MADISON — Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez delivered the Democratic Radio Address on Thursday highlighting her inauguration, her background as a nurse and public health professional, and her commitment to partnering with Gov. Evers to build a better future for Wisconsin.

Audio File of Radio Address.

Hey there! It’s Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez.

I’m incredibly humbled the people of Wisconsin have placed their trust in me to serve as lieutenant governor alongside Governor Evers.

Over the last year, I had the pleasure of traveling all over our great state to meet folks and families in their homes and businesses to hear about their lives and the challenges they face—and I had the chance to share a little bit about my own story, too.

I’m a born-and-raised Wisconsinite from Waukesha County. I'm the granddaughter of dairy farmers, the proud daughter of a working-class family, and now a mom of two teenagers.

I’m a nurse and public health professional who worked for more than 20 years, answering calls at all times of day and night to take care of my patients, friends, and neighbors.

So, the lesson I learned from conversations with Wisconsinites I met on the road won’t surprise you: we aren’t all that different.

Every family, like mine, wants to earn a good living, to have access to quality, affordable healthcare, and every family wants to be healthy.

Every family knows that fully funding our public schools is an investment in our kids and our future and that investing in affordable childcare and early education, maternal and infant health, and paid family leave will ensure our families succeed.

We want to reduce gun violence with commonsense gun safety reform, safe communities for kids to play in, clean water to drink, and to know that we’re leaving our kids with a better world than the one we inherited.

I ran for the State Assembly and then to be your lieutenant governor because issues like these were heavy on my mind—as a mother, as a small business owner, as a healthcare provider, and as a Wisconsinite.

We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, but I promised to always answer the call—and I meant it. I could not be prouder or more humbled to be a part of building that future as your lieutenant governor.

MILWAUKEE - We are joined by Tobita Chow, the director of Justice is Global to discuss the new House committee aimed at the Chinese government and has Republicans warning of a “New Cold War”. We discuss why a cold war is disastrous to progressive governing and unnecessarily stokes anti-Chinese hate in America.

We debrief Citizen Action’s excellent State Supreme Court progressive candidate forum Wednesday night. We encourage you to watch and vote on what Citizen Action should do in the election. We talk about the newly unveiled Republican agenda in Congress and the State Legislature to provide tax cuts and tax avoidance for the wealthy while declaring no legislative pathway on very popular issues like legalized marijuana. We also review disgraced Wisconsin Election Commissioner Robert Spindell bragging about suppressing voters.

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MADISON – Today, Governor Tony Evers appointed deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), James Bond, to fill the vacancy created by former Secretary Mary Kolar’s retirement. Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“Wisconsin veterans and their families sacrifice so much for our communities, our state, and our country and deserve to be adequately supported throughout their life. As a disabled veteran with over ten years of service to the DVA, I am confident that Secretary-designee James Bond will be a dedicated leader and fierce advocate for Wisconsin veterans and their loved ones. Furthermore, this is a historic appointment in Wisconsin as James Bond will serve as the first openly LGBTQ secretary in any of the state’s cabinet agencies.

“I am looking forward to working with Secretary-designee James Bond during the 2023-24 legislative session on behalf of Wisconsin's veterans and their families. I know he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this position and will serve our state’s population of veterans with the utmost integrity.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/trump-jan6-attack2.pngTwo years after the Jan. 6 insurrection and coup attempt, and still we’ve had no accountability for Donald Trump and his accomplices.

As Tony Evers Begins 2nd term as Wisconsin’s 46th Governor.

MADISON – Tuesday, Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) addressed the Wisconsin State Senate as Senate Democratic Leader during the 2023-24 Inauguration Ceremony.

Senator Agard released the following statement:

“Congratulations to Governor Tony Evers, newly-elected Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, Attorney General Josh Kaul, my current and new colleagues in the State Legislature, and all constitutional officers who took an oath of office today to uphold the values and serve the people of the great state of Wisconsin. It is a privilege to hold these positions.

“The beginning of each legislative session is the most hopeful time of our two-year cycle. My Senate colleagues and I gathered today with optimism in our hearts and a willingness in our spirit to do great things.

“While there are political lines drawn around our districts - the people of Wisconsin are one. They share the same values, hopes, and dreams whether they live in Superior or Elkhorn, Ellsworth or Oconto. At the end of the day, Wisconsinites generally want the same things out of their state government - affordable health care and prescriptions, housing that doesn’t break the bank, clean air and water, and the ability to live with purpose and with the freedoms we expect as Americans.

“With Governor Evers' re-election, I am hopeful all legislators can work together in pursuit of the commonsense policies the people across our state voted for when they elected him to a 2nd term with an even larger margin than 2018: strong public schools, strengthening our democracy, continuing to invest in our transportation infrastructure, and supporting our local units of government. These are not Democratic values or Republican values – they are Wisconsin values.

“We must put government back to work for the people of Wisconsin, including reinvesting the state’s $6.6 billion surplus and confirming Governor Evers’ appointees, ensuring that the peaceful transition of power is upheld and our democracy remains strong - something all Wisconsinites resoundingly support.

“I aim to make this session one that is remembered for the positive work accomplished for the people of our state and for building a better way of doing things as colleagues. I am hopeful that we can rise above our divisive times and strive to be better. My Senate Democratic colleagues and I are ready to roll up our sleeves, compromise, and get to work. Make no mistake, we will hold true to our values but we are genuine in our interest in creating a better discourse.”

MADISON – Tuesday, Governor Tony Evers appointed Sheboygan County Administrator Adam Payne to serve as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The appointment fills the vacancy created by former Secretary Preston D. Cole’s retirement. Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“From our beautiful lakes, state parks, diverse wildlife, and more - Wisconsin’s environment and natural resources are vital for our state, and must be fiercely protected. Adam Payne will step into the Department of Natural Resources Secretary position with an extensive résumé of preserving, restoring, and enhancing Wisconsin’s natural heritage. Mr. Payne’s deep roots in Wisconsin outdoors, from working on his family’s farm to trapping and fishing, followed by an elaborate career dedicated to conserving our state’s precious natural resources has prepared him to successfully lead Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources.

“Building on the efforts of retiring DNR Secretary Preston D. Cole to remediate lead, PFAS, and other harmful contaminants in Wisconsin waterways, I am eager to work with Adam Payne during the upcoming legislative session to continue improving and maintaining Wisconsin’s resources for all to enjoy for generations.”

MADISON – Today, Fred Prehn announced he will resign from the Natural Resources Board as of December 30th, nearly two years after his term ended. Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“I am pleased that Dr. Prehn has decided to do the right thing and step down from his position on the Natural Resources Board, and I’m looking forward to the state senate getting back to performing its constitutional duty of taking up the governor’s appointees for a vote. With the highly qualified individuals Governor Evers has put forward for the Natural Resources Board, I am hopeful this can be done in a bipartisan manner.

MILWAUKEE - We welcome Connie Smith, president of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses & Health Professionals and Jaime Lucas, executive director, to discuss Ascension’s profit-maximizing closure of St. Francis Hospital’s Labor and Delivery unit, creating a new healthcare desert for women and their families on Milwaukee’s south side. We discuss the economic forces driving Ascension’s decision, and the leverage public mobilization and protest, and elected officials willing to speak out, can create to back them down. We also evaluated the effectiveness of Democrats in the recent Congressional “Lame Duck” session; Was it irresponsible to not deal with the debt limit through reconciliation and other filibuster proof progressive priorities or did Democratic leaders do the best that was possible with a bad hand? We talk about a new article Robert wrote for Barn Raiser debriefing Wisconsin’s 2022 election. Robert urges us to spend less time on punditry and more on deeper conversations with voters. We look ahead to the huge opportunity the 2023 Supreme Court Election for us to talk to more voters and win.

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MILWAUKEE - We start by reflecting on some rare good news from Washington, the historic signing this week by President Biden of the Baldwin-Collins marriage equality bill, the Respect for Marriage Act. We then turn to the storm clouds looming over the next two years, the Party of Trump’s dysfunction on a spending bill needed to keep the Federal Government open. Is this a harbinger of things once the GOP takes control of the House of Representatives? Next, we welcome Dr. Micheal Rosen to discuss the Federal Reserve Board’s decision to raise interest rates, likely imperiling economic gains made by workers the last few years. Is there a better way to reduce inflation? Michael also predicts the winner of Sunday’s World Cup Final, debriefs the tournament, and says goodbye to a “greatest generation” of players likely appearing in their last World Cup

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