ought to explain what is inaccurate about these facts.
If Shankland is afraid of voters learning about her record, she should have behaved and voted differently as a State Legislator. She says she wants to run on her experience, so it’s long past time that she be held accountable for these troubling votes. The people of western Wisconsin deserve answers.
This race is critically important not just for the future of our region, but that of the country. Such aimless attacks from Shankland undermine Democratic unity within the district, the party’s chances of retaking this seat, and our goal of restoring responsible Democratic leadership in the House. The groups Shankland is now attacking are supporting Rebecca Cooke because they want to send Derrick Van Orden packing, and they know Rebecca is the Democrat who can win.
Rebecca Cooke is the only candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s Third District who has the lived experience to win, right priorities for this moment, and is clearly on the side of Wisconsin families. As demonstrated in recent polling, Rebecca has a clear, commanding lead in the primary and is the only candidate who can defeat Derrick Van Orden in November. Democratic leaders, labor organizations, farmers, and small business owners agree: while Van Orden plays partisan games and threatens our freedoms, democracy, and pocketbooks, Rebecca Cooke is the clear choice for Congress ready to get things done on our behalf.
BACKGROUND
Shankland Posted a Redbox to Her Website on June 18, 2024. [KatrinaShanklandForCongress.com, accessed 6/18/24]
Shankland Updated her Redbox on July 9, 2024, Calling on Outside Campaign Spenders to Draw a Contrast with Rebecca. [KatrinaShanklandForCongress.com, accessed 7/9/24]
Shankland Began Attacking Cooke Directly Advertising on July 10, 2024. [Shankland Campaign YouTube, 7/10/14]
Shankland Has Claimed Throughout Campaign She Voted To Lower Healthcare Costs, Failing To Mention She Voted With Republicans To Make It Harder For Wisconsin To Expand Medicaid. Shankland has claimed to “pass laws to make healthcare more affordable,” increased “access to affordable healthcare in rural areas,” and supported Medicaid expansion. She fails to mention, that while in the legislature, she sided with Republicans to make it harder to expand Medicaid in Wisconsin. In 2018, Shankland was the only Democrat in committee to vote to explicitly prevent the Governor of Wisconsin from expanding Medicaid without approval from the state Legislature. She then voted with Republicans for the bill’s final passage, which included the same provision. Shankland was one of only 19 Democrats to vote for the bill.
Shankland Voted Twice To Block The Governor From Expanding Medicaid Without Approval From The GOP State Legislature. On February 13, Shankland was the only Democrat on the Joint Committee on Finance to vote for Senate Bill 770, which included a provision to prevent the Governor of Wisconsin from expanding Medicaid without approval from the state Legislature.
- “Gov. Walker’s plan to hold down Obamacare premiums passes without a way to pay for it,” Jason Stein, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 02/13/2018
On near party-line votes, Republicans on the budget committee amended and approved Senate Bill 770, which calls for using a mix of federal and state dollars to hold down premium increases for insurance sold directly to individuals and families under the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) voted with Democrats against the amendment but then with Republicans in approving the bill.
…
Republicans also slipped into the bill a provision that would explicitly prevent Wisconsin’s governor from expanding Medicaid without lawmakers’ approval. Democrats said that amounted to an admission that Republicans are worried about Walker’s re-election, since he firmly opposes that Medicaid expansion.
On February 20, 2018, Shankland was one of 19 Democrats to vote with Republicans to pass SB 770, which included the provision to block the Governor of Wisconsin from expanding Medicaid without approval from the state legislature.
[Senate Bill 770, Passage as Amended, Joint Committee on Finance, 2/13/2018; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2/13/18; SB 770, Vote #271, 2/20/18; “Roll Call: WI SB 770, 2017-18, Regular Session,” LegiScan, 2/28/18; “2017 Wisconsin Act 138-Wisconsin Healthcare Stability Plan,” Wisconsin Legislative Council Act Memo, 3/14/18]
Due to Bill Shankland Helped Pass, Wisconsin One of Just 10 States to Not Expand Medicaid. Because of the bill Shankland helped pass, Wisconsin is one of just 10 states that still hasn’t expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. Expanding Medicaid would cover almost 90,000 Wisconsinites who currently don’t have access to affordable healthcare coverage. And since 2019, Governor Evers has repeatedly tried to expand Medicaid, but due to Republican opposition in the state legislature, has been unsuccessful. [“Status of State Medicaid Expansion Decisions: Interactive Map,” Kaiser Family Foundation, 5/8/24; “Governor Evers’ 2023-25 Biennial Budget, Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services]
Due to Bill Shankland Helped Pass, Wisconsin Has Seen Multiple Hospitals Close, Likely Due To State Not Expanding Medicaid. In 2024, Governor Evers said that the lack of federal dollars was likely a factor in the closing of Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls. Expanding Medicaid would help protect rural hospitals across the state that are on the brink of close, ensuring our local communities don’t lose access to critical healthcare services. [WisPolitics, 8/10/23; Leader Telegram, 1/24/24]
In Shankland’s Ads, She Cites “Act 228, 2021” And “Act 9, 2021” As Examples Of Work On Healthcare, But Voted “Not Voting” On Final Passage Of Both. In her ad, “Track Record,” Shankland cited “Act 228, 2021” and “Act 9, 2021” as two examples of laws she passed to “make healthcare more affordable” and “reduce prescription drug costs.” While Shankland was a sponsor of AB 874 (Act 228) and a cosponsor of SB 3 (Act 9), she voted “not voting” on the final passage of both these bills. She also did not take any other votes (committee, first passage, etc) on either of the bills. [Senate Bill 3, Vote #24, 3/16/21; Assembly Bill 874, Vote #235, 2/3/22]
AP: “Wisconsin Republicans Vote To Kill Medicaid Expansion.” [Associated Press, 6/9/19]
AP: “Wisconsin Republicans Quickly Kill Medicaid Expansion.” [Associated Press, 5/25/21]
