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Let’s not forget Legislature’s success stories

Some newspaper reports lately have disparaged the Legislature and its ability to get things done.

It’s easy to focus on the legislation that did not make it through both houses.

The other side of the story is what we did accomplish—important legislation that passed a Legislature that is divided, with Democrats in control of the Senate and Republicans in control of the Assembly.

We passed my fire-safe cigarette bill, which fire chiefs say will do more to save lives and protect property since widespread use of smoke detectors in the 1970s.

We passed Compassionate Care for Rape Victims, which ensures that rape victims will be informed of the availability of emergency contraception in every Wisconsin hospital and will receive comprehensive health care.

We passed BadgerCare Plus, which makes every child in Wisconsin eligible for health insurance. More farm families, self-employed families and parents qualify, as well.

While serving as Senate majority leader, I brought fundamental health care reform to the forefront of public discussion for the first time in our state’s history.

Under my leadership, Senate Democrats developed a health care reform plan we named “Healthy Wisconsin.”

I made Healthy Wisconsin part of the 2007-09 state budget that passed the Senate. I shepherded it through the budget process and was a consistent, vocal proponent of it during budget negotiations.

I believe it was because of Senate Democrats’ insistence on health care reform that Republicans agreed to include Gov. Doyle’s BadgerCare Plus in the state budget.

If Senate Democrats hadn’t pushed so strongly for Healthy Wisconsin, we wouldn’t have BadgerCare Plus today.

Major reform, like Healthy Wisconsin and BadgerCare Plus, never comes easy.

Change is like a snowball rolling down a mountain; it starts small and grows bigger as consensus builds and public opinion coalesces.

Make no mistake: Industries that benefit from the status quo will spend a lot of money to stop the momentum.

Despite the current lay of the land, I see a day when the Legislature passes a bill that makes health care affordable for everyone.

I was disappointed that a statewide workplace smoking ban, which will reduce smoking-related diseases, did not receive a vote in either house of the Legislature. Had I been majority leader, I would have scheduled it for a vote. I believe it would have passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support.

While we bemoan the failures, let’s not forget the successes. Many legislators like me have worked with members of the other party to pass bipartisan legislation.

We have risen above the fray and worked with each other to pass common-sense legislation.

Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, a registered nurse, represents most of Rock County and the Whitewater area in the Senate. She can be reached at 1-800-334-1468; sen.robson@legis.Wisconsin.gov or at P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882.