http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/voter-us-elections-s5.jpgLawsuit alleges Republicans' legislation violated Democratic voters' federal constitutional rights.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/drug-cost-s5.jpgCitizen Action of Wisconsin joins the Roosevelt Institute to release "Creation of a Crisis: How the Pharmaceutical Industry Chooses Profit Over People" revealing how drug company profits and CEO pay put lives at risk.

MADISON - On Wednesday, the State of Wisconsin Building Commission approved several key projects across the state, including:

• Design and construction of UW-Milwaukee Sandburg Hall renovation project, UW-Platteville Boebel Hall addition and renovation phase II, and UW-River Falls Dairy Plant remodel;
• Release of Building Trust Funds to complete the design of Waupun Correctional Behavior Health Unit/Life Safety improvements, Juvenile Corrections Regional Facilities, and Mendota Mental Health Juvenile Treatment Center;
• Grant release for 18 Department of Natural Resources Friends Group projects and the completion of Medical College of Wisconsin regional schools; and
• Various maintenance and repair projects located in 13 counties across the state for the Departments of Administration, Corrections, Military Affairs, Natural Resources, Health Services, and the UW-System.

The Building Commission is chaired by Governor Tony Evers and made up of the following members:

• State Senator Janis Ringhand;
• State Senator Jerry Petrowski;
• State Senator Patrick Testin;
• State Representative Jill Billings;
• State Representative Rob Swearingen;
• State Representative Mark Born; and
• Citizen member Summer Strand

Governor's plan puts resources in programs with proven track records of success, while saving taxpayers millions of dollars each year says Democratic leader Hintz.

MADISON – Governor Evers unveiled a plan Thursday aimed at better birth outcomes and women’s health initiatives. The plan includes $28 million in funding for women's health care and infant mortality reduction. Evers made the announcement with state legislators and advocates at a press event in Milwaukee.

Assembly Democratic Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) released the following statement on the Governor’s plan:

“One of the most important things we can do as a state government is to foster healthy beginnings for our children. The innovative programs the Governor is proposing will ensure quality health care for women and create better birth outcomes,” Rep. Hintz stated. “This plan puts resources in programs with proven track records of success. Planned Parenthood has been a vital partner in the Fox Valley community, providing access to preventive health care services and treatment, all while saving taxpayers millions of dollars each year. In addition, the Well Woman Program has succeeded in its mission to provide preventive health screening services to women with little or no health insurance coverage. It is encouraging to see a proposed increase in funding for these vital programs.”

The “Healthy Women, Healthy Babies” initiative will:

• Increase funding for home visiting program.
• Create an Infant Mortality Prevention Program in DHS.
• Include grant funding for Doula training and Medicaid coverage for doula services.
• Increase post-partum coverage for women up to a year (currently 60 days).
• Increase funding for maternal and child services through the minority health grant.
• Increase funding to the Maternal Child Health Grant and Family Planning to increase access to family planning services.
• Increase funding for the Well Women Program.

“Every family in Wisconsin should have access to health care services that will lead to a healthy pregnancy, healthy birth, and a healthy child. Unfortunately, some families face an uphill battle to receive equal health care access. No matter your race or socioeconomic access, Wisconsin women deserve access to the needed health care programs to ensure the best outcomes before birth, at birth, and beyond,” Rep. Hintz concluded.

While the most recent data shows the statewide infant mortality rate is at 6.2 infant deaths per 1,000, among African Americans the rate is 14.2 per 1,000. Governor Evers’ plan will address this disparity.

Wisconsin needs more than cosmetic funding proposals, we lag behind so many other states.

MADISON – Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement Thursday regarding Republican State legislators press conference proposals aimed at addressing the issue of homelessness.

"I guess we are in a kinder, gentler time. The problem is that my Republican colleagues have been able to walk out of the doors of the Capitol and step over sleeping homeless residents for years. They stood silently by while the Walker administration ran homeless residents out of the Capitol basement, where they could escape the cold or extreme heat, at least during the business hours of the building. They were complicit in many of the policy decisions that have made it harder for Wisconsin residents to break the cycle of poverty. They have vigorously fought measures to add additional funding and initiatives that were brought up by me and my colleagues in finance motions and legislation offered over the years.

I am glad this is on their radar. However, I hope that real dollars, and not cosmetic funding proposals, will be what is proposed. We lag behind so many other states in the funding, programming and necessary legislative commitment to change homelessness in this state. I look forward to finding common ground and action on these issues.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/childcare-infant-s5.jpgNearly $28 Million Investment in State Budget Will Improve Access to Care, Help Address Racial Disparities

Health Centers meet the unique challenges residents face in the area, funding commitment must be a priority in state budget.

MADISON – Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement Thursday ahead of Governor Tony Evers press announcement about healthcare initiatives in his upcoming budget at a press conference at Milwaukee Health Services in Milwaukee.

"These health centers are the pulse of this community’s health and wellness. For far too long, they have been underfunded and undervalued. While rising to the challenge to meet the unique issues that face residents in the area, they have done so on a shoestring budget. The lines are wrapped around the buildings in the early hours of the morning to access services, many of which must be offered on a limited and first-come, first-serve basis.

For 16-years, I have been saying this is unacceptable. We must be deliberate in our funding commitment and it must be a priority in the state’s budget. Initiatives are welcome and so is adequate funding for Milwaukee Health Services’ existing work.“

MADISON - Governor Tony Evers announced the following appointments on Thursday:

Governor Tony Evers to chair the Interagency Council on Homelessness

Summer Strand as the Governor’s Designee to the Building Commission

Dr. Timothy Rose to the Fox River Navigational System Authority

Hank Newell to WEDC

Joe Kirgues to WEDC

John Brogan to WEDC

Becca Cooke to WEDC

Thelma Sias to WEDC

Kurt Fielding to the Athletic Trainers Affiliated Credentialing Board

Joel Enking to the Snowmobile Recreation Council

Jill Hoyt to the Dietitians Affiliated Credentialing Board

Tim Size to the Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority

Robert Misey to the Accounting Examining Board

Karl Linck to the Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Engineers, Designers, and Land Surveyors

Katherine Schrubbe to the Dentistry Examining Board

Scott Krueger to the Dietitians Affiliated Credentialing Board

Peter Kallio to the Board of Nursing

Linda Pellmann to the Marriage and Family Therapy Professional Counseling and Social Work Examining Board

Lee Van Zeeland to the Snowmobile Recreation Council

Greg Winkler to the Marriage and Family Therapy Professional Counseling and Social Work Examining Board

Legislative Republicans choose to exclude Democrats from Milwaukee press conference on homelessness, fail to invite Black Caucus whose communities are deeply affected.

MILWAUKEE - Rep. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement in response to Democrats being excluded from Republicans’ Milwaukee press conference on homelessness:

“I am terribly disappointed in my Republican colleagues’ decision to hold their Milwaukee press conference on homelessness without speaking to or even inviting members of the Milwaukee Delegation or Black Caucus whose communities are deeply affected by this issue. Once again, Republicans have chosen to act unilaterally on a critical issue that should not be partisan rather than work with Democrats to truly solve the problems affecting the citizens of Wisconsin and Milwaukee. Homelessness is not a Republican or Democratic issue–it is a Wisconsin issue that needs to be effectively addressed by stakeholders on both sides of the aisle.”

This morning, members of the Republican caucus are holding a press conference to roll out a bill package focused on homelessness at the Milwaukee-based non-profit “Pathfinders”, an organization dedicated to combating homelessness and providing services to youth in need. In addition, Rep. Bowen has a history of collaborating on youth issues much prior to being elected to the Legislature.

“Personally, I find it quite troubling that Republicans have chosen to hold this press conference in the 10th Assembly District, a district I have represented since 2015, without seeking participation or input from myself, Senator Taylor, or the other Democratic lawmakers who represent not just this district, but the city of Milwaukee at large,” Rep. Bowen continued.

“Last week, Republicans decided to speak for Wisconsin’s Black community while disregarding the input of Wisconsin’s Black legislators. This week, Republicans have decided to speak on an issue that deeply affects Milwaukee without even consulting legislators from Milwaukee. What’s next?”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/high-voltage-lines-farms-s5.jpgWisconsin would save $279 million in the current budget if the Federal MA money is accepted by January 1st of next year. Walker had refused to accept the money in large part to position himself to campaign for president.