Assembly votes to repay $200 million raided from malpractice fund

The Assembly voted Wednesday to end the state’s early-release program for prisoners and repay more than $200 million for lawmakers’ illegal raid of a medical malpractice fund four years ago. The state would pay $235 million to the medical malpractice fund by June 30, 2012, under one of the bills. The state Supreme Court last year ordered the money repaid after finding that in 2007 state officials had illegally raided $200 million from the fund, which is intended to compensate victims of medical malpractice and their families. Lawmakers included an additional $35 million in the bill to cover interest. The exact amount of interest owed ultimately would have to be decided by the courts. (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/9)