MILWAUKEE - Our panel reflects on the 1 year anniversary of the Biden Administration, taking stock of his governing successes and failures trying to manage a global pandemic, economic disruption, and an on-going right-wing insurrection. We review the record COVID case rates in Wisconsin last week, as the City of Milwaukee passes a new mask ordinance and Ron Johnson holds a Washington, DC event packed with medical quacks and other vaccine deniers. We welcome Shawn Phetteplace from Wisconsin’s Main Street Alliance to discuss the latest effort by Legislative Republicans to cut worker unemployment Insurance, access to healthcare, and food stamps in the name of putting people back to work. Shawn tells us what policy changes would actually help small businesses and workers in Wisconsin.

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MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers Thursday delivered the Democratic Radio Address wishing Wisconsinites a happy National Cheese Lover's Day and highlighting the governor's directed $100 million to support farmers and their families through the Farm Support program. The most recent round of payments announced last month provided direct aid payments to over 20,000 Wisconsin farmers.

Audio file of Radio Address.

Hey folks, Governor Tony Evers here wishing you a happy National Cheese Lover’s Day!

If you didn’t already know, I’m not only from Plymouth, which is the Cheese Capital of the World, but one of my first jobs was scraping mold off of cheese. So, I guess you could say I’ve been a longtime friend and fan of Wisconsin cheese.

Here in Wisconsin, we’re proud to be called America's Dairyland. Even during uncertain and challenging times, and especially these past two years, Wisconsin farmers kept working tirelessly to keep food on our tables and our grocery store shelves stocked, whether it was cheese, produce, meat—you name it!

And just as we have for generations, our state has relied on the resilience and dedication of our farmers. That’s why we’ve been working hard to get support to our farmers and recently announced that we’ve supported more than 20,000 Wisconsin farmers who have received a total of $50 million through my 2021 Farm Support Program.

Through three rounds of the Farm Support Program, we’ve now directed $100 million in direct aid payments to Wisconsin’s farmers and were able to help support more than 15,000 farmers in the first two rounds.

This is great news for our farmers, their families, and our agriculture industries, but it’s also great news for our state and our economy. As so many folks are worried about rising costs and supply chain issues affecting our communities, we know that having a strong agricultural economy and supporting our farmers are critically important to our state’s success and ensuring we have what we need here at home.

I'm proud to direct these funds to help bolster Wisconsin’s farm businesses, support our rural communities, and ensure the long-range recovery and success of our farmers, their families, and ag industries all across our state.

So, happy National Cheese Lover’s Day, Wisconsin!

Thank you.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/michael-gableman-we-the-poeple-s450.jpgMatt Rothschild makes statement to the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections opposing the motion to enlarge the scope of the special counsel's role.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/unemployment-office-line-s5.png"These Republican bills do nothing to help increase access to the workforce or help more people," says Senator. "Let’s work together to create pragmatic solutions..."

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/voting-dropbox-s5.jpgPopular method to file your absentee ballot safely without standing in line or using the mail challenged by conservative think tank WILL.

MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin hits a record number of COVID hospitalizations as Legislative Republicans push bills to undermine public health precautions and efforts to distribute free N95 masks finally pick up. Next, our panel dives into a discussion of the 2022 elections. Finally, Senator Ron Johnson announced his bid for reelection, and many are surprised when Wisconsin’s longest serving Governor, Tommy Thompson, floated another run. Will Johnson win a 3rd term in the Senate and Thompson a 5th term in the Governor mansion? President Biden makes a big public push for voting rights leading into MLK Jr. Day with a fiery speech in Georgia. Can he and the Democrats make it happen or will he again be undermined by Senators Manchin and Sinema (and their big corporate backers pulling the strings) In Wisconsin, Legislative Republicans continue their nationally coordinated effort to rewrite the 2020 election and pull apart democratic institutions, making a legislative maneuver to end secure ballot drop boxes and to allow partisan politicians to nullify elections when they don’t like the results. We ask the question, does anyone trust Speaker Robin Vos’ promise that the Legislature will not name Wisconsin electors in 2024? We close with an interview of Citizen Action Field Director Zoe Roberts on Citizen Action’s volunteer Tuesday night phone banks, which are calling critical swing voters in key legislative districts.

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MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers Thursday delivered the Democratic Radio Address on the Evers Administration's continued support for Wisconsin's schools, educators, and students as the omicron variant spreads. Earlier this week, the governor joined the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) in a letter to all public, private, and independent charter schools detailing resources available by DHS and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to help in this effort.

Audio File of Radio Address.

Hello, Governor Tony Evers here.

We all want our kids to be safe and in the classroom. So, just as we have from the beginning of the pandemic, we're continuing to work to provide the necessary support and resources our kids, educators, and districts need to be healthy and safe.

We've been working with schools on a school-based testing program. This program received federal funding and provides free, safe, and flexible testing for teachers, staff, students, and their families.

Testing remains a critical component of slowing the spread of COVID-19. Regular testing can help support schools in making important decisions to protect the health and safety of those in their buildings, so we're encouraging schools to sign up to participate in the program.

We also know the best protection from getting seriously sick, being hospitalized, or dying from COVID-19 continues to be the safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines.

That's why we're also encouraging schools to host school-based vaccination and booster clinics with the help of DHS during drop-off and pick-up times.

All kids ages five and older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, and the CDC recommends all kids ages 12 and older receive a booster five months after they receive their first vaccine series.

While kids generally experience less serious symptoms from COVID-19, hospitalizations among people under 18 are rising quickly and nearly all youth COVID-19 hospitalizations in Wisconsin and across the country are occurring among the unvaccinated.

Schools are uniquely positioned to help educate families about the benefits of the vaccine, as well as meet kids and parents where they are and in their own neighborhoods.

For the last two years, parents and educators have gone above and beyond to do everything they can to make sure our kids are caught up and in the classroom, and we will continue to support them in their efforts in any way we can—just as we have since day one.

Let's keep working together to make sure our kids, our educators, and our communities stay healthy and safe.

Thank you.

While Wisconsin hospitals reach maximum capacity, GOP leaders hold public hearings on bills that spread misinformation, says Senator.

MADISON - Wednesday, the GOP Committee on Health Chair held public hearings on a slate of bills that would limit private business ability to stop the spread of COVID-19 within their place of business.

Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“As we near the two year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic and cases are skyrocketing, Republicans are still promoting and peddling misinformation that contradicts scientists and medical professionals. We, as a state, have to do better in order to best protect ourselves and those who are most vulnerable in our communities.

“The testimony being heard today in the Senate Committee on Health is dangerous and continues to perpetuate false narratives about COVID. Our neighbors and loved ones are dying. We need to put the falsehoods to bed and listen to our medical experts to best protect ourselves, our neighbors, and our medical professionals.

“What we should be doing is providing our communities and healthcare professionals the necessary tools to stop this surge of COVID cases. We should be respecting Wisconsin businesses who are trying to keep their employees and communities safe. We should be properly thanking our healthcare heroes by passing the bill introduced by Representative Vining, Senator Erpenbach, myself, and many other Democratic colleagues today to honor their sacrifices throughout this pandemic.

“Let’s lift up our healthcare workers, scientists, and medical professionals by passing common sense legislation that supports them and the heroic work they have been doing for nearly two years.”

GREEN BAY, WI - The candidates vying for the Democratic Party nomination to face Senator Ron Johnson in 2022 are all educated, experienced, and talented people who have good ideas.  Which candidate wins the Democratic nomination in the primary doesn’t matter if that person doesn’t have a winning strategy for the general election campaign.  Alex Lasry stands out to me because he has proven to be a visionary leader who can draw people together and inspire them to achieve common goals.

After working at the White House during the Obama administration, Lasry moved to Wisconsin to help lead the Milwaukee Bucks organization.  As senior vice president of the franchise, he led the Fiserv Forum and Deer District development projects.  Lasry recognized that the team had a responsibility to create living-wage jobs and to be inclusive in the hiring process to make sure that people who have historically been left out and left behind got a chance to do good work and make good money doing it.

Lasry proved that it is possible for companies to be good corporate citizens and profitable entities at the same time.  The Bucks benefited from the public/private partnership, but so did construction material suppliers,  contractors, workers, and everyone else in Milwaukee, which is how it should be.

In 2019, Milwaukee was named the site of the 2020 Democratic National Convention because Lasry once again brought people together in pursuit of a mutually beneficial goal.

During his Senate campaign, Lasry has shared his ideas about how to improve the lives of everyone in Wisconsin.

In August 2022, I will be voting for Alex Lasry because I believe that he can unite Democrats in order to beat Ron Johnson and lead all Wisconsinites toward a better tomorrow.

Jarrett Brown

***

Jarrett Brown is a factory worker, labor activist, and writer who lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Rep. Shae Sortwell and Sen. Duey Stroebel introduce bill that would make it even harder for formerly incarcerated people to vote.

MADISON - There’s a nasty, and frankly racist, bill that’s circulating in the Wisconsin legislature right now that would make it even harder for formerly incarcerated people to vote in our state.

Before they’d be able to vote, they’d have to pay off all fines, costs, fees, surcharges, and restitution, which can run into five figures.

No one should be prevented from voting based strictly on the amount of money they have or their ability to pay. 

My colleague Iuscely Flores just posted her strong piece on this issue, which you can read here:

New GOP Bill in Wisconsin Is a Modern-Day Poll Tax

And we’d like to urge to contact your legislators and tell them not to co-sponsor (and not to support in any way!) these two bills.

Rep. Shae Sortwell and Sen. Duey Stroebel introduced LRB-1886 and LRB-5532, and they are trying to line up co-sponsors by Jan. 11.

That’s why it’s so important that you contact your legislators on this no later than Monday morning!

Thanks for your activism on this vital issue.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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