DPW Chair Martha Laning talks on the Democratic victory in Alabama.

MADISON -- After tonight's election of underdog Doug Jones in the Alabama Senate race, where Gov. Scott Walker, Speaker Paul Ryan, Attorney General Brad Schimel and Senator Ron Johnson refused to denounce or stop the national party they lead from attempting to prop up Roy Moore, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning released this statement:

"American values won tonight. It was a victory of the people, unity triumphing over division. Alabama took a a stand and demonstrated to our country what really makes America great -- our unity and our principles.

"I hope Gov. Scott Walker, Speaker Paul Ryan and all the Wisconsin Republicans who silently permitted their national party's propping up of hatred, bigotry and sexism are paying attention tonight. The people of Alabama did not accept hatred and division - and neither do the people of Wisconsin."

Nicholson refused to return money from Roy Moore's top super PAC donor.

MADISON -- Brad Bainum, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson for the 2018 Senate race, issued the following statement on the United States Senate special election in Alabama:

"Tonight, Wisconsinites should be reminded of Kevin Nicholson's Roy Moore ties: Nicholson refused to return money from Roy Moore's top super PAC donor Dick Uihlein; he bragged about his support from Moore's 'master strategist' Steve Bannon; and he failed to denounce his national party's support for Roy Moore. 

"A lot of Republicans lost tonight, but perhaps no one so badly as Kevin Nicholson, who got to keep a $5,400 check from his and Roy Moore's top out-of-state puppet master, Dick Uihlein, but had to betray our Wisconsin values in the process.

"Kevin Nicholson still has a chance to disavow his and Moore's top out-of-state special interest backers, and we'd encourage him to once and for all cut ties with Bannon and Uihlein."

League of Women Voters of Wisconsin advises State on several critical matters, attends a naturalization ceremony, sees LWV-Milwaukee County volunteers in action, and plans convention.

MADISON - The Wisconsin Elections Commission is meeting today to consider several critical matters, including ballot design, agency staffing and a UW-Madison study on the impact of the photo ID requirement. In closed session the commissioners will discuss litigation and personnel matters. Here is the League’s statement, which will be delivered by Erin Grunze in the public comment period. You can watch the WEC open session meeting live on Wisconsin Eye beginning at 10AM.

The League submitted a statement yesterday to the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections about a bill that seeks to address some problems with the current absentee ballot process. While we appreciate the intent of this legislation, our statement outlines serious problems including the fact that it creates a two-tier system in which all absentee ballots are not treated equally.

Last week two members of our state staff had the opportunity to attend a naturalization ceremony and see LWV-Milwaukee County volunteers in action as they helped new citizens register to vote in Wisconsin. Read about about this inspiring experience in a narrative written by Andrea Kaminski.

Finally, just a reminder that the 2018 LWV National Convention will take place at the Hilton Chicago, June 28-July 1, 2018. This is a great opportunity for Wisconsin Leagues to be well represented at our National Convention. Click here to see the schedule-at-a-glance, make your room reservation and follow updates on the program and speakers.

Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Urges Passage of SB 291 and SB 292. 2008 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision allowed a big box store to have their property assessed as if the store were a vacant “dark store” instead of a thriving business.

MILWAUKEE, WI – As mayors and village presidents around the state spend December 11 educating the public about dark store legislation and urging the State Senate to schedule a vote on SB 291 and SB 292, Democratic candidate for Governor Matt Flynn added his support to their collective effort.

“Without the passage of these bills, more and more of the property tax burden in Wisconsin will be shifted to homeowners,” said Flynn. “Middle class families should not be asked to shoulder any more of the tax burden.”

SB 291 and SB 292 were introduced in response to a 2008 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that allowed a big box store to have their property assessed as if the store were a vacant “dark store” instead of a thriving business. When those business entities pay less than market rate assessment, the burden of those taxes is shifted to residential property owners, who see a tax increase. It becomes a shift of responsibility from businesses to homeowners. These two Senate bills have overwhelming, bipartisan support. SB 291 has 58 co-sponsors and SB 292 has 68 co-sponsors.

“I do not want to see homeowners face a tax increase,” Flynn remarked. “The State Senate should stop dragging its feet and schedule a vote on these two bills immediately.”

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Matt Flynn is a Navy veteran, attorney, and former Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. He attended law school at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

For additional information, visit www.ForwardWithFlynn.com.

New findings of re-opened probe into already-investigated investigation to be revealed soon, Schimel announces

MADISON -- Attorney General Brad Schimel announced Monday that an investigation supporting video footage by discredited Project Veritas, a conservative group best known for peddling conspiracy theories, will soon be done. Project Veritas’s founder James O’Keefe was recently revealed to have operated a fake sting operation with the intent of trapping news organizations to discredit survivors of sexual assault.

In April, Schimel’s DOJ investigated the video filmed by Project Veritas claiming to show allegations of voter fraud, and concluded that the videos showed no violation of Wisconsin law. Following this announcement, O’Keefe rebuked Schimel, threatening to turn his own undercover cameras on the attorney general. Schimel then contradicted the findings of his own staff and office, and announced that “it’s not the end of it,” caving to Project Veritas by reopening the probe he had just closed.

“Wisconsin deserves an attorney general who will keep our state safe,” said Martha Laning, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “Instead of doing his job, getting on top of the huge backlog of rape kits and submitting timely toxicology reports, Brad Schimel is abusing the role of the Department of Justice in a partisan witch hunt. Schimel was elected to serve and protect the people of Wisconsin, not pander to a disgraced, fringe right-wing operative.”

First Law Enforcement Endorsement in Race for Governor.

MADISON - Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney announced his support Friday for Mahlon Mitchell in his campaign for governor. Mahoney has served as Dane County Sheriff since 2006. The Dane County Sheriff’s office is the 4th largest law enforcement agency in the state of Wisconsin.

“It’s time for change in Wisconsin. That’s why I’m supporting Mahlon Mitchell for governor,” Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney said. “He has shown the leadership that we need to move Wisconsin forward, and he has always stood with law enforcement throughout the years. I know that he put Wisconsin’s public safety first, and give our first responders the tools they need to do their jobs.”

Mitchell, a 20-year firefighter and President of the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin, thanked Mahoney for his support, and pledged to continue to stand with law enforcement when he is elected governor.

“Sheriff Mahoney has been on the front lines of public safety in our state. He knows the challenges that law enforcement faces—whether in dealing with our state’s opioid crisis or trying to keep communities safe in the face of budget cuts in Madison. Keeping our communities safe is critical to the future of our state, and it requires all hands working. I look forward to working with him to ensure that law enforcement has the resources they need to effectively carry out their jobs."

About Mahlon Mitchell:

Mahlon Mitchell was born in Milwaukee and grew up in Delavan, Wisconsin. He now lives with his wife, April and two children, Sie’anna and Karson, in Fitchburg.

Mahlon followed in his older brother’s footsteps when he became a fire fighter in Madison twenty years ago. His two brothers are fire fighters in Atlanta and St. Paul. These careers came out of a family that instilled values of service and working for others.

This sense of service is also exemplified in Mahlon’s other activities. He was a counselor at the Wisconsin Alliance for Fire Safety’s Burn Camp, which he also directed for five years. This summer camp worked with burn-injured youth to help them cope with their unique situation and build a network of support.

Mahlon also worked as a street outreach coordinator with Briarpatch and Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin, where he linked at-risk youth with services from their community.

Recently, Mahlon was instrumental to passing two pieces of legislation that were a huge victory for fire fighters across the state. The Infectious Disease Presumption fought to make sure fire fighters are covered if they contract a disease or disability on the job. Additionally, the legislature passed a bill that ensures families and spouses of fire fighters who die in the line of duty will have their health insurance premiums covered.

When the fight over collective bargaining began in 2011, Mahlon led the fire fighters in a monumental stand of solidarity with other public servants. Despite being exempted from the bill, Mahlon and his fellow fire fighters marched on the Capitol with fellow working families that were threatened by the Budget Repair Bill.

Mahlon took the opportunity to travel the state as a fire fighter spreading the words about Scott Walker’s divisive policies.

In addition to his service in the community, Mahlon was a real estate agent for six years at First Weber in Madison. He currently serves as President of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, being the youngest and first African American to serve in the post.

MILWAUKEE - Those closest to gubernatorial candidate Andy Gronik know he'll put people ahead of special interests, that's why they stand behind his campaign one hundred percent in Gronik for Wisconsin campaign's new web video "20 Miles" released this afternoon.

"He's the real deal," said Shar Borg a Milwaukee Realtor and community leader. "He loves the state. He loves people. He sees that we are in a crisis and he wants to make a difference." 

Some of Andy's biggest supporters have seen him in action his entire life and watched him build businesses, solve problems, and fight tooth and nail for what he believes in. At a time when hard-working families in our state continue to be left behind, they need someone fighting for higher wages, affordable health care, and to make public schools the best choice for our kids. 

"Andy's got the ability to distill those problems into manageable objectives to get people from both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party working together - to get staff behind it - to really focus on pulling the levers that move the state of Wisconsin forward," said Mark Kohlenberg a Wisconsin entrepreneur who has worked with Gronik in the past to launch a new brand of children’s shoes in the United States.

Watch "20 Miles" on Youtube below.

Gronik's vision for Wisconsin focuses on creating good-paying jobs in science, technology, manufacturing, and agriculture by executing statewide community and economic development plans that make Wisconsin the global leader in all industries surrounding food production, processing and packaging; fresh water, clean air, and renewable energy - the things were already good at in our state.

As Governor, Andy Gronik will continue to do what he's always done: bring people together, listen, solve problems and get things done. He knows what it takes to create jobs that sustain a family, advance a public education system that connects with businesses statewide in innovative ways to prepare our kids for the jobs of tomorrow, and ensure everyone in Wisconsin has affordable access to health care.

"I'm old," said longtime acquaintance Freda Adashek. "But I would walk 20 miles to see [Andy] become Governor. He is what I would like to see, as a person, helping the people of this state."

Democratic candidate for Governor vows to protect voting rights outside the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

MADISON – Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Matt Flynn today addressed news media outside the Wisconsin Elections Commission to propose automatic voter registration in Wisconsin and to protect voting rights.

Flynn said, "Scott Walker and his Republican legislature have intentionally made voting more difficult and confusing in Wisconsin. By passing a Voter ID law, limiting access to DMV centers, curtailing early voting, and gerrymandering the state beyond comprehension, they have waged an all-out assault on the spirit of democracy. It led to a dramatic drop-off in voting in 2016, especially among students and minority voters, just as the Republicans intended.

"I believe in fair elections and in leveling the playing field. As governor, I will restore our progressive tradition of expanding voting rights and simplify how we conduct elections.

"Today I want to discuss one way we will simplify elections: by creating automatic voter registration. I propose automatically registering to vote all U.S. citizens who legally reside in Wisconsin, are over the age of 18, and have a driver's license or state ID issued by the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles.

"A new resident who moves to Wisconsin is already required to go to the DMV to obtain a new driver's license or state ID. Automatic voter registration would remove the extra step she needs to take to register to vote. A young adult who has a driver's license or state ID will automatically be registered when he turns 18, making it easier for him to start exercising his right to vote.

"Not all states have the same voter registration laws. New voters are often confused about when and where to register. Automatic registration will eliminate that confusion.

"All residents will be made aware that they are automatically being registered to vote. If they choose, they will be allowed to opt-out of voter registration.

"Automatic voter registration has already been adopted by 10 states in the past three years. Wisconsin should join that growing list.

"Of course, this is only one of the policies we will need to pass to protect voting rights. We also need to eliminate the state's voter ID law, encourage more early voting and mail balloting, and require a paper trail for electronic touch-screen voting terminals. We also need to create an independent redistricting commission made up of neutral judges so that voters can choose their politicians, instead of politicians choosing their voters."

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Matt Flynn is a Navy veteran, attorney, and former Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. He attended law school at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

For additional information, visit www.ForwardWithFlynn.com.

Democratic candidate for Governor will end discrimination and voter suppression tactics.

MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Matt Flynn announced Tuesday his proposals to restore voting rights in the state, following years of suppression tactics by incumbent Scott Walker and his Republican allies in the State Legislature.

“For over 100 years, Wisconsin was a leader in expanding voting opportunities and making voting easier. We were the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment, upholding women’s suffrage. Wisconsinites have always looked at voting as a right. Since Walker and his Republican donor cartel took over the state, they have systematically impeded voting. They have targeted those who are most negatively impacted by the Republicans’ terrible policies,” Matt Flynn charged. “I will restore our progressive tradition of expanding voting rights. I will simplify how we conduct elections. I believe in fair elections and in leveling the playing field.”

Since Walker and the Republicans took over in January 2011, they have curtailed voting rights, by:

• Passing Voter ID bills, despite almost no cases anywhere of voter impersonation;
• Closing DMV buildings and limiting hours of those facilities around the state, making it difficult to obtain a permissible Voter ID;
• Gerrymandering the state so that Republicans won nearly 2/3 of Assembly seats, despite garnering roughly half of the popular vote in state elections;
• Curtailing early voting and making voter registration more difficult;

Flynn said, “The victims of their assault on voting have been students, the elderly, the poor, and minority voters. After decades of increased voter turnout, the 2016 election saw a dramatic drop-off, particularly in counties that have college campuses and large minority populations. That was the Republicans’ goal. This is unacceptable and violates Wisconsin’s great tradition of inclusion.”

“The Supreme Court has decreed ‘one person, one vote’ and guaranteed voting rights in our country. I will fight to uphold the laws of our country. When I am elected Governor, I will introduce the most extensive reforms for voting and elections in Wisconsin’s history. It’s time that Wisconsin once again embraces ‘one person, one vote.’”

Flynn’s proposals include:

• Automatic voter registration at age 18, or whenever someone 18 or older obtains a driver’s license or state ID.
• Ending Voter ID laws.
• Expanding early, in-person voting.
• Requiring that every touchscreen terminal produce a paper ballot.
• Encouraging mail-in balloting to increase voter participation and turnout.
• Neutral redistricting with maps drawn by an independent, nonpartisan commission, comprised of neutral judges.

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Matt Flynn is a Navy veteran, attorney, and former Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. He attended law school at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

For additional information, visit www.ForwardWithFlynn.com.

Vukmir, Nicholson, & Hovde-supported tax plan sends 62% of cuts to richest 1%. Plan also hikes healthcare premiums by 10%, leaves 13M more uninsured.

MADISON - Right-wing state Senator Leah Vukmir, out-of-state billionaire puppet Kevin Nicholson, and D.C. hedge fund millionaire Eric Hovde are cheering on congressional Republicans as they force through big tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations and tax increases for middle class Wisconsin families.

• Right-wing state Senator Leah Vukmir cheered the Senate's passage of the GOP tax plan in her weekly news letter, calling it "Good news!"
• Out-of-state billionaire puppet Kevin Nicholson was equally enthusiastic about Senate Republicans voting to deliver big cuts to his megadonors at the expense of hardworking Wisconsinites, suggesting that he would've voted "yes" on the bill's final passage.
• Meanwhile, D.C. hedge fund millionaire Eric Hovde -- who has so little faith in his fellow Republicans Vukmir and Nicholson that he thinks he can just walk away with the GOP Senate nomination in 2018 -- is, according to WisPolitics.com, insisting that "Republicans passing the tax bill will be key for GOP prospects next fall and getting the overhaul signed into law would be an important factor in easing some of the headwinds Republican may face in 2018."

But for all the 2018 Senate field's cheering of the Senate GOP tax plan's passage, there's a reason Republicans hastily rushed the bill through in the dead of night: the #GOPTaxScam is a massive transfer of wealth to the richest Americans and corporations that's served up on the backs of working families, who'll face tax hikes, premium spikes, and Medicare cuts.

As passed, the Senate GOP tax plan bill championed by Leah Vukmir, Kevin Nicholson, and Eric Hovde would:

• Increase taxes on 48% of taxpayers by 2027;
• Gift the richest 1% reap 62% of tax cuts; and,
• Spike Americans' healthcare premiums by 10%, while leaving 13 million more people uninsured.

"Vukmir, Nicholson, and Hovde are cheering tax cuts for billionaires and corporations that are paid for by tax increases on nearly half of Americans, healthcare premiums spikes, and dangerous Medicare cuts," said Brad Bainum, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson for the 2018 Senate race. "This isn't a tax plan for working families, it's a Republican scam that triggers a massive transfer of wealth to corporations and billionaires at the expense of middle-class Americans."