"Countless thousands of people have died from overdoses every year, not just from opioids, but from alcohol and other drugs," says Palzewicz. We must redesign the healthcare system to meet these challenges.

Brookfield, WI – The Covid-19 pandemic has been the center of attention in recent months, but opioid addiction continues to be an enormous public health crisis. It continues to ravage communities coast-to-coast. This is why Tom Palzewicz, running for the Fifth Congressional District seat in Washington, stands with Joe Biden and fellow Democrats in forming a plan to help addicts and families find hope in overcoming opioid and other drug and alcohol addictions.

"Countless thousands of people have died from overdoses every year, not just from opioids, but from alcohol and other drugs," said Palzewicz. "So many suffer because they cannot afford the treatment programs they need to manage their addiction. The first step is to create a system whereby people can access high-quality healthcare at an affordable price. The Affordable Care Act (ACA, 'Obamacare') designates substance abuse disorder and mental health services as essential benefits that insurers must cover by extending Medicaid."

"But the Republicans and President Trump want to repeal the ACA, and that effectively would put over 20 million people out of coverage. That is why Joe Biden needs to win this election, because his plan will ensure coverage for those who might otherwise perish."

Palzewicz is a strong proponent for universal healthcare, but the first step in making that a reality is to protect the ACA and build from that foundation. The basis of the Biden plan is:

• Hold accountable big pharmaceutical companies, executives, and others responsible for their role in triggering the opioid crisis.
• Make effective prevention, treatment, and recovery services available to all, including a $125 billion federal investment.
• Stop overprescribing while improving access to effective and needed pain management.
• Reform the criminal justice system, so the crime of drug use is no longer punishable with incarceration.
• Stem the flow of illicit drugs, like fentanyl and heroin, into the United States – especially from China and Mexico.

"Rome wasn't built in a day, and we all need to talk this through, so this isn't a Republican or Democratic problem, it is OUR problem," said Palzewicz. "I promise to listen to all sides of this issue. I will discuss this with Republicans, Independents, and all who come to the table to learn and take action. Together we can overcome this public health crisis."

"It is important that we remove the stigma from addiction," said Palzewicz. "Nobody sets out to be an addict/alcoholic. Some may abuse drugs and never become addicted, while others have one experience and are immediately hooked. Addiction steals a person's identity, and takes away their ability to make good choices. It's a difficult disease to treat, which is why the current healthcare system needs to be changed. Saving the ACA is of vital importance."

Palzewicz appreciates treatment centers' efforts, such as Rogers Memorial Hospital in Oconomowoc, that have made a positive difference in the lives of so many. But that is just the beginning, as all addict/alcoholics need access to treatment, whether inpatient or outpatient. We must redesign the healthcare system to meet the challenges of the future.

Facebook allowed conspiracy and militia groups to espouse violent rhetoric and organize violence that ended in tragedy in Kenosha, says 5th CD candidate.

Brookfield, WI – The Tom Palzewicz campaign for the Fifth Congressional District seat in Washington will no longer include advertising on Facebook and Instagram. They have cut all ad support on those platforms.

"Our decision is about ethics," said Palzewicz. "Facebook has been inconsistent or too late in their efforts to control extreme content and other practices that harm our social wellbeing. They haven't taken appropriate action amidst the civil unrest in Kenosha following the shooting of Jacob Blake." Facebook failed to remove "call to arms" posts by militia groups leading to violence erupting and the killing of two protesters by Kyle Rittenhouse.

"In addition, Facebook has a long-standing history with privacy issues. Privacy breaches are unethical and unacceptable, especially when they impact our democracy. As was the case in 2016 with Cambridge Analytica when they purchased Facebook data on tens of millions of Americans without their knowledge to build a 'psychological warfare tool,' which was unleashed on U.S. voters to help elect Donald Trump as president."

Facebook allowed conspiracy and militia groups to espouse violent rhetoric and organize violence that ended in tragedy in Kenosha. The seeming lack of professional standards and ethics is a major red flag for Palzewicz, a U.S. Navy veteran. "An absolute essential in a democratic society is a free and open press," Palzewicz explained. "But with freedom comes responsibility and we have social media platforms who fail to have the proper degree of journalistic integrity. Our campaign is about integrity and being transparent. We, therefore, will not advertise with any Mark Zuckerberg run company. We are pulling our advertising."

Palzewicz has long advocated for publicly-funded elections to overturn Citizens United and get big special-interest dollars out of any campaign. It's all about having a level playing field. "So much of political advertising and social media coverage is fraught with misinformation and is meant to be divisive. I believe we must demand better. Character and integrity count."

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/trump-guts-pusa-s5.pngAs the US death toll from the coronavirus pandemic climbs past 200,000, Donald Trump continues to push tax breaks for billionaires while stripping Americans of their health care.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/amandastuck_s5.jpg8th Congressional District Candidate hopes group will give a voice to the recovery community and a seat at the policy making table.

WISCONSIN -- The following is a statement from Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Courtney Beyer on today’s federal court ruling on the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and Democratic National Committee’s lawsuit regarding registration and ballot deadlines in November:

“We welcome the court’s decision to expand voting in Wisconsin so that more voters have the opportunity to register and have their voices heard in this election. We will continue to  ensure Wisconsinites have the information they need to successfully cast their ballot.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/vota-pusa-s5.png“Vote Blue” will run in English and Spanish on digital platforms in presidential and Senate battleground states and draws a direct connection between showing up to protest and showing up to vote.

Will Mike Pompeo defend Trump's chaotic trade wars that have crushed Wisconsin's manufacturers and farmers?

WISCONSIN -- Ahead of Mike Pompeo's visit to Wisconsin, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Philip Shulman released the following statement:

“What we won't hear from Mike Pompeo is the truth about the destruction caused by Donald Trump and his administration cozying up to China. Whether it was Trump's chaotic trade wars that crushed Wiconsin's manufacturers and farmers, or him taking the word of the Chinese government on the truth of COVID-19 over that of our own intelligence community, Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo have bent the knee to China at every turn. Wisconsinites are the ones paying the price for Trump’s deference to China, and we are going to hold the Trump administration accountable for their failures on November 3rd.”

Wisconsinites see through Pence’s thinly veiled visit for what it is: a desperate attempt to obscure the reality of an economy that isn’t working.

WISCONSIN -- Ahead of Mike Pence's visit to Wisconsin, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Philip Shulman released the following statement:

“The Trump-Pence administration has been a failure on every count for Wisconsin families. Even before Trump’s failed coronavirus response, Wisconsin was facing a manufacturing recession exacerbated by chaotic trade policies with China that did nothing but destroy valuable markets and create uncertainty for Wisconsin businesses. We know it didn’t have to be this bad, but now we face even bleaker economic prospects after Trump and Pence botched their response to the pandemic and left states to fend for ourselves. Wisconsinites see through Pence’s thinly veiled visit for what it is: a desperate attempt to obscure the reality of an economy that isn’t working for working people. Joe Biden has a plan to build back our economy stronger than ever, and we look forward to sending him and his steady leadership to Washington.”

Dave Armstrong, Republican Assembly candidate from Rice Lake, posted video featuring former KKK leader David Duke.

WISCONSIN -- Earlier this week, it was reported that Dave Armstrong, the Republican candidate for the 75th Assembly District, has shared a litany of disturbing and racist content on his personal social media accounts. One such video features former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke.

This report comes only one week after The Associated Press revealed Armstrong’s history of promoting baseless QAnon conspiracy theories on various social media platforms. Since the story was published, Armstrong has hidden his profile from public view, which contains years of obscene posts.

In response, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Courtney Beyer released the following statement regarding Armstrong’s racist social media posts:

“These revelations are completely disqualifying. Dave Armstrong and his racist ideology belong nowhere near the legislature, and the Republican Party of Wisconsin should immediately denounce his candidacy.”

Dave Armstrong For Assembly is chaired by Representative Romaine Quinn, and the campaign committee has received financial support from the Wisconsin Republican Assembly Campaign Committee.

KEY POINTS BELOW:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bice: Republican Assembly candidate posted video featuring former KKK leader David Duke

• People responded with shock and outrage when a white supremacist murdered nine Black individuals in a Charleston, South Carolina, church in June 2015. Some called for the Confederate flag to be taken down in public places while others brought up reparations for African Americans. David Armstrong would have none of it.
• Armstrong, a Republican running for the state Assembly, posted a series of highly questionable tweets in the weeks after the church shooting.
• On July 10, 2015, Armstrong tweeted out a video on "slavery's dirtiest secrets exposed" featuring former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. In it, Duke makes the dubious claim that Blacks are more likely than whites to have ancestors who owned slaves in antebellum America, thereby undercutting, he said, the argument for reparations and "discrimination against whites."
• Armstrong, who is running in a district that tilts Republican, ended his tweet on the video by asking, "Apologies are due to who by whom?"
• Around the same time, the Rice Lake business leader posted three tweets pushing back on efforts to remove the Confederate flag from public places. In one from July 25, 2015, he linked to a story on a congressional vote to ban the Confederate flag at federal cemeteries.
• "I'm shocked," said John Ellenson, a former University of Wisconsin-Madison basketball player running against Armstrong in the 75th Assembly District in November. "Wow."
• An official with the state Democratic Party condemned the tweets. "These revelations are completely disqualifying," said Courtney Beyer, spokeswoman for the Democrats. "Dave Armstrong and his racist ideology belong nowhere near the Legislature."
• "The first thing I would like to make abundantly clear is that I am not and never have been a supporter or believer in the KKK or David Duke," Armstrong said via email. "They are reprehensible and have no place in our society."
• He offered no apologies for his posts on the Confederate flag.
• Armstrong, executive director of the Barron County Economic Development Corp., was recruited to run by state Rep. Romaine Quinn (R-Barron), who is not running for re-election.
• Over the years, he has written critically of Muslims, former President Barack Obama and various Democrats.
• His David Duke post links to a video that is a hodgepodge of clips on the role of Blacks in the African slave trade and antebellum slavery. It ends with Duke suggesting that a high percentage of Blacks owned slaves in New Orleans, leading him to say that a Black person is "far more likely" to have a direct ancestor who owned Black slaves than is a white person.
• Ellenson said he believes his opponent is far too radical for their Assembly district.
• He said Armstrong's association with white supremacy makes the region appear a "regressive backwater," something that he said is not true.

Reports that he’ll announce Farm Aid just an attempt to buy farmers off and nothing more than an 11th hour campaign stunt.

WISCONSIN -- In response to Trump’s visit and report’s he’ll announce additional aid for farmers, Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden released the following statement:

“Donald Trump continues to think he can buy farmers off, but after devastating our industry -- including the loss of over 2255 dairy farms since Trump took office and a record 818 shutting down forever last year -- we know this is nothing more than an 11th hour campaign stunt; this is too little too late. Trump failed us when he engaged in meaningless trade wars; he abandoned us when he used “bailouts” to give handouts to big Ag who further gobbled up small and medium-sized family farms, he’s shown he’s in the pocket of Big Oil as he continues to undermine the Renewable Fuel Standard, and now he’s doubling down on what we’ve always known: we’re nothing more than a pawn to Trump. 

“Wisconsin farmers are vital to our state and national economy, and are also husbands and fathers, daughters and mothers. But Trump has treated us and thrown us away like we're nothing, and we deserve more from our president. Farmers don’t want handouts, we want sound, reliable markets that can provide for our families and won’t be devastated the way Trump eviscerated the markets that had been supporting Wisconsin families for decades.”

Additional Background

• Wisconsin farmers are facing a once-in-a-generation crisis: 2019 was one of the worst years in recent memory, with 818 dairy farms closing their doors as the state led the nation in farm bankruptcies.
• Donald Trump’s Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, blew off these closures when in Wisconsin last year, saying: “In America, the big get bigger and the small go out. I don’t think in America we, for any small business, we have a guaranteed income or guaranteed profitability.”
• The Trump Administration has not provided any assistance to biofuels producers during COVID-19 and is now considering a $300 million bailout of Big Oil through the Department of Agriculture. Once again, Donald Trump is siding with oil companies over farmers.