MADISON - As we continue to tally all the money in last November’s races here in Wisconsin, we’re finding that one record after another is being broken in almost every race.

For instance, in the race for attorney general, an astonishing $14 million was raised, with the outside groups actually outspending the candidates themselves, as we noted here:

Groups Outspent Candidates in Record $14M AG Race

And in the race for secretary of state, Doug La Follette was outspent by a 2-to-1 margin, and there was a lot of outside money in that one, too:

2022 Secretary of State Race Sets $1.1M+ Spending Record

In the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court race, we expect to see the old $5 million record shattered, as well.

These records are being broken for several reasons:

1. Citizens United and related U.S. Supreme Court decisions that opened the floodgates for big money and the SuperPACs.

2. The 2015 rewrite of Wisconsin’s campaign finance law by the Republicans in the Legislature and Scott Walker. It doubled the amount (to $20,000) that the super-rich can give in races for governor, state supreme court, attorney general, and secretary of state. And it tore down the ceiling on donations to the political parties, which used to be $10,000 and now the sky is the limit.

3. The hyper-partisan nationalization of our politics. With Wisconsin as one of the few purple states left, super-rich partisans from all over the country are throwing their money around here to affect the outcome of our elections.

This combination is drowning out the voices of almost all Wisconsinites and making a mockery of self-rule.

That’s why we’ll keep fighting for amending the U.S. Constitution to overturn Citizens United and its ugly relatives, and for tightening up Wisconsin’s own laws on campaign finance.

Only then could we each have something like an equal say in the political arena, which, after all, is what democracy is supposed to be about!

Thanks for supporting us in this effort.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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P.S. If you’d like to make a tax-deductible donation, just click here. Or you can give the old-fashioned way and send a check, made out to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, to 203 S. Paterson St, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53703.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers delivered the Democratic Radio Address on Thursday highlighting his priorities in the upcoming 2023-25 biennial budget to support the state’s workforce and working families, as announced during his 2023 State of the State address delivered earlier this week.

Audio File of Radio Address.

Hey there, Governor Tony Evers here.

This week, I delivered my fifth State of the State address. I talked about our work these last four years to make smart, strategic investments—and our state’s economy shows it.

Unemployment has hit record lows; we had the highest number of people employed ever, and our state has never been in a better fiscal position than it is today.

We made groundbreaking investments in programs like the Workforce Innovation Grant program, which supported local projects for long-term, locally based solutions to meet the needs of our communities.

In my address, I announced that I’ll be investing $100 million in my upcoming budget to help find long-term, community-based solutions to our workforce challenges.

I also announced that we’ll be proposing historic investments to bolster our state’s healthcare workforce, expand opportunities in our clean energy workforce, and retain and attract educators to help keep class sizes small.

And if we want to bolster our workforce, we have to make sure child care is accessible and affordable, too.

So, I’ll deliver on my promise to expand the Child and Dependent Care Credit—we’ll provide nearly $30 million in tax relief to more than 100,000 Wisconsinites in my next budget.

We’ll also continue critical programs that help bolster our child care industry, expand access to affordable child care in places that need it, and invest in employer-provider partnerships.

We have a lot of work to do ahead of us, but there is also much opportunity to continue doing the right thing for our workforce, economy, and kids and families across our state.

And I know that together we will. Thank you.

More than $100 million will be allocated to fight the insidious toxic chemicals.

Shelton, Snodgrass express optimism as Governor Evers talks historic investments in education, jobs and mental health support.

Governor Tony Evers highlights his vision to bolster Wisconsin’s economy.

MADISON – Tuesday, Governor Evers delivered the 2023 State of the State Address in the Assembly Chambers. Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement upon conclusion of the Governor’s address:

Progressive Matt Rothschild comments on Citizens United, WEC's Robert Spindell, the Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidates and more.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/women-health-services1-s5.jpgNo government entity should interfere with complex medical decisions and there is absolutely no room for a politician, law enforcement officer, or judge in the doctor’s office of any individual.

MILWAUKEE - We are joined by State Senator Jeff Smith to discuss the first week of the gerrymandered State Legislature. Seeking to influence the State Supreme Court race, the session opened by placing on the Spring ballot a cynical political referendum asking voter opinion on a BadgerCare work requirement and a constitutional amendment on cash bail. The top priority of this illegitimate Legislature appears to be more tax giveaways for the ultra rich. Sen. Smith tells us why he is leading the charge to oppose the Republican attack on Wisconsin’s progressive income tax.

We also talk about state budget strategy,rural broadband, and the deepening bi-partisan public concern over PFAS in our water. Eau Claire City Council member and Citizen Action Organizing Director Kate Felton joins us to discuss her effort to organize local leaders in Western Wisconsin to fight for desperately needed increases in state shared revenue to municipalities during the upcoming state budget fight.

Listen Now!

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MADISON – Senator Jeff Smith (D-New Brunswick) joined his Democratic colleagues in the State Senate in calling for the resignation or dismissal of Wisconsin Elections Commissioner Bob Spindell following comments Spindell made bragging about voter suppression targeting Black and Brown people in Milwaukee, then doubling down on his statements.

“Republicans have been covertly using voter suppression for years, and Mr. Spindell’s boasts make that clear,” said Smith. “For years, Republicans have employed these tactics, but overtly bragging about it warrant his removal as a board member on our agency to oversee elections. While I am not surprised by these comments, I am appalled that Mr. Spindell remains in a position of public trust.

“It’s appalling that he remains on the commission,” Smith continued. “If Mr. Spindell doesn’t do the right thing and resign, it falls solely on Senator LeMahieu to remove him from the commission as his pick.”

The 31^st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.