“I don’t believe that,” Walker said. “We still have to have people be covered. The fact is people are still going to get their health care coverage from providers across the state. We’re just going to do it in a way that’s more cost-effective to the taxpayer.”

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said last week that switching to a self-insurance model could disrupt the health insurance industry, leading to job losses.

Fitzgerald also predicted lawmakers may not go forward with Walker’s plan to boost K-12 spending by $649 million, which Walker has tied to $60 million worth of savings from moving to self-insurance.

But Walker said Tuesday that no matter what, lawmakers will have to come up with that share of the school funding.

“The Legislature can make alternatives, but they’re going to have to come up with the money,” he said.

Act 10 advice

Walker on Tuesday said he told Iowa lawmakers considering a bill diminishing collective-bargaining power for public workers there to look at the “facts, not the hype” over a similar measure championed by the governor that passed in Wisconsin six years ago.