http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/grinch-s5.jpg MADISON - In Grinch-like fashion Senate Republicans voted today to deny 83,000 of Wisconsin’s poorest citizens who had been promised they would receive health care beginning January 1st. The vote came during a Special Session that was called in response to the GOP-caused health care crisis.

“Senate Republicans had a chance to do the right thing today by making sure that 83,000 of our poorest friends and neighbors would have the health care they were promised on January 1st. Instead they threw them under the sleigh days before Christmas by voting to deny them their promised care,” said Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay).

Senate Republicans voted against amendments put forward by Senate Democrats that would have made it possible to cover over 83,000 Wisconsin citizens while saving Wisconsin taxpayers $109 million.

According to Hansen, “Now 83,000 people are going to find out over the next several days that they will not have health care on January 1st as Governor Walker and Senate Republicans promised. And instead of enjoying Christmas secure in the knowledge their care will be covered they will be forced to scramble to try and find insurance.”