The April 7th election should be postponed, say Shilling and Hintz. We are living in an unprecedented time. Republican inaction will disenfranchise thousands.

MADISON – Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) and Assembly Democratic Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) released the following statement regarding the importance of election safety and public health.

“The April 7th election should be postponed by any means necessary. Having tens of thousands of people gathered at polling places around the state on Tuesday will result in the further spreading of the COVID-19 virus. This will increase the burden on our health care system and ultimately cost more lives. Postponing this election and moving toward mail-only ballots is the only way to ensure Wisconsinites remain safe. We need to act now. Forcing people to choose between their health and their right to vote is not an acceptable path forward. History will not judge those who allowed this to happen kindly.

“With state and federal guidelines, as well as countless public health officials, encouraging people to stay in their homes and avoid large gatherings to limit transmissions of the virus, postponing this election is the moral decision our state must make. With experts now stating that its possible COVID-19 can spread by droplets produced by talking or even breathing, the importance of stopping mass gatherings really is a matter of life and death.

“Every state with an April or May election has postponed it, and Wisconsin should follow suit before we walk into this public health disaster. We are living in an unprecedented time. Republican inaction will disenfranchise thousands of Wisconsin voters and worse, jeopardize public health.”

Political group takes a look at what folks across Wisconsin are saying about Trump’s failed leadership in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.

MADISON - The number of Wisconsinites who’ve died from COVID-19 is nearing 40, the number of unemployment claims in Wisconsin is skyrocketing, and nonfarm jobs contracted by 701,000 nationally this month — the largest decline since 2009.

And many who recently lost their jobs will soon be without health insurance. As the pandemic rages on, Trump is turning his back on Wisconsinites by refusing to allow people to find insurance on the ACA marketplace.

It didn’t have to be this way.

Trump’s failure to take action early on has undoubtedly put our lives at risk. Just on Sunday, Trump claimed that the U.S. is doing more testing for coronavirus than any other country in the world. He has also claimed that “anybody that wants a test can get a test.” But proportionate to our population, that is simply not true. Meanwhile, many Wisconsin residents, including health care workers working on the frontlines, say they “have not been able to get tested despite having concerning symptoms — fever, coughing and sometimes shortness of breath.”

Wisconsinites are taking notice of Trump’s failed leadership, and are putting more of their trust in Governor Evers rather than the president, following a trend amongst battleground states. Voters’ approval of Evers’s handling of coronavirus is more than 20 points higher than Trump’s.

Take a look at what folks across Wisconsin are saying about Trump’s failed leadership in the face of the coronavirus pandemic:

• Wisconsin State Journal (March 25, 2020): Trump's inaction is leading to deaths -- Amanda Kemnitz
  
  “By the time flights were halted, the virus was already in our country. And due to the aggressive nature of its transmission, it had already spread. In the meantime, as recently as a Feb. 28 rally, President Donald Trump was calling criticism of his handling of the coronavirus a "hoax." This, as well as the lack of preparedness of the U.S. government, has clearly caused more deaths with many more to come.”

• Wisconsin State Journal (March 23, 2020): Trump's response has been a disaster -- David F. Olson
  
  “Surely his [President Trump’s] policies and decisions have had a negative influence during the COVID-19 pandemic. As soon as he took control of this country, President Trump abolished a program designed by the Obama administration to mitigate an epidemic. A few weeks ago, he blamed the Centers for Disease Control for the situation we are in today.”

• La Crosse Tribune (March 18, 2020): Steven Manson: Trump has botched virus response
  
  “Trump's leadership style of intimidation and misinformation may work with humans, but not against germs. Lesson learned - don't believe what he says.”

• Wisconsin State Journal (March 31, 2020): Trump's follies mislead our nation -- Jerome Jones
  
  “President Donald Trump's daily presentations on COVID-19 seem knowingly at odds with the truth of what's happening all around the country. Like Saigon's follies, President Trump's follies are dangerous and have and will cause Americans needless suffering and pain.”

• The County Line (March 11, 2020): Coronavirus is not Democrats’ ‘new hoax’ -- Lee D. Van Landuyt
  
  “This is just the beginning of this serious pandemic. Our president and all other world leaders have been aware of this for three months. Other leaders have taken action, but our administration has done precious little to plan and mobilize for this new pandemic, knowing the risks it posed to American citizens, especially our most vulnerable.”

• WisPolitics (March 30, 2020): Bill Kaplan: Trump downplays coronavirus in Midwest
  
  “Trump said: “Those (California and New York) are really two hotbeds. …(Y)ou go out to the Midwest … and they’re watching it on television but they don’t have the same problems.” Facts: there are many thousands of coronavirus cases and a rising death toll in the Midwest. Wisconsin cases doubled in a week to over 1,000.”

If you’re looking to talk to folks about their thoughts on Trump’s handling of COVID-19, please reach out so I can connect you. In the meantime, thank you again for your hard work, and stay healthy.

https://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/voterid_hand-s5.jpgCourt order extends time to request an absentee ballot through Friday, April 3 and relaxes witness certification requirement. Absentee ballots now must returned by April 13 at 4:00 PM.

Assembly Leader praises Jennifer Shilling on the great job she has done in Madison over the past 20 years and for her sense of humor and friendship.

MADISON – Assembly Democratic Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) released the following statement on the decision by Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) to not seek re-election in the 32nd Senate District. Senator Shilling has served in the State Legislature since 2000.

“Senator Shilling has been a true public servant to her constituents over the past 20 years, advocating on behalf of the priorities important to people in Western Wisconsin while championing the values of opportunity and fairness. She has done it all in her time in office, including serving on Joint Finance and as Senate Democratic leader, where she has been an effective voice on behalf of working families throughout all of Wisconsin.”

“I appreciate that Jen has not let the job change who she is as a person. She has always prioritized family and being a member of her community that people can relate to. It has been a please to serve as leader alongside of her over the past two and a half years and in the legislature over the past thirteen. I value her sense of humor and friendship and wish her all the best in the future.”

Senator Shilling was first elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 2000. During her time in the legislature she has served as a ranking member on the powerful Joint Committee on Finance. In 2015, Senator Shilling was elected by her colleagues to serve as the Senate Democratic Leader. She was re-elected to this position in 2017 and 2019. Shilling has been a tireless advocate for her La Crosse community and the entire 32nd Senate District throughout her distinguished career of public service.

After 20 years of service, Democratic Leader looks to chart a new course.

Washington, DC—In response to America First Action announcing a $10 million ad buy, Priorities USA Action is expanding its original $6.6 million television and digital ad buy holding Donald Trump accountable for his failed response to the coronavirus pandemic and beginning to air “Better Prepared,” a spot contrasting the chaotic failed leadership of Donald Trump with the strong, steady leadership of Vice President Joe Biden. The spot will run alongside “One Week Later,” which uses Trump’s own words to show how he downplayed the crisis even as the number of infections grew exponentially. The Trump campaign has tried and failed to block TV stations from running the first two coronavirus ads that Priorities USA Action has run.

As an initial step, Priorities is adding an additional $1 million of ad time and extending by a week in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Priorities is also adding more digital ad time across these battleground states and Florida. Priorities is already running a contrast spot, “Steady Leadership,” online.

“Trump is failing the country as a leader during the biggest crisis of our lives. It has always been inevitable that the Trump team would attempt to cover up his dangerous incompetence by attacking Joe Biden,” said Guy Cecil, Chairman of Priorities USA. “With Donald Trump’s super PAC stepping into this race, we will not let Vice President Biden go undefended. We will do whatever we can to both hold Trump accountable during this time of crisis and help Joe Biden get elected in November.”

Arizona ad features the latest figures on the exploding number of cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States that Trump continues to downplay.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/voters_line_s5.jpgLeague of Women Voters Wisconsin, community organizers, labor say it may be too late to print and mail 3.3 million absentee ballots, unregistered but eligible voters may be omitted.

Wants legislators to work together to protect voters, poll workers, clerks and local leaders around State during this global pandemic.

MADISON – Assembly Democratic Leader Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) released the following statement in support of Governor Evers’ call to increase election access and safety by sending every registered voter in Wisconsin an absentee ballot.

“Every decision and non-decision made during this global pandemic has consequences. It is important that lawmakers do everything possible to best preserve the foundations of who we are and what we must maintain to move forward and continue during this crisis.

“Our democracy is built on equal access to the ballot box. During this public health crisis, too many Wisconsinites will be faced with the impossible choice between their health and their constitutionally protected right to vote. Poll workers, clerks and local leaders around are looking for answers from state government on how to hold the upcoming elections in a safe, fair manner. While delaying the election until the state can move to mail only balloting would be my preference, I understand that even that action has consequences and lacks the immediate support necessary to happen in time for the April 7 election.

“I’m appreciative that Governor Evers is proposing solutions to ensure that as many people as possible can safely vote in our elections on April 7th. We now need Republican leadership to step up and recognize that acting to best protect our democracy and keep people safe is both necessary and possible.”

Madison area Senator wants solutions that will make it easier to limit in-person contact at spring election.

West Point – Senator Jon Erpenbach released the following statement regarding the April Spring Election:

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 public health crisis, I have heard from poll workers, clerks and local leaders from around my district who are looking for ways to make it as safe as possible for voters to exercise their right to vote. Unfortunately, many of these changes require the Legislature to take action to adjust current statute and cannot be done by Executive Order. Therefore, I am calling on the Republican Majority Leaders to work with Democrats and those tasked with running our elections to find solutions that will make it easier to limit in-person contact and provide the flexibility needed to make that happen as soon as possible. The April 7 election is just around the corner and we need action now.”