Arguing in Bad Faith

Here's Jonathan Krause's latest attempt to scare the bejesus out of his readers:

[T]here is serious concern in Madison that the Governor will use some back-door tactics to open up Badgercare to absolutely everyone. A memo from the non-paritsan Legislative Fiscal Bureau shows that the bill creating the new "Badgercare Basic" program has been carefully worded by Democrats to allow Governor Doyle to make a few line-item vetos and remove all restrictions on the plan. You wouldn't have to be on the waiting list, there would be no income limits and benefit caps could be eliminated easily as well. Such moves would drastically increase the cost of the program--making it far less likely that the premiums paid by participants would cover the cost. Care to guess who picks up the cost after that?

Now here's the AP's lede of the same story:

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle could use his veto power to create a state-funded public option health insurance plan in Wisconsin that would extend coverage to virtually everyone, according to a memo by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

The memo obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday was requested by the Republican leader of the state Assembly, Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, and delivered April 2.

Doyle's office adamantly denied that the governor planned to do any such thing.

"The suggestion is ridiculous," Doyle spokesman Adam Collins said. "This is just another desperate attempt by a few Republicans to stop a good program that will help tens of thousands of people get access to very basic health care at no cost to taxpayers."

Now back to Krause:

Governor Doyle calls the possibilty of altering the bill "ridiculous". Let's see if a lame duck politician who won't have to deal with the long-term effects of such vetoes feels that way once the bill gets on his desk. Why do I get the feeling that there is a press conference in our future where the Guv will be telling us he "just could not live with the idea of anyone not being able to take advantage of this wonderful program"?

It would be nice if Krause could supply more evidence than his "feeling" -- really, it's the least he could do.

This type of tripe cuts to the point that there is really no point in debating folks like Krause. Does he cite a historical precedent for Doyle granting universal health care to Wisconsinites? No. Does he have a source on the inside who claims the Doyle administration is secretly planning on circumventing the legislation with the line item veto? No. Krause doesn't have anything except his hunch.