http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/trump-boards-af1-s5.jpgMADISON, WI – Today marks the two-year anniversary of Donald Trump introducing his tax scam bill. The bill, which Trump promised would improve wages, bring back jobs from overseas, and improve hard working people’s well being, has turned out to be nothing more than a handout to the richest Americans and largest corporations.

MADISON, WI – Thursday, Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council President Dan Bukiewicz and Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wiker held a press call highlighting the negative impact of Donald Trump’s tax scam. Tomorrow marks the two-year anniversary of the introduction of this legislation that has been a disaster for hard working Wisconsinites.

You can read an excerpt of Bukiewicz remarks below and listen to the full audio of the press call here.

“The GOP promised that these taxes [tax breaks] would help the average working American. It is not true, particularly in the building trade. These tax cuts went to the top 1%...But hardworking people that are building our roads, our schools, our hospitals, our homes, are basically being penalized for going into work everyday and their safety is being compromised by with the roll backs...Their tools, equipment, and supplies, the things that are basic necessities for them to make a living with are no longer deductible. Using a personal cell phone [on the job] no longer deductible...car expenses while working none of that deductible for these individuals. As I said they maintain critical infrastructure for the entire country and they are being cheated on these deductions. These deductions in some cases depending on the trade add up to hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for the average worker...These create hardships for the families...Meanwhile the businesses are reaping all the benefits of the tax cuts. It’s completely unfair...the GOP once again broke their promise to working Americans.”  -- Dan Bukiewicz, President of the Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council

MADISON - Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) talks about a bill creating a temporary extreme risk protection order (ERPO) in Wisconsin to prevent gun violence and suicide deaths.

Audio File of Radio Address

Hello this is State Representative Melissa Sargent with this week’s Democratic Radio Address.

Last week I was proud to stand with Governor Tony Evers, Attorney General Josh Kaul, and State Senator Lena Taylor as we introduced a bill creating a temporary extreme risk protection order, also known as ERPO, in Wisconsin.

Under the ERPO process, if an individual is likely to injure themselves or another person, a family member or law enforcement officer, may petition a court to temporarily prevent the individual from possessing a firearm.

An ERPO injunction would be effective for up to one year, and could be extended by petition for periods if the court believes the person continues to be at risk.

As a member of the Speaker’s Task Force on Suicide Prevention, I have heard story after story from people whose lives have been personally impacted by suicide in our state.

At each of the six hearings held throughout Wisconsin, these individuals overwhelming asked the Task Force to take action to reduce suicide deaths in our state, specifically with sensible policies such as Extreme Risk Protection Orders. Yet, the recommendations released by the Speaker’s Task Force this week have failed to listen to the will of the people. By refusing to comprehensively address suicide by firearm, and ignoring the importance of ERPOs, the Task Force's work cannot be considered complete.

Thanks to legislation passed in many other states, we also know the real results that ERPOs have had in reducing suicide rates by firearm and in saving lives.

In Indiana, in the 10 years after the state passed its Extreme Risk law in 2005, the state’s firearm suicide rate decreased by 7.5 percent.

People across Wisconsin, regardless of whether or not they are a gun owner, want to see meaningful action. We don’t have to choose between upholding the 2nd Amendment and preventing gun violence in our communities. There is no excuse for inaction.

It is well past time to listen to the voices of the people of Wisconsin and take meaningful action to prevent gun violence and suicide deaths in our state. The time for action is now, and I am proud to continue fighting for this life saving measure.

Thank you.

MADISON – Today, the Speaker’s Task on Suicide Prevention released recommendations for legislation related to lowering the incidents of suicide in Wisconsin. Despite overwhelming statistical evidence that firearms are a significant factor in suicides in Wisconsin and nationwide, the task force barely mentioned this correlation in their report and related legislation. This is significant due to the fact that half of all suicides in the U.S. are by firearm.

Assembly Democratic Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) released the following statement on the task force:

“Only Wisconsin Republicans could ignore the single most data driven policy that can actually reduce suicides. A task force that holds hearings around the state is not a substitute for actually doing something. Legislation that would directly address the issue of access to firearms for those at risk, Extreme Risk Protection Orders, was ignored entirely by Republican task force members. The bottom line is that indefensible adherence to extreme ideology on gun violence is a bigger priority for Republicans than reducing the number of suicides.”

Climate change is real and increasingly a part of our daily lives. Change won’t take place overnight, but some common-sense steps can be taken immediately.

MILWAUKEE - Working Families Party’s Rebecca Lynch leads our discussion on the controversial Working Families Party endorsement of Elizabeth Warren. Then we welcome UAW Local 722’s Steve Frisque, live from a Wisconsin picket line to talk about the GM strike. We weigh-in on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s bold new prescription drug plan. Will Trump follow-through on his campaign promises and support it, or will he again cave to Big Pharma? Finally we discuss vaping illnesses and the push to legalize and regulate THC in Wisconsin, and Friday’s international climate strike which is coming to many Wisconsin cities.

Listen Now – Episode #409
Download MP3
Press Clips

DPW Chair Ben Wikler Statement on Guv Evers' Common Sense Red Flag Legislation Push.

MADISON, WI – Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler released the following statement Thursday praising Governor Evers' push to pass common sense red flag legislation, as well as called out President Trump's broken promises to pass common sense gun safety legislation.

“We are grateful for Governor Evers’ leadership to fight for red flag laws -- common-sense gun safety measures that have overwhelming bipartisan support. At a time when three-year-olds participate in active shooter drills, it’s clearly long past time for us to fight against the gun violence epidemic that plagues our country. Right here in Wisconsin we suffered a mass shooting that left six dead in Oak Creek.The vast majority of Wisconsinites, including the vast majority of homes that have a gun in them, are demanding change, and Governor Evers is right to push for the passage of these common-sense red flag laws.

“Wisconsin is fortunate to have a Governor who recognizes the cost of these mass shootings, but sadly we still have a President whose opinion is for sale. In typical fashion, President Trump made bold, yet empty, statements promising us he would deliver on common sense gun safety legislation. All it took was a call from his overlords at the NRA to break the promise he made to Wisconsinites and the American people. The problem is compounded by the fact that Senate Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Leader Robin Vos are too cowardly to take appropriate action.

“We cannot trust Trump to keep his word to do something about the gun violence epidemic, so we will continue to fight here in Wisconsin for these urgent, life saving measures.”

MADISON – It has been a year since an active shooter targeted his place of work in Middleton. Yet, unfortunately, a year later we have made zero progress in ensuring that no other Wisconsinites are affected by gun violence.

Every Wisconsinite should have the opportunity to go to school, a place of worship, or any other public space in their community knowing that they are safe, and there are steps that we can take to strengthen the system to ensure that an incident, such as what happened in Middleton, will not happen again.

The majority of Wisconsinites agree that it is time to pass gun safety legislation. According to the most recent Marquette Law Poll, 80% of Wisconsin voters support expanded background checks, and nearly the same percentage of Wisconsinites are in support of red-flag laws. The numbers are clear, this is not a partisan issue.

That is why Middleton Police Department Chief, Charles Foulke released a statement recalling the incident and urging politicians to make a difference. As someone who has served his community for 38 years, his words speak volumes.

Enough is enough, it is time to enact common-sense gun laws.

As Mass Shootings Continue, Democrats Push for Action on Gun Safety

MADISON – After a series of horrific mass shootings across the county, legislative Democrats are continuing to push for legislation to combat gun violence. Assembly Bill 431 would close the gun show loophole that enables individuals with criminal convictions to purchase a firearm but is currently being blocked by Republican politicians.

As a co-sponsor of the legislation, Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling released the following statement:

“Gun violence is one of the most pressing public health issues we face today and all I hear from my Republican colleagues is, ‘There is nothing we can do.’ As a lawmaker and a mother, I do not accept that this is the way it has to be. That defeatist attitude is an insult to the lives lost from gun violence and to the survivors that still grapple with the trauma they went through. Republicans need to have the courage to stand up to the NRA and prioritize the safety and well-being of Wisconsin residents. Every day that we don’t do something is one more day closer to another tragedy.”

Mass shootings similar to El Paso, TX and Dayton, OH have happened right here in Wisconsin communities including Middleton, Brookfield, Oak Creek, and Wausau. A Marquette Law Poll found 80 percent of Wisconsinites – including the vast majority of gun owners – support expanding background checks.

Mass shootings can be prevented. PolitiFact Wisconsin recently confirmed the troubling reality that a loophole in current state law allows dangerous convicted felons and domestic abusers to purchase firearms without going through a background check that would have otherwise disqualified them. Several individuals have already exploited this loophole to acquire firearms and build arsenals that are then used to commit mass murders.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/congress-unproductive-s5.jpgSen. Smith talks about the importance of having conversations with people that have different points of view. We can overcome the political divisiveness in society if we remember we have more in common than what sets us apart.