MADISON - Today Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) offered the Democratic Weekly Radio Address. The topic this week is ongoing Republican cuts to K-12 public education, which could be partially offset by accepting federal money that's available to expand BadgerCare.

"The people of Wisconsin are tired of legislative Republicans forcing them to take a back seat to Governor Walker’s presidential ambitions," Rep. Barca said. "It’s time to do the right thing for our kids by taking the health care money and working toward passing a budget that truly reflects our sacred Wisconsin values."

Listen to this week’s address here.

A written transcript of the address is below:

"Here in Wisconsin, two of our top priorities have always been investing in education and health care. But ever since Governor Walker took office, legislative Republicans have been selling out the future of Wisconsin’s public schools and health care programs in order to support the governor’s political career.

"Republicans have rejected federal funds that would ensure health care coverage for 81,000 more of our citizens and save Wisconsin taxpayers between $2 and $5 billion over the next decade. Over the last three state budgets, Republicans have cut $1.4 billion from our public schools. And even if Republicans restored their latest budget cut to education, our schools still would not come close to being made whole.

"The solution to both these Republican-created problems is simple – take the federal health care money and invest it in our community schools. If Republicans really want to prioritize K-12 public education instead of the governor’s presidential campaign, this would be a good place to start.

"We already know that this approach works. Our surrounding states like Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana – whose governors are not running for president – that are accepting federal Medicaid dollars are experiencing large surpluses and making real investments in education and health care, not planning another round of significant cuts like Republicans are doing in Wisconsin.

"The people of Wisconsin are tired of legislative Republicans forcing them to take a back seat to Governor Walker’s presidential ambitions. It’s time to do the right thing for our kids by taking the health care money and working toward passing a budget that truly reflects our sacred Wisconsin values."