MADISON, Wis. – Gov. Tony Evers released the following statement thanking Congressman Ron Kind for his decades of service to the state:

"For more than two decades western Wisconsin has been able to count on Ron Kind. Thanks to his tremendous leadership, countless small businesses, farmers, and families have a brighter future ahead of them. While his voice in Congress is going to be sorely missed, his legacy as a pragmatic and selfless leader will continue to move Wisconsin forward. I wish Ron, Tawni, and their entire family well on their next chapter and I’m confident they’ll continue to play an important role in the direction of our state."

Evers shuts down GOP conspiracy circus, says Democratic Governors Association.

WASHINGTON, DC - Tuesday, Gov. Tony Evers vetoed six Republican-backed bills that would have imposed new restrictions on absentee ballots in the key battleground state of Wisconsin and made it more difficult to vote. As Republicans assault their state’s democratic institutions, Gov. Evers is proving once again that Democratic governors are the last line of defense for voting rights.

The anti-democracy GOP wants to limit ballot drop boxes, restrict who can return absentee ballots for others, and tighten rules for when elderly and disabled voters can automatically receive absentee ballots. 

“Politicians don't get to decide elections — that power remains with the people,” said Gov. Evers. “That’s why, as governor, I'll keep working hard to protect the right of every eligible person to vote and make sure it's easy and accessible for them to do so.”

These voter suppression bills are part of the larger effort to challenge the results of the 2020 election, fueled by Donald Trump’s dangerous lies and sore losers like Speaker Robin Vos, who is organizing a taxpayer-funded investigation into Wisconsin’s election results. The bogus investigation will be conducted by retired police officers, including a known election fraud conspiracy theorist. Gov. Evers’ vetoes come days after a Republican lawmaker attempted to seize ballots and voting machines in Brown and Milwaukee counties. 

“Governor Evers’ veto today safeguards the right to vote for thousands of Wisconsinites at a time when the GOP will do whatever it takes to undermine it,” said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. “Instead of protecting our democracy, Speaker Vos and the Wisconsin GOP have shamefully chosen to spread Trump’s deadly ‘Big Lie’ to appease the far-right. Gov. Evers’ leadership has proven again to be the last line of defense in protecting Wisconsinites constitutional rights and shows what is at stake in 2022.”

Will Mike Gallagher let down Wisconsinites once again, asks DGA?

WASHINGTON, DC - Congress is preparing to vote on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a historic bipartisan agreement that will make the largest long-term investment in our infrastructure in nearly a century. 

The infrastructure deal will create millions of good-paying, union jobs, while putting America on a solid path to building a stronger, more sustainable, and more equitable economy — all without raising taxes.

The bill is a gamechanger for American workers and families and it’s extraordinarily popular. For Wisconsin, the infrastructure package would secure a minimum of $5.2 billion for federal-aid highway apportioned programs, $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs, and $595 million to improve public transportation options over five years. Wisconsin will also receive a minimum of $100 million to help increase broadband coverage across the state, which would help provide access to the at least 318,000 Wisconsinites who currently lack it.

Despite the enormous support for this bill among economists, labor leaders and everyday Americans, Mike Gallagher still refuses to publicly support it. Gallagher previously opposed the American Rescue Plan, despite the critical direct assistance it provided to Wisconsinites struggling during the pandemic. 

“After voting against the American Rescue Plan and opposing necessary relief for millions, Mike Gallagher will now once again demonstrate if his priorities lie with his constituents, or with his party’s extreme agenda,” said DGA Communications Director David Turner. “Will he vote for this historic bill that will deliver much-needed progress and opportunity to Wisconsinites, or will he once again leave them high and dry?”

We have to defend our right to vote from Republican politicians across the country, say Democrats.

MADISON, Wis. -- Republicans in the state legislature have attempted to curtail voting rights in Wisconsin, particularly targeting voters with disabilities and people of color. Thankfully, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed this harmful legislation, protecting voting rights and fair elections for all Wisconsinites.

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler released the following statement:

“With his veto of these egregious bills, Governor Evers has defended our democracy and protected the right of every person to vote, regardless of party, race, or disability. The bills passed by Wisconsin Republicans had nothing to do with election integrity, and everything to do with politicians abusing their power to rig Wisconsin elections by making it harder to vote in a way that they believed would benefit them politically. Republicans know that the 2020 election was secure, fair, and accessible, as was confirmed and reconfirmed by state and federal courts and election officials. The GOP’s bogus attacks on our electoral system have been a pretext to tilt the playing field in their own favor.

“The fight for our voting rights doesn’t end here. Republican politicians across the country are leading an all-out assault on democracy, abusing their power and trying to cheat their way into winning elections. If legislation is not passed to protect and expand voting rights at the federal level, Democratic governors will continue to be the last line of defense against these attacks on our democracy. Wisconsinites can trust Governor Tony Evers to stand up for democracy and to continue his fight for the rights of every eligible voter in the state.”

Biden, Evers doing the job to bring economy back better.

MADISON– According to this morning’s Department of Labor jobs report, the U.S. added 943,000 jobs the month of July, meaning that in the six months since President Joe Biden took office, over 4 million jobs were created. The report comes as jobless claims fell once again to 385,000, yet another sign that the economy and hiring are rebounding under President Biden and thanks to Democrats’ American Rescue Plan.

In Wisconsin, thanks to allocation from Gov. Tony Evers, the American Rescue Plan is providing funds for expanded mental health and substance abuse needs, making critical investments in local tourism, and investing in schools. Local municipalities are also putting the money to work through region-specific initiatives and projects.

In response, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Rapid Response Director Julia Hamelburg issued the following statement:

“On his first day in office, President Biden promised to get shots in arms, checks in pockets, and people back to work. Now, six months later, it’s clear that President Biden and his Democratic colleagues in Congress have delivered on that promise despite steadfast opposition from Republicans at home and in Congress.

“To build on the success of Democrats’ American Rescue Plan, we must continue moving President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda through Congress, including passing the bipartisan infrastructure deal to deliver even more good-paying jobs.”

Recent polling shows that President Biden’s economic plan is wildly popular with the American people and in battleground districts. Here’s a look at the economic progress our country has made thanks to President Biden and Democrats’ leadership:

• The unemployment rate fell to 5.4 percent in July, down from 5.9 percent in June, and the United States has now recovered approximately 75 percent of jobs lost during the pandemic.

• In the past six months, the economy has gone from creating only 60,000 new jobs a month to creating 60,000 jobs roughly every two days. In total, the economy has added a record-shattering four million jobs since the president took office.

• The average number of new unemployment insurance claims has been cut by more than half and small business optimism has returned to its 2019 average.

• Independent projections from the CBO, the IMF, the Federal Reserve, the World Bank, the OECD, and many others all forecast America this year reaching the highest levels of economic growth in nearly four decades.

• The economy has grown at a 6.4 percent annualized rate so far this year—far higher than forecasters had predicted at the end of last year.

• Paychecks are growing at the strongest rate before the pandemic since 2006, as companies are competing for workers and boosting wages as a result.

• New analysis by the Urban Institute estimates that President Biden’s American Rescue Plan will lead to a nearly 45 percent decline in the number of Americans living in poverty this year.

• 90 percent of families with children will get an average tax cut of $4,380 this year, thanks to the American Rescue Plan. The Child Tax Credit could help cut child poverty in half by next year.

Candidate for US Senate moves around Green Bay, northeast Wisconsin area counties Thursday.

MADISON Wis. — This week, President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators reached an agreement on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal — a once-in-generation investment in infrastructure. This deal reaffirms President Biden’s commitment to working across the aisle to continue delivering for working families as Biden’s agenda builds back better in the Badger state.

Here’s what folks across the state are saying about the Biden-Harris administration’s recovery efforts and economic agenda:

PBS Wisconsin: Milwaukee's Pandemic Aid Plan Seeks to Address Persistent Urban Woes

• Milwaukee is set to receive $394 million in federal pandemic aid over two years through the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion coronavirus response package enacted in March 2021. An initial $197 million of those funds for the city has already been disbursed — accounting for half of its total allotment — and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has released his initial plans for how to spend it.

• The American Rescue Plan and a proposed infrastructure package promoted by President Joe Biden, mark a level of focused federal funding for cities that has not been a policy emphasis for over a half-century, according to Marc Levine, a professor emeritus of history, economic development and urban studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Wisconsin State Journal: Train advocates say new funding model could help make Madison stop a reality

• Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, described the infrastructure plan as a “bold investment” to create jobs, lower unemployment and rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges and transit systems.

• “I have long supported investments to improve our nation’s railroad infrastructure so we can expand access to safe, reliable and efficient transportation for more Wisconsinites, and I’m excited to support Amtrak’s proposal to expand passenger rail service to new communities in Wisconsin,” Baldwin said in an email.

NBC Milwaukee: 'Tangible improvements': U.S. Commerce Secretary Raimondo talks up new infrastructure plan, what it means for Wisconsin

• Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo tells TMJ4's Charles Benson the plan will help small businesses in Wisconsin with affordable internet access and provide funding for Milwaukee's much-needed lead lateral replacement project.

• "It will have big improvements in transit, how we get around, how we get to work so there's some really tangible improvements here to improve your economy," said Secretary Raimondo. "It'll create thousands of jobs, because everything I just said, laying fiber for broadband, fixing roads, bridges and airports puts people to work in good-paying jobs."

Kenosha News: Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood project awarded $4.9 million in federal stimulus funds for infrastructure

• "President Biden is committed to helping communities not only recover from this pandemic but build back stronger," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo. "This EDA investment in Kenosha will attract manufacturing and innovation sector businesses and jobs to the region while simultaneously increasing workforce development programs."

ABC Green Bay: Wisconsin gets $3.1 million for rural COVID-19 vaccination efforts

• Wisconsin is getting $3.1 million from the federal government to support rural health clinics with vaccination efforts. The money from the American Rescue Plan will go to 63 rural health clinics. They’ll use it to combat misinformation and work on increasing vaccine confidence and outreach.

Up North News: Op-Ed: Rural Communities Need Support to Keep Wisconsin Strong

• Earlier this year, for instance, President Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a big boost to the rural economy and rural people. ARPA included funding for children that is expected to cut rural poverty by a third, direct cash to low-income and working-class people, funding to build local food processing and distribution infrastructure, additional support for Main Street businesses, and critical funding for county governments and townships.

Fairytales Republicans have created about the 2020 election are 100% fantasy, says Agard.

MADISON - Tuesday, Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) responded to the continued Republican attacks on our democracy after it announced that the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections would be continuing to investigate the 2020 elections.

“The longer Republicans perpetuate the Big Lie on the validity of the 2020 election, the more damage they will do to the long-term health of our democracy. There has never been a more vetted or scrutinized election in our country’s history than the 2020 election. After recounts and countless court cases, the results have been confirmed and confirmed again. President Joe Biden won Wisconsin and won the presidency, and it wasn’t particularly close.

“These fairytales Republicans have created about the 2020 election are 100% fantasy. And while these conspiracy theories are embarrassing for our state and those legislators that continue to perpetuate them, we must call them out because they are also dangerous to our democratic institutions. Our elections officials and local clerks perform admirable work every election, but especially in 2020 in the midst of a global pandemic.

“Remember, the Republicans that are calling into question the results from November were elected on the exact same ballots that they are challenging. That should tell you everything you need to know about how disingenuous these Republican investigations are. This is a cynical, bad faith, harmful, political action.”

Governor Evers continues to try to solve problems while GOP creates more.

MADISON - Tuesday, Governor Tony Evers called a special session of the legislature to address the shortcomings in education funding for the 2021-23 biennium. After addressing some budget shortcomings with $100 million of federal funds, Governor Evers proposed a bill to allocate over $500 million more to Wisconsin’s education system. Senator Melissa Agard released this statement:

“Time and time again, Governor Evers has put our kids first, while the GOP continues to do less for our schools. I couldn’t agree more with the governor when he says “What’s best for our kids is what’s best for our state.”

“The Republican budget short changed our kids and our schools - leaving them asking for more. After a year of challenges, we should be investing in our schools to ensure that no child slips through the cracks. Teachers, administrators, and staff have worked hard to make sure that students are still learning and are supported throughout this pandemic, it’s time we support them.

“Through this special session, thanks to Governor Evers using his partial veto authority, we have the opportunity to invest more than $500 million into our schools to increase per pupil spending, special education funds, and investments in our higher education system. It is truly disappointing that my Republican colleagues did not do this in their budget proposal, but we have the chance to right past wrongs today.

“We must do everything we can to support our kids and our schools if we want our economic recovery to continue. I am asking my Republican colleagues to do the right thing and show up for Wisconsin’s kids.”

MADISON, Wis. -- As the House begins its bipartisan investigation into the January 6th attack on our democracy, Derrick Van Orden still refuses to answer questions about his participation in the deadly insurrection. In response, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler issued the following statement:

“The January 6th insurrection was an attack on American democracy, and Derrick Van Orden still hasn’t answered for his presence on the Capitol grounds that day. Van Orden not only lied about his location on that tragic, lethal day, but he appears to have misused campaign funds to bankroll his trip to D.C. Wisconsinites deserve to know the truth. Derrick Van Orden is unfit to serve in Congress.”