MADISON —​ Gov. Tony Evers today delivered the Democratic Radio Address encouraging Wisconsinites to take care of their mental health this holiday season and know that there are free resources available for those who need it.

Audio file of radio address.

Hello, Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers here.

For many Wisconsinites the holiday season can be a difficult time of year even under normal circumstances, but this year as the COVID-19 pandemic has affected nearly every aspect of Wisconsinites’ lives, it is critical that we all take care of our mental and emotional well-being.

First, check in on your people. Whether that’s talking on the phone or connecting over the Zoom, those conversations can provide comfort to those who need it.

Second, know that you are not alone. There are resources available no matter your age or your struggle.

Text HOPELINE to 741-741 for free emotional support services that can provide help and hope.

You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or, go online to resilient.wisconsin.gov for more resources.

Remember, it’s okay to ask for help. It’s better than “okay” – it can make a real difference for you and for your loved ones. Let’s get through this together.

Stay healthy, stay safe, and stay resilient, Wisconsin.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/coronavirus-nurse-tired-s5.jpgSen. Smith writes about the people in our lives we can be thankful for, and shares tips from the Trempealeau County Health Department for Wisconsinites to have a safe Thanksgiving this year.

MADISON - Donald Trump’s toxic circus has come to Wisconsin, as his campaign is paying for a recount in Dane and Milwaukee counties that is bound to fail.

He is succeeding, however, in keeping the partisan turmoil boiling in our state, as I write about here:

Trump Sows Chaos and Division in Wisconsin

Also this week, the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard yet another challenge to Gov. Evers’s emergency powers during the pandemic, even as we saw record cases – and record deaths – in our state. The case before the court was brought by big Republican donor Jere Fabick, a Caterpillar truck dealer. Fabick, by the way, gave the maximum $20,000 donation to Justice Rebecca Bradley, who refused to recuse herself, as we noted here:

Justice Hears Case by Major Donor Opposing Governor’s Pandemic Actions

The norms of democracy and basic decency are flying out the window these days!

But we’re doing all we can, here at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, to uphold those norms and to flash a spotlight on those who break them.

We can’t let them get away with this!

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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P.S. If you like the work we’ve been doing, please make a tax-deductible gift today to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Just click here. Or donate the old-fashioned way by sending a check to us at 203 S. Paterson St, Suite 100, Madison WI 53703. Thanks!

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers Thursday delivered the Democratic Radio Address on the need for statewide mitigation efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 and issuing a new public health emergency to extend into January 2021.

Audio file of radio address.

Hello, Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers here.

Nearly two months ago, we issued our current public health emergency on September 22nd.

Back then, our 7-day average of daily new positive cases was around 1,800.

Unfortunately, things have worsened quickly since then.

We’ve now more than tripled our 7-day average, averaging now 6,400 new positive cases per day.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has tripled—we have now almost 324,000 positive cases in Wisconsin and our total number of COVID-19 deaths is 2,741.

And our current public health emergency expires this Saturday, November 21st.

But it’s clear based on where we’re headed, we cannot afford to stop or have a gap in some of our only mitigation efforts we still have in place.

That’s why I will be declaring a new state of emergency this week and extending our public health emergency until January of next year.

We will also be reissuing Emergency Order #1 requiring face coverings in public places.

We’ve got a long road ahead of us, Wisconsin, but we need to buckle down and get through this together until then.

As always, please, stay home. Wear a mask if you have to go out, and otherwise stay home.

Call it what you want—flattening the curve, stopping the spread, staying safer at home… I’m going to call it what it is—saving lives. Thank you.

State Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-West Point) responds to the Assembly GOP press conference Tuesday announcing the latest Republican 'ideas' on COVID-19 testing and contact tracing.

MADISON - Today we saw a total lack of leadership from Representative Vos, and Senate Republicans were absent altogether. April 15th was the last time we took the floor to address this issue and Robin Vos hasn’t brought a thing to the table since. The latest Republican 'ideas' of testing and contact tracing could have, in fact, should have, been addressed months ago were it not for GOP inaction.

Ever since Republicans went to court to stop The Evers Administration from combating COVID-19, we've been told by the GOP that they were working on legislation. That was months ago, and still nothing.

Ninety-two people have died since yesterday and Speaker Vos is still trying to blame Governor Evers. As the Governor has been saying over and over again, his door has been open, it's the majority Republicans who continue to say no. And, it's not lost on Wisconsinites that the Republican Speaker of the State Assembly held a press conference today and said nothing.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/gerrymander-elections-redistricting-s5.jpgCourt is considering a proposal that would likely lead to another gerrymander in Wisconsin. Let them know how you feel.

MILWAUKEE, WI - As COVID-19 surges dangerously out of control, we look forward to national and state course corrections. Next, we discuss the prospects for national healthcare reform in the coming Biden/Harris Administration. We evaluate Gov. Evers’ new COVID-19 Executive Orders, as health care workers and hospitals to the brink. We preview the 2021-22 state budget process and the importance of pushing to include BadgerCare Public Option and other structural reforms in Governor Evers’ next two year budget.

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The contempt for the very essence of democracy by some Republicans has reached new depths as they enable Trump fantasy.

MADISON - This week, a Republican member of the Wisconsin Legislature actually said, on camera, that the election results should be invalidated!

This contempt for the very essence of democracy has reached new – and frightening – depths, as I write here:

Shame on Wisconsin Coup Enablers

Please write Rep. Joe Sanfelippo and tell him what you think about his comment on tossing out the elections. You can email him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Our research team has tabulated all the spending by outside groups in the elections. You can see those results here:

Electioneering Groups Spent Nearly $9.9M on Legislative Races

While the Democrats managed to outraise the Republicans in Wisconsin this time around, we don’t want the Democrats to get the wrong idea about the need for campaign finance reform, so we wrote the following:

State Dems: We Still Need Campaign Finance Reform!

I hope you like what we’ve posted this week, and I thank you for all that you do to uphold democracy in these challenging times.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

****

P.S. If you like the work we’ve been doing, please make a tax-deductible gift today to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. Just click here. Or donate the old-fashioned way by sending a check to us at 203 S. Paterson St, Suite 100, Madison WI 53703. Thanks!

MADISON —​ On Thursday, Gov. Tony Evers delivered the Democratic Radio Address on Executive Order #94, advising Wisconsinites to stay home to save lives.

Audio file of radio address.

Hello, Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers here.

As you know, earlier this year, we took steps to contain COVID-19 by issuing a safer at home order. Unfortunately, that order was struck down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court—a decision that hamstrung our ability to respond to the virus.

Since then, Wisconsin has become a national hotspot.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates 5,000 Wisconsinites could be lost to COVID-19 by January 1^st if no further actions are taken to get this virus under control. That means another 2,500 people who might not be with us on New Year’s Day.

Wisconsin, this is serious. This crisis is urgent.

That’s why I signed Executive Order #94 advising Wisconsinites to stay home to save lives.

We must get back to the basics of fighting this virus just like we did last spring, and it starts at home.

So, please, cancel the happy hours, dinner parties, sleepovers, and playdates at your home. And if a friend or family member invites you over, offer to hang out virtually instead.

And if you think you might be exposed to COVID-19, please go get tested. And then make sure you’re quarantining at home while you’re waiting for your results and for 14 days after you’ve been exposed.

It’s important to remember that just because you test negative today doesn’t guarantee a negative test tomorrow, so please stay home.

Otherwise, if you have to leave your home, limit it to essential needs and errands, and always wear a mask and stay six feet apart.

We must offer our neighbors the promise of a better tomorrow—a promise that each of us must play a part in delivering by doing everything we can.

Right now, we’ve got plenty to prove and a lot to lose. Let’s get to work, and let’s move forward, together.

Thank you, Wisconsin.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/voting-2020-538-s5.jpgAlthough Americans may have different reactions now that the election is over, it’s important that we continue having conversations to move forward together.