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Commentary from us and our readers.
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Commentary -
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Written by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Matt Rothschild
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Friday, 29 October 2021 14:51 |
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 At hearing, he admitted they tried to make the maps more favorable to Republicans in 2011. Now they may be able to draw maps that help them stay in power simply by moving lines.
MADISON - I spent five hours in the State Capitol yesterday for the hearing on the newly gerrymandered maps.
I was a little late getting into the hearing room because there was such a huge and amazing crowd of citizen activists who were also trying to get in. That was great to see!
When I got in, Speaker Robin Vos was in the middle of his testimony as the co-author of the bills (SB621/AB624). A few minutes later, while he was being questioned by the Democrats on the joint committee, he made a killer confession: He admitted that they tried to make the maps more favorable to the Republicans. “Was partisanship used? Yes,” he said.
That’s the whole ball game! We don’t want Republicans – or Democrats, for that matter – to be able to draw maps that help them stay in power simply by moving lines here or there on a map.
Three and a half hours later, I was able to give my testimony, which you can read here:
Reject Gerrymandered Maps
You can view a slightly improvised version on WisconsinEye's recording of the hearing starting at 12:59 p.m.
If you haven’t already, please contact your legislators,
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
and
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to register your opposition to these bills.
 We’re also concerned about the ongoing smearing of the Wisconsin Elections Commission and the endless smoke machine about last November’s elections. Here’s what I wrote about the recent Legislative Audit Bureau report:
LAB Hatchet Job on Wisconsin Elections Commission
Thanks for your concern for our democracy!
Best,
Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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***
P.S. Please support our urgent work with a tax-deductible donation today. Just click here. |
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Last Updated on Saturday, 30 October 2021 10:20 |
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Written by Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Matt Brusky
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Friday, 29 October 2021 10:48 |
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 MILWAUKEE - Our panel discusses President Biden’s push this week for a deal with Congressional Democrats on Build Back Better, while Sens. Sinema and Manchin continue to oppose popular policies on behalf of their corporate bosses. We review the devastating cuts to Biden's new plan demanded by Manchin and Sinema and whether the Progressive Caucus will support the deal or push for more negotiations. We interview Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes on his campaign for the U.S. Senate, in our continuing series of discussions with Democratic candidates.
RSVP to the Citizen Action’s 2022 U.S. Senate Candidate Online Forum with top candidates on Tuesday, November 16th, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.
Listen Now - Episode #516
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Written by GOV Press Wisconsin
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Friday, 29 October 2021 08:29 |
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 MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered the Democratic Radio Address highlighting investments to expand access to mental and behavioral health support services and substance use treatment through a new pilot program using the hub-and-spoke model of care.
Audio File of Radio Address.
Hey there, folks. Governor Tony Evers here.
This past year presented uncertainty, isolation, and other significant changes to our daily lives.
We’ve seen the consequences of this pandemic play out with so many people experiencing increased stress, anxiety, depression, and challenges keeping up with their mental health. Additionally, and unfortunately, we’ve also seen a concerning increase in substance misuse and opioid-related tragedies in our state.
Even one life lost to opioid misuse is one too many, but in 2020 alone, opioid-related deaths took the lives of more than 1,000 of our friends, neighbors, and loved ones.
I'm proud we’re tackling this issue head-on with a new, evidence-based pilot program for something called a“hub-and-spoke” model of care here in Wisconsin which will help people have access to comprehensive healthcare resources while focusing on ongoing, long-term, and integrated treatment and support.
We also know that when it comes to substance misuse, early intervention is key. This week, we also announced a $2 million investment aimed at increasing mental health services for underserved communities through the Wisconsin United Coalition of Mutual Assistance Association.
We've invested $47 million of our ARPA funds to increase community-level support for people dealing with mental health challenges and working to overcome substance use disorder—with $22 million of these funds going towards Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Block grants.
These grants will assist counties and tribal communities in addressing their unique needs, such as expanding access to NARCAN, supporting medication-assisted treatment, and expanding recovery and peer-support services.
These are important steps forward towards ensuring everyone has access to quality, affordable healthcare, including mental and behavioral health services and treatment.
Thank you. |
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Commentary -
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Written by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Matt Rothschild
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Wednesday, 27 October 2021 10:16 |
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 MADISON - If you’re concerned about the rigging of our voting district maps yet again by the Legislature, then I urge you to come to the State Capitol on Thursday, Oct. 28.
We’re having a press conference on the first floor (not ground floor) of the Capitol Rotunda at 8:30 a.m., and then the joint committee public hearing starts at 9:00 a.m. in Room 412E.
We hope you can attend the press conference and the hearing.
You can testify yourself if you’d like, but plan to keep testimony to 2-3 minutes. We ask that you RSVP here so the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition can plan for and track testimony--we are already gearing up for an overflow room. Whether or not you choose to testify, you should fill out a hearing slip when you get there and register as opposed. Volunteers will be available to assist.
The bills are SB621/AB624 for the Legislature’s two maps (Senate and Assembly).
And the bills for the Congressional maps are SB622/AB625.
All three maps would essentially cement in place the hyper-partisan, uncompetitive maps that we’ve been suffering under since 2011 for another decade! You can view the maps here.
If you cannot make the press conference or the hearing, please email your legislators and urge them to vote no on these bills. View an email directory for Assembly representatives and Senators here.
You can watch yesterday's Fair Maps Briefing video on Facebook to learn more about preparations for the hearing, including COVID protocols at the State Capitol. The hearing will be live streamed and recorded on WisconsinEye.com.
Thanks for your activism in favor of fair maps and in defense of our democracy!
Best,
Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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Last Updated on Saturday, 30 October 2021 10:21 |
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Commentary -
Commentary
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Written by Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Matt Brusky
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Friday, 22 October 2021 10:07 |
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 MILWAUKEE - We discuss breaking deals and compromises in the historic Build Back Better negotiations in Congress. Will the Democrats be able to bring their two rogue Senators into line, or do their corporate paymasters want to sink reform? Is a smaller version of Build Back Better still worth having? Next, we discuss Wednesday’s failed U.S. Senate vote on the Freedom to Vote Act, Senator Manchin's slimmed down version of electoral reform. Does the GOP use of the filibuster to block even debating the bill mean Democrats can finally do away with the Jim Crow and slavery era relic? Back in the Badger State, Republicans release outrageously gerrymandered maps. Will Governor Evers step up and veto them? A national report ranks Wisconsin the state with the worst Black incarceration, and if things could not get even worse, the Senate GOP passes a pro-child labor bill. We close the show with a look at the GOP’s national school board strategy to bully and remove school board members who stand up for public health, and GOP gubernatorial frontrunner Rebecca Kleefisch's role.
Listen Now - Episode #515
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Last Updated on Friday, 22 October 2021 10:15 |
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