MADISON - Today, the State Senate will vote on a slate of anti-abortion bills aimed at demonizing and limiting access to abortion in Wisconsin. Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement regarding the bills on the floor today:

“Everyone in our state needs to understand why these bills are being brought forward. Partisan gerrymandering has led to extreme districts that elect extreme politicians who support extreme policies. The gerrymandered majority in Wisconsin does not reflect the will of the people who overwhelming believe legal abortion must be available in Wisconsin. Until legislative districts are un-rigged, we will continue to see an agenda that is out of touch with what ordinary Wisconsinites are asking for.

“Let me say this loud and clear: abortion is healthcare. If we want Wisconsinites to have the opportunity to live healthy lives, abortion has to be an option for anyone seeking that care and it must be accessible.

“Throughout this session, we have seen a disappointing and recurring pattern from GOP legislators limiting health options and access for ordinary Wisconsinites. They did this through not expanding BadgerCare access to over 90,000 Wisconsinites. They did it again by stripping Governor Evers’ Healthy Women, Healthy Babies initiative from the budget. Now, they are doing it again by bringing these anti-abortion bills forward, rather than passing legislation that would expand access to care and increase positive health outcomes.

“Gerrymandered maps brought us to where we are today. It is time that we put aside partisan games - let’s start actually doing work to benefit the health outcomes of Wisconsinites. The people of Wisconsin deserve better than this.”

MADISON – Monday, Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement, regarding the passing of the 65^th United States Secretary of State, General Colin Powell:

“Colin Powell was to my generation, what Barack Obama was to my son and his contemporaries. He helped Black people, he helped all of us, understand what was possible when we make a conscious decision to only see the individual. In a nation where race or politics have been flashpoints for division, Powell was able to move effectively through both realities. General Powell made the rest of us want to be better human beings. While acknowledging his many historic “firsts”, I am drawn to how he made me feel about my country, and his insistence that there was a place for all of us to be of service. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and thank them for the many years they shared him with us.”

As our state and economy continue to bounce back, we have the opportunity to not just recover from the pandemic but to build the sort of future we want for our state, says Governor.

MILWAUKEE - We welcome back former panelist Rebecca Lynch to the show to fill in for Claire who is on vacation. The panel updates the latest on Build Back Better legislation in Congress, including next steps now that Speaker Pelosi has delayed a vote in the House until the end of the month. Michael Gableman issued subpoenas in his phony election investigation to 5 Democratic cities this week, and he shamefully admitted he does not understand how elections work. This week 4 years ago Donald Trump and Scott Walker broke ground at the Fox con. We welcome U.S. Senate candidate Steven Olikara to discuss his campaign in our continuing effort to interview Democratic candidates willing to challenge Ron Johnson.

Listen Now - Episode #513
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MADISON - The fishing expedition being conducted by Michael Gableman is disgusting, and I’m hoping you’ll write a letter to your local newspaper denouncing.

Here are some points to make, in your own words.

1. Gableman is biased. He said publicly after the election that it was stolen, so how can such I biased person be in charge of this investigation?

2. One of his aides made a grotesque incitement to rightwing violence and corrupt law enforcement. The aide, Andrew Kloster, was a lawyer in the Trump Administration. Here’s what he said, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Conservatives need our own "irate hooligans" as well as prosecutors who will "let our boys off the hook."

3. This is an outrageous waste of taxpayer dollars. Vos has allocated $676,000 of our tax dollars for this, even though the vote was already recounted and certified. This is just a partisan ploy to placate Vos’s base, and we, the taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for it.

Your letter should be 200 words or less!

To submit, just Google the name of your local newspaper and “letters to the editor,” and follow the instructions there.

Please send me an email if your letter gets published.

Thanks and good luck!

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

***

P.S. If you’d like me to look over your letter or help you with it, just email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , and I’d be more than happy to.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers delivered the Democratic Radio Address on Thursday highlighting two new competitive grant programs announced earlier this week totaling $75 million to support diverse business investment into historically underserved communities and communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

Audio file of Radio Address.

Hey, folks. Governor Tony Evers here.

We know that small businesses make up the lifeblood of any community, but it's no secret that the pandemic had disproportionate effects on our communities of color and diverse businesses, and those in historically underserved and under-invested communities.

That's why I'm glad to announce $75 million of our American Rescue Plan Act dollars will be going to specifically address the needs of businesses in communities of color that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

These funds will be split into two grant programs for diverse business assistance and investment through the local chambers of commerce and supporting micro-businesses through community development financial institutions.

To date, with the help from We're All In and Main Street Bounceback Grant Programs, we estimate we have already helped more than 75,000 small businesses across the state get on the road to recovery, but with these announcements, we're going to do even more.

Because while Wisconsin is bouncing back, in order to ensure our recovery is sustainable and successful for years to come, we need to make sure every family, every worker, every business, and every community is bouncing back with us.

We have the opportunity to build the sort of future we want for our state—one that is equitable, just, and works for everyone. And we know that when our small businesses thrive, so do the communities around them and so does our state.

Thank you.

Make your voice known, loud and clear, on Speaker Vos's and Majority Leader LeMahieu's upcoming rigging of the maps.

MADISON - It’s not every day that Assembly Speaker Vos and Senate Majority Leader LeMahieu invite our input on a public policy issue.

In fact, it’s never happened before.

It appears that they want cover for their upcoming rigging of the maps.

So here’s how we responded:

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign's Position on Redistricting

Speaking of redistricting, I want to thank you if you participated in the Fair Maps Lobby Day on Monday. More than 200 citizen activists took part!

I’d also like to thank Beverly Speer and Iuscely Flores on our staff for all the work they put into it, and I’d like to thank the phenomenal organizer, Carlene Bechen, of the Fair Elections Project, for all her amazing work pulling this off.

Iuscely Flores also posted an important piece on the rights of the undocumented this week:

Undocumented Essential Workers Deserve a Path to Citizenship

And I finally weighed in on the ludicrousness of the Assembly trying to censor teachers about the truth of our oppressive history and systems:

Assembly Wrong to Curtail Teaching on Racism and Sexism

Finally, I’d like to draw your attention to one of the most despicable statements anyone’s made in Wisconsin in a long, long time. It’s from Andrew Kloster, an aide to Michael Gableman, who said the far right needs its own “irate hooligans” and “captured DA offices” to let thugs like the Proud Boys off the hook. You can read about that here:

Gableman’s Grotesqueness

I hope you appreciate our offerings this week.

Have a nice weekend!

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

****

P.S. Please donate to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign today so we can keep doing our urgent work! Just click here.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers delivered the Democratic Radio Address on Thursday highlighting a new legislative package announced earlier this week aimed at advancing several initiatives previously proposed by the governor that would invest in bolstering Wisconsin's agricultural workforce, promote and build local markets for agricultural products, and combat food insecurity and hunger.

Audio file of Radio Address.

Hey, folks. Governor Evers here.

As we all know, Wisconsin's farms have been the backbone of the state for generations, and you don't have to look very far to know they still are.

Unfortunately—as far too many farm families across our state know firsthand—the industry continues to face long-standing challenges, many of which have only been underscored over the last 18 months.

That's why I joined Legislative Democrats in introducing a package of legislation to pick up where the Legislature left off in the last budget. This legislation aims to build off the successes of my budget and provide additional investment to support Wisconsin's farmers and agricultural economy. 

We're proposing a nearly $25 million investment toward bolstering our ag economy workforce, promote and build local markets for Wisconsin ag products, and connect the dots with our farmers and local communities to help tackle food insecurity and hunger at the same time.

This plan includes $20 million to help Wisconsin food banks and pantries purchase food directly from Wisconsin producers, the creation of a meat talent development program, and investing in and expanding the Farm-to-School program.

And we're creating a new regional program to better support the mental health and well-being of farmers and their families.

While I signed a budget that represents another step forward in supporting Wisconsin farmers, more can be done to support and invigorate Wisconsin's agriculture industry that represents the state's past, present, and future. 

Thank you.

Progressives are far behind politicians, racists, religions and corporations, says veteran.

Tucson, AZ - How different the world might be if Nader had won the presidency years ago. (He ran 4 times). Would he have been able to make much change?

Who has the most influence over your child's or grand children's minds?

Nader is about 87 and thinking about what kids get in school in the class and from the airwaves from their electronic gear.

I worked for decades as a "planner" in state government and good number of years as an elected official and union leader. In general terms state and local governments know little about and do little planning.

Corporations do a lot of planning. The Defense Department has Top Secret and higher plans for just about everything. In the military I had safes crammed full of plans (which no one ever read.)

Anyway our children's minds have been the target of corporations, the ad corporations and the entertainment corporations for about 100 years. I guess that's not right. Our minds and our children's minds have been the target.

Throughout history politicians, racists and religions have targeted peoples minds. These new fangled things called corporations started in the mid 1800's have worked very hard and have been very successful to "help" us think right!!!

Progressives are far, far behind in planning and coordinating their efforts. I think there have been more attempts to plan and coord. lately but the impacts are still unknown.

When one guy has all the money to equip his team with machine guns, drones and night vision, progressives (which I count myself one) can coordinate the shooting of our cap pistols and BB guns all we want and we will lose.

Example: Today and the issue of the Senate filibuster.

Peace!
Buzz Davis Vets for Peace in Tucson

Underscores Importance Doing What’s Best for Kids

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers delivered the Democratic Radio Address on Thursday congratulating Dr. Jill Underly on her first State of Education address as the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and underscored the importance of working together to continue doing what’s best for our kids and our schools.

Audio file of Radio Address.    

Hi there! Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers here. 

Today, I want to congratulate Dr. Jill Underly on her first State of Education Address as State Superintendent of Public Instruction.  

Dr. Underly and I are both former teachers, so we know firsthand that what’s best for our kids is what’s best for our state. And that’s also why we agree on that our kids come first, which means putting our kids before politics and divisiveness.   

Our schools are the hearts of our community—from our Pre-K and early childhood education providers to our higher education institutions.  

Every kid, every day—no matter what zip code they live in or their family’s economic status—deserves to have the support, the resources, and the services they need to thrive.   

If we’re going to make sure every kid has the chance to be successful in this state, then we have to invest in our kids and our schools.  

It means delivering on our constitutional obligation to provide our kids with disabilities and special needs the best education and resources possible.   

It means supporting and hiring passionate, dedicated, and skilled teachers—especially teachers who understand and share the experiences of students of color.   

And it means coming together to do what’s best for our kids because I know that when we put our kids first, we will not only get through the challenges of this pandemic but build a stronger, more equitable public education system for years to come.   

We made great strides in our last budget—finally reaching two-thirds funding for our public schools for the first time in two decades and making another critical increase for special education. But Superintendent Underly and I both know we still have much work to do.   

I look forward to working together with Superintendent Underly and the DPI to meet the needs of every kid from Pre-K through college, to trust and support our teachers, and to do what’s best for our kids by putting them first.   

Thank you.