http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/coronavirus-ppe-tufts-04-s5.jpgIncludes more than 533,000 pieces of PPE distributed to school districts across Wisconsin this year.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/mitch-mcconnell-s5.jpgMost in Wisconsin support plan and climate provisions are essential as we move forward say group.

2.8% in December a 173-year low.

MADISON, Wis. — Thursday, Governor Tony Evers and the Department of Workforce Development announced that Wisconsin’s unemployment rate reached 2.8% in December — the lowest level in state history as the economy continues to grow under Gov. Evers’ common sense leadership.

In the state’s 173-year history, the unemployment rate has never been lower and Gov. Evers has been hard at work doing what’s right for Wisconsin by creating jobs, filling openings, investing in small businesses, and attracting cutting edge companies. During his first term, Gov. Evers has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in small businesses and workforce development programs that are powering the state’s economic growth and filling job openings across the state.

Gov. Evers’ Main Street Bounceback program has delivered grants to more than 2,000 small businesses and Gov. Evers’ workforce development programs, which total over $130 million, have created long-term skills training and job opportunities for workers in every corner of the state. There is still more work to be done, that’s why in December, Gov. Evers announced 12 regional workforce development projects that are designed to create local solutions for workers across the state. Wisconsin’s labor force participation rate was 66.4% in December, 4.5 percentage points higher than the national rate of 61.9%. 

Wisconsin is leading the way with one of the lowest unemployment rates and highest labor force participation rates in the nation — a stunning accomplishment that even the Republican National Committee has previously complimented Gov. Evers on.

See below for more on Wisconsin’s 173-year low unemployment rate. 

AP: Wisconsin unemployment hits record low of 2.8%

Wisconsin’s unemployment rate hit a record low of 2.8% in December, after tying the previous low of 3% in November, the state Department of Workforce Development reported Thursday.

The state rate is below the national unemployment rate of 3.9% for December. Wisconsin gained 5,300 private sector jobs in December. The number of people counted as unemployed in Wisconsin, 86,200, also hit a record low, the department reported.

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Gov. Tony Evers has also devoted federal pandemic relief money toward the worker shortage problem, including $130 million for job training programs and local efforts to develop long-term solutions to the labor shortage and $60 million for workforce development grants.

Without Roe v. Wade, Wisconsin would immediately ban all abortions, with no exceptions, under 173-Year-Old Abortion Ban.

MADISON, Wis. -- Thursday, Governor Tony Evers, AG Josh Kaul, and Legislative Democrats defended access to reproductive health care by introducing a bill to remove Wisconsin’s centuries-old abortion ban. Should Roe v. Wade be overturned, this archaic law in Wisconsin would immediately ban all abortions, with no exceptions.

Gov. Evers has always fought for access to health care, including reproductive rights. Last year, the governor vetoed a set of bills, passed by Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly, that would have jeopardized Wisconsinites’ access to reproductive health care. Those bills were a part of a national effort to ban abortion and interfere with a person’s ability to make their own health care decisions.

Attorney General Kaul has said his Department of Justice won’t prosecute or investigate any alleged violations of the abortion ban should Roe be overturned and strongly supports the legislation proposed today — underscoring the importance of re-electing a Democratic governor and attorney general in Wisconsin this year.

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

“We applaud Governor Evers and Attorney General Kaul for defending Wisconsinites’ freedom to make their own personal health care decisions. Abortion is health care, and everyone — regardless of race, income, insurance status, or zip code — deserves access to health care.

“Though abortion remains safe and legal in Wisconsin for now, this law shows just how tenuous access to this essential care is. Wisconsin has seen an onslaught in attempts to pass restrictive abortion laws in recent years. If Roe v. Wade is overturned — and if Wisconsin doesn’t have a Democratic governor and a Democratic AG to defend Wisconsinites’ freedom to make their own health care decisions — Republicans would be able to enforce this draconian law, pass even more extreme health care bans, and strip Wisconsinites’ access to reproductive health care. The stakes are high in 2022 — Governor Tony Evers is the last line of defense against Wisconsin Republicans’ attacks on reproductive health care.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/women-health-services1-s5.jpgDays before Roe v. Wade anniversary, leaders call for urgent action to protect access to abortion in light of pending U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Wisconsin now has one of the lowest unemployment rates in its history.

MADISON, Wis. — President Biden started his first day in office with a 6.4 percent unemployment rate and dismal job creation numbers left behind by his predecessor. Now, one year later, with President Biden at the helm, the economy has grown faster than it has in decades. Over 6.4 million jobs were added in the last year, unemployment claims are down to a level not seen since 1969, and the unemployment rate has plummeted to 3.9 percent — a number that wasn’t expected until 2026.

Thanks to President Biden and Governor Evers, Wisconsin now has one of the lowest unemployment rates in its history at 3% — that’s one of the lowest in the country — and one of the highest labor participation rates in the nation.

These jobs didn’t appear out of thin air — in Wisconsin, President Biden’s American Rescue Plan ensured that Governor Evers had the funds needed to lead the Badger State into a stronger economic recovery.

Here are some of the initiatives Governor Evers spearheaded thanks to President Biden’s American Rescue Plan:

• $200 million to help local governments recover from the COVID-19 pandemic
• $420 million in grants for an estimated 84,000 small businesses
• $140 million to help bolster businesses in Wisconsin’s tourism and entertainment industries
• $100 million to bring high-speed internet to Wisconsin families
• $130 million to find solutions to workforce challenges and help unemployed or underemployed workers find job opportunities

There’s still more work to do to make sure Wisconsinites stay competitive in the job market for the next year. Governor Evers and Democrats in Congress are committed to working with President Biden to deliver federal funding that will help Wisconsin build back better and invest in the communities that need it most.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/prairie-du-chien-s450.jpgGov. Tony Evers, WEDC Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes announce grant for Prairie du Chien, visit expanded dental clinic in Dodgeville

Putting assets in a blind trust solves conflict problems, says Senate candidate from Wisconsin. He has already committed to put his in and thinks all members should do the same.

Milwaukee - Wednesday, Wisconsin U.S. Senate candidate Alex Lasry called for every member of Congress and every Senate confirmed appointee to be required to either divest or put their assets in a blind trust.

“I agree with the proposals to ban individual stock trades by members of Congress, but I don’t think that they go far enough and leave glaring loopholes,” said Lasry. “For example, many mutual funds focus on specific sectors and subsectors of the economy that move the same way as individual stocks and that would effectively defeat the individual stock trading ban.”

Sens. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Jon Ossoff of Georgia recently introduced the Ban Congressional Stock Trading Act that would require Congress members, their spouses and dependent children to either divest or put their investments into a blind trust within 120 days of assuming office.

“Putting assets in a blind trust solves these problems because you have no ability to direct any trades,” continued Lasry. “I have already committed to putting all of my assets in a blind trust as a member of the Senate and I believe all members of Congress should be required to as well.”

The Democratic Primary Election for the United States Senate will be held Tuesday, August 9th, 2022. For more information about Alex Lasry’s campaign, visit www.alexlasry.com.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/high-speed-rail-fast-s450.jpgRepublican politicians cost Wisconsin millions of dollars in economic opportunities in 2010 when they derailed plan for high-speed passenger rail.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/kristin-lyerly-md-commitment-s5.jpgDr. Kristen Lyerly and local resident and parent Terry Lee featured speakers at Wednesday event.