Wisconsin GOP goes AWOL when it comes to going beyond lip service for veterans.

MADISON - Senate Republicans voted against giving veterans who work in the private sector a paid day off to observe Veterans Day. The amendment to Senate Bill 113, introduced by State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), would have made sure that every veteran who goes to a job in Wisconsin would receive a paid day off for Veterans Day.

“It’s important that Wisconsin recognize Veterans Day, but it should be about more than closing state offices and giving state workers the day off,” said Hansen. “If we truly want to honor our veterans we should give them the day off with pay so they can participate in Veterans Day events or use it as a day of personal reflection. They are the ones who sacrificed for us. It’s the least we can do for them on their day.”

Hansen said he believes Wisconsin employers would support such a change in the law.

“I don’t know why Senate Republicans would oppose giving veterans the day off. I certainly can’t imagine any patriotic business owner objecting to honoring our veterans who have done so much to protect our way of life in this way.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/school-bus-kids-s5.jpgSen. Kathleen Vinehout argues the current budget stalemate is due in part to competing education funding proposals that do not address the needs facing school districts across the state. Legislative leaders know the school funding formula is broken, but they choose to ignore State Superintendent Tony Evers’ plan to change that way Wisconsin funds schools.

Call for strengthening ACA instead, as Mike Pence to visit Milwaukee.

MADISON - On a press call ahead of remarks from Vice President Mike Pence in Milwaukee, Mayor Tom Barrett and Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning highlighted the disastrous effects of Trumpcare which stands to kick 23 million Americans off of their heath care insurance.

"I'm surprised that the Vice President wants to come to Wisconsin to tout legislation that is designed to deny health care for 23 million Americans and give tax breaks to the wealthiest people in this nation," said Mayor Tom Barrett. "It's notable that he's not appearing at a place where you're going to find people between 50-60 who are going to be affected by this adverse - because those are the people that are really going to suffer from this action that is moving through Washington right now."

If Trumpcare becomes the law of the land, it is estimated that 311,000 Wisconsin residents will lose their health care coverage. In addition, uncertainty surrounding Gov. Walker’s plans to opt-out of federal health protections could jeopardize access and increase costs for more than 850,000 Wisconsin residents with pre-existing conditions.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/walker_jobs_tour_280.jpgHandouts to so-called "job creators" under the manufacturing tax credit not working. It’s time to put working taxpayers first, says Sen. Bewley.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/walker-state-denial-s5.jpgEvery dollar spent in a budget is a reflection of choices. Sen. Kathleen Vinehout shares some of the ideas in an alternative budget she created to the one proposed by the Governor and encourages people to let their choices be known.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/healthcare-family-dr-s5.jpgThe U.S. has the least efficient health care system among 11 developed nations, and solutions to this problem are not being developed in Washington. Wisconsin used to blaze new trails as a model for the nation to copy. Time to return to our pioneering roots.