For years, Wisconsin’s powerful Assembly speaker refused to allow a bipartisan bill to come to a vote that extends postpartum Medicaid coverage for new moms. Finally, this week, he relented.

“Go out and take your victory lap,” Republican Robin Vos told caucus members late Wednesday, according to one lawmaker.

“You won,” Vos added.

On Thursday, the Assembly agreed 95-1 to opt in to a federal program that provides free health insurance to low-income mothers for a year after giving birth, up from 60 days. Vos was among those voting yes.

The legislation, which had already been adopted by the Senate, now goes to Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat. He has openly supported such legislation for years and is expected to sign it.

Every other state in the nation, except Arkansas, has already taken the step.

The vote represented a rare capitulation for Wisconsin’s longest-serving Assembly speaker — a man who controls the legislative agenda, provides campaign cash to those he favors and punishes those who antagonize him. ProPublica wrote about Vos’ opposition to the bill last fall.

The turnaround came on a day of surprises involving Vos. Earlier, at the start of the session, he announced that he would retire at year’s........

© ProPublica