WASHINGTON, D.C. - Democrats are pressuring House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) to hold Corey Lewandowski in contempt of Congress after the former Trump campaign manager stonewalled lawmakers during his testimony earlier in the week.

“He operated in contempt of Congress, and yes, I believe he should be” held in contempt. “And I’ve expressed that to the chair,” Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), a member of the Judiciary panel, told The Hill on Thursday.

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http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/sikh_funeral_nws_caw_8.jpgExtreme risk laws are proven to have saved lives in other states.

$500,000 in grants to 13 different agencies across Wisconsin to help people experiencing homelessness.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/indigenous-women-missing-s5.jpgMurder is the third leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaskan Native Women, and they are subjected to higher levels of violence, including trafficking, sexual assault, domestic abuse and homicide, than virtually any other group in the United States.

End-of-Life Options Act would allow mentally capable, terminally ill adults with less than six months to live the ability to end life on their own terms.

Gov. Evers, Attorney General Kaul join Rep. Sargent and Sen. Taylor in supporting extreme risk protection orders

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul today joined Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) and Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) to announce LRB-4383, a bill creating an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) process, which offers families and law enforcement officers the opportunity to act swiftly by seeking temporary removal of firearms by a judge when they believe someone is at risk of harming themselves or others. They released the following statements:

Gov. Evers: “It’s time to listen to the will of the people who overwhelmingly want elected officials to start taking gun violence seriously for our kids, our communities, and our state. In a state where nearly three of four gun deaths are suicide, having an ERPO process could be an important tool in helping us address firearm-related suicides in Wisconsin, and to intervene to get folks in crisis the help and treatment they need.”

Attorney General Kaul: “Law enforcement officers protect and serve communities across Wisconsin. We need to ensure that, when necessary, they have tools available to intervene and prevent tragedies. This legislation empowers law enforcement officers, as well as family and household members, with a tool they can use to take action—and potentially save lives—when people exhibit warning signs showing that they present a threat to the safety of themselves or others.”

Rep. Sargent: “Everyone in our state deserves to live without the fear of gun violence, and without losing a loved one to suicide. Yet, for far too many people here in Wisconsin, our lives continue to be affected by the tragedies of firearm-related deaths. Continued inaction is complacency, and we cannot continue to stand idly by as our communities struggle to adapt to a world in which gun violence is accepted as the new norm. We know that Extreme Risk Protection Orders have saved the lives of many innocent men, women, and children in other states—the time for Wisconsin to act is now, and I am proud to introduce this life saving piece of legislation in our state.”

Background on LRB-4383:

Under current law, a person against whom a domestic abuse or child abuse injunction has been granted is subject to automatic firearm surrender and are prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm. The proposed legislation mirrors this existing temporary restraining order (TRO) and injunction processes.

Under the proposed ERPO process, if a person is likely to injure themselves or another person, a family member, a household member, or a law enforcement officer may petition to temporarily prevent the person from possessing a firearm. A court would issue the TRO and subsequent injunction based on the court finding reasonable grounds that the person is substantially likely to injure the respondent or another person if they possess a firearm. Under the legislation, the ERPO injunction would be effective for up to one year and could be extended by petition if the court believes the person continues to be at risk for injuring themselves or another person.

17 other states and the District of Columbia have implemented ERPO laws similar to today's proposal and have been successful in preventing deaths.

Find a copy of LRB-4383 here.

Nationwide 50-state effort will inform the public about voting and help voters register to vote.

MADISON, WI – The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is proud to join and celebrate National Voter Registration Day on September 24th. The nationwide 50-state effort to register voters is the largest single, registration day in the country.

Leagues in communities all across Wisconsin will be participating in National Voter Registration Day by informing the public about voting and helping voters register to vote. Some League members will be in their local high schools registering and educating new voters.

Other League members are planning to do registration events throughout the week in various public locations in their communities. There are over 35 registration events already planned across Wisconsin, many of which are League sponsored. Wisconsin residents can find a National Voter Registration Day event near them online at https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org/events/.

“We’re really proud that the League helped register more than 12,000 voters across the state in 2018. Our goal is to continue registering as many eligible voters as possible this fall, and participating in National Voter Registration Day is an important part of reaching our goal,” said Eileen Newcomer, Voter Education Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. “We appreciate the attention National Voter Registration Day brings to remind voters to get registered. It’s never too early to check your registration status and make sure you’re registered to vote at your current address. The League is here to help anyone who needs it.”

Wisconsin voters can register and vote on Election Day because Wisconsin has Election Day Registration. Yet, even with Election Day Registration, the League recommends voters register in advance. Wisconsin residents can register to vote online at myvote.wi.gov.

The League invites the public to join us in celebrating National Voter Registration Day by checking their registration status, attending a registration event, and asking their friends and family if they are registered and ready to vote. We also encourage people to reach out to the League of Women Voters to find out how they can help with voter registration and join the voter service teams in their community.

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The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is a nonpartisan political organization that advocates for informed and active participation in government. There are 20 local Leagues in Wisconsin. More information at lwvwi.org.

MADISON – Governor Evers announced Tuesday 60 new full-time assistant district attorneys throughout the state. This the first time the state has created any new full-time GPR-funded positions since 2007. Winnebago County is set to receive two full-time assistant district attorneys. You can see the entire list here.

Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) released the following statement on these new positions for Winnebago County:

“One of the most significant barriers to criminal justice reform in Wisconsin is the staffing shortage in district attorneys’ offices across the state. Winnebago County created one of the first diversion programs in the state and continues to pursue innovative ways to reduce crime and lower recidivism. However, this comes at an increased cost and with a significant time commitment from the District Attorney’s office in addition to their existing responsibilities. I have highlighted this need for years and am happy that Governor Evers’ Department of Administration and the State Prosecutors office agreed to address the need in Winnebago County. This will improve their ability to operate efficiently and carry out justice. This historic investment by Governor Evers will enable Winnebago County to receive two new assistant district attorney positions which will help enhance treatment and diversion options, address backlogs, and improve victim services.”

Three additional positions included for Brown County based upon workload analysis.

MADISON, WI - Wisconsin Conservation Voters urges you to support AB 266, which is before the Assembly Committee on Rural Development on Thursday.

As climate change continues to increase extreme weather events, Wisconsin communities need more tools, including wetlands, to help reduce flood risks and damages. AB 266 will fund the creation of flooding demonstration projects in Ashland County to help governments understand how restoring and protecting natural areas can help reduce flooding.