Posted on 07/23/2010 10:45:33 AM PDT by Sopater
This week the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that Governor Doyle’s and the Legislature’s 2007 raid of $200 million from the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund (IPFCF) was unconstitutional because the raid took property without just compensation. The IPFCF provides compensation for medical malpractice claims that exceed providers’ medical malpractice insurance. Over 13,000 doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers are required by state law to pay into this fund. As part of the 5-2 ruling, the Supreme Court ordered the State to repay the $200 million plus lost earnings and interest. The timing and installment amounts of this reimbursement will be determined by the Dane County Circuit Court in which this case originated.
WI Ping...
Actually the Judge should send some Bailiffs to the Governors office and haul him away in handcuffs.
A fund required by the State for an express purpose, and then used by the State for whatever it wants. Who’d a thunk it?
Several yrs. ago the NC Sec. of Treasury raided the Teacher’s Retirement fund of a couple hundred million.
A suit followed and the State lost, plus interest.
NC citizens retaliated against the Sec. of Treasury by electing him governor.
NC raids the highway fund now, then complains they have no money to fix the roads. Last count, $175 mil.
Pretty sure Tommy’s admin pulled the same stunt with some self-insurance fund. Used his line-item veto pen to turn a “loan” into a flat out transfer of funds. Legislature made no attempt to override his veto until it hit the papers.
In Wisconsin politics you’re ALWAYS dealing with the ‘slightly lesser’ of two evils. Grrrrr!
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