Progressive Thinking

Senator Smith details the heroic efforts of everyday volunteers who make the work of county Aging, Disability and Resource Centers (ADRC) possible.

EAU CLAIRE - “Not all heroes wear capes” is an expression you hear frequently to describe everyday folks doing extraordinary things without asking for credit or even boasting about their good deeds. That could easily fit the description of Lyle Orsch.

Lyle is a young man I became aware of last week. In January, he was out delivering Meals-On-Wheels as he did regularly during his high school lunch hour for the Trempealeau County ADRC. He arrived at the home of a woman who had fallen 12-hours earlier and broken her hip. He stayed with her after calling 911 until help arrived. He stayed calm and handled the situation with ease while reassuring her everything would be okay. This simple act of service saved her life. He’s a hero in my book.

Last week I had the pleasure of sitting down with several directors of county Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRC) from our area for a long conversation that spanned a wide range of topics. We discussed the delicate balance of providing care for our ever-growing population of elders in need of assistance. I learned there’s a serious shortage of volunteers who are needed to do everything such as delivering meals, driving folks to medical appointments, house cleaning, providing respite for care-givers and even minor repairs in the home most of us take for granted.

It’s an understatement to say my eyes are wide-open on the issue of ensuring that much more is done in the coming legislative session to support the role that these vital organizations play in our communities.

What is clear to me is that the work being done by ADRC’s in every county of the state is essential to supporting aging adults and others in their homes. For several years my wife has been providing care for her parents and we became more aware of the services and support provided by the ADRC. We also learned what it means to be caregivers and to never be too proud to ask for help. That’s directed at both adults needing services and their caregivers.

The ADRC mission is to provide older adults and people with physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities with the resources needed to live with dignity and security. This helps individuals achieve maximum independence and ensure quality of life.

If you have questions about aging or living with a disability, your local ADRC can help. ADRC’s provide information on a variety of programs and services. That includes long-term care options, and they also help people apply for programs and benefits, including publicly funded long-term care.

Here are some of the resources ADRC’s can offer:

• Adaptive equipment and assistive technology
• Caregiver support
• Dementia care services
• Health, nutrition, and home-delivered meal programs
• Housekeeping and chore services
• Housing options
• In-home personal care and nursing
• Long-term care programs
• Safety updates to the home
• Transportation
• Wellness programs

While it is important to promote and thank the staff of these fine organizations, we must also keep in mind they are being asked to do a lot with very little money. Annual budgets for ADRC’s are simply not keeping up with the increased costs associated with operating these services. Keep in mind the aging population is only going to grow.

The ‘silver tsunami’ is here. More financial support is needed by the state and as your state senator, I will be the first to advocate for more money during the next budget, which starts in earnest this coming January.

In addition to more state funds, volunteers are critically needed to ensure the smooth operation of these services in every county. As I heard several times during our conversation, this kind of community service is incredibly meaningful and the need is great.

The regular contact volunteers like Lyle offer for these folks is in some cases the only regular contact they receive. How about you? Do you have a couple hours you could help drive someone to an appointment or deliver some meals? Give your county ADRC a call today to learn more about how you can help.

Senator Smith represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.

Senator Smith celebrates Pride Month recounting the events leading from the Stonewall uprising, and Wisconsin’s leadership as the first state to pass a non-discrimination law, to the continued struggle for equality today for our LGBTQ+ community.

EAU CLAIRE - Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Over the course of my life, I can look back and see how true that statement is. History shows us the very tangible progress we have made, even in recent years, but it’s important to remember that we didn’t come this far by chance alone.

During Pride Month, this June and beyond, we are reminded of the importance of standing together to support and uplift our LGBTQ+ community. This month is a time to honor the progress we’ve made, acknowledge the challenges that remain and commit ourselves to the ongoing fight for equality and inclusivity. For Wisconsin, Pride Month is not just a celebration, it’s a time to remember our shared values of diversity, acceptance and human dignity, especially in the face of the challenges we saw during the last legislative session.

When police raided the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village the night of June 28, 1969 and began hauling patrons out to paddy wagons, it sparked an uprising. Police were caught off-guard; they had not met so much resistance in the past. But these citizens who were only able to be open about who they were in places like the Stonewall Inn had enough. Protests and violent clashes lasted for 6 days. It was this tipping point that sparked a groundswell of activism in the gay rights movement across the nation and the world.

Wisconsin has its own proud history of LGBTQ+ activism. Eight years before Stonewall in 1961, a group of men was bent on harassing patrons of the Black Nite Bar in Milwaukee. They were met with resistance and successfully kicked out of the bar. This incident has since been dubbed the “Black Nite Brawl” and “Milwaukee’s Stonewall.”

While Stonewall has been celebrated since 1969 as a turning point, there is still so much more to do. It is often said that it is our differences that make us a great nation. Accepting that we are all individuals, with our own individual backgrounds and desires, we can embrace that variety and build a vibrant and welcoming society.

Wisconsin has been a leader in LGBTQ+ rights since 1982, when we became the first state to pass a law prohibiting employment or housing discrimination based on sexual orientation (although it’s important to note that Wisconsin still does not have a law preventing discrimination based on sexual identity). It would be nine years before any other state would pass such protections.  This groundbreaking legislation was a beacon of hope and a model for other states to follow. Yet, despite these strides, the LGBTQ+ community continues to face significant obstacles. From healthcare disparities to discrimination in various aspects of daily life like housing and employment.

One of the most pressing issues facing our LGBTQ+ community is the fight for comprehensive non-discrimination protections. There is still a need for robust legal safeguards that protect individuals based on gender identity and expression. Every Wisconsinite, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves to live free from discrimination. It is our responsibility as policymakers to ensure that these protections are enshrined in our laws.

Healthcare access is another critical area where we must focus our efforts. Studies have shown that LGBTQ+ individuals often face barriers to accessing quality healthcare, leading to disparities in physical and mental health outcomes. Transgender individuals, in particular, experience high rates of discrimination and inadequate care. By promoting inclusive healthcare policies and supporting providers who offer affirming care, we can help bridge these gaps and ensure that everyone in our community receives the care they deserve.

This Pride Month, I encourage everyone to join in the celebrations. Attend local Pride events, support LGBTQ+ businesses and engage in conversations about the importance of equality and inclusion. Let’s use this month as an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made and recommit ourselves to the work that still needs to be done, especially in the upcoming legislative session in January.

Senator Smith represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.

Sen. Smith and Rep. Emerson highlight the bi-partisan achievement last legislative session of funding a new Science and Health Sciences building for the UW-Eau Claire campus.

EAU CLAIRE, WI - Breaking ground for the new Science and Health Sciences building on the UW-Eau Claire campus is a big deal. It’s been a long haul, but we’re finally there. Planning for a new state-of-the-art facility has been in the works for at least a decade, and now it’s becoming a reality.

The need has been evident to anyone who walks through the current Phillips Science Building. Built over 60 years ago, it has far outlived its usefulness.

When it was built, the Phillips Science building met all the expectations of the times. So many students started their journey there, and it ultimately led them to great careers and discoveries. But current science applications have outgrown what the current building can support. Of course, that’s not to mention the maintenance needs of a 60 year old building.

As with any worthwhile endeavor, getting to this point in time has not been easy. UWEC officials have worked hard to convince many others that investing approximately $340 million into a science building in Eau Claire would be a smart investment.

Local officials needed to be on board, the UW System Board of Regents needed to support the idea and, finally, legislators and the governor had to agree to make its construction a spending priority. A lot of politicking goes into such a big project and all for good reason. If it makes it through such a vetting process and convinced that many people, it was worthy of approval. And this one sure is.

The funding approvals in 2019 and 2023 happened in the biennial state budgets. Early in both the 2019 and 2023 budget processes, we requested the Governor to include the science building project in his budgets. Thankfully, Governor Evers also recognized the importance and included the project in his budgets.

The hardest part was getting the project approved by the Republican-controlled legislature and Joint Finance Committee. There were hiccups along the way. For instance when Republicans blocked approval of the project on the building commission, but it eventually got done, despite political nonsense.

In the last four-years, Republicans and Democrats haven’t agreed on much, but we all agreed that the UWEC Science and Health Sciences building needed to get done. As rare as that is, both sides came together for this big investment in the Chippewa Valley for the course of 5 years.

The most unique and exciting aspect of this process was Mayo Clinic Health System’s $14 million investment in the project. This is the largest private donation to a UW-System academic building outside of Madison or Milwaukee in our state’s history.

Once completed the UWEC Science and Health Sciences building will be the largest in the Universities of Wisconsin. With Mayo as a partner, we expect big things to happen on Eau Claire’s campus.

The new Science and Health Sciences building will enable UWEC to build on their nationally recognized reputation for producing top-notch chemists and researchers. In the past decade, research experiences at UWEC have resulted in over 130 students appearing as co-authors on articles published in peer-reviewed journals, and a similar number presenting their research results at national scientific meetings. These high-impact outcomes help to explain why UWEC ranks in the 97^th percentile among its peer institutions as the baccalaureate origin of students who go on to earn a Ph.D. in chemistry.

Growing off past success demonstrates how well earned this project is. Our entire state will benefit from the research and the draw of talent that the new Science and Health Sciences building will attract to our community.

We haven’t even mentioned the immediate economic benefits to the Chippewa Valley with such an immense construction project. The professionals that will be employed throughout the construction phase is just a sweet bonus.

This is what can happen when we come to an agreement and choose to work together. Everyone benefits and not one person can take the credit. We look forward to more opportunities like this. After all, we all do better when we all do better.

Senator Smith represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.

Representative Jodi Emerson represents District 91 including eastern Eau Clare and rural areas to the east.

Senator Smith celebrates June Dairy Month by inviting readers to plan a trip to one of the many County Dairy Breakfast events happening across Wisconsin, all in the month of June.

EAU CLAIRE, WI - June is my favorite time of the year for many reasons. The weather is absolutely beautiful, school is out and people are generally in a great mood during my Stop N’ Talk events. But most of all, I love spending time meeting people and getting to know the farmers who host our County Dairy Breakfast events.

For over 50 years, dairy breakfast events have been an iconic staple of our great Wisconsin summers. They are a great time to visit a family-owned farm, eat some amazing, locally grown food and make some memories with your family. It’s also a great time to celebrate all that our dairy industry does for each of us in the state.

Wisconsin has celebrated June Dairy Month with dairy breakfasts in nearly every county. Each year a different farm will host a dairy breakfast in their county, making it even more fun and interesting. Anyone can attend, and they do by the thousands. You’ll find hundreds of people in line for delicious pancakes, waffles, milk, cheese curds and ice cream served by the host family and volunteers from the area.

While our state is a national leader in cranberry and potato production, dairy is still king in Wisconsin. Despite the loss of many farms in our state, we’ve still held on to the title of America’s Dairyland – and for good reason.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)*, we have 1.28 million cows and almost 5,500 dairy farms in Wisconsin, which is more than any other state. Dairy alone accounts for $45.6 billion to our economy in Wisconsin. If these numbers didn’t convince you, the fact that Packer fans wear foam cheesehead hats to games is evidence enough that we take our title of America’s Dairyland very seriously.

Year after year, Wisconsin cheesemakers prove their products are incomparable. From Colby to aged Sharp Cheddar; from Gouda to Asiago; from string cheese to cheese curds, we’re spoiled here with the best tasting cheeses in the world. With over 1,200 licensed cheesemakers producing over 600 types of cheeses, we have almost twice as many cheese choices than any other state. Our cheesemakers produce 25% of the cheese consumed in America, which amounted to 3.51 billion pounds in 2023, including a whopping 942 million pounds of specialty cheeses.

Dairy breakfasts are more than just about the food, though. It’s about learning where our milk comes from. As visitors meander around the grounds, they’re able to take hay rides, examine the latest equipment and even watch demonstrations. Of course, the animals are often the main attraction for young kids.

Dairy breakfasts have proven to be extremely successful over the years. Host families put in a lot of work to make it a memorable experience for every visitor. Show your appreciation for our farmers and members of Wisconsin’s agricultural industry by visiting a dairy breakfast this June. Find your nearest dairy breakfast at WisconsinDairy.org and bring the family out this month to enjoy some live music, farm activities and the best breakfast you could ask for.

So, what are you waiting for? Go to www.wisconsindairy.org and plan on attending one (or all) of these Dairy Breakfast events in our area:

·         Chippewa County Dairy Breakfast: June 5 @ Riverview Park

·         Pepin County Town and Country Dairy Breakfast: June 8 @ Koller Farm

·         Eau Claire County Dairy Breakfast: June 15 @ Bischoff Farms

·         Pierce County Dairy Breakfast: June 15 @ Randy and Lori Larson’s Farm

·         Buffalo County Dairy Breakfast: June 22 @ Mar-Bec Dairy

·         Trempealeau County Dairy Breakfast: June 22 @ Bert-Mar Farms

·         Dunn County Dairy Breakfast: June 29 @ Gilbertson Farms

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Senator Smith represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.

Sen. Smith sets the record straight on misinformation floating around about why Republicans on Joint Finance continue to stall the release of $15 million in already-approved money to address the health care crisis facing the Chippewa Valley.

EAU CLAIRE, WI - Social media can be a useful tool. We can easily share pictures and stories with friends and family. It can be used for business applications from marketing to educating the public. And there is no doubt that we can search for answers to problems and questions we may have.

But social media can also be a tool to deceive or confuse followers. By now most of us know to be leery of what we see on Facebook, Instagram and other media. It can be bothersome, but it is always best to question what someone may claim in a post, especially if it seems too good to be true or too horrible to believe.

That’s why I do what I can to provide background that readers can search for themselves so they know where I get my information from and I didn’t just make it up.

The shocking hospital closures we have seen here in western Wisconsin seemed to open the door of opportunity to false information and rumors. Not unusual when we are desperate for answers; especially when your health is at stake.

I’ve seen and heard comments regarding the actions taken in the Capitol on the hospital closures that are simply ludicrous and harmful. When we should be joined together in solving this problem, it has become another opportunity for some to make it political.

I don’t want to accuse my own colleagues on the other side of the aisle of purposely spreading falsities. I’d rather believe that it’s ignorance or a simple misunderstanding.

There were two bills introduced by Republicans – Senate Bill 1014 (SB 1014) which restricted funding for the closure crisis. Senate Bill 1015 (SB 1015) transferred $15 million to the Joint Finance Committee to release to area health care providers. The Governor vetoed SB 1014 so we won’t be restricted for responding to the crisis. He also partially vetoed SB 1015 and signed the $15 million into law. The funding is currently awaiting release from the Joint Finance Committee. Republicans control the Joint Finance Committee with 12 members while Democrats have 4.

I’ve heard outrageous claims that the Joint Finance Committee cannot release funding because of the Governor’s vetoes. That’s flat-out false. The Joint Finance Committee has released money countless times after Governors partially veto bills. The $15 million was passed into law.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has already requested the funds and the Joint Finance Committee is refusing to act. Instead, they offer excuses and try to blame the Governor.

Instead of restricting the funds for only emergency room construction, the Governor’s veto allows area health care providers to use the funding for all of the following:

a. Increase Emergency Department Capacity/Service

b. Expand Urgent Care Services

c. Expand Inpatient Psychiatric Unit

d. Expand Inpatient OB/GYN Services

e. Expand Mental Health and/or Substance Use Services

f. Expand or Establish Hospital-Owned and Operated Ambulance Service

Republicans know they are wrong and they don’t want to hear the truth. Instead of releasing the money from the Joint Finance Committee like they’ve always done, they manufactured their excuse and are doubling down on restricting the money for this crisis. All of this after Gov. Evers called for them to meet twice to no avail.

They know they are wrong and it couldn’t be more evident than how they acted on the Senate floor last week. When I attempted to speak on their misguided attempt to override the Governor’s veto, I was ignored and Republicans immediately voted despite numerous objections. This is yet another example of Republican refusing to acknowledge the truth.

Now, Republicans have chosen to ignore the desperation felt over the closures, and they've chosen to weaponize this for their campaigns. As Senator Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) said last week, this is, “the last gasp of a gerrymandered majority.”

We will need to wait until after the election for the legislature to do the right thing. New, more competitive maps will produce a legislature that will listen. In the meantime, Republicans are leaving the rest of us in the Chippewa Valley to fend for ourselves.

Senator Smith represents District 31 in the Wisconsin State Senate. The 31st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.