We have to defend our right to vote from Republican politicians across the country, say Democrats.

MADISON, Wis. -- Republicans in the state legislature have attempted to curtail voting rights in Wisconsin, particularly targeting voters with disabilities and people of color. Thankfully, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed this harmful legislation, protecting voting rights and fair elections for all Wisconsinites.

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler released the following statement:

“With his veto of these egregious bills, Governor Evers has defended our democracy and protected the right of every person to vote, regardless of party, race, or disability. The bills passed by Wisconsin Republicans had nothing to do with election integrity, and everything to do with politicians abusing their power to rig Wisconsin elections by making it harder to vote in a way that they believed would benefit them politically. Republicans know that the 2020 election was secure, fair, and accessible, as was confirmed and reconfirmed by state and federal courts and election officials. The GOP’s bogus attacks on our electoral system have been a pretext to tilt the playing field in their own favor.

“The fight for our voting rights doesn’t end here. Republican politicians across the country are leading an all-out assault on democracy, abusing their power and trying to cheat their way into winning elections. If legislation is not passed to protect and expand voting rights at the federal level, Democratic governors will continue to be the last line of defense against these attacks on our democracy. Wisconsinites can trust Governor Tony Evers to stand up for democracy and to continue his fight for the rights of every eligible voter in the state.”

Biden, Evers doing the job to bring economy back better.

MADISON– According to this morning’s Department of Labor jobs report, the U.S. added 943,000 jobs the month of July, meaning that in the six months since President Joe Biden took office, over 4 million jobs were created. The report comes as jobless claims fell once again to 385,000, yet another sign that the economy and hiring are rebounding under President Biden and thanks to Democrats’ American Rescue Plan.

In Wisconsin, thanks to allocation from Gov. Tony Evers, the American Rescue Plan is providing funds for expanded mental health and substance abuse needs, making critical investments in local tourism, and investing in schools. Local municipalities are also putting the money to work through region-specific initiatives and projects.

In response, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Rapid Response Director Julia Hamelburg issued the following statement:

“On his first day in office, President Biden promised to get shots in arms, checks in pockets, and people back to work. Now, six months later, it’s clear that President Biden and his Democratic colleagues in Congress have delivered on that promise despite steadfast opposition from Republicans at home and in Congress.

“To build on the success of Democrats’ American Rescue Plan, we must continue moving President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda through Congress, including passing the bipartisan infrastructure deal to deliver even more good-paying jobs.”

Recent polling shows that President Biden’s economic plan is wildly popular with the American people and in battleground districts. Here’s a look at the economic progress our country has made thanks to President Biden and Democrats’ leadership:

• The unemployment rate fell to 5.4 percent in July, down from 5.9 percent in June, and the United States has now recovered approximately 75 percent of jobs lost during the pandemic.

• In the past six months, the economy has gone from creating only 60,000 new jobs a month to creating 60,000 jobs roughly every two days. In total, the economy has added a record-shattering four million jobs since the president took office.

• The average number of new unemployment insurance claims has been cut by more than half and small business optimism has returned to its 2019 average.

• Independent projections from the CBO, the IMF, the Federal Reserve, the World Bank, the OECD, and many others all forecast America this year reaching the highest levels of economic growth in nearly four decades.

• The economy has grown at a 6.4 percent annualized rate so far this year—far higher than forecasters had predicted at the end of last year.

• Paychecks are growing at the strongest rate before the pandemic since 2006, as companies are competing for workers and boosting wages as a result.

• New analysis by the Urban Institute estimates that President Biden’s American Rescue Plan will lead to a nearly 45 percent decline in the number of Americans living in poverty this year.

• 90 percent of families with children will get an average tax cut of $4,380 this year, thanks to the American Rescue Plan. The Child Tax Credit could help cut child poverty in half by next year.

Candidate for US Senate moves around Green Bay, northeast Wisconsin area counties Thursday.

MADISON Wis. — This week, President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators reached an agreement on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal — a once-in-generation investment in infrastructure. This deal reaffirms President Biden’s commitment to working across the aisle to continue delivering for working families as Biden’s agenda builds back better in the Badger state.

Here’s what folks across the state are saying about the Biden-Harris administration’s recovery efforts and economic agenda:

PBS Wisconsin: Milwaukee's Pandemic Aid Plan Seeks to Address Persistent Urban Woes

• Milwaukee is set to receive $394 million in federal pandemic aid over two years through the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion coronavirus response package enacted in March 2021. An initial $197 million of those funds for the city has already been disbursed — accounting for half of its total allotment — and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has released his initial plans for how to spend it.

• The American Rescue Plan and a proposed infrastructure package promoted by President Joe Biden, mark a level of focused federal funding for cities that has not been a policy emphasis for over a half-century, according to Marc Levine, a professor emeritus of history, economic development and urban studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Wisconsin State Journal: Train advocates say new funding model could help make Madison stop a reality

• Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, described the infrastructure plan as a “bold investment” to create jobs, lower unemployment and rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges and transit systems.

• “I have long supported investments to improve our nation’s railroad infrastructure so we can expand access to safe, reliable and efficient transportation for more Wisconsinites, and I’m excited to support Amtrak’s proposal to expand passenger rail service to new communities in Wisconsin,” Baldwin said in an email.

NBC Milwaukee: 'Tangible improvements': U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo talks up new infrastructure plan, what it means for Wisconsin

• Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo tells TMJ4's Charles Benson the plan will help small businesses in Wisconsin with affordable internet access and provide funding for Milwaukee's much-needed lead lateral replacement project.

• "It will have big improvements in transit, how we get around, how we get to work so there's some really tangible improvements here to improve your economy," said Secretary Raimondo. "It'll create thousands of jobs, because everything I just said, laying fiber for broadband, fixing roads, bridges and airports puts people to work in good-paying jobs."

Kenosha News: Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood project awarded $4.9 million in federal stimulus funds for infrastructure

• "President Biden is committed to helping communities not only recover from this pandemic but build back stronger," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. "This EDA investment in Kenosha will attract manufacturing and innovation sector businesses and jobs to the region while simultaneously increasing workforce development programs."

ABC Green Bay: Wisconsin gets $3.1 million for rural COVID-19 vaccination efforts

• Wisconsin is getting $3.1 million from the federal government to support rural health clinics with vaccination efforts. The money from the American Rescue Plan will go to 63 rural health clinics. They’ll use it to combat misinformation and work on increasing vaccine confidence and outreach.

Up North News: Op-Ed: Rural Communities Need Support to Keep Wisconsin Strong

• Earlier this year, for instance, President Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a big boost to the rural economy and rural people. ARPA included funding for children that is expected to cut rural poverty by a third, direct cash to low-income and working-class people, funding to build local food processing and distribution infrastructure, additional support for Main Street businesses, and critical funding for county governments and townships.

Fairytales Republicans have created about the 2020 election are 100% fantasy, says Agard.

MADISON - Tuesday, Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) responded to the continued Republican attacks on our democracy after it announced that the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections would be continuing to investigate the 2020 elections.

“The longer Republicans perpetuate the Big Lie on the validity of the 2020 election, the more damage they will do to the long-term health of our democracy. There has never been a more vetted or scrutinized election in our country’s history than the 2020 election. After recounts and countless court cases, the results have been confirmed and confirmed again. President Joe Biden won Wisconsin and won the presidency, and it wasn’t particularly close.

“These fairytales Republicans have created about the 2020 election are 100% fantasy. And while these conspiracy theories are embarrassing for our state and those legislators that continue to perpetuate them, we must call them out because they are also dangerous to our democratic institutions. Our elections officials and local clerks perform admirable work every election, but especially in 2020 in the midst of a global pandemic.

“Remember, the Republicans that are calling into question the results from November were elected on the exact same ballots that they are challenging. That should tell you everything you need to know about how disingenuous these Republican investigations are. This is a cynical, bad faith, harmful, political action.”

Governor Evers continues to try to solve problems while GOP creates more.

MADISON - Tuesday, Governor Tony Evers called a special session of the legislature to address the shortcomings in education funding for the 2021-23 biennium. After addressing some budget shortcomings with $100 million of federal funds, Governor Evers proposed a bill to allocate over $500 million more to Wisconsin’s education system. Senator Melissa Agard released this statement:

“Time and time again, Governor Evers has put our kids first, while the GOP continues to do less for our schools. I couldn’t agree more with the governor when he says “What’s best for our kids is what’s best for our state.”

“The Republican budget short changed our kids and our schools - leaving them asking for more. After a year of challenges, we should be investing in our schools to ensure that no child slips through the cracks. Teachers, administrators, and staff have worked hard to make sure that students are still learning and are supported throughout this pandemic, it’s time we support them.

“Through this special session, thanks to Governor Evers using his partial veto authority, we have the opportunity to invest more than $500 million into our schools to increase per pupil spending, special education funds, and investments in our higher education system. It is truly disappointing that my Republican colleagues did not do this in their budget proposal, but we have the chance to right past wrongs today.

“We must do everything we can to support our kids and our schools if we want our economic recovery to continue. I am asking my Republican colleagues to do the right thing and show up for Wisconsin’s kids.”

MADISON, Wis. -- As the House begins its bipartisan investigation into the January 6th attack on our democracy, Derrick Van Orden still refuses to answer questions about his participation in the deadly insurrection. In response, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler issued the following statement:

“The January 6th insurrection was an attack on American democracy, and Derrick Van Orden still hasn’t answered for his presence on the Capitol grounds that day. Van Orden not only lied about his location on that tragic, lethal day, but he appears to have misused campaign funds to bankroll his trip to D.C. Wisconsinites deserve to know the truth. Derrick Van Orden is unfit to serve in Congress.”

MADISON - Over 2.5 million Wisconsinites rely on Medicare and Medicaid, but that hasn’t stopped Ron Johnson from trying to cut these vital programs to pay for handouts for giant corporations at the expense of Wisconsin seniors and families, including children.

Johnson has voted three times to end Medicare as we know it, gutting funding, driving up out of pocket costs for seniors, and raising the eligibility age. In addition, Johnson has tried to rip away health care coverage from Wisconsin seniors, children, and disabled individuals by cutting Medicaid. Most recently in what was one of his most callous votes yet, Johnson voted against allowing Medicaid to cover the COVID-19 vaccine, prevention, and treatment, as well as against funding that would allow seniors to receive quality care in their community, not just nursing homes.

Check out a snapshot of Johnson’s dangerous anti Medicare & Medicaid record below:

• Over 1,193,000 Wisconsinites receive Medicare, while another 1,353,000, including children, receive Medicaid.
• Johnson voted multiple times to end Medicare as we know it, which the CBO found would greatly drive up out of pocket costs for senior Wisconsinites.
  • The legislation would also raise the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67.
• Johnson also voted against expanding Medicare coverage for Wisconsinites.
• But Johnson didn’t stop at just trying to rip Medicare coverage away from older Wisconsinites -- he also voted against protecting existing coverage.
• Johnson was all too giddy that Wisconsin didn’t expand Medicaid coverage like the majority of other states.
  • Johnson went so far as to try and kill Medicaid expansion in other states.

Oshkosh legislator calls on GOP legislators to set politics aside, approve $550 Million for public education.

MADISON - Monday, Gov. Tony Evers announced he is calling a special session of the Wisconsin State Legislature to invest an additional $550 million into public education in Wisconsin, including $440 million for Wisconsin’s K-12 schools and $110 million for the UW System and Wisconsin Technical College System. Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) released the following statement:

“I applaud Governor Evers for calling for this special session and urging the state legislature to invest an additional $550 million into public education in Wisconsin. It is entirely thanks to Gov. Evers’ partial vetoes that our state has this additional funding to provide critically important resources to our public schools as they continue supporting and educating our kids and adjusting to a new normal. Particularly given the fact that legislative Republicans allowed only 20% as much for new classroom funding in the 21-23 budget compared to what they included in former Governor Walker’s last budget, Assembly Democrats are proud to support Gov. Evers’ call to action and invest more funding in our K-12 public schools and higher education institutions.

“It is telling that, at the exact moment Gov. Evers is urging the Republican-controlled state legislature to put the future of Wisconsin kids ahead of partisan politics, Assembly Republicans are poised to continue their pattern of playing political games, this time with a veto-override attempt they know will fail. These political games are exceedingly unfortunate, because they do a disservice to the people of Wisconsin, who have real needs and expect serious action from their elected leaders, and because they are a waste of precious time as our state works to recover from the pandemic.

“I urge my Republican colleagues to join legislative Democrats and Governor Evers in doing what they should have done in the first place, which is ensuring our schools have the resources they need coming out of the pandemic. School districts across Wisconsin have told us loud and clear that they need more funding to meet the needs of our kids and to avoid cuts and layoffs in the next two years. Now is not the time for political games. Now is the time for real leadership.”

U.S. Senate candidate and Outagamie County executive Tom Nelson plans to wrestle Wall Street and corporate interests to the ground.