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Trump’s Economic Rhetoric: A Distortion of the Real Progress Being Made

Posted by Laura Kiefert, Green Bay Progressive
Laura Kiefert, Green Bay Progressive
Laura Kiefert lives in Howard and is a Partner in the Green Bay Progressive. Mem
User is currently offline
on Friday, 20 September 2024
in Wisconsin

fed-reserve-cuts-interestTrump’s rhetoric tries to make it seem like the economy is on the brink of collapse, but the truth is, we are on the verge of the "soft landing" we've all been hoping for.


LAKE GENEVA, WI - Trump is full of shit when he talks about the economy, because the facts just don't support his claims. He paints a picture of a failing economy, but in reality, the Federal Reserve's recent moves show that we're in a much better place than he would have us believe.

Let's be clear: inflation, which peaked at 7.1% in June 2022, has dropped down to 2.5% today. That didn’t happen by accident. It took strong, decisive action from the Fed to raise interest rates and cool off the economy. Sure, it wasn't easy for everyone—families dealt with higher mortgage rates, and businesses had a harder time borrowing—but this "short-term pain" was crucial for long-term stability. And guess what? It worked. Inflation is now under control, nearing the Fed’s 2% target.

business-small-openMeanwhile, unemployment has ticked up slightly to 4.2%, but that’s still historically low. Let’s not forget, Trump loves to brag about the job numbers during his term, but the economy now has more jobs than were forecasted before COVID hit, and this recovery has been strong, thanks in part to immigrants boosting the labor market. So when Trump says the economy is a disaster, he's conveniently ignoring the facts—unemployment remains low, and inflation is under control.

Trump also conveniently leaves out the Fed’s smart moves to lower interest rates recently. The Fed knows what it's doing—they slashed the federal funds rate from 5.3% to 4.8%, and mortgage rates are already falling in response. This helps prevent unemployment from rising any further. And some economists wanted the Fed to wait until inflation hit 2% before cutting rates, but that would’ve been a mistake. The Fed rightly understood that lowering rates now would help avoid a bigger unemployment problem down the road.

construction-workersTrump’s rhetoric tries to make it seem like the economy is on the brink of collapse, but the truth is, we are on the verge of the "soft landing" we've all been hoping for—a scenario where inflation falls back to 2% without sparking a recession. The Fed’s actions, which Trump would no doubt criticize, are bringing us closer to that goal.

laura-kiefert-2018Trump’s critiques of the economy are nothing more than political hot air, ignoring the real progress that’s been made. The facts speak for themselves: inflation is down, unemployment remains low, and the Fed’s strategic rate cuts are setting the stage for continued economic stability. Trump’s doom-and-gloom narrative simply doesn’t hold water.

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Harm Reduction Kiosks Save Lives

Posted by Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, Senator District 31 (D - Eau Claire)
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on Wednesday, 18 September 2024
in Wisconsin

harm-reduction-vendingSenator Smith writes about the innovative approach some county health departments are taking to address the opioid overdoes epidemic by offering free vending machines with Narcan, and other items like gunlocks and fentanyl test strips.


MADISON - Fentanyl is an extremely powerful synthetic opioid, which is 50 times more powerful than heroin, and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is typically used to treat severe pain following major surgeries with strict oversight from nursing staff and doctors who understand how life threatening even a small amount can be. It only takes a two-milligram dose (equal in size to a few grains of salt) to cause an overdose of an average sized adult. Now that fentanyl is getting laced with other street drugs, people young and old are dying at an alarming rate by mistake. Even though the risks of accidental overdoses are real, the good news is that these deaths are preventable.

More and more, awareness is increasing about how effective overdose reversal drugs like Narcan are at saving lives and give people struggling with drug addiction another chance at recovery. The introduction of harm reduction kiosks in Eau Claire and Dunn Counties reflects an evolving, pragmatic approach to this public health nightmare. These kiosk vending machines provide free access to items like naloxone (aka Narcan), which can quickly reverse an opioid overdose. Other items at these vending machines include fentanyl test strips people can use to see if the something they are about to take has been laced with the powerful drug.

eau-claire-co-jailSince making a free vending machine available to the public last June at the Eau Claire County Jail lobby, they have dispensed a total of 2,188 doses of Narcan and 3,090 fentanyl test strips.

Dunn County installed their vending machine in July at the Health Department building and they go even further by offering additional items like gunlocks, Deterra bags to neutralize and dispose of drugs, menstruation products, condoms and even socks.

Earlier this summer, Eau Claire, Chippewa and Dunn County each released a community health report regarding the biggest issues facing each community. While the three main concerns facing all three counties were alcohol misuse, accessible childcare and access to health care, the report also noted substance abuse as a major issue.

opioid-overdoseBetween 2018 and 2022, 82 people died due to drug overdoses in Eau Claire County and 62 of those deaths (76%) were opioid-related. During the same timeframe, more than 488 suspected nonfatal opioid overdoses occurred in Eau Claire County.

In 2021, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services found that fentanyl caused 91% of opioid deaths statewide. Provisional data from DHS shows there were 1,358 opioid overdose or poisoning deaths in 2022, a slight decrease from 2021, but it was still a 62% increase from five years ago.

jeff-smithI want to applaud the work of our county health departments for coming up with innovative and accessible solutions like these harm reduction kiosks. They may not be the silver bullet for solving incredibly complicated issues, but they provide a bridge to treatment and recovery services while reducing the burden on emergency services by helping individuals avoid fatal overdoses.

It’s clear these vending machines are practical and effective because they are anonymous and free for anyone to use. My plea for families is to have these lifesaving products in your home, in your car or any place you could find someone who might need them. People who need these items may not use the kiosks, but citizens having these items nearby might just be the way to save a friend or family member who struggles with addiction. You might just save someone’s life, or your own, one day.


Senator Smith represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.

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The Risks of Vaping

Posted by Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, Senator District 31 (D - Eau Claire)
User is currently offline
on Wednesday, 11 September 2024
in Wisconsin

drugaddicts-youngSenator Smith writes about the public health risks of vaping and ways our state government needs to do more on this issue, including banning flavored e-cigarettes.


EAU CLAIRE, WI - Vaping has rapidly emerged as a significant public health crisis, especially among young people. Initially marketed as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, vaping is now known to pose serious health risks. As evidence of these dangers mounts, the Wisconsin state government has a responsibility to take more meaningful actions to protect public health.

Public Health Risks

In 2018, the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine reported that the substances in e-cigarettes, like propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, were toxic to users, and led to youths choosing to start smoking traditional tobacco.  During a severe outbreak in 2019, the American Medical Association linked more than 2,000 lung illnesses and over 40 deaths to e-cigarette usage.

drugs-vapingEqually troubling are the dangers posed to non-users. Secondhand emissions from e-cigarettes, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, contain harmful substances like nicotine, diacetyl (linked to serious lung diseases), benzene (a carcinogen) and heavy metals like lead. These emissions, inhaled by anyone in the vicinity of the vaper, create a public health risk—particularly for children, pregnant women and those with preexisting respiratory conditions.

Impact on Youth

The rise in vaping among young people is particularly alarming. The same National Academies’ report found that youth who use e-cigarettes are at higher risk for respiratory issues like coughing, wheezing and asthma attacks. Nicotine is highly addictive and early exposure to nicotine can also increase the likelihood of addiction to traditional cigarettes or other harmful substances.

Flavored e-cigarettes also play a major role in attracting teens as the fruity, mint and candy taste masks the harshness of nicotine, making it easier to start vaping. The 2022 Wisconsin Tobacco Youth Survey found that 92 percent of Wisconsin high schoolers say they would not use unflavored tobacco products. While some states have implemented flavor restrictions, Wisconsin has yet to take significant action on this front.

Wisconsin’s Legislative Response

While other states have moved to limit vaping, Wisconsin's response has been slower. As of 2024, 19 states (and the District of Columbia) have laws banning e-cigarette use in indoor public spaces like restaurants, bars and workplaces. Wisconsin currently has no statewide restrictions on indoor vaping to protect non-users from secondhand emissions.

In Wisconsin, just last year, Senate Bill 268 was passed into law to require retailers who sell electronic vaping devices to obtain a cigarette and tobacco products retailer license. Several amendments to strengthen the bill failed, but it thankfully passed into law as Wisconsin Act 73 on December 7, 2023.

jeff-smithThis law will help control who gets to sell vaping products, and it ensures that sellers are adhering to age restrictions, reducing the likelihood that minors can easily purchase vaping products. This is a good first step toward prevention, but more can be done to protect our public health.

Wisconsin should do more for prevention efforts. We should follow the lead of states like Minnesota and enact excise taxes on vaping products to discourage use, particularly among young people. Other measures should include removing flavored e-cigarettes from the market and banning the sale of all vaping products that are not approved by the FDA.

The health risks of vaping are undeniable, and the impact on Wisconsin’s youth is particularly troubling, and it’s clear that vaping is not the “safe” alternative it was once thought to be.

The Wisconsin state legislature must act swiftly to implement stricter regulations on sales, taxes and public vaping to protect our youth and the wider public. Addressing this issue now is crucial to protecting our kids and keeping them healthy.


Senator Smith represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.

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The Deep Roots of Our Political Polarization in America

Posted by Laura Kiefert, Green Bay Progressive
Laura Kiefert, Green Bay Progressive
Laura Kiefert lives in Howard and is a Partner in the Green Bay Progressive. Mem
User is currently offline
on Monday, 09 September 2024
in Wisconsin

donald-trump-rally-milwDeep-seated differences in worldview are part of why America is so divided, and Donald Trump tapped into these divisions in a way that made them even more extreme.


LAKE GENEVA, WI - The United States is more politically divided than ever, and Donald Trump’s presidency has played a significant role in deepening this rift. But it’s important to remember that this division has roots that go far beyond Trump himself. It’s not just that conservatives and liberals have different opinions on policies—it’s that they perceive the world fundamentally differently. These psychological and personality differences are at the heart of why our country feels so divided, and Trump’s leadership capitalized on and amplified those divisions.

Psychological studies have shown that liberals and conservatives aren’t just disagreeing about political issues; they process the world differently. For example, a study led by psychologist Michael Dodd and political scientist John Hibbing of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that conservatives’ eyes linger longer on repellent images like car wrecks or excrement, which suggests that conservatives may be more sensitive to potential threats. This heightened sensitivity might explain why many conservative policies focus on security, law and order, and a cautious approach to change. Conservatives tend to prioritize stability and protecting against perceived dangers, whether that’s through strong borders, a powerful military, or individual gun rights.

kamala-harris-2024On the other hand, liberals tend to be more focused on ideals of fairness, equality, and openness to new ideas. They are more likely to see the world as a place that can and should be improved through social reform, government intervention, and regulation. This explains why liberals tend to advocate for progressive policies around healthcare, climate change, and gun control—areas where they see potential to create a more just and equitable society. In their view, government should play a strong role in addressing inequality and ensuring that all citizens have access to the same opportunities.

These deep-seated differences in worldview are part of why America is so divided, and Donald Trump tapped into these divisions in a way that made them even more extreme. His rhetoric was intentionally divisive, presenting the world in stark, black-and-white terms. He framed himself as the defender of conservative values, often painting liberals as dangerous enemies of the country. Trump’s language reflected the conservative focus on threat and danger—he spoke about immigrants as criminals, portrayed the media as the "enemy of the people," and called Democratic leaders unpatriotic or even traitorous. To his supporters, Trump’s strong stance on issues like immigration, gun rights, and national security made him a protector of their values, someone who was willing to stand up to the perceived threats they saw in the world.

For liberals, though, Trump represented everything they feared about authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic norms. His refusal to follow established political protocols, his attacks on the judiciary and the free press, and his reluctance to disavow white supremacists and conspiracy theories fed into their view that he was a direct threat to democracy and equality. To them, Trump wasn’t just another conservative president—he was a dangerous force who was undermining the very foundations of the country.

trump-insurgentsThis mutual distrust has only grown. Trump’s presidency amplified the existing psychological and political divides by pitting the two sides against each other in a battle that felt existential. His rhetoric fostered an environment where compromise became almost impossible because both sides saw the other as a threat to their way of life. The growing polarization in media consumption added fuel to the fire, with conservatives tuning into Fox News or talk radio and liberals gravitating toward MSNBC or CNN. Each side was trapped in an echo chamber, with little exposure to opposing viewpoints.

One of the clearest examples of how Trump’s presidency deepened these divisions was his handling of the 2020 election. From the moment the votes were being counted, Trump falsely claimed widespread voter fraud, refusing to accept the results. His repeated claims that the election was “stolen” culminated in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, when his supporters, believing they were defending democracy, stormed the building in an effort to overturn the results. For Trump’s supporters, this was a fight for their country. For his critics, it was an attack on the very principles of democracy.

laura-kiefertIn the end, the divide isn’t just about Trump or the policies he promoted—it’s about the fundamental differences in how conservatives and liberals see the world. Trump’s presidency highlighted and exploited these differences, turning political disagreements into a cultural war. The fear, mistrust, and anger that grew during his tenure has left the country more polarized than ever, with little room for the kind of compromise and understanding needed to heal the divisions. As the study by Dodd and Hibbing suggests, conservatives and liberals are wired differently, and until there’s a greater understanding of those differences, it will be hard to bridge the gap Trump helped widen.

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In Vitro Fertilization, Family and Politics

Posted by Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, State Senator District 31
Jeff Smith, Senator District 31 (D - Eau Claire)
User is currently offline
on Wednesday, 04 September 2024
in Wisconsin

women-health-ivfSenator Smith writes about the difficulty couples face when trying to plan a family and making the costly decision to pursue In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) as a solution for infertility.


EAU CLAIRE, WI - Raising children is expensive, and solving infertility can be a fortune. Couples trying to conceive experience the joy of a positive pregnancy test and the horrendous heartbreak of miscarriage. Before long, they turn to medical professionals for help.

Each person may try a lot of different things like changing diet, taking supplements, working on their timing, or they may get to the point when the conversation about IVF (in vitro fertilization) comes up as a potential solution.

What usually starts as a conversation with a doctor can quickly turn into a discussion with a financial planner. The price tag for each IVF treatment is close to $15,000 with no guarantees. I’ve heard about families who have gone through this procedure two or three times before having success. For most though, just the opportunity to try IVF costs too much to consider.

Couples shouldn’t have to take out a loan or a second mortgage to have a child. Families that have the resources to care for their children are good for our society. As with most questions about what is good for society, so goes the conversation in politics.

roe-v-wade-decisionUnfortunately political hurdles are happening for IVF. Following the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the Roe v Wade decision in 2022, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled back in February that frozen embryos can be considered “unborn children.” Often excess frozen embryos are disposed of after a couple’s treatment is completed. Clinics around the country are starting to fear a future where they could be accused of murder. The combination of these two court decisions have caused many fertility clinics in Alabama to stop providing IVF altogether.

What should be a conversation between partners earnestly finding a solution has turned into a liability for them due to politics. Couples desperate for starting a family may have no other option than intensive fertility treatments such as IVF, and now that option is being threatened by reckless court decisions that are out of touch with the reality of thousands of Americans who are trying to start a family.

Republicans have stressed that they support IVF treatment, but then fail to have the courage to introduce legislation to protect it. If politicians are asked about IVF from either party, the vast majority will express support for the procedure. So what stops lawmakers from solving this important issue?

mitch-mcconnellOnce again the answer is politics. Democrats in Wisconsin and in Washington have introduced legislation to help families with the cost of IVF treatments, but Republicans ignored all attempts. In the meantime, couples are left with heartbreak when science has provided a clear path to resolution.

jeff-smithThis is one time when Republicans must be willing to work with Democrats. It will take bipartisan agreement to put politics aside and do right for families. It’s an election year though and lines are being drawn. At a recent parade, I was walking with other Democrats and it was disheartening to see a Republican voter who wouldn’t let his child take candy from a woman offering it because she was walking with Democrats. “Not from you,” he said.

It doesn’t matter which political party you are a part of. Our kids deserve the best from us. It starts with politicians and it ends with people. As the election draws closer, there’s no doubt rancorous partisanship will reach a fever pitch, but when it comes to the hope of a new family, we must set differences aside and work together.


Senator Smith represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.

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