As we celebrate our Independence Day this week, Gov. Walker is still committed to his plan to send Wisconsin’s National Guard troops to the border where families have been cruelly ripped apart. We must all speak up for what is right and humane.

Will Court's "Fair Share" ruling backfire by sparking a new era of labor activism? How about Justice Kennedy’s decision to step down? Get the buzz here.

MILWAUKEE, WI - We welcome Candice Owley, President of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals to discuss this week’s Janus ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that seeks to gut union and worker power. Will these right wing politicians in robes succeed, or will their rigging of the system backfire by sparking a new era of labor activism and protest?

We also talk over the implication of Justice Kennedy’s decision to step down from the Supreme Court. Will it make the Supreme Court even worse?

Luz Sosa, lead organizer for Citizen Action Latino Co-op Caucus, Accion Ciudadana, joins us from Thursday’s Milwaukee protest of President Trump, who is in Wisconsin for the Foxconn groundbreaking. Luz tells us more about a media event led by Citizen Action on Saturday at the Federal Building opposing family separation, indefinite internment, and the many Trump/GOP human rights violations on the border.

LISTEN NOW - EPISODE #349
Download MP3
Press Clips

MADISON, WI – Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) offered the weekly Democratic radio address today. 

The audio file of this week’s address can be found here: 
http://media2.legis.wisconsin.gov/multimedia/Sen32/shillingradio062818.mp3

A written transcript of the address is below:

“Hi, I’m Senator Jennifer Shilling with this week’s Democratic Radio Address.

“Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court postponed a final decision on the legality of Wisconsin’s gerrymandered legislative maps.

“These district maps were designed by Republicans to rig the election in their favor and dilute the voting power of Wisconsin residents.

“Take 2016 for example. While Senate Republicans earned less than 50% of the statewide vote, they expanded their grip on power and controlled more than 60% of the seats.

“The same happened in 2012 when President Barack Obama easily won the state and Democrats won the statewide popular vote, yet Republicans controlled 60 of the 99 seats in the Assembly.

“By rigging district lines in their favor, Republicans have cheated voters out of the representation they deserve.

“Democrats believe every voter deserves to have their voice heard and we’re committed to reforming Wisconsin’s redistricting process so that voters can pick their representatives – rather than having politicians pick their voters.

“By moving away from political redistricting and vote-rigging toward a non-partisan process, we can restore election integrity, ensure fair maps and empower Wisconsin voters.

“Thank you.”

June is Dairy Month, and we need to thank all the hardworking dairy producers, milk processors, and local farm families that make Wisconsin “America’s Dairyland.”

LA CROSSE, WI - I don’t know about you, but my family always enjoys the month of June. Not just because school is out, but because June is Dairy Month in Wisconsin!

It’s a time for us to celebrate all of our hardworking dairy producers, milk processors, and local farm families that make Wisconsin “America’s Dairyland.”

Over the past month, you may have taken advantage of the family-friendly activities, including parades, cheese tastings, and my favorite – dairy breakfasts on the farm.

These events highlight the importance of our farming heritage and are a great way to learn more about where our food comes from. This month also serves as a reminder to ask ourselves how we can better support local farmers and strengthen our communities.

Years of Republican policies that favor large corporations over smaller family farms and drive down milk prices are having detrimental impacts on our local communities.

Wisconsin has been losing dairy farms at an alarming rate – roughly 1.5 farms lost every day since 2011 – and our state has led the Midwest region in farm bankruptcies in 7 of the past 8 years.

Over the past few months I have listened to local farmers about the economic issues affecting them and the struggles they face with volatile markets. The reckless trade war imposed by President Trump is undermining our economic potential, adding more strain on family farms, and having a devastating impact on our local communities.

In the legislature, Democrats have championed successful initiatives like Farm to School and the Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin program. We’ve fought to expand health care access, invest in broadband infrastructure and protect funding for UW-Extension agents who work one-on-one with area farmers.

By promoting financial security and expanding economic opportunities, we can support Wisconsin’s family farmers and ensure everyone can enjoy healthy, affordable and locally-grown food options.

I want to thank the families in La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon and Crawford counties and all across the state for opening their farms to the public and hosting delicious and nutritious breakfasts. Their dedication to farming does not go unnoticed and I look forward to continued discussions on how to improve the lives of Wisconsin farmers.

****

Jennifer Shilling serves as the Senate Democratic Leader and represents the 32nd District which covers La Crosse, Vernon, Crawford and parts of Monroe County.

The MU Law poll, Erica Flynn discusses her trip to Texas to protest children are still incarcerated in detention centers, the Supreme Court gerrymandering decision, and a 20% rise in Wisconsin child poverty.

MILWAUKEE - Our panel analyzes in depth the latest MU Law poll that was released this week.

We welcome Citizen Action Organizing Cooperative member Erica Flynn, who is running for state assembly, to discuss her trip to Texas this weekend. Erica was part of Citizen Action of Wisconsin and People's Action delegation that attended a vigil at the Ursula Border Processing Center, where hundreds of children are still incarcerated in detention centers under Trump's brutal family separation policy.

We also review the Supreme Court gerrymandering decision and Robert talks about new disturbing UW research showing showing a 20% rise in Wisconsin child poverty last year, despite Walker's claim that the economy is doing great.

LISTEN NOW - Episode #348
Download MP3
Press Clips

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/depression-suicidebygun-s5.jpgEase of access to firearms contributes to suicide risk, as does lack of access to mental health resources in many communities. We can reduce the suicide rate, but we must recognize it is an epidemic driven in part by systemic, policy decisions.

State Democrats hocked by the reports of young infants, toddlers and children being separated from their parents at the border. Our nation should be a beacon of hope.

MADISON, WI – Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) offered the weekly Democratic radio address today.

The audio file of this week’s address can be found here.

A written transcript of the address is below:

“Hi, I’m Senator Jennifer Shilling with this week’s Democratic Radio Address.

“Like most Americans, I was shocked by the reports of young infants, toddlers and children being separated from their parents and detained in chain link cages at the border.

“These disturbing images and audio recordings of traumatized children have been the direct result of President Trump’s decision to enact a zero tolerance policy when it comes to refugee families seeking asylum.

“This policy has illustrated a clear moral and political difference among our leaders.

“Democrats believe that our nation should be a beacon of hope, freedom and opportunity for all.

“We believe separating infants and toddlers from their parents is a heartless, immoral and un-American decision that has caused irreparable harm to families and irreversible trauma to thousands of innocent children.

“That’s why it was disappointing to learn that our Governor was siding with President Trump this week and deploying Wisconsin National Guard members to participate in this crackdown on families at the border.

“Committing Wisconsin troops to enforce these horrendous policies is not only a misuse of state and federal resources, but it goes against our core values as a nation.

“We need leaders who will stand up and protect vulnerable children from the cruel, inhumane and harmful detention policies of the current administration.

“Thank you.”

MADISON - Senator Mark Miller released the following statement regarding the opinion in Gill v. Whitford by the United States Supreme Court:

“I am hugely disappointed the Supreme Court dismissed this case for lack of standing. I hope by returning this case to the district court that already ruled these maps unconstitutional, a remedy to finally allow voters to elect their representatives and not the other way around, will be found.

“Today’s opinion makes it clear that elections have consequences and the need for non-partisan redistricting reform is as important as ever. Time to get to work.”

The Foxconn deal is hitting taxpayers with more and more hidden fees beyond the $3 billion price tag initially advertised.

MADISON – After the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee again prioritized Foxconn-related projects over other communities across Wisconsin, Senator LaTonya Johnson released the following statement:

“Credit cards are advertised with ‘no hidden fees.’ Why? Because consumers really hate signing up for something and then finding out there are all kinds of hidden fees added in the fine print.

“Likewise, the Foxconn deal – which is already way too rich in my opinion – is hitting taxpayers with more and more hidden fees beyond the $3 billion price tag initially advertised.

“The transportation funding plan approved by Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee today is yet another example of taxpayers getting hit with the hidden costs of this bad deal. To add insult to injury, the I-94 north-south project should have been completed in 2016, but it’s not. This is because, for the past couple of budget cycles, the majority party has continued to delay projects, has failed to come up with a long-term transportation funding solution and has left Wisconsin roads with some of the worst rankings in the nation.

“Today, Republicans chose to funnel more funding to Foxconn projects rather than using federal highway funds to fix local highways across the state. This move comes even after up to $90 million from the State Highway Rehabilitation Fund has already been raided for Foxconn-related roads.

“The Foxconn deal keeps looking worse for taxpayers as our crumbling highways across the state continue to be neglected, costing every motorist who will pay more for car repairs caused by poor road condition.

“We need to stop putting all of our chips on Foxconn and make sure we maintain our economic infrastructure statewide, so all of our Wisconsin communities can prosper.”

Results from Tuesday’s special legislative elections, NE WI's own Lindsay Dorff on gerrymandering, and Attorney General Brad Schimel’s lawsuit to sabotage the ACA.