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WI Democracy Campaign - Mourning RBG PDF Print E-mail
Commentary
Written by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Matt Rothschild   
Saturday, 26 September 2020 12:49

ruth-bader-ginsbergCareer dedicated to equality and justice, two things right at the heart of our work here.


MADISON - Here at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, we remain in mourning at the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Among the many causes she championed in her career dedicated to equality and justice, two are right at the heart of our work here.

The first is reducing the influence of money in our politics. She told The New Republic back in 2014 that the worst decision of the Roberts Court was Citizens United. “The notion that we have all the democracy that money can buy strays so far from what our democracy is supposed to be," she said.

And the second cause is ending gerrymandering.

In 2015, Justice Ginsburg wrote the majority opinion in a case called Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. The case revolved around the constitutionality of Proposition 106, the statewide binding referendum that passed in Arizona in 2000 and that took the redistricting authority away from the legislators and handed it over to the Arizona Independent Redistricting Committee.

Ginsburg ruled that the initiative process was totally in keeping with our founding principles. “The Framers may not have imagined the modern initiative process in which the people of a State exercise legislative power coextensive with the authority of an institutional legislature,” she wrote. “But the invention of the initiative was in full harmony with the Constitution’s conception of the people as the font of governmental power.” That conception is crucial in the context of gerrymandering, Ginsburg argued, stressing the importance of “lawmaking by the people, particularly where such lawmaking is intended to check legislators’ ability to choose the district lines they run in.”

In a sentence that rings so true for those of us in Wisconsin, she noted: “The legislature’s responsiveness to the people its members represent is hardly heightened when the representative body can be confident that what it does will not be overturned or modified by the voters themselves.”

matt-rothschildJustice Ginsburg knew well why our Legislature here in Madison is not responsive to the people. It’s because of gerrymandering.

May her memory be a blessing.

Best,

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

 
Trump, Pence Blasted for Failed Response to COVID-19 PDF Print E-mail
Commentary
Written by WisDems Press, Philip Shulman   
Friday, 25 September 2020 10:15

trump-mike-pence-nbcnewsSen. Baldwin, ER Doctor, Wisconsinite with pre-existing conditions say failed response to the coronavirus pandemic has led to countless Wisconsin jobs lost and small businesses shuddered. Continued attacks on Obamacare, Medicare, threaten over 100,000 Wisconsinites who have tested positive for COVID-19.


WISCONSIN - In response to Mike Pence’s visit to the state, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, ER Doctor and candidate for Wisconsin's 67th State Assembly District Chris Kapsner, and Bob Andruszkiewicz, who has pre-existing conditions, called out the Donald Trump and Mike Pence for their failed response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has led to countless Wisconsin jobs lost and small businesses shuddered. They also discussed the Trump administration’s continued attacks on protections for pre-existing conditions, while still having no real plan to confront the pandemic. For the over 100,000 Wisconsinites who have tested positive for COVID-19, and the economic fallout that it has caused, Trump and Pence’s gross mismanagement has made this crisis far worse than it needed to be.

Watch the full event here or read excerpts of what the speakers said below.

tammy-baldwinUS Senator Tammy Baldwin: “What has been a continuous concern for Wisconsinites is their ability to get quality and affordable health care, as well as their ability to pay for their prescription drugs… Testing positive for COVID-19 is a pre-existing condition. As is asthma, diabetes, cancer, and pregnancy. If Donald Trump and Mike Pence get their way, these people, and the tens of millions of others across the country with pre-existing conditions, could lose their care. They could go bankrupt trying to pay their medical bills, their rent, and putting food on their family's table… Still today, we see these attacks continue,, in the midst of a pandemic that was turned into a full blown crisis by Trump and his inability to prepare for or respond to the virus. Joe Biden was on the frontlines of passing the ACA, and I know with him as our next president he will build on the progress we’ve made -- that’s something Wisconsinites can count on."

Chris Kapsner: “Without this leadership here we are floundering. We’ve been at this for 9 months both on a state level and a federal level. At this moment we’re still struggling with aggressive testing… The other big issue is PPE… Sadly it’s because of a lack of leadership on a federal level… We’re watching the Republican party tear apart the Affordable Care Act. For ten years now they've been talking about repealing and replacing-- all they want to do is take it down, they have nothing to replace it with… all these thing are going to disappear with the aggressive assault that the Republican party is undertaking both on a federal level and in the state of Wisconsin on our health care system...How can the most powerful country in the world not be able to handle this. You cannot overstate how this is an abject failure of leadership on a spectacular scale… We need to fire everyone who has ignored the real problems and the suffering of the people of this state and this country.”

Bob Andruszkiewicz: “As one of the many millions of Americans, but also one of the 2.4 million Wisconsinites living with pre-existing conditions, I know what this feels like going through COVID… To have a strong America, you need strong and healthy Americans, and that’s why we need to keep the ACA… Living with these medical conditions is hard enough to do everything that I need to do and not have to worry about health care coverage… For the last four years, Trump has relentlessly tried to repeal protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and he and the Republicans continue to do so, even in the middle of a pandemic… We need to make sure that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win this election and save the Affordable Care Act and save Americans.”

 
Democratic Radio: Asking College Students to #MaskUp PDF Print E-mail
Commentary
Written by Lt Gov Office Press   
Friday, 25 September 2020 10:14

coronavirus-mask3-jennifer-aniston-skynewsMADISON - Lt. Gov. Barnes delivered the Democratic Radio Address on Thursday asking all college students in Wisconsin to wear face coverings or masks and practice social distancing in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 on our college campuses.

Audio file of radio address.

mandela-barnesHey everybody, I’m Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, and I just want to share a message for all the college students in our state.

Now, we know this semester hasn’t started out the way that any of you hoped. We know that you’ve probably had some or you may have even had all of your classes transition online. We also know you haven’t been able to participate in in-person orientation or celebrate the start of the year with your friends the way you normally would.

And we also recognize that some of you have even had to quarantine in your dorms in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Like everyone else in our state, you have all made tremendous sacrifices because of this pandemic.

But unfortunately, we still see cases continue to rise at far too high of a rate on many of our college campuses, and we need to get this virus under control, so that you all can have the college experience that you dreamed of, and the experience that you deserve.

College isn’t just about your coursework 24/7. Believe me, I get it.

But in order for you to participate in all the things that make college so memorable, you all need to wear masks anytime you leave the dorm room or your apartment. And we also need you to do your best to stay 6 feet away from others, even if you’re both wearing masks.

Now, this isn’t just about you or your own health. It’s about the health of everyone that you may interact with. And the health of the people that they interact with, and so on.

So I’m counting on each and every one of you to do your part and #MaskUp to keep your friends and roommates, your campus faculty and staff, and the broader communities you all belong to safe from the spread of this deadly virus.

None of this is easy, and it’s also not fun, but there are better days ahead if we all just commit to doing our part.

So thank you for listening, please #MaskUp, and let’s get through this together.

 
“Taking Back The ‘Burbs” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast PDF Print E-mail
Commentary
Written by Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Matt Brusky   
Friday, 25 September 2020 10:04

bgw-burbs-2020STATEWIDE - We discuss the grossly insufficient indictment brought against only one of the Louisville police officers who killed Breonna Taylor. We welcome Citizen Action president Mark Thomsen to educate our listeners about new state legislation (LRB-6434/2) providing a blanket COVID-19 liability shield for businesses and how you can fight it. We continue our interviews with state legislative candidates talking with Deb Andraca and Sara Rodriguez who are making serious challenges to GOP assembly members in the Milwaukee suburbs. They tell us why these Republican gerrymandered districts are changing and ready to elect Democrats this year.

LISTEN EPISODE #460
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LWVWI on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg PDF Print E-mail
Commentary
Written by League of Women Voters Wisconsin   
Sunday, 20 September 2020 16:56

Ruth Bader GinsburgWe must honor her legacy by demanding the values she stood for are not undermined in an effort to rush through an appointment that would only further polarize America.

Read more...
 
“COVID-19 and the Sickness of Democracy” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast PDF Print E-mail
Commentary
Written by Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Matt Brusky   
Friday, 18 September 2020 13:13

covid-19-sicknessSTATEWIDE - We discuss Wisconsin’s rapidly rising COVID-19 infection rate supercharged by the ill-conceived reopening of colleges and K-12 schools. We talk about the role of individual responsibility in containing the pandemic in the face of the worst national and state response in the developed world. Claire reviews a large national survey released this week finding the uninsured rate rose just before the country was hit by the coronovirus.

We look at the huge opportunity Democratic State Assembly candidates have at winning seats previously thought safe for Republicans due to rigged district lines. What does winning these races have to do with creating fair maps? We welcome Citizen Action co-op member Emily Berge, who is a candidate for State Assembly in District 68 in the greater Eau Claire area, to discuss her campaign and what she is hearing on the ground.

LISTEN NOW – EPISODE #459
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Dave Hansen on the Passing of Heidi Hussli PDF Print E-mail
Commentary
Written by Dave Hansen, State Senator Dist 30   
Friday, 18 September 2020 12:10

heidi-hussli-students-gbpgBeloved local Bay Port German language teacher joins nearly 200,000 other lives lost to COVID-19, will be missed by all.

Read more...
 
Wis Democracy Campaign - Koch targets Schachtner PDF Print E-mail
Commentary
Written by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Matt Rothschild   
Friday, 18 September 2020 11:02

wisconsin-koch-industriesMADISON - I hope you’re managing to stay healthy in this dangerous and maddening time.

Here at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign this week, we took note of the fact that the leading independent expenditure group in our state legislative races is the Koch’s Americans for Prosperity, which is shelling out a lot of money to try to take down State Sen. Patty Schachtner:

Koch Group Leads Outside Spending in Wisconsin Legislative Races

We also worked with Erik Gunn of the Wisconsin Examiner on his terrific story here about dark money in Wisconsin:

Election financiers operating in the shadows

And I wrote up my own assessment of the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling in the Green Party case, which you can see here:

What the Court's Green Party Decision Revealed

matt-rothschild-2018I’m always interested in your reactions to what we post, and your own comments on our democracy, so feel free to email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Have a nice weekend!

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 do here, please make a tax-deductible gift today to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. We’d really appreciate it. Give online here or mail a check in the old-fashioned way to the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, 203 South Paterson Street, Suite 100, Madison WI 53703. Thanks!

 
Jaeger Wants Republican-led Legislature Back to Work PDF Print E-mail
Commentary
Written by Karl Jaeger, Jaeger For Wisconsin   
Thursday, 17 September 2020 09:52

capitol-night-wiscLegislature has refused to do their job for five months and are apparently refusing to meet for at least another four, says Assembly District 89 Candidate.


MARINETTE, WI - This is a reminder that John Nygren and the Republican-led Legislature have been adjourned since April, but continue to collect their $52,999 salary! It's been over 150 days since they’ve shown up to work, and in that time thousands of people in communities across Wisconsin have gotten sick, lost their jobs, lost their health care, and struggled to support their families.

Our “Representatives” continue to collect their salaries, but they are not showing up to represent us. This makes me angry! We deserve representatives who show up to work!

What have our elected leaders been doing since they were last in full session while 91,304 of us became ill and 1,220 of us have died of COVID-19? We elected them to represent us, and instead they spend their days criticizing the Governor on Facebook from the comfort and safety of their own homes.

karl-jaegerIf I didn’t show up to work, I’d get fired. What about you? Would you still get paid? Would you still have health insurance? Retirement contributions? Would you have corporate special-interests giving you thousands of dollars of donations?

This is why people get frustrated by politics: our elected representatives have done nothing since April to address COVID-19, statewide protests, the unemployment backlog, or the re-opening of schools. In the meantime, they continue to collect their $52,999 annual salary while they ignore the needs of our citizens and refuse to do the work we elected them to do.

The basic function of our state government is to protect our citizens’ health and safety. The GOP-led Legislature has not met since April, despite calls by Democratic members and the Governor to take up legislation related to COVID-19, police procedures, unemployment benefits, and many other issues. Instead, they’ve threatened once to meet simply to overturn a public health order that slowed the spread of COVID-19. Republicans have filed more lawsuits this year than they have passed bills to help Wisconsin workers, families, farmers, and small businesses during this pandemic. Their leadership has indicated they will refuse to vote on any and all legislation until next year.

Let that sink in for a minute: They’ve refused to do their job for five months and are apparently refusing to meet for at least another four. And they don’t care, because their districts are so gerrymandered, they’re all but ensured a victory in November.

When elected, I will show up to work. I will put people first and represent your needs. I will be accountable to the people who elected me.

Karl Jaeger
Candidate, WI Assembly District 89

 
“Building A Better State Legislature” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast PDF Print E-mail
Commentary
Written by Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Matt Brusky   
Saturday, 12 September 2020 16:23

bgw-0920STATEWIDE - Our panel discusses this week’s revelation that Trump knew the coronavirus was ‘deadly stuff’ in February and lied about it to the American people. Next we dig into the explosion of positive COVID tests on Wisconsin university campuses. What are the ramifications? Finally, we kick off post Labor Day campaign season with two Citizen Action co-op members who are running for State Assembly in western Wisconsin: Sarah Yacoub (District 30) and Kim Butler (District 28).

Listen Now – Episode #458
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