MADISON – Today, I must response to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau revenue report that showed Wisconsin is expected to take in $158 million less in revenue.

Ordinary Wisconsinites and their communities continue to suffer from the Republicans' neglect – including the Republicans' extremely damaging budget and their inaction on our major challenges.

While Gov. Walker and Republicans tried to paint a rosy picture of Wisconsin’s economy and finances, the truth is that families and communities throughout the state face major hardships.

As Republicans continue to stack the deck against ordinary Wisconsinites and obscure their harmful agenda with election-year distractions, Democrats are focused on leveling the playing field and rebuilding the middle class the Republican agenda has hurt so deeply.

The first step toward improving our state’s finances is accepting federal BadgerCare funds to provide health care to roughly 80,000 Wisconsinites at a savings of more than $300 million to taxpayers over the next two years.