All people deserve the right to choose what they do with their body, says Agard. If Roe is overturned, a 173-year-old Wisconsin law would make abortion a felony.

“We have to send a clear message to Washington, protecting abortion care is an issue worth fighting for, and I promise Wisconsinites I will do just that.” - Alex Lasry

MILWAUKEE - We have a fantastic conversation with Justice is Global’s Tobita Chow to discuss an American Prospect article denying that anti-China ads tap into anti-Asian sentiments in the American public. Are there Democratic party arguments that can inadvertently spread hate and aid the Republicans? We discuss the new Marquette Law poll. Is there any shakeup in Wisconsin politics in this critical election year? Meanwhile, the Trumpification of the Wisconsin Republican Party continues. In These Times Magazine's Hannah Faris joins us to discuss the historic union organizing at Starbucks in Wisconsin and throughout the country. Is the labor movement making a comeback?

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MADISON - The Gableman circus just won’t end.

This week, Speaker Robin Vos broke his word once more and gave Michael Gableman an extension for his ludicrous and costly fishing expedition. I write about that here:

Robin Vos Caves Again

One pernicious thing that Gableman has been doing is demonizing our local clerks.

To help counter this, the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition has provided an opportunity for you to say "thank you" to our local clerks. You can nominate an outstanding municipal clerk in recognition of the 53rd Annual Municipal Clerks Week, which is next week.  All nominations will be posted on the Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition website and Facebook page and shared with clerks. Send your nomination by the end of this week.

You can link to Municipal Clerk Nomination form here.

Or simply send an email to your clerk, thanking that person for being such an outstanding public servant in the midst of some really ugly attacks. You can look up your Municipal Clerk’s name and contact information here.

And here’s a reminder: Our annual gathering and celebration is on Thursday, May 19, at the Lussier Family Heritage Center, 3101 Lake Farm Rd, south of South Towne. We’re thrilled to be bringing you a panel with Mel Barnes of Law Forward, Carlene Bechen of Wisconsin Fair Elections Project, and Angela Lang of BLOC. And, of course, I’ll be saying a few words about the perilous condition of our democracy, here in Wisconsin and around the country.

So I hope you can make the event. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. And the program starts promptly at 6:00 p.m. We’ll have delicious food and refreshments. If you can’t be there in person, you have the option to register for remote access by Zoom.

Please go here for up-to-date information and to register by no later than May 12.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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Madison, WI – On Saturday, April 30, 2022, the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) will coordinate a Prescription Drug Take Back Initiative throughout Wisconsin as a way to provide safe and responsible means of disposal for prescription medications.

On Prescription Drug Take Back Day, participating law enforcement agencies can host one or more collection sites at locations and times of their choosing for household to safely dispose of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, ointments, patches, non-aerosol sprays, inhalers, creams, vitals and pet medications.

There are almost 500 permanent drug disposal boxes accessible year-round across Wisconsin at law enforcement agencies, hospitals, pharmacies, and health clinics. Through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services website, you can find a permanent drug drop box near you.

State Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement of support:

“Prescription Drug Take Back Day provides education and awareness for proper storage and disposal of unused medications. We know that unused prescription medications in homes create a public health and safety concern because they can accidentally be ingested, stolen, misused, and abused.

“Safely disposing medications is an environmental concern as well—flushing or pouring medications down the drain is not safe for our water supply, and trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are showing up in our rivers and lakes. Water contamination is a serious issue, and it’s our responsibility to ensure dangerous chemicals do not get into our groundwater, water sources, or harm our environment.

“I want to thank Attorney General Josh Kaul and everyone at DOJ for providing accessible means to dispose of prescription medications safely. Last year, Wisconsin had the largest Drug Take Back Day collection in the country, having received over 57,000 lbs. of unwanted medications. It’s important that we come together to safely dispose of all medications to ensure they will not be misused.”

Gov. Evers makes historic announcement on Friday establishing the Office of Environmental Justice

MADISON – Today, Gov. Tony Evers announced the creation of the Office of Environmental Justice at the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA), a state office that will work with and support communities that have been historically disenfranchised in the fight against climate change.

Wisconsin Conservation Voters and its members have supported the creation of this office in past state budgets, where it was unfortunately stripped out by members of the Joint Finance Committee. We applaud the governor for his continued commitment to establishing it via Executive Order 161.

Angelito Tenorio, Wisconsin Conservation Voters’ Engagement and Development Manager and member of the Milwaukee Environmental Roundtable, had this to say about the Office of Environmental Justice:

“Today’s announcement is historic and much needed. The creation of the Office of Environmental Justice was possible thanks to the collaborative work of the Milwaukee Environmental Justice Roundtable and Gov. Evers.

Both Wisconsin Conservation Voters and the Milwaukee Environmental Justice Roundtable thank Gov. Evers and his administration for its commitment to creating this office in collaboration with the communities most affected by climate change.

Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color have historically been left out of the decision-making process and excluded from the environmental movement. These communities are disproportionately affected by climate impacts and must be at the table when decisions are being made.

The Office of Environmental Justice is a vital step toward addressing the generations of harm done and to dismantling systems that threaten the wellbeing of these communities.”

MADISON, Wis., — Today, in honor of Earth Day, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler released the following statement:

“52 years ago, Wisconsin’s own Democratic Senator Gaylord Nelson founded Earth Day — a global celebration of the environmental movement and the need for education, reform, and protection. Our state has a long history spearheading environmental movements, beginning with the Native Tribes, who are the original stewards of our land and continue to work tirelessly to protect it.

“Earth Day helped catalyze and fuel the transformative grassroots movement that pushed leaders to create the Environmental Protection Agency, the Clean Air Act, and the Clean Water Act. As the climate crisis accelerates, Democrats – both nationally and in Wisconsin – champion legislation to protect our planet, working towards a greener, cleaner future for generations to come. This week, the Governor announced Wisconsin’s first ever Clean Energy Plan, which will create over 40,000 jobs while working towards a reliable and affordable energy plan that works with our natural resources. Governor Evers has also pledged to make Wisconsin carbon neutral by 2050.

“Building on Governor Evers’ commitments, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will invest billions to fund critical clean-up projects along the Great Lakes and makes the largest investment in electric vehicle charging in American history.

“A half-century in Wisconsin’s past, Senator Nelson described the work of the environmental movement as requiring ‘a long, sustained, political, moral, ethical and financial commitment, far beyond any other commitment ever made by any society in history.’ Wisconsin Democrats are committed to carrying that commitment forward, to protecting and restoring our environment, and to working towards a healthier, cleaner planet for generations to come.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/clean-energy-2022-s452.jpgPlan meets the scale and scope needed to properly address the climate crisis says group.

MADISON - The decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, late last Friday, to impose the rigged Republican maps on us is one of the most infuriating in recent memory.

Infuriating because it violates the separation of powers and the people’s will.

Justice Brian Hagedorn was especially pathetic in his surrender to his nasty conservative colleagues.

I write about all this here: Hagedorn Blinks on Maps.

But rest assured, we will continue to fight to ban gerrymandering in Wisconsin until victory is won.

We’ll also keep tracking all the money in our politics.

Our online individual contributor database is up to date through December 31, 2021, for all current state office holders, LCCs and their segregated funds. Rebecca Kleefisch is in there too.

Go here to take a look: https://www.wisdc.org/follow-the-money/campaign-finance-database.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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Our state has suffered tremendously in the last ten years due too grossly gerrymandered maps. Today, the Wisconsin Supreme Court gave us another ten, says Senator.

Madison, WI – Today, the Wisconsin Supreme Court announced the adoption of the GOP’s legislative maps in a 4-3 ruling. Justice Hagedorn, after previously backing Governor Evers’ maps, joined fellow conservatives on the vote. State Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“This is a terrible day for democracy in Wisconsin. Our state and our democracy has suffered tremendously in the last ten years due too grossly rigged, gerrymandered maps by the GOP behind closed doors. Today, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has sided with another ten years of highly partisan maps.

“Once again, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has demonstrated that they do not believe in upholding judicial fairness. Instead, this decision will only further suppress Wisconsin voters, who are already suffering the consequences of gerrymandering.

“The people of Wisconsin are fierce advocates for fair, nonpartisan maps. Voters should be choosing their elected officials—not the other way around. I am ashamed of this blatantly partisan decision made by the State Supreme Court.

“We must keep fighting for fair maps. Wisconsin’s democracy has never been more in jeopardy.”