Republican Rejects Her Own Bill to Fund Wisconsin Homeless Centers

MADISON – On the last Senate session day of the 2019 fall floor period, Senate Republicans blocked action to fund homeless shelters across Wisconsin. Assembly Bill 119 (AB 119) is a bipartisan bill that passed unanimously out of both Assembly and Senate committees and passed before the full Assembly. Despite being a co-author of AB 119, Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) voted against the bill jeopardizing funding for Wisconsin’s most vulnerable residents.

“How can voters trust Senator Darling to do the right thing when she is willing to vote against her own bill,” said SSDC Executive Director Katie Iliff. “It is unconscionable that she is willing to leave children and families out in the cold while prioritizing tax breaks for her wealthy donors. To make matters worse, Senator Darling and the rest of the Senate Republicans called it quits until next year, further delaying action on AB 119.”

AB 119 would have provided $500,000 for homeless shelters across Wisconsin and was voted down on a party-line vote. The Senate isn’t expected to reconvene until January 2020.

Last minute entry greeted with consternation and anger by some Democrats.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Michael Bloomberg’s possible entrance into the presidential race sent shock waves throughout the Democratic primary field this week, as campaigns scrambled to size up a potential rival whose high profile and vast personal fortune threatens a major shift in the contest.

News of the former New York City mayor’s plans were greeted with consternation and anger by some Democrats, who see the move as late-breaking and disruptive, coming less than three months before the first votes are cast in the nominating contest.

At the same time, Bloomberg’s centrist views and personal wealth would likely put him in direct competition with former Vice President Joe Biden and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, the leading moderates in the Democratic race.

Read the full story here

MADISON, WI - On Wednesday, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler hosted a press call to reveal the number of doors knocked, the amount of money raised, and the digital impact the state party made during the one year out weekend of action. He was joined by State Senator Patty Schachtner and Assemblywoman Robyn Vining who discussed issues they heard the most about in rural and suburban Wisconsin, respectively.

Schachtner won a seat that had been held by Republicans for 17 years and Vining picked up a seat that previously belonged to Scott Walker. Winning back voters in rural and suburban Wisconsin will be crucial for Democrats winning back the state in 2020.

WHAT: Announcement about DPW’s Weekend of Action success, discussion on issues facing voters in rural and suburban Wisconsin.

WHO: Ben Wikler, DPW Chair

Patty Schachtner, State Senator for the 10th District

Robyn Vining, Assemblywoman for the 14th District

WHEN: November 6, 1:00 PM CT

State Democrats begin campaign to knock on 50,000 doors before the 2020 presidential election.

MADISON, WI - This weekend, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin set out to knock 50,000 doors a year out from the 2020 presidential election. Thousands of volunteers blanketed the state, communicating with infrequent, independent, and disgruntled Republican voters, breaking the goal that was set out for them.

“We knocked more doors this weekend then in the entirety of 2015 leading up to the 2016 election,” DPW Chair Ben Wikler said. “We haven’t stopped organizing since the year leading up to the 2018 election, when we saw our hard work payoff as we won every statewide election. We are continuing that work, making sure that voters know Donald Trump has broken his promises, leaving them with higher health care costs, stagnant wages, and a trade war that is crippling our farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses. We’re mobilizing every Wisconsin voter possible by ensuring they know they can’t afford four more years of Donald Trump in the White House.”

See below for coverage of the Wisconsin Democrats efforts.

La Crosse -- WKBT

Eau Claire -- WEAU

Wausau -- WAOW

Superior -- WDIO

Green Bay - WBAY

Sun Prairie -- WMTV

Milwaukee -- WDJT

Waukesha -- CNN

INDIANOLA, Iowa - There may be no surer sign that a campaign is gaining traction than when its opponents begin to attack.

And the attacks are beginning to come against South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, until now virtually unchallenged in his improbable rise through the crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates.

Read the full story here

WASHINGTON, D.C. - It’s the multitrillion dollar question everyone is trying to answer, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.): How do you pay for “Medicare for all,” a proposal that would dramatically reshape the entire U.S. health care system?

Warren, a Democratic candidate for president, says she will soon release a plan to pay for Medicare for all after facing criticism for evading questions about the proposal's potential tax implications for the middle class.

Read the full story here

Will be in Oconto Falls Nov. 21 and in Kewaunee, Brillion, and Winneconne Nov. 25-26.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A growing number of Senate Democrats say Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) should be more explicit about how she plans to pay for her “Medicare for All” plan.

They say the transparency will be rewarded, and that Warren is taking a risk by not being more open about the costs of Medicare for All.

Read the full story here

Help the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin make the next census fairly represent the people of Wisconsin.

MADISON - As we move towards 2020, there is much work in preparing for a big election year. It is also important to help share messaging around the Census that takes place every 10 years. We will be sharing action items and ideas in these email updates as well as directly with local League leaders. An excellent resource to bookmark is the LWVUS 2020 Census Action Kit. Also, if you are interested in what your League can do, please feel free to contact Erin at the state office. 

This week we'd like to make you aware of temporary job openings for the 2020 Census. You can apply for a temporary 2020 Census job if you’re at least 18 years old, have a valid Social Security number, are a U.S. citizen and have a valid email address. Additional job requirements can be found at the 2020 Census website.

Census results determine the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as how funds are spent on roads, schools, and hospitals. You can make a difference. Help your community and make sure all people living in Wisconsin are counted next year.

Share the availability of Census Jobs and help recruit applicants – 2020census.gov/jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Joe Biden’s presidential campaign is hitting major bumps at a critical moment in the 2020 campaign.

A little more than three months before the Iowa caucuses, Biden is widely seen as having lost his front runner position to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).

He’s an underdog in Iowa, is coming off another forgettable debate performance and has just $9 million in cash on hand.

Democrats say a number of factors have weakened his stature, including verbal flubs and long-winded rambles and what they say is an inability to be consistent in taking the fight to President Trump.

Read the full story here