An ARMY veteran and American Indian says President Trump's political attack on Sen. Warren detracts from the contributions made by warriors from 33 different tribes, including the Oneida Nation, Menominee Indian Tribe and Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin.

MADISON - The following is a statement from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin's American Indian Caucus Chair, Ryan Greendeer, released yesterday.

In addition to leading the DPW's American Indian Caucus, Greendeer served in the US Army for almost 9 years and worked in Government Relations for the Ho-Chunk Nation.

"Today the President had an opportunity to honor World War II’s Code Talkers during an event at the White House. Instead of highlighting the tremendous effort, commitment and sacrifice made by Code Talkers, he hosted three Navajo Veterans in front of the notorious President Andrew Jackson portrait. President Jackson is well known for ordering the removal of hundreds of thousands of Native People from their homelands.

"During the event, their achievements in protecting American lives were ignored so that Trump could mock Senator Elizabeth Warren, by calling her Pocahontas instead. The President’s political attack on Senator Warren detracts from the contributions made by warriors from 33 different tribes, including the Oneida Nation, Menominee Indian Tribe and Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin.

"In honor of these veterans and Native American Indian Heritage Month, we would like to apologize for the President’s uncouth remarks and convey our deepest appreciation for their sacrifices."

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You can follow Ryan on Twitter at @rjgreendeer.

National Entrepreneurs’ Day is an American holiday held in November that celebrates the American men and women who promote entrepreneurship, business, innovation, and new jobs.

MADISON, WI – Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) delivered the Democratic weekly radio address recognizing this year’s National Entrepreneurs’ Day on Tuesday, November 21st.

“Rather than sending billions of our tax dollars to subsidize a foreign corporation like Foxconn, Democrats want to support home-grown Wisconsin companies and encourage Wisconsin entrepreneurs. In honor of National Entrepreneurs’ Day, let’s reignite our economy and re-invest in American entrepreneurs.” – Sen. Tim Carpenter

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

A written transcript of the address is below:

“Hi, this is Senator Tim Carpenter and I’m joining my fellow Democrats in recognizing National Entrepreneurs’ Day.

“We know that America’s economic strength lies in our ability to support entrepreneurs and start-up businesses. Given the trend toward a 21st century knowledge-based economy, Wisconsin has some catching up to do.

“Since Gov. Walker took office, Wisconsin has trailed the country in job creation and ranks dead-last for start-ups. Economic insecurity and student loan debt are paralyzing our young entrepreneurs. Our infrastructure is crumbling and small businesses are finding that the system is rigged against them in favor of wealthy corporations.

“Rather than sending billions of our tax dollars to subsidize a foreign corporation like Foxconn, Democrats want to support home-grown companies and encourage Wisconsin entrepreneurs. In honor of National Entrepreneurs Day, let’s reignite our economy and re-invest in American entrepreneurs. Thank you.”

More Walker hypocrisy on outside money, Schimel at Trump resort, and GOP sweetheart deals.

MADISON - Sometimes, the brazenness of Scott Walker amazes me.

Such was the case this week when he bemoaned the outside money he might be facing in his reelection campaign, even though he owes his hold on power to outside money, as we explain here:

Walker hypocrite on outside money

One of those big outside donors is none other than Sheldon Adelson, the Las Vegas casino owner, and Walker did him a favor recently by endorsing one of Adelson’s favorite causes:

Walker order and GOP bills on BDS serve big donor

Walker wasn’t the only one kissing up to big donors this week. Attorney General Brad Schimel has been doing it, too:

Schimel hobnobs with big donors at Trump resort

And in the legislature, two Republicans have introduced another bill that preys on the poor – this one from the rent-to-own industry, which they get money from:

GOP sweetheart bill for the rent-to-own industry

This is the reality of politics in Wisconsin these days. Big money rules the roost, and if you want some change in the law, you better have money to drop in the GOP cup.

And it doesn’t matter whether Republicans or Democrats hold the power. This kind of pay to play, which both parties have been known to do, is totally unacceptable. This is not how a democracy is supposed to function. It amounts to legalized bribery and rule by the few.

That’s why we fight so hard for clean and open government and fundamental campaign finance reform. Everyone should have an equal voice in our democracy!

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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P.S. For your year-end giving, please include the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign on your list. Your gift is tax-deductible, and you can make it right now by clicking here. Or you can make a check out to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and mail it to the address below. We really appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Two mothers who lost their children to addiction have taken their experience and turned it into advocacy and education.

MADISON, 11/10/2017 - This week two amazing advocates and grieving mothers, Bonnie and Bev, brought Faces of Addiction and Hope a story quilt to the State Capitol during our last session day of the year. It was a stark reminder we still have more work to do in the opioid crisis. Squares on the quilt showed people who have died, those incarcerated because of their addiction and those that are in recovery. It is a beautiful and tragic symbol. Both mom’s lost their children to addiction and have taken their experience and turned it into advocacy and education.

As I spoke with them about the message they hope to share with the quilt, they shared how they wished our criminal justice system could be a better partner with those addicted to drugs and alcohol and how they hope more than anything that people can see the true reality of the disease of addiction. Treatment and care should be available to everyone because we simply cannot afford to lose so many. In 2015, nearly 900 people in Wisconsin died from overdose. That is a 70% increase since 2009.

Unfortunately, where you live in Wisconsin makes a big difference whether or not you have access to treatment programs and whether you have opportunities for care in the community. Medicaid is the single largest payer of substance use disorder services in the nation and pays for one third of the medication assisted treatment programs. Right here in Sauk County we have a program that has been used as a national model for medication assisted wrap-around treatment. Ensuring that people have access to Medicaid or insurance through the Affordable Care Act plays a huge part in their success story.

Recruiting and keeping professionals that can provide treatment to those with addiction and other mental health disorders is also a barrier in many parts of Wisconsin. Increasing the reimbursement rate paid to substance abuse professionals will help make sure we have access to treatment outside of the major metropolitan areas in Wisconsin.

Accepting the BadgerCare expansion allowed in the ACA and covering more people with low cost health insurance in Wisconsin would make a huge difference to those in need of treatment and recovery. Unfortunately, we have been advocating to accept that federal money to no avail in the Wisconsin Legislature for a few years now. Truly only partisan politics stands in the way for Wisconsin to expand BadgerCare and I am hopeful some day we can move past that prideful political barrier.

As this Legislative session is coming to a close, I am also hopeful that the quilt will grow with white squares to show those in recovery and remain committed to legislation that supports our families and communities struggling with addiction and recovery.

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For more information on the Faces of Addiction and Hope quilt contact my office at 608-266-6670 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You can see the quilt on my Facebook page.

East coast election results, GOP Constitutional Convention vote, and the State Senate approval of the "ConCon" and why it is a threat to democracy.

STATEWIDE - On the week Gov. Walker launched his quest for a 3rd term, former panelist Jorna Taylor joins us to review election results on the east coast and predict their implications for Wisconsin in 2018. This week Wisconsin officially joined the Koch Brother-fueled right-wing conspiracy to radically reconstruct the U.S. Constitution.

Ken Taylor, executive director of Kids Forward, joins us to talk about the State Senate approval of the "ConCon" and why it is a threat to democracy. We also discuss the rubber-stamping of the Foxconn contract by the WEDC board and the repeal of Wisconsin's sulfide mining moratorium heads to Walker's desk.

LISTEN NOW - EPISODE #319
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MADISON – Today, State Senator Tim Carpenter introduced his list of the Top Ten Reasons Wisconsin got conned by Foxconn.

In an ode to the famous David Letterman, the reasons are presented 10 to 1:

10. Foxconn should have been required to testify at legislative public hearings and answer questions. They never did.

9. The Foxconn deal should have been made available to the public before the WEDC Board vote. It was not.

8. The vote by the WEDC Board on the Foxconn deal should have been done publicly. It was not.

7. The vote by the WEDC Board should have been on the Foxconn contract, not just a Staff Review of the contract.

6. The whole process leading to the Foxconn contract was too secretive and negotiated behind closed doors.

5. Governor Scott Walker gave away the store just to close the deal with Foxconn.

4. Future businesses will demand to have the same environmental exemptions that were given to Foxconn.

3. Wisconsin workers take a seat on the back of the bus with this Foxconn deal.

2. A foreign corporation is given better treatment than a United States citizen.

And, the number one reason why the Foxconn deal stinks………..

Wisconsin will not break even on the $3 billion give away to Foxconn until 2043 at the earliest

MADISON, November 7, 2017 - Today’s Senate session had one theme. Danger.

Senate Republicans passed several egregious bills today that do nothing to better the lives of Wisconsinites, but rather put them at risk.

There is no logical reason to make recounts for elections harder, except it consolidates power for those who hold it. There is no fathomable reason to put a gun in the hands of a toddler, except it benefits the gun lobby. There is no sensible reason to call a constitutional convention, except it benefits the billionaires who promote it to skew the playing field. There is no rational reason to allow acid mining in Wisconsin, except a foreign company really wants it. There are no comprehensible reasons for any of these things and yet, here we are.

These are dangerous policies at best. Wisconsin deserves better. In the words of Justice Antonin Scalia: “I certainly would not want a Constitutional Convention. Whoa! Who knows what would come out of it? A Constitutional Convention is a horrible idea.” Those poignant words cover a multitude of sins.”

State Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement on continuing negotiations between WEDC and Foxconn. Please feel free to contact Sen. Carpenter's office for additional information.

MADISON – Today, State Senator Tim Carpenter, a member of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, released the following statement:

“I am still not satisfied that Wisconsin taxpayers will be protected by recent changes to the Foxconn deal.

Given yesterday afternoon’s WEDC private release of the Foxconn contact and Staff Review to the Board, I have not been given sufficient time to adequately read, review and understand the Foxconn deal.

WEDC scheduled an Awards Committee review of the Foxconn deal today at 1 p.m., but I could not attend because the State Senate was in Session all day.

I have not had the opportunity to read and make an informed decision on Foxconn to see if it definitely protects taxpayers. WEDC has continued to make several changes to Foxconn materials.

Tonight, whenever the State Senate adjourns, I will finally get the opportunity to read, review and better understand the Foxconn deal. Until then I cannot honestly say taxpayers are being protected.”

MADISON - I need you – right now! -- to contact your Wis. State Senator about a horrible bill that’s up for a vote TOMORROW, Tuesday! It’s called AJR 21, and it seeks a Constitutional Convention on a balanced budget amendment. And if you are in one of the below listed districts, it is of particular urgency you contact your senator and encourage their "no" vote.

The balanced budget amendment is a horrible idea because it would tie the hands of our government in times of recession.

But there’s an even bigger problem with calling a Constitutional Convention, and that is, once it gets under way, it may go beyond its original mandate and throw everything on the table, including our basic rights.

This Constitutional Convention idea is closer than you think. If Wisconsin and just a few more states sign on, you’re going to wake up one morning to the news that there’s going to be a Constitutional Convention. And then who knows what’s going to happen and what damage can be done?

The bill again is AJR 21, and here are the Republican Senators that are crucial to contact and to urge to vote no:

• Sen. Rob Cowles (SD2) -- (800) 334-1465
• Sen. Dan Feyen (SD18) -- (608) 266-5300
• Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (SD13) -- (608) 266-5660
• Sen. Devin LeMahieu (SD9) -- (608) 266-2056 (pronounced Lemma-hue)
• Sen. Terry Moulton (SD23) -- (608) 266-7511
• Sen. Luther Olsen (SD14) -- (608) 266-0751
• Sen. Jerry Petrowski (SD29) -- (608) 266-2502
• Sen. Roger Roth (SD19) -- (608) 266-0718
• Sen. Van Wangaard (SD21) -- (608) 266-1832

The Wisconsin Assembly has already passed their bills and now the State Senate needs to block them. Read more in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel here.

Thanks for picking up your phone! Please report back with feedback from your calls.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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We discuss Foxconn, WEDC, the ACA open enrollment process, CAFO’s (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), immigrant rights, and more...

STATEWIDE - We discuss the latest Foxconn news including a new Democratic appointment to WEDC and the GOP desire to keep the details of the deal from public scrutiny.

Kevin Kane joins us to educate listeners on the ACA open enrollment process and our role in preventing health care sabotage.

We review Gov. Walker’s dirty effort to deregulation of CAFO’s (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations). We also discuss immigrant rights efforts to stop a new state anti-sanctuary bill that threatens fundamental human rights.

LISTEN NOW - EPISODE #318
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Citizen Action Press Clips