MILWAUKEE - During the tenth anniversary of Act 10, we consider its legacy, what it says about the ruthlessness of modern conservatism, and the continuing ramifications of historic protests it sparked. We dig into a number of major state and federal issues, including the latest attacks on the mask mandate, a bill in Congress that would supercharge the ACA, and Governor Evers pre-budget announcements on BadgerCare Expansion, Marijuana Legalization, and Prescription Drug reform. Do these initiatives bode well for a more progressive state budget? We look at some huge federal issues in the heady early days of the Biden Administration, including COVID relief, impeachment, and protecting the housing rights of the LGBTQ community.

Finally we raise concerns about the wave of anti-Asian violence in the U.S. sparked by right-wing rhetoric, and a rogue ICE which is flaunting President Biden’s executive orders and continues to follow Trump’s immoral deportation policies.

Listen Now – Episode #479
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Rhinelander, WI - I am supporting Sheila Briggs for WI State Superintendent because she has plentiful experience at various levels of 4K-12 education. Throughout her career, she has taken up the challenge of working with equity in the forefront often in an environment that is resistant to change.

Sheila helped develop Wisconsin's Educator Effectiveness program that I, as a teacher in Tennessee, am jealous of. I’m evaluated off of a standardized rubric and student test scores including students I don’t even teach. I wish I were evaluated by a program, like Wisconsin’s, that treats educators as professionals.

Furthermore, Sheila’s skills and humility will enable her to continue connecting and growing leaders amongst WI’s students and educators in her work to support all students, their families, and communities across the state.

As a teacher’s kid, I swore I would never be a teacher myself. I was dismayed by the realities of a system that seemed to work for so few. After two summers working on Sheila’s teams at the Department of Public Instruction, I have hope for the future of education. Wisconsin deserves a State Superintendent, like Sheila Briggs, that is flexible, practical, and an unapologetic champion for social justice. Join me in supporting Sheila on February 16th.

Lindsey Lieck, Rhinelander

MILWAUKEE - Progressives have more influence in the Joe Biden’s Washington than we have had since the 1960s, but are we prepared to translate our outside power into the governing power we need to win bold reform? In this special edition of Battleground Wisconsin, we discuss how the progressive movement must evolve to meet our moment with two national organizing strategists, George Goehl, the Director of People’s Action and Bree Carlson, the Deputy Director of People’s Action.

Listen Now – Episode #478
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MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered the Democratic Radio Address outlining his bold, comprehensive plan to tackle prescription drug prices in his 2021-23 biennial budget.

Audio file of radio address.

Hi everyone. Governor Tony Evers here.

This week I announced that my budget will include a bold, comprehensive plan to reduce prescription drug prices for folks across our state.

In 2019, prescription drugs were estimated to cost Wisconsinites more than $1.3 billion dollars. Well, here's the deal: picking up your prescription shouldn't break the bank. You shouldn't have to choose between being able to pay your bills and buying your medications.

But we know too many Wisconsinites continue to struggle to afford their medications.

These huge costs have forced people across our state to make difficult decisions, rationing doses or foregoing their medications entirely so that they can buy groceries or pay this month's rent.

That's why our budget will include a plan that will help lower prescription prices by doing things like capping the price of insulin and protect consumers from predatory practices like price gouging.

I know how critical access to life-saving medication can be for folks across our state. And healthcare— medication or otherwise— shouldn't be a privilege only available to the healthy and wealthy.

We have to start tackling this problem in Wisconsin, and we're going to get to work in this year's budget.

Thanks, folks, and let's get it done.

MADISON - The appalling response to the COVID calamity by the Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature illustrates the crisis of representation that we face in this state. This crisis stems from two roots: our corrupt campaign finance system and from gerrymandering. I dig into this here:        

COVID, Campaign Finance, and Unfair Maps

Speaking of campaign finance, new records were set last year by Wisconsin’s legislative campaign committees. We show you the numbers and explain why in this posting:

Wisconsin Legislative Campaign Committees Spent Record $12.11M in 2020

We also broke down the numbers on Gov. Evers’s own fundraising, which is getting a huge boost from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin:

Evers Raises More Than $3.8M, Over Half From State Party in 2020

The problem of big money in our politics is a bipartisan one!

I hope you like this week’s offering.

Stay warm this weekend!

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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P.S. I hope you’ll support the urgent work we do here for a full democracy, where everyone has an equal voice. Donating is easy. Just click here.
Or donate the old-fashioned way by sending a check to us at 203 S. Paterson St, Suite 100, Madison WI 53703. We really appreciate it!

MILWAUKEE - We discuss the horrific vote by Senate Republicans to cancel the state health emergency and the mask mandate while also nixing COVID-19 relief. The panel welcomes State Senator Chris Larson to talk about Tuesday’s Senate vote and the policy atrocities taking place at the State Capital. Is there any rationale for the actions of the majority at all, or our we witnessing reckless disregard for human life?

We close with a scouting report on President Biden’s new executive orders this week on climate and healthcare. Do they signal a bold new progressive direction for our national government?

LISTEN NOW – EPISODE #477
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All federal power must be used to fight pandemic, says former VISTA Volunteer, Army officer, city & county elected official, and union organizer.

MILWAUKEE - We discuss the historic inaugural week of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and Biden’s flurry of executive orders and an exciting new immigration bill.

We look behind the organizing that resulted in changes to the Wisconsin COVID vaccination plan to include teachers, grocery workers, meat packers, and prisoners at the top of the list. A new COVID strain is spreading as Wisconsin reopens schools and the state does nothing.

We welcome Minocqua Brewing Company SuperPAC owner Kirk Bangstad to discuss their campaign against Sen. Ron Johnson and Rep. Tom Tiffany for supporting for overturning the 2020 presidential election. Wisconsin Examiner journalist, Isiah Holmes, joins us to discuss his excellent reporting on Wauwatosa Police targeting protestors. We close with Markasa Tucker from the African-American Roundtable to discuss the Milwaukee Common Council reversing course and approving a federal grant for more police officers.

Listen Now – Episode #476
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MADISON - Dear Friend, I hope you’ve had a nice week.

As for me, I’ve been alternating between relief and giddiness since, as you know, I’d been worried about Trump staging a coup for the better part of the last four years.

And I appreciated President Biden’s wise words in his Inaugural Address, as I wrote in an op-ed for the Wisconsin Examiner, which you can see here:

“Let’s start afresh”

I was also pleased to publish an op-ed in Urban Milwaukee with Angela Lang, the executive director of BLOC (Black Leaders Organizing in Communities), on why it’s imperative for Wisconsin Republicans to stop repeating the lies about the election and stop inciting the rabble. Here is that column:

A Plea to State Republicans

This week, we kept doing what we do, day in and day out, at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, and that’s to track the big money in our politics.

Here’s our final tally on the money the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and the Republican Party of Wisconsin hauled in last year:

State Dem Party Raised Nearly 2.5x More Than State GOP in ‘20

And here’s our initial tally on the money being thrown around in the race for school superintendent:

Top Contributors to the Candidates for State School Superintendent

I hope you have a nice, relaxing weekend after all the turmoil we’ve witnessed and endured over the last four years.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

P.S. I hope you’ll support the urgent work we do here for a full democracy, where everyone has an equal voice. Donating is easy. Just click here. Or donate the old-fashioned way by sending a check to us at 203 S. Paterson St, Ste 100, Madison WI 53703. We really appreciate it!

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers delivered the Democratic Radio Address Thursday on vaccine eligibility for Wisconsinites 65 and older, which begins Mon., Jan. 25, 2021.

Audio file of radio address.

Hello, Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers here.

Wisconsinites across our state are ready and anxious to get vaccinated and that’s great because that’s how we kick this pandemic to the curb.

That’s why this week we announced starting Monday, January 25th Wisconsinites ages 65 plus will be eligible for the vaccine.

This is great news and will help save lives in one of the populations we know is particularly vulnerable to severe effects of the virus.

Although it’s important to remember that this process is going to take time to get everyone vaccinated, we’re going to move as quickly as we can and we encourage folks who are 65 or older to connect with their primary care provider or find more information at dhs.wisconsin.gov.

The amount of vaccine we get from the federal government will determine how quickly we get through this group of approximately 700,000 Wisconsinites, but our healthcare partners, pharmacies, and local and tribal public health folks are ready and up to the task. They are getting to work with the supplies we do have to get to as many people as possible, as quickly and safely as possible.

Thank you.