Wisconsin Health Plan Loses Co-Sponsor

Rep. Curt Gielow (R-Mequon) has announced today that he won't run for reelection this November.

Gielow has taken a lot of heat by some in the conservative blogosphere for cosponsoring AB 1140, which would help to usher in the Wisconsin Health Plan. In fact, conservatives are already celebrating his impending departure from the state legislature because of it (see here and here).

But it should be noted that he is also one of the main architects for the bill (now law) that caps pain and suffering awards in medical malpractice suits. This suggests that reforming the health care system was a big issue for Gielow, which should be commended (although I oppose the medical malpractice law).

I wonder if any Republican will dare take up the reigns for comprehensive health care reform once Gielow is gone. After the way Gielow was treated by some on the right for working toward reform with the Wisconsin Health Plan, I wouldn't be surprised if the GOP just lets it go.