FREDERICA FREYBERG:

GOVERNOR WALKER’S PLEDGE TO REPEAL SO-CALLED OBAMACARE, NOW HAS A PLAN TO BACK IT UP. AMONG THE PLAN’S COMPONENTS, IT AIMS TO REDUCE PREMIUM COSTS BY CUTTING EXISTING REGULATIONS AND OPENING UP COMPETITION ACROSS STATE LINES AMONG INSURANCE PROVIDERS. IT INCLUDES REFUNDABLE TAX CREDITS BASED ON AGE, NOT INCOME TO PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT INSURED THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYERS. THE PLAN WOULD ALSO PROVIDE A $1,000 TAX CREDIT INCENTIVE TO ENROLL IN A HEALTH-SAVINGS PLAN. PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS WOULD NOT PREVENT COVERAGE AS LONG AS A PERSON MAINTAINS CONTINUOUS INSURANCE COVERAGE AND THE PLAN TURNS MEDICAID OVER TO THE STATES, WITH BLOCK GRANTS CAPPED AT A SET AMOUNT. ASHLEE STRONG IS THE WALKER FOR AMERICA NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

ASHLEE STRONG:

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

BEFORE WE START TALKING ABOUT HIS HEALTH CARE PLAN, I WANTED TO GET THE CAMPAIGN’S REACTION TO THE MARQUETTE LAW SCHOOL POLL NUMBERS THAT ARE JUST OUT, INCLUDING THE NUMBER THAT PUTS SCOTT WALKER IN A STRONG LEAD AMONG WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.

ASHLEE STRONG:

INDEED. WE SAW 12-POINT MARGIN LEADING THE FIELD IN THE STATE AMONGST REPUBLICANS. WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THAT. WE ALSO SAW FROM THIS POLL THAT GOVERNOR WALKER IS DOING WELL COMPARED TO THE OTHER FRONTRUNNERS IN THEIR HOME STATES AS WELL. AND REPUBLICAN FIELD. AFTER ALL WE’RE IN A PRIMARY. SO THAT’S IMPORTANT TO US.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT ABOUT HIS APPROVAL RATING AMONG WISCONSIN VOTERS THAT SITS AT 39%?

ASHLEE STRONG:

YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR WALKER HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE. HE’S SEEN THESE POLL NUMBERS BEFORE IN PAST CYCLES. AND HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE DOWN. I THINK “TIME” MAGAZINE CALLED HIM DEAD MAN WALKING AT ONE POINT. HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT’S LIKE AND THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PROPOSE BIG, BOLD REFORMS. THE BUDGET BEING ONE OF THOSE REFORMS JUST RECENTLY. WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AND I WOULD POINT TO OTHER FACTS IN THE POLL, INCLUDING 60% OF WISCONSINITES SAYING THAT GOVERNOR WALKER IS SOMEONE WHO CAN GET THINGS DONE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

HE, IN FACT, CAN GET THINGS DONE. BUT THERE ARE ALSO THESE POLL NUMBERS THAT SAY THAT 59% OF RESPONDENTS SAY SCOTT WALKER DOES NOT, QUOTE, CARE ABOUT PEOPLE LIKE YOU. THAT’S KIND OF NOT WITHSTANDING HIS EVERYMAN KIND OF PERSONA.

ASHLEE STRONG:

WELL I THINK YOU HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AT HIS ACTIONS. THE BUDGET HE JUST SIGNED INTO LAW, SIGNS IN $4.7 BILLION IN TAX CUTS FOR WISCONSINITES. THAT MONEY GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE HANDS OF TAXPAYERS. THAT’S ON TOP OF $2 BILLION TOTAL — TOTALING THE $2 BILLION THAT HE SIGNED IN HIS FIRST TERM. SO THAT’S MONEY GOING STRAIGHT TO THE TAXPAYERS. AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THEY’LL FEEL THAT. THE PROPERTY TAX DECREASES FOR EVERY YEAR HE’S BEEN GOVERNOR. THAT’S REAL REFORM THAT PEOPLE CAN FEEL AND UNDERSTAND AND HELP IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

MOVING ON THEN TO HIS REPEAL AND REPLACE PLAN. HE SAYS THAT HE WOULD REPEAL OBAMACARE ON DAY ONE. SO WHAT HAPPENS TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER THAT PLAN?

ASHLEE STRONG:

SURE. SURE. LET’S TAKE A STEP BACK. FIRST OF ALL, GOVERNOR WALKER IS THE FIRST CANDIDATE IN THE FIELD TO PUT FORWARD A REFORM. A SUBSTANTIVE REAL PLAN TO REPEAL OBAMACARE AND REPLACE IT WITH REFORMS THIS YEAR. SO WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE ARE LEADING THAT EFFORT. I WOULD SAY FIRST AND FOREMOST, REPUBLICANS FOR A LONG TIME HAVE PLEDGED TO REPEAL OBAMACARE AND WE HAVEN’T SEEN THAT HAPPEN. SO GOVERNOR WALKER IS DAY ONE PLEDGING TO SEND LEGISLATION, DRAFT LEGISLATION TO CONGRESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN REPEAL OBAMACARE. TO ADD INCENTIVES TO THAT, HE WOULD PROVIDE A DIRECTIVE THAT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WOULD HAVE TO LIVE BY THE RULES OF THE ROAD OF OBAMACARE THAT THEY’VE FORCED ON OTHER PEOPLE. THAT MEANS NO SWEETHEART DEAL. NO SUBSIDY AND THAT WOULD REALLY LIGHT A FIRE TO GET THIS MOVING. IN TERMS OF THE REPEAL ASPECT OR THE REPLACEMENT ASPECT OF IT, GOVERNOR WALKER WOULD IMMEDIATELY SEND LEGISLATION AS WELL TO REPLACE IT WITH HIS PLAN AND THERE WOULD BE NO GAP IN COVERAGE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

OKAY. SO THE 19 MILLION PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER OBAMACARE WOULD NOT BARE?

ASHLEE STRONG:

CORRECT. UNDER GOVERNOR WALKER’S PLAN, IN FACT PEOPLE WITH EMPLOYER-SPONSORED HEALTH CARE WOULD CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THEIR EMPLOYER-SPONSORED HEALTH CARE. THE DIFFERENCE BEING IS EVERYONE WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE UNDER GOVERNOR WALKER’S PLAN. AND THAT’S THROUGH THESE REFUNDABLE TAX CREDITS THAT YOU MENTIONED AT THE TOP.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SPEAKING OF THE REFUNDABLE TAX CREDITS, WHY IS IT AGE-BASED AND NOT INCOME-BASED?

ASHLEE STRONG:

THAT’S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION. AS YOU KNOW, HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES BASE THEIR COVERAGE COSTS ON AGE. IT’S MORE EXPENSIVE TO TAKE CARE OF AN OLDER AMERICAN THAN IT IS A YOUNGER AMERICAN. AND WE FELT THE REIMBURSEMENT SHOULD BE BASED ON THAT AS WELL.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

THE ONLY THING ABOUT THAT, THOUGH, IS THAT IF YOU LOOK AT IT VERY WEALTHY PEOPLE WOULD GET KIND OF THE SAME CREDIT AS MUCH LOWER INCOME PEOPLE.

ASHLEE STRONG:

SURE. WHAT WE’RE SAYING IS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE CARE. UNDER THIS PLAN THEY WOULD. AND YOU ALSO HAD MENTIONED THE INCENTIVE TO SAVE THROUGH HEALTH-SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. GETTING $1,000 AT THE TOP FOR ALL AMERICANS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN SAVING, THAT’S A GREAT PLACE TO START OUT. IT’S A GREAT PLACE TO ACCESS AFFORDABLE CARE AND I WOULD ALSO NOTE THROUGH OPENING UP ACROSS STATE LINES, CONSUMERS WILL HAVE MORE ACCESS TO CHOICES, MORE OPTIONS, MORE PROVIDERS THAN THEY CURRENTLY HAVE RIGHT NOW. THEY’D ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO SHOP FOR PLANS THAT WORK FOR THEM AND WORK FOR THEIR FAMILIES. AND, YOU KNOW, SUIT THEIR NEEDS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

IS THERE A TOTAL COST FOR WHAT THESE CREDITS, INCLUDING THE HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT CREDITS WOULD BE?

ASHLEE STRONG:

SURE. SO THE DEAL IS BUDGET-NEUTRAL. IT DOES NOT ADD TO THE DEFICIT. I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS ACTUALLY A TRILLION DOLLAR TAX CUT OVER TEN YEARS. THE LARGEST PRO-GROWTH TAX CUT WE’VE SEEN IN 40 YEARS. SO IT’S A TAX CUT. WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE WAY THAT WE’VE — ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY THROUGH IT THROUGH REFORMING MEDICAID, FUNDAMENTALLY REFORMING MEDICAID. WE ALL KNOW MEDICAID IS A BROKEN SYSTEM. WE ALL KNOW STATES HAVE TO ABIDE BY RULES THAT CERTAINLY DON’T FIT FOR THEIR STATES, SET UP AT FEDERAL LEVEL FROM BUREAUCRATS IN D.C. SO BY REFORMING MEDICAID FUNDAMENTALLY, WE CAN RECEIVE — GET SAVINGS FROM THAT PROGRAM IN ADDITION TO ACTUALLY REFORMING THE PROGRAM. ON THE SECOND PART OF THE PAY FOR, WE CHANGE THE TAX TREATMENT OF CERTAIN HEALTH CARE PLANS. SO THAT’S WHERE WE GET THE BUDGET-NEUTRAL COSTS AND LIKE I SAID, ULTIMATELY ONCE YOU START STIMULATING THE ECONOMY, THROUGH THIS TAX CUT, YOU’LL REALLY SEE THAT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

AND SO THESE TAX INCREASES THAT WENT INTO EFFECT TO PAY FOR THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, THOSE ARE GONE?

ASHLEE STRONG:

WE REPEAL OBAMACARE BY THE ROOT AND BRANCH. IT’S ENTIRELY GONE. AND IT WILL BE REPLACED BY A BRAND-NEW SYSTEM WITHOUT THE REGULATIONS, WITHOUT THE TAX INCREASES ON AMERICAN FAMILIES, ON JOB CREATORS, ON SMALL BUSINESSES.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

AND REMIND ME AGAIN HOW SCOTT WALKER’S PATIENT FREEDOM PLAN LOWERS PREMIUMS BY UP TO 25%.

ASHLEE STRONG:

SURE. UP TO 25% PEOPLE WILL NOW HAVE THE OPTION TO GO TO THE MARKET, JUST AS THEY WOULD FOR OTHER THINGS, AND SEARCH FOR PLANS THAT WORK FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES. SO THAT MEANS RIGHT NOW CERTAIN PEOPLE HAVE PLANS THAT THEY DON’T NEED, THEY DON’T NECESSARILY UTILIZE. THEY COULD SEARCH FOR PLANS THAT ACTUALLY MEET THEIR NEEDS, ARE TAILORED TO THEIR NEEDS AND ULTIMATELY WHAT’S BEST FOR THEM.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SO CLEARLY THE ESSENTIAL BENEFITS MANDATE GOES OUT THE DOOR AND PEOPLE CAN BUY THESE KIND OF NO-FRILLS CATASTROPHIC PLANS THEREBY THEIR PREMIUMS ARE GOING TO BE LESS?

ASHLEE STRONG:

ULTIMATELY AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY’LL HAVE AN ARRAY OF CHOICES. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS THANKS TO THE MANDATES IN WHAT YOU CAN GET. AND IF YOU AS A CONSUMER WANT TO CHOOSE A TOP PLAN, YOU’LL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU’RE A COLLEGE STUDENT AND YOU DECIDE THAT YOU NEED A LESS — LESS COVERAGE, YOU’D HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE. IT’S ALL ABOUT FREEDOM AT THE END OF THE DAY. GOVERNOR WALKER WANTS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE, PATIENTS KNOW BEST WHAT THEY NEED AND WHAT THEY WANT, NOT BUREAUCRATS IN WASHINGTON. AND HE ULTIMATELY WANTS TO MAKE THOSE DECISION-MAKING DECISIONS IN THEIR HANDS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ALL RIGHT. ASHLEE STRONG, THANKS VERY MUCH.

ASHLEE STRONG:

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.