“I solemnly swear (or affirm) that in all things appertaining to the trial of Donald J. Trump, now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help me God.” (From Senate Rules for Impeachment Trials - Rule XXV)

TUCSON, AZ - Our goal, as adults, should be to act in ways today which can ensure that, in the future, our children when adults will inherit a democratic republic form of government to use to face and solve the problems of their times.

For over 240 years adults before us have taken precautions to preserve our form of government for our use.

It is our duty to do the same for tomorrow’s adults.

House Judiciary Committee must now draft full AOI and submit for House vote!

House Speaker Pelosi made a grave mistake when over-ruling the sage advice from House Democrats to impeach Trump for a wide variety of “treason, bribery, high crimes and misdemeanors” reasons.  She chose just two charges.  The Senate “trial” proves that is a mistake.  The liars and cheats are in control.

Common Cause submitted 9 articles of impeachment (AOI) to the House.  Ralph Nader/Fisher/Fein and Constitutional scholars submitted 12 AOI.  Authors David Swanson, Jeff Cohen and Norman Solomon’s new book argues Trump Articles of Impeachment – 25 Grounds for Removal.  Others have outlined more.

House Judiciary Committee impeachment should re-commence and consider these AOI recommended by three groups.

Common Cause:

Abuse of Power (Ukraine)

Bribery (Ukraine)

Obstruction of Justice (Ukraine and Broader Impeachment Inquiry)

Campaign Finance Violations (Ukraine)

Obstruction of Justice (Russia investigation)

Abuse of Power (Russia Investigation)

Foreign and Domestic Emoluments

Abuse of Power (Failure to Adequately Safeguard U.S. Elections From Foreign Interference)

Campaign Finance Violations (“Hush” Payments)

Nader/Fisher/Fein:

Contempt Of Congress (Stonewalling Congress on documents and witnesses and other offenses)

Abuse Of The Powers Of The President And Abuse Of Public Trust (Chronic lying, fostering division, rancor, inciting violence, threatening civil war, failing “…to superintend or check the chronic lawlessness of his subordinates...”)

Appropriations Clause, Revenue Clause (Illegally “…raised tens of billions of dollars by unilaterally imposing tariffs …”)

Emoluments Clause (“…refused to place his assets in a blind trust…” and continues to enrich himself by operating enterprises while in office)

Treaty Clause (Unilaterally, thus illegally, terminated the INF nuclear treaty with Russia)

Declare War Clause (“…has initiated presidential wars in Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan…” and illegally threatened wars with “…North Korea, Iran and Venezuela…”)

Take Care Clause; Presentment Clause (Illegally revoking federal regulations, illegally legislating by executive order, issuing unconstitutional signing statements for Congressional laws he does not like)

Due Process Clause (Like previous administrations violating the Fifth Amendment by targeted killings depriving “…of life…without due process of law...” by acting “…as prosecutor, judge, jury, and executioner to kill American citizens or non-citizens alike, on or off a battlefield…”)

Appointments Clause (Avoiding the required Senate confirmations of agency secretaries by appointing acting secretaries)

Soliciting A Foreign Contribution For The 2020 Presidential Campaign And Bribery (Ukraine case)

Violating Citizen Privacy (Violating Fifth Amendment by electronically spying on Americans without proper warrant)

Suppression Of Free Speech (Violating First Amendment by “…stretching the Espionage Act to prosecute...” those “…exposing government lies… wrongdoing…”)

The Swanson book outlines additional AOI for consideration by the Judiciary Committee such as:

Interference With Voting Rights
Discrimination Based On Religion
Abuse of Pardon Power
Politicizing Prosecutions
Failure to Reasonably Prepare for or Respond to Hurricanes Harvey and Maria
Separating Children and Infants from Families
Tax Fraud and Public Misrepresentation
Assaulting Freedom of the Press
Supporting a Coup in Venezuela
Unconstitutional Declaration of Emergency
Instructing Border Patrol to Violate the Law
Declaration of Emergency Without Basis In Order to Violate the Will of Congress
Illegal Proliferation of Nuclear Technology
Refusal to Comply with Impeachment Inquiry

Above are 35 articles of impeachment and Trump’s crime spree grows by the day.

He must be impeached by the House then tried in the Senate on all these major AOI.

The American public deserves a fair, through and transparent trial.  The public now believes Mr. Trump should be removed from American politics via impeachment.  Millions of us believe he should then be prosecuted in federal court for his crimes with a jury that is NOT controlled by paid off, frightened, corrupt senators.

****

Buzz Davis, formerly of WI now of Tucson, is a former VISTA Volunteer, Army officer Vietnam Era, city and county elected official, union organizer and longtime progressive activist, member of Common Cause and Veterans for Peace and a retired state government planner.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/farm-family-s5.jpgWe need a meaningful and comprehensive approach to help our farmers and rural communities succeed.

MADISON - On Wednesday, January 22, Governor Tony Evers delivered his second State of the State Address. Green Bay's Senator Dave Hansen had the following comments in reply.

“Governor Evers focused on those things that will make our state stronger by investing in our rural economy and farm communities, helping lessen the burden on people being crushed by high-priced student loan debt, and by continuing to push for non-partisan redistricting, the first step ending the polarization and division in our state government.

“His call for an end to the Dark Store Loophole and a cap on the skyrocketing cost of insulin contrasts sharply with the Republicans’ lack of concern for, or the lack of understanding of, two of the more significant challenges facing families and seniors.”

State of the State Highlights Positive Democratic Vision, says Shilling.

MADISON, WI – Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) released the following statement in response to Gov. Evers’ State of the State address:

“It couldn’t be clearer that the public overwhelmingly supports Gov. Evers and Democratic solutions to propel our state forward. Democrats believe in prioritizing the people of Wisconsin and addressing the issues residents face every single day by lowering health care costs, strengthening clean water protections, and expanding economic security for families and seniors. Whether it’s accepting federal health dollars, closing the Dark Store Loophole, investing in local schools or legalizing medical marijuana, Wisconsin residents trust Democratic efforts to tackle the tough issues.

“I believe these goals are well within our reach, but time is of the essence. As legislators we cannot ask the people of Wisconsin to settle for any less than they deserve. The longer Republicans refuse to do their job, the longer these challenges facing our communities will persist.

“My Democratic colleagues and I remain committed to working with Gov. Evers to advance bold solutions and ensure Wisconsin is a place where the next generation wants to live, work, and raise a family.”

MADISON, WI – Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona) offered the Democratic weekly radio address regarding the need to close the Dark Store loophole.

“Imagine the lost revenue to municipalities and school districts if every large chain stops paying their share of property taxes. Individual homeowners would then pay more. When their property taxes go down, these big box stores do not lower their prices, they just earn more profit.” – Senator Mark Miller

The audio file of this week’s address can be found here.

A written transcript of the address is below: 

“Hello, this is Senator Mark Miller with the weekly Democratic Radio Address:

“Something is happening all across the state of Wisconsin that many people are still unaware of, but may dramatically raise your property taxes.

“I’m talking about the Dark Store Issue. A state Supreme Court decision in 2008 allowed large box stores and large chain stores, like Walgreens, to successfully challenge their property tax bills, by claiming that their stores should be assessed the same as similar, VACANT stores – or Dark Stores. Imagine the lost revenue to municipalities and school districts if every large chain stops paying their share of property taxes. Individual homeowners would then pay more. When their property taxes go down, these big box stores do not lower their prices, they just earn more profit.

“Fortunately, there is legislation to protect homeowners and small businesses from these huge property tax increases. Big Box stores should pay their property taxes, just like other property owners.

“Unfortunately, the powerful special interest lobbying group, the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) opposes protecting homeowners.  The Senate Republican Leadership is cow-towing to WMC and is blocking this bipartisan legislation that would protect property taxpayers. Unfortunately Republicans in the legislature repeatedly block every attempt to bring this important bill before the body.

“Tell your senator the Dark Store bills to protect homeowners must be scheduled for a vote now!”

Senator Erpenbach responds to Wednesday's State of the State Address.

MADISON - On Wednesday, January 22, Governor Tony Evers delivered his second State of the State Address. After a both successful and trying year in 2019, Governor Evers was able to deliver on promises and move the needle on many of the issues that Wisconsinites care about. From cutting taxes for middle-class families, investing in education, to making improvements to our infrastructure, Democrats were able to show up and accomplish many important things for our state.

Senator Jon Erpenbach released the following statement:

“While we made great strides this past year under Governor Evers’ leadership, there is still a lot more to do,” said Senator Erpenbach. “We are ready to reach across the aisle on vital issues, such as addressing homelessness, ensuring access to affordable health care, and making sure our economy works for everyone. Wisconsinites expect their representatives to show up for them, their families, and our communities. We are ready to get to work.”

Democrats are ready to get to work says Hintz.

MADISON – Assembly Democratic Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) released the following statement after Governor Tony Evers’ State of the State Address:

“Tonight, Governor Evers laid out a clear vision for Wisconsin’s future. He highlighted the opportunities we have as a state, and what we can accomplish in the remainder of the legislative session,” Rep. Hintz stated. “His agenda focuses on the issues that matter to Wisconsin families – health care costs, public education, and an economy that works for everyone. As the governor pointed out in his speech, these should be easy, bipartisan wins because they affect every legislative district in the state.”

“The people of Wisconsin deserve elected officials who will show up and get to work on their behalf. With two months left in the legislative session we have the time to accomplish so much for the people we serve.”

Governor Evers continued his call for the legislature to complete a list of priorities before the end of session including:

·         Closing the “Dark Store Loophole”

·         Capping the cost of insulin at $100 per month

·         Creating a non-partisan redistricting process

·         Strengthening clean water protections

·         Making higher education accessible

·         Legalizing medical marijuana

·         Tackling the student loan debt crisis

·         Investing in our rural communities

·         Addressing homelessness in Wisconsin

“We are at our best when we work together to get things done. It is my hope that we can take on these challenges in a bipartisan manner without being stopped by gatekeepers in Republican leadership who are more concerned with thwarting Governor Evers than creating opportunity across the state.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/women-3gen-s5.jpgTrump likes to talk like he supports women, but does he walk the talk? Here are nine ways he hurts them everyday.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/sexual-assault4-s5.jpgWhether or not we protect survivors of sexual assault should not be a decision left to one person.

Report on the impact of the Citizens United decision on politics in Wisconsin shows that independent expenditures have leaped five-fold.

MADISON - The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign just released a report on the impact of the Citizens United decision on politics in Wisconsin. It’s called “Citizens United in Wisconsin: A Decade of Disaster.”

The report shows that independent expenditures have leaped five-fold.

And in races for governor they’ve leaped 17-fold, and that doesn’t even include the Walker recall.

The tenth anniversary of the Citizen United decision is Tuesday, Jan. 21, and we’re having a press conference about it in the Assembly Parlor at 10:00 a.m. that day.

Speakers include:
Reps. Lisa Subeck, Melissa Sargent, and Chris Taylor, and Sens. Dave Hansen and Chris Larson. Also speaking is Matt Rothschild, the executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

“The Citizens United decision has made our politics more than ever the plaything of the super-rich and outside groups,” says Rothschild. “We need to amend the U.S. Constitution to proclaim, once and for all, that corporations aren’t persons and money isn’t speech so that we all can have an equal say in who gets elected and in what laws are passed.”

There will also be an “Unhappy Anniversary” event on Sunday, Jan. 26, at the James Reeb Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Madison from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. It is open to the public, and it is sponsored by Wisconsin United to Amend, the grassroots group that has helped pass referendums or resolutions in 146 communities around the state calling for this amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Speakers include U.S. Representative Mark Pocan, State Assembly Rep. Lisa Subeck, and Matt Rothschild.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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