GOP Sen. Alberta Darling: Support ‘Unanimous’ For Pre-Existing Coverage

A Republican leader in the Wisconsin Senate says support is “unanimous” among GOP senators for guaranteeing that people with pre-existing health conditions have access to health insurance.

Sen. Alberta Darling expressed confidence Tuesday after Senate Republican Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald last week seesawed on whether there votes for the idea.

Fitzgerald last week initially said he didn’t know if there was enough votes to pass a pre-existing coverage protection. Hours later, Fitzgerald said it would pass “if it becomes necessary.”

Federal law guarantees coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, but Gov. Scott Walker wants to repeal that. Should that happen, Walker and others say they’ll pass a state protection.

Darling said some Republicans didn’t want to vote on a state protection because it’s already in federal law but “we all want to be there for the people who need it.”