Pres. Obama cites gains in health coverage during visit; "You worked your tails off"

MILWAUKEE -- President Barack Obama is trumpeting the nation's declining uninsured rate and says 20 million people have gained insurance as a result of his signature health coverage law.

The president visited Milwaukee Thursday, March 3rd to congratulate local leaders for winning a national health insurance enrollment contest -- beating 19 other cities, adding 38,000 new health insurance participants under the Affordable Care Act.

"I could not be prouder of you. God bless you Milwaukee," President Obama said.

President Obama took the stage in a city where 89,000 people enrolled in health insurance this year through the Affordable Care Act -- a law he fought for.

"That`s enough to fill Lambeau Field, and still have a big tailgating party for the folks outside, and those tailgaters wouldn`t have to worry because Obamacare covers indigestion for too many brats," President Obama said.

At the same time, President Obama was in a state that is suing him over the law.

"By the way Milwaukee, while you worked your tails off to cover enough folks to fill Lambeau Field, your governor still refuses to expand Medicaid in this state. We could cover another 21,000 Wisconsinites with the stroke of his pen. He`s denying Wisconsinites their ticket to health insurance, and it`s political," President Obama said.

READ IT: President Barack Obama's remarks on Healthy Communities Challenge in Milwaukee.

Air Force One was "wheels down" in Milwaukee at 11:45 a.m. The following individuals were on hand to greet the president: Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee Co. Executive Chris Abele. A spokeswoman for Gov Scott Walker said he was unable to greet the president due to a previous commitment.

President Obama then stopped at Engine Company 3 in Milwaukee for lunch with Affordable Care Act letter writers.

Participants in the lunch included:

On the way in, President Obama spoke with diners, and one woman appeared to be moved to tears as she spoke with him.

Shortly after 1:15 p.m., the president climbed into his vehicle and the motorcade headed towards the Bruce-Guadalupe School/United Community Center at 9th and National.

There, the president delivered remarks on the Affordable Care Act and the Healthy Communities Challenge, which Milwaukee won, netting this presidential visit.

President Obama acknowledged that millions more are eligible to enroll in health insurance but have yet to do so. He attributed some of that to the acrimony over the law, saying people haven't always known what's true and what's not.

The president was introduced by Brent Brown of Mosinee, Wisconsin, who said he was a Republican who never voted for Obama as president. But he said the president's health care law saved his life after he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and ran out of money for treatment.

Brown called on Republicans to quit trying to repeal the health law.

Bruce-Guadalupe School Principal Santiago Navarro estimated about 780 people were present for President Obama's remarks.

The president left the United Community Center at 2:30 p.m. He boarded Air Force One around 2:45 p.m. Air Force One was "wheels up" around 2:55 p.m.

Wisconsin is one of six states suing over the Affordable Care Act.

"We hear routinely from small business owners and farmers across the state is that it's anything but affordable," Governor Scott Walker said.

Walker said he is not opposed to people having health care coverage -- he simply believes there's a different way.

"Access is a good thing," Walker said. "We believe the federal government that continues to build up debt and deficient problems regardless of the party is not going to be in a position in the next several years to meet their commitments even before the Affordable Care Act -- even more so going forward."