http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/wisc-supremecourt-justices-s5.jpgGOP Extraordinary legislative session laws will remain in place with Thursday’s ruling.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/juneteenth-1900-s5.jpgJuneteenth Day, an important date of our country’s history recognizing the official end of slavery as June 19th, 1865, offers us an opportunity to reflect on our history, the progress made and the work that still must be done.

Ms. Hall has extensive experience and expertise in children’s mental health policy, as well as Medicaid and child welfare, and has worked to advance mental health policy priorities.

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers today announced his appointment of Linda A. Hall to serve as director of the Office of Children’s Mental Health.

Ms. Hall currently serves as executive director of the Wisconsin Association of Family & Children’s Agencies (WAFCA) where she works with human services leaders to support a vibrant human services sector focused on opportunities for all Wisconsin families to reach their full potential. Since 2006, Ms. Hall has led WAFCA’s mental health and child welfare best practice, policy, and legislative agendas. Ms. Hall has been actively engaged with the Office of Children’s Mental Health since 2014 and has served as a member of the Children’s Mental Health Collective Impact Executive Council that works to create an integrated system of care by convening stakeholders to design strategies to bring increased well-being to Wisconsin families. Ms. Hall has extensive experience and expertise in children’s mental health policy, as well as Medicaid and child welfare, and has worked to advance mental health policy priorities.

“Our children are our future, and it is essential that every child has access to the services and support that they need, particularly mental health,” said Gov. Evers. “That’s why it is critical for us to have an office that is dedicated to helping connect the dots related to children’s mental health to ensure that we are all working together to support Wisconsin’s children in achieving their optimal social and emotional well-being. I’m very proud and excited to announce that Linda Hall will be joining my team to serve in this vital leadership role to support the well-being of our families.”

“I am honored to be selected for this position and look forward to working with partners across the state to continue to strengthen children’s access to the supports they need for healthy minds and futures fill with promise," said Ms. Hall.

The Office of Children’s Mental Health was created in the 2013-2015 biennial budget to innovate, integrate, and improve Wisconsin’s child and family service systems so our children, youth, and families thrive. The Office of Children’s Mental Health works to:

• Improve children and families access to services, with a focus on resources provided by the Department of Health Services, Department of Children and Families, Department of Public Instruction, and Department of Corrections, in addition to other Wisconsin organizations;
• Facilitate communication with all child- and family-serving state agencies, coordinate initiatives, and monitor program performance focused on children’s mental health; and
• Support administrative efficiencies to reduce duplication among child- and family-serving state agencies.

Ms. Hall will begin as director of the Office of Children’s Mental Health on July 8, 2019.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/jailed-s5.jpg"People who have taken responsibility for their mistakes and who have worked to improve their lives and communities deserve a second chance,” says Evers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Justin Amash, the lone Republican in Congress to call for President Trump’s impeachment, says he has no desire to play “spoiler” if he launches a third-party bid against Trump in 2020.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. - It’s only June, but President Trump’s laser-like focus on immigration and desire for a border wall is making GOP lawmakers nervous that lagging talks on a budget deal could further bog down and lead to another government shutdown.

Trump is demanding $5 billion in border-wall funding as part of a deal that would put ceilings on federal spending and raise the debt ceiling.

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Constituents ask Speaker Vos to give permission for Republican Legislators to support Medicaid expansion.

BURLINGTON – Forward Wisconsin, a project of the Wisconsin Legislative Democrats aimed at lifting constituent voices supporting the Medicaid Expansion, held a Day of Action in Burlington at Wehmhoff Park Thursday evening. The event featured Representative Greta Neubauer (D-Racine), Representative Deb Kolste (D-Janesville), Representative Chris Sinicki (D-Milwaukee), Calena Roberts with SEIU, and Jody Spencer, a retired postal carrier.

Dozens of people attended the event, in which constituents signed permission slips to send to Speaker Robin Vos demanding that he give their legislators permission to vote in favor of the Medicaid expansion during state budget deliberations.

“Tonight, we heard from Wisconsin citizens who don’t feel represented by their elected officials. They feel silenced due to Republican leadership blocking Medicaid expansion at every turn. So we went to Speaker Robin Vos’ district to get some answers,” Rep. Neubauer said. “It’s clear that Republican Representatives and Senators need Speaker Vos’ permission to vote for Medicaid expansion, so we brought permission slips. Medicaid expansion is right for Wisconsin, and we won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”

Dozens of people lined up to get a form asking for permission from Vos on behalf of their Republican elected officials. Despite 70% public support for Medicaid expansion, Vos said he would accept this policy “over his dead body”.

“Speaker Vos has drawn a line in the sand rejecting Medicaid expansion, but the folks that came out tonight know that it’s not too late for him to do the right thing. We will not stop until the voices of the people are heard and these elected officials are held accountable for their failure to listen to the people who elect them.”

Under Governor Tony Evers’ proposed budget, completing the Medicaid expansion would provide affordable, accessible healthcare to an estimated 82,000 people in Wisconsin. It would save over $300 million, reduce private health insurance premiums by 7 to 19%, and the reinvestment of that money in evidence-based health programs would bring $1.6 billion in new federal dollars to Wisconsin and improve quality of care for all Wisconsinites.

https://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/family-worried-bills-s5.jpgRepublican budget proposal continues to delay road projects, increase health care costs and shift money away from our classrooms and higher education.

OSC calls her a “repeat offender” who has flouted the law barring federal employees from engaging in political activity in their official duties.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Trump said Friday he will not fire Kellyanne Conway as White House counselor for violating the Hatch Act, rebuking the recommendation of a top federal watchdog.

“No, I’m not going to fire her. I think she’s a terrific person,” Trump said during a call-in interview on “Fox & Friends.”

Read the developing report here

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ruled against the Trump administration’s policy of blocking undocumented pregnant teenagers in federal custody from obtaining abortions.

Read the developing report here