http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/vote-47-mb1-s5.jpgFrom the disinformation we read on social media to the “issue ads” we see on TV, it’s important that we do our research and stay vigilant before casting our ballot.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/trump-protest-marinette-s5.jpgTrump's plan is to privatize and close all Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare centers in America. We must vote wisely Nov. 3rd urges retired veterans, former VA worker and activists.

Documentary filmmakers, Susan Peters and Jim Cricchi talk about years of one-party rule in Wisconsin.

MILWAUKEE - We welcome documentary filmmakers, Susan Peters and Jim Cricchi, who will be debuting their outstanding film “Can You Here Us Now?” next week on Wednesday at 6pm. The film looks at the ways that years of one-party rule in Wisconsin have reshaped democracy in a state once known for its progressive history. We also talk with State Assembly candidate August Schutz who is running the gerrymandered 62nd District in Racine County. We discuss the shocking COVID-19 numbers in the state and our failed response from Republican leaders like Ron Johnson who asserts we are flattening the curve and State Representative Joe Sanfilippo who said the government has no role in helping deal with the pandemic. We released a report this week finding Wisconsin billionaires are getting richer during the pandemic. Also early voting has started in Wisconsin with long lines in many cities as the state prepares for potential militia activity on Election Day.

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MADISON - I voted on the first day of in-person early voting Tuesday afternoon at my town clerk’s. It felt good to get that done!

If you haven’t yet voted absentee (early in person or by mail), please do so if you can to avoid the rush on Election Day. Mailing the ballot back at this time is not recommended as you cannot ensure your municipal clerk will receive your ballot before the deadline at 8:00 pm on Election Day. Contact your municipal clerk to confirm an official and secure ballot drop box available near you.

And on Election Night, we may not actually know the results, so I’m urging caution and patience, as I wrote here:

Patience on Election Night

We’re continuing to track all the big money in Wisconsin legislative races, and we’re detecting something unusual: The money on the Democratic side is far outweighing that on the Republican side. Here are the details:

Dem Groups Swamping GOP Groups in Legislative Election Spending

All this could change, of course, over the next 12 days, and we’ll be posting updates as more money pours in, so please check our website at www.wisdc.org.

I hope you have a nice weekend.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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We are under two weeks out from Election Day, but you don’t have to wait to make your voice heard. So get out and vote early, Wisconsin!

MADISON - Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes Thursday delivered the Democratic Radio Address on the start of early in-person voting in the state, including some important reminders for Wisconsin voters in order for them to vote safely.

Audio file of radio address.

Hey Wisconsin! This week marked the start of early in-person voting in our state.

Here are just a few things to remember about early in-person voting:

One - hours and locations depend on where you live, so go to myvote.wi.gov to find in-person absentee voting options or contact your local clerk’s office to find out where and when you can vote early.

Two - when you go vote, make sure you don’t forget to bring your photo ID, your mask, some hand sanitizer, and your own black or blue pen if you can.

Three - if you aren’t registered at your current address yet, no problem. You can register at your early in-person voting location. Just be sure to also bring a proof of residence. Check if you’re registered and learn more about proof of residence at myvote.wi.gov as well.

We are under two weeks out from Election Day, but you don’t have to wait to make your voice heard. So get out and vote early, Wisconsin!

Long-Sought change will help those in need of substance use recovery and treatment.

MADISON - State Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-West Point) applauded an announcement by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections today that beginning on October 24th, they will be implementing a new policy that will suspend health care benefits for individuals enrolled in Medicaid or BadgerCare Plus who become incarcerated, instead of terminating them.

“This issue was brought to my attention nearly five years ago by advocates working with inmates on medication assisted recovery programs in Sauk County, a program that was then called C.A.R.E. This group found that it became difficult to continue successful treatment for the people they worked with once they were released from custody because they lacked access to health insurance,” said Erpenbach. “It was then that we began advocating for a change.”

The new suspension, instead of termination of benefits process will increase access to health care services immediately upon release from jail or prison. Wisconsin is currently one of only nine states that terminate Medicaid benefits for jailed inmates and one of only eight states that do so for those entering prison.

“I would like to thank Secretary-Designee Palm, Secretary Carr, the Evers Administration and all of the advocates who worked to change this policy,” said Erpenbach. “We know that formerly incarcerated individuals often struggle with physical and mental health complications in addition to substance use disorder and this policy change will most definitely make a difference in the lives of many Wisconsinites.”

It is estimated that nearly 70% of individuals leaving custody are eligible for Medicaid services. This new policy will allow access to much needed health care services while reducing the burden on hospital emergency rooms, community organizations, and free clinics.

You can read more about the new policy here

STATEWIDE - Another week, another set of record COVID-19 infections, deaths, and hospitalizations in Wisconsin. Will the do-nothing Republican Legislature start doing its job at this moment of great peril, or is undermine Govenor Evers all they care about? We discuss the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Amy Coney Barrett, who has been the most evasive Supreme Court nominee in modern history. She would not even commit on the right to birth control, or that climate change is a threat, let alone Roe v. Wade and the Affordable Care Act. Robert talks about the civil rights violations by Wauwatosa Police in their outrageous and discriminatory response to peaceful protesters. Finally, we are joined by State Assembly candidates Kriss Marion and Shaun Murphy-Lopez who are challenging Republican incumbents in the “driftless” region of the state.

Listen Now - Episode #463
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MADISON - If you haven’t voted already, please get ready to do so.

If you’ve got an absentee ballot, make sure you fill it out correctly and get a witness to sign it, and then either mail it in or hand it in at your local clerk’s office or in a municipally designated drop box (City of Madison Clerk lists locations here).

If you’re planning on voting in person, please consider voting early, which is what I’m going to do.

Early voting starts statewide next Tuesday, Oct. 20. However, each city, village and town in Wisconsin is responsible for setting the dates and hours for their municipality. So check with your municipal clerk’s office about the hours and locations. Be sure to bring your driver’s license or passport or other approved ID.

Remember, you can register at the polls either when you go to vote early or on Nov. 3. Just bring a utility bill or other proof of residence along with your ID.

Wisconsin used to have the second highest turnout in the country, right behind Minnesota. But we slipped to fifth place in 2016.

Let’s get to first place this time!

I’d like to see a turnout of 80 percent in Wisconsin, like they have in Scandinavian countries.

One word of caution on Election Night: We might not know who the winners are, especially in the presidential race, since it’s doubtful that all the absentee ballots will be counted by midnight. We’ll need to be patient and recognize how important it is to count every vote.

One way to speed things up would be to change the law in Wisconsin as to when poll workers can start counting absentee ballots. I wrote about this here:

Chris Larson’s Good Idea

I look forward to celebrating Wisconsin’s massive voter turnout with you in a post-election note.

Thanks for doing your part!

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs urges veterans to protect each other, and everyone else, from the virus by wearing masks.

MADISON —​ Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Mary Kolar today delivered the Democratic Radio Address encouraging Wisconsinites to help keep Wisconsin's 350,000 veterans safe by staying home and wearing a mask.

Audio file of radio address.

Hello. I’m Mary Kolar, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs. I hope you and your loved ones are well.

Unfortunately, too many of us in Wisconsin, including family, friends and neighbors, are not well. More people, every single day, get sick from the coronavirus. COVID-19 is sneaky, some will not experience symptoms and others get very ill. Some die.

As the advocate for our state’s 350,000 veterans, I implore you to do all you can to keep yourself healthy and protect those in our communities who took an oath to serve our country, stand up for it, and fight if necessary. They stood up for us, now let’s stand up for them.

Many of our state’s veterans are older, and with conditions that put them in a high-risk category for complications from COVID-19. Many live in rural areas, where COVID-19 is now rapidly spreading, and are also far from a hospital. And there are veterans who live at our Wisconsin’s Veterans Homes, nursing homes where we fight every day to keep them safe from the virus.

Please, for those who have served our country and those who support them, I ask you to join me in the fight: stay home when possible, mask up and stay six feet away from others when you go out, and wash hands frequently. These are known ways we can do our part to prevent the spread of this deadly virus. This isn’t political; this is literally the possibility of long-term negative health consequences or death.

By protecting ourselves from the virus, we protect them, our veterans – our nation’s heroes.

Let’s have each other’s backs and do our part to keep each other safe. Thank you.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/fossil-fuel-industry-exxon-s5.jpgWe've over-weighted the amount of power that our fossil fuel producers have, and we need the people of Wisconsin to stand up for real solutions, says 5th CD candidate Palzewicz.