Trump rant reverberates across Washington, as pro-Israel groups condemned the president for threatening U.S.-Israel relations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - He has sided with foreign autocrats over his own intelligence community; backed foreign dictators over his own military commanders; and supported foreign despots over his own allies abroad.

But President Trump broke new ground on Thursday when he urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deny two Muslim-American congresswomen entrance to the country for a fact-finding visit, accusing them of harboring hatred toward “Israel & all Jewish people.”

The move reverberated across Washington like a shot, as pro-Israel groups condemned the president for threatening U.S.-Israel relations; foreign policy experts chimed in with warnings of frayed diplomatic ties; and stunned Democrats issued waves of statements denouncing Trump for pressuring a foreign government to deny his American political opponents rights of free passage.

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We need universal background checks for all gun purchases, something over 90% of Americans, and 81% of Wisconsinites support, says Hintz.

MADISON – On Thursday, Governor Tony Evers, along with Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, Attorney General Josh Kaul, and legislative Democrats, introduced legislation to create a universal background check system in Wisconsin. Currently, background checks are only required under federal law for sales conducted by licensed dealers. This legislation closes the loophole for firearms purchased at gun shows and from strangers online. Representative Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) and Senator LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) introduced this legislation today for co-sponsorship. Assembly Democratic Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) released the following statement:

“The public has an expectation that government should do everything possible to reduce the likelihood of gun violence, which has become far too common across the country. Republicans in Washington D.C. and even the President himself, have publicly stated that background checks are necessary to reduce gun violence and promote gun safety. Yet the vast majority of Wisconsinites are currently represented by politicians who won’t even discuss the most basic steps that can be taken to protect the public.

“Democrats believe in safe gun ownership, and understand that our 2nd amendment rights come with a responsibility to reduce gun violence and promote firearm safety. Governor Evers did the right thing by reaching out to Republican leadership to pursue universal background checks in a bipartisan effort moving forward. It’s disappointing, but not surprising, to see Republicans punt yet again when faced with concrete policies to make our communities safer.”

Last session, Assembly Democrats brought a bill to the floor that would implement universal background checks for all gun purchases, something over 90% of Americans, and 81% of Wisconsinites support. Every single Republican voted against it.

DENVER, CO - Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) dropped out of the Democratic presidential primary on Thursday, fueling speculation that he will launch a Senate bid in his home state.

He becomes the second candidate after Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) to drop out of the crowded primary field, leaving 23 still vying for the nomination.

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Green Bay's Denise Gaumer Hutchison is among those appointed. Group will work to disseminate information on the status of women and issues of concern to women in the state.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers announced on Thursday seven appointments to the Wisconsin Women’s Council. The Council’s mission is to identify barriers to women’s social and economic participation in the state and work with public and private-sector partners to develop initiatives and identify solutions and to disseminate information on the status of women and issues of concern to women in the state.

The seven appointments to the Women’s Council include:

• Ze Yang (Madison, Wisconsin), Governor’s Designee, is a bilingual educational assistant with the Verona Area School District, who is currently attending graduate school to earn an elementary teaching license. For over a decade, she has worked to serve underprivileged and underrepresented children and families in the Hmong community, where she often finds herself serving as a gatekeeper, mentor, advisor, cultural bridge, and community leader.
  
  
• Patty Cadorin (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), Board Chair, is Vice President and Senior Advisor of BMO Harris Bank.  Cadorin previously served on the Women’s Council and chairs the Council’s Trailblazer Awards for Women’s in Business.  She serves on the board of directors of the United Community Center; Building Brave; the Milwaukee Urban League; and is a member of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council. Among her numerous awards and recognitions, in 2016, she was awarded the Ally Award from the Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee.
  
  
• Dr. Lisa Armaganian (Brookfield, Wisconsin) is a leading cardiologist with Ascension Medical Group, whose primary expertise includes cardiac diagnostic imaging, disease management, and preventive cardiology.  She is passionate about advocating for women and children statewide, and, in particular, for further education in cardiovascular disease prevention.
  
  
• Denise Gaumer Hutchison (Green Bay, Wisconsin) is a Communication and Event Production Consultant. Previously, she worked for WEAC (Wisconsin Education Association Council) as an outreach coordinator and WEA Trust as a Field Representative where she worked with over 100 school districts in northeast Wisconsin. Ms. Gaumer Hutchison serves on the board of the League of Women Voters of Greater Green Bay.
  
  
• Alderwoman Chantia Lewis (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council in 2016, representing her neighbors in the city’s the 9th District. Alderwoman Lewis served in the United States Air Force and currently attending graduate school to earn a master’s degree in theology.
  
  
• Dr. Rosalyn McFarland (Brown Deer, Wisconsin) is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse, and the CEO and Founder of MyNP Professionals Family Medical Clinic, providing primary care to patients across the lifespan.
  
  
• Nerissa Nelson (Stevens Point, Wisconsin) is a Librarian and Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and has been a professional librarian for over 20 years. Ms. Nelson is active shared governance and other service work on the UWSP campus, and in the arts including serving on the boards of area non-profit arts organizations.

More information about the Women’s Council is available at https://womenscouncil.wi.gov.

https://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/guns-candlelight-s5.jpgGreen Bay area Representative says universal criminal background checks can save lives by preventing dangerous individuals from illegally purchasing guns.

In Wake of Mass Shootings Democrats Push for Background Checks

MADISON – After another uptick in deadly mass shooting deaths, Senator LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) and Representative Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) are introducing legislation that would close the gun show loophole that enables individuals with criminal convictions to purchase a firearm.

As Republican politicians refuse to even discuss solutions to the threat of gun violence, Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling released the following statement:

“Wisconsin families should have the opportunity to feel safe in community spaces like schools, parks, places of worship, workplaces, and grocery stores free from the threat of deadly weapons and dangerous individuals. Too many men, women and children have already died as a result of gun violence. Failing to address the growing threat of gun violence and mass shootings will only lead to more tragedies. Like the vast majority of Wisconsin residents, I support universal background checks and find it appalling that Republican politicians are refusing to take even the most basic steps to prevent gun violence.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Israel on Thursday announced that it would block Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) entry to the territory during an upcoming overseas trip, according to multiple reports.

The decision was announced moments after President Trump tweeted that it would show "great weakness" for Israel to allow the two congresswomen into the country. The president has been an outspoken critic of both Omar and Tlaib, who last year became the first two Muslim women elected to Congress.

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http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/guncontrol-protest-s5.jpgGov. Evers, Lt. Gov. Barnes, Attorney General Kaul join Rep. Sargent and Sen. Johnson in supporting universal background checks, call on Republicans to act.

It should be illegal for a member of law enforcement to have sex with a person in their custody and completely at their mercy.

MADISON – The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety held a public hearing Wednesday on Senate Bill 104, prohibiting law enforcement officers from having sexual contact with persons under their custody.

Author of the bill, Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) gave impassioned testimony about the case of Anna Chambers, an 18-year-old from Brooklyn who was raped inside of a police van while under the custody of two NYPD detectives. Although the officers were charged with rape, a “consensual sex” defense was offered and the officers were acquitted. At the time, New York had no law barring sexual contact between a subject in custody and the officers involved.

Taylor became familiar with the case in 2017 and quickly learned that Wisconsin also had no law that made sexual contact between law enforcement and persons under their custody illegal. Following the press conference, Senator Taylor issued the following statement:

“In an ideal world, we would not need to create a law that makes it illegal for a member of law enforcement to have sex with a person in their custody and completely at their mercy. Unfortunately, this is no ideal world and the inappropriate actions of a few demand this legislation.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/mc-courthouse-jail-s5.jpgState Senator says, in Milwaukee County Jail alone, at least 40 women were shackled while giving birth since 2011.