Avoid Gov. Scott Walker and Attorney General Brad Schimel's sleight-of-hand politics. Gabriel Gomez, Shyla Deacon, Julie Henszey, Kriss Marion, Dan Kohl and Erica Flynn want to get back to representing YOU.

Scott Walker and Senate Republicans care more about saving their own jobs than they do protecting the workers of Fox Valley.

MADISON - The following is a response from Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Martha Laning on news that the Senate will be called into extraordinary session on November 12 to vote on an aid package for Kimberly-Clark:

“This is politics as usual from Scott Walker and Senate Republicans. They know that voters don’t want more corporate handouts, so they’ve waited until after the election to pass a solution to a problem that Republicans have had months to solve.

“This is an empty promise. Clearly Scott Walker and Senate Republicans care more about saving their own jobs than they do protecting the workers of Fox Valley’s paper industry."

Dr. Christine Blasey Ford that is. Then Rep Rob Brooks and racist, sexually abusive comments to 3 female GOP state legislators, and more...

STATEWIDE - We discuss the shamefully rushed Brett Kavanaugh confirmation process that played out this week and what does it mean for the progress of gender equity in America?

We then welcome Citizen Action co-op member and candidate for State Assembly candidate Chris Rahlf to discuss breaking news this week that her opponent, Rep Rob Brooks, made racist and sexually abusive comments to 3 female GOP state legislators.

We welcome State Senate candidate Jeff Smith to discuss his campaign and fundraiser next Thursday, October 4th, at Big Head Brewing Co. in Wauwatosa. We close with Citizen Action co-op member Kris Lennon to tell us about a Fair Maps Town Hall on Saturday, October 6th, 12:45 pm in Wauwatosa.

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Brett Kavanaugh himself and Republican senators did more to demonstrate his unfitness for the job than anything Democrats said.

All of us who value democracy and equality and an end to sexual violence and basic human decency owe a huge debt to Dr. Ford.

MADISON - It’s been hard, over the past 24 hours, to focus on anything other than Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and her extremely courageous, credible, and powerful testimony.

All of us who value democracy and equality and an end to sexual violence and basic human decency owe a huge debt to Dr. Ford.

When I wasn’t watching the testimony yesterday, I was trying to draw attention to some of the newsworthy postings we put up this week.

One had to do with our own state supreme court, and the way in which the conservative justices on it are in hock to the business groups that spent tons of money to help them get elected. One business group even bragged that it was getting a lot back in return:

Business group hails Wisconsin’s conservative justices

We also noted that the Koch Brothers’ group, Americans for Prosperity, and other conservative express advocacy groups are spending a lot more than such groups on the Democratic side:

GOP express advocacy groups outspending Dems almost 5 to 1 in Wisconsin

And then we examined who was funding the leading candidates for governor.

Here’s what we posted on Tony Evers:

Evers raised $1.9M in August

And here’s what we posted on Scott Walker:

Walker's fundraising gets $1M boost from lt. gov's campaign

This donating by the candidates for lieutenant governor to the candidates for governor should not be allowed! It’s a major loophole we need to plug.

And just yesterday, we posted the most recently filed summary campaign finance data for all candidates on the November ballot for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer.

Campaign finances updated for constitutional office candidates on the Nov. ballot

I hope this information is useful to you.

Best,

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

P.S. Instead of asking you to support the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, as I usually do here, I’m going to ask that you support any nonprofit in Wisconsin that is combating sexual violence. For instance, you can support the Rape Crisis Center of Dane County or a crisis center closer to you.

Make sure you’re registered to vote – as Election Day on November 6th is right around the corner. Here's some information to help you.

Panel discusses the latest MU Law poll, dirty campaign tactics, Senator Chris Larson, and the State Senate.

STATEWIDE - Our panel analyzes the latest MU Law poll. We review how healthcare is becoming a dominant issue in the election, particularly Walker’s support for allowing discrimination against people with pre-existing health conditions. We also discuss the sleazy effort to divide the Bryce family by featuring Randy’s brother in an ugly negative ad that drew a heartfelt angry response from Randy’s mother.

We welcome State Senator Chris Larson to discuss the huge opportunities for Democrats in the State Senate this November. Sen. Larson reviews all the important Senate races and promotes our important fundraiser on Thursday, October 4th for Citizen Action organizer Jeff Smith who is running for State Senate in the Eau Claire area in a must win race. Fundraiser is at Big Head Brewing Co., 6204 W. State St. Wauwatosa.

LISTEN NOW - EPISODE #360
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The Governor’s claim to be the defender of pre-existing conditions is false.

MADISON, WI – Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona) 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:

“Hello, this is Senator Mark Miller with this week’s democratic radio address.

“In this week’s necessary fact check, we look at the Governor’s claim to be the defender of pre-existing conditions.

“Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies are prohibited from denying health insurance to persons with pre-existing conditions. The Governor is falsely claiming that he is the protector of this provision that allows our neighbors who have had the misfortune to have been sick in the past to purchase health insurance today at reasonable cost. This claim by the Governor is blatantly not true.

“Instead of protecting the ability of Wisconsinites to get health insurance without regard to pre-existing conditions, the Governor, together with his Lt. Governor and his Republican Attorney General and with the support from the Republican majority in the legislature, joined a lawsuit seeking to overturn the very protections that many in Wisconsin depend on.

“We rate his claim: false.”

Actions speak louder than empty political promises and real people’s lives are at stake.

MADISON - For eight years, Scott Walker has worked to sabotage the Affordable Care Act and undermine its protections for the estimated 2.4 million people in Wisconsin with a pre-existing condition.

As someone who has beat cancer, I have a pre-existing condition.

In a shocking failure to display leadership or any empathy for people suffering, Walker is currently part of a lawsuit to eliminate the Affordable Care Act (including protections for people with pre-existing conditions).

Click here to sign my petition to demand Scott Walker drop Wisconsin from this dangerous anti-health care lawsuit.

If Scott Walker wants to protect the millions of Wisconsinites with a pre-existing condition, he will take immediate action to drop Wisconsin from this lawsuit today.

Actions speak louder than empty political promises and real people’s lives are at stake here. Let’s see if Walker is willing to save lives, or if he’s more concerned with playing politics and pleasing his right-wing donors.

Insist Walker drop Wisconsin from the lawsuit to end the Affordable Care Act.

TAKE ACTION: https://tonyevers.com/lawsuit-challenge/

Onward, Tony

Veterans report many are falling for the Washington politician lies that the VA is not being privatized.

TUCSON, AZ - Do you know that approximately 40% of the of the 104 million VA outpatient appointments are now being conducted in the private sector via the Choice & Community Care programs? That’s right! Only 60% of all the veterans served are being cared for in VA hospitals & clinics. Before Congress passed the Choice Act in 2014 about 22% of outpatient appointments were done in the private sector

The VA “Completed Appointments” vs Private Sector
Appts. (Community Care+Choice) Rates Are:
Percent of Outpatient Appts by Fiscal Year (FY)

FY14 70.8 m total appts. 22% in pvt. sector & 78% in VA

FY15 79.7 m appts. 30% in pvt. sec. & 70% in VA

FY16 89.2 m 35% in pvt. sec. & 65% in VA

FY17 103.7 m 40% in pvt. sec. & 60% in VA

You see the trends, right? How soon will they begin closing hospitals & clinics due to not enough patients?

Well, some Veterans Service Organizations have fallen for the lies that the VA is not being privatized we are just helping veterans get better care faster.

VSO's in New Mexico have not fallen for the lies.

Below is a report from Veterans for Peace member Charles R. Powell on the New Mexico resolution.

On Thursday September 13, the United Veterans Council of New Mexico passed a resolution against the privatization of the Veterans Administration medical services.

The UVC is a non-profit coalition of more than 30 chartered and federally recognized veterans service organizations and affiliates established in 2007. They strive to provide a forum for the free exchange of information between veterans organizations, state agencies and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The council President is Ken O'Keefe, the website is <uvcnm.org>.

The resolution was introduced by the delegate from The Donald & Sally-Alice Thompson Chapter 63 of Veterans For Peace of Albuquerque and was approved without opposition.

RESOLUTION AGAINST PRIVATIZATION OF THE VETERANS ADMINSTRATION

Whereas, the Congressional Budget Office estimated the VA cost for private care would be 10% higher than the payment rates for Medicare and the Physicians for a National Health Program states the medical costs at the VA are 20% lower than Medicare rates, therefore costs for private care might be 30% higher than the same care provided by the VA, and

Whereas, the RAND Corporation's decade of research found that VA provided care is equal to or better quality than private sector care in all forty-seven quality-of-care measurements comparing VA outpatient care with comparable civilian facilities, and

Whereas, the Department of Veterans Affairs is better equipped than most community providers to coordinate complex physical and mental healthcare for combat veterans, and

Whereas, a bipartisan survey by Lake Research and Chesapeake Beach Consulting 80 percent of veterans polled oppose turning VA health care into a system of private sector vouchers inadequate to cover costs;

Therefore Be It Resolved that United Veterans Council of New Mexico…

1.   Supports policies that provide necessary resources to serve veterans by maintaining a robust Federal Government Veterans Health Administration;

2.   Supports policies that would create integrated health care networks for veterans with the Veterans Health Administration, serving as the coordinator and primary provider of care when and where needed as determined by the VA medical staff to ensure timely and convenient access for all enrolled veterans.

3.   Opposes privatization of medical and psychological care for our Veterans.

-- Charles R. Powell