The laughable $7 million WEDC ad campaign recruiting white millennials in Chicago, Trump administration’s decision on Medicaid work requirements, GOP House resignations increasing the odds of a Democratic sweep in 2018, and more...

STATEWIDE - We discuss the Trump administration’s decision to legalize the imposition of  Medicaid work requirements designed to force people off health coverage. We look closer at the historic number of GOP House resignations that are increasing the odds of a Democratic sweep in 2018. The panel analyses the state of Wisconsin’s gubernatorial election with this week’s addition of Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, and Walker's curiously overwrought reaction. We dissect the laughable $7 million WEDC ad campaign recruiting white millennials in Chicago with idyllic images of Madison and Milwaukee. Ironically in the same week Walker blasted Madison as crime ridden socialist wasteland.

LISTEN NOW - EPISODE #326
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Citizen Action Press Clips

A 2017 National Movers Study showed more people moved out of Wisconsin than into it last year. Wisconsin was one of the top 10 states in the Nation for people moving out and 60% of those moves were for jobs.

MADISON, WI – Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona) offered the weekly Democratic radio address today.

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

http://media2.legis.wisconsin.gov/multimedia/Sen16/millerradio011118.mp3

A written transcript of the address is below:

“Hello, this is Senator Mark Miller with this week’s democratic radio address.

“Despite Governor Walker’s statements to the contrary, Wisconsin is clearly not open for business. According to a 2017 National Movers Study by United Van Lines, more people moved out of Wisconsin than into it in the last year. The study shows that Wisconsin was one of the top 10 states in the Nation for people moving out and 60% of those moves were for jobs.

“With crumbling roads and aging water systems, a willingness to throw $3 billion in taxpayer money away to a Chinese manufacturer and the administration’s continued disdain for public education at all levels, there is little wonder why people don’t feel optimistic about the state of the state.

“This is not the Wisconsin we hoped for, this is not the Wisconsin we deserve. State economies rise and fall with the national economy. The critical measure is how a state compares to the rest of the country. By that measure, Walker has moved Wisconsin backwards. In the last 7 years there have been huge cuts in funding crucial services, more and more put on the credit card to balance the budget, giant tax breaks given to the wealthy and now a proposal to spend $7 million to beg people to come back to Wisconsin, something has got to give.

“Perhaps Governor Walker’s New Year’s Resolution should be fixing problems instead of creating new ones. I don’t think he wants to be known as Governor Pothole, but until the roads become a priority over wooing Chinese billionaires, resident’s cars will need to be realigned each year before moving out of state.”

Gov. Walker introduces proposal to fund program he vetoed four months ago.

MADISON, WI – After vetoing additional funding for low-spending school districts just four months ago, Gov. Walker announced today that if re-elected, he will propose doing exactly that. Despite school districts struggling with tight budgets, teacher shortages and growing classroom sizes for years, Gov. Walker and Republican lawmakers instead prioritized the largest state taxpayer giveaway to a foreign corporation in U.S history.

“Republicans must think taxpayers have a short memory when it comes to their actual priorities. This is another hollow campaign gimmick from Gov. Walker to further his own political ambitions at the expense of local schools,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse). “If Gov. Walker and Legislative Republicans were serious about funding our local schools, they wouldn’t have scrapped this plan in the 2017-19 budget. Instead, Republicans prioritized the largest taxpayer handout to a foreign corporation in U.S. history and are now in damage control mode as Election Day looms. School districts are still struggling from years of historic cuts and can’t wait until 2022 for the possibility of funding relief.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/veterans_army_medic-s5.jpgIn Wisconsin we say we value military service and our veterans, but some of our financially failing services will not survive unless we make smart decisions.

MADISON, WI - Representative Jonathan Brostoff (D - Milwaukee) provides this today's Democratic Weekly Radio Address.

Audio File of Radio Address

Hi, I’m State Representative Jonathan Brostoff and welcome to this week’s Democratic Radio Address.

2017 was a hard year for Wisconsin and for the nation.

At moments it felt like our country was being torn apart and as we reflect on 2017 and look forward to the year ahead, it is important to recognize the unique nature of this point in time.

So I started my morning playing basketball at the Y as I usually do and it got me actually thinking on 2017 and reflecting a little bit.

When you are working out, think about what you are actually doing. You are tearing your muscles and in that moment it looks so painful and it feels terrible, but we know when those muscles are done tearing, they are going to actually rebuild and repair themselves and actually come out stronger than they were before.

Now think about a particularly painful moment during this last year, a tweet, a hurtful comment, or a terrible rant, and in that moment it felt like we were being torn apart.

But we survived 2017 and 2018 will be a year of rebuilding.

A year of more civic engagement, more activism, more advocacy.

A year where we will come back together stronger and after the year of 2017 and the divisions we experienced, that’s what we need.

We need to be investing in our public schools, creating a living wage in Wisconsin, making healthcare a right for everyone.

2017 was hard. We survived it and we are going to be stronger for it. Together we can make 2018 a much more successful year. We can get those things done. Let’s do it.

Happy New Year. Let’s get to work.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/kewaunee-harbor-family-s5.jpgWisconsin families are working harder than ever but can’t seem to get ahead, while Gov. Walker and legislative Republicans are draining resources from our schools, roads and local communities to fund the huge taxpayer giveaway to Foxconn. We need to work together to move ahead.

MADISON, WI – Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) offered the Democratic weekly radio address highlighting Democratic solutions to help Wisconsin families.

“Rather than pitting families against one another and favoring out-of-state corporations at the expense of home-grown businesses, we should work to level the playing field and make sure that everyone who works hard has the opportunity to succeed. That’s why Democrats are fighting for commonsense solutions to lower student loan debt, expand access to child care, raise family wages and increase retirement security.” – Sen. Jennifer Shilling

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

http://media2.legis.wisconsin.gov/multimedia/Sen32/senatorshillingradio122817.mp3

A written transcript of the address is below:

“Amid all of the upheaval in 2017, the holidays offer a time to reflect, regroup and refocus our attention on the year ahead.

“I’m Senate Democratic Leader Jennifer Shilling, and when I look back at the political battles that have been waged in 2017, I’m reminded that our state does better when we all work together. Rather than pitting families against one another and favoring out-of-state corporations at the expense of home-grown businesses, we should work to level the playing field and make sure that everyone who works hard has the opportunity to succeed.

“That’s why Democrats are fighting for commonsense solutions to lower student loan debt, expand access to child care, raise family wages and increase retirement security. Now more than ever, we need solutions that bring our state together, grow our middle class and support strong communities.

“From myself and all of the Wisconsin Democrats, we want to wish you and your family a safe and happy New Year!”

Welcomes Seemeyer’s request for extension of Wisconsin’s very popular SeniorCare program. Looks Forward to 2018.

MADISON – State Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) today welcomed the recent news that Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Linda Seemeyer, has requested an extension of Wisconsin’s very popular SeniorCare program.

“I welcome Secretary Seemeyer’s letter to the federal Department of Health and Human Services requesting an extension of Wisconsin’s SeniorCare program.”

“This is a very welcomed Christmas present to many: After 11 months of several press releases, letters, phone calls and introducing legislation to respectfully request a Federal Medicare Part D extension waiver of SeniorCare past 2018, I received news within the past week that the state Department of Health Services Secretary has officially requested an extension of SeniorCare.”

“This is very important news to the tens of thousands of Wisconsin seniors that depend on SeniorCare to get the affordable prescription drugs they need to keep them healthier, happier and independent.”

“I want to thank Secretary of Health Services Seemeyer for her support in protecting SeniorCare. Even while being in the minority party, it’s a great feeling to actually accomplish something that will help some of the most vulnerable members of our society!”

“I look forward to finding even more common ground upon which to do the people’s business. This is a great start. Thank you Secretary Seemeyer. Now we need your assistance, Governor Walker. We are all in this.”

“Happy holidays to everyone.”

The destructive GOP effort to expand Foxconn’s wetlands exemptions statewide, our 12th annual Health Insurance Cost Ranking Report, and the MacIver Institute’s laughable list of the top ten lies of 2017

STATEWIDE - After reviewing the draconian implications of the GOP tax scam bill that was forced through Congress this week, we welcome State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff to educate us on the GOP effort to expand Foxconn’s wetlands exemptions statewide, putting one million acres of wetlands at risk. Republicans are looking to ram the wetlands destruction bill quickly through the Legislature.

Robert also tells us about Citizen Action’s 12th annual Health Insurance Cost Ranking Report which examines the cost of healthcare in different parts of the state. The report reveals the damage GOP sabotage of the ACA is causing and why BadgerCare Public Option legislation is so important.

We also discuss MacIver Institute’s laughable list of the top ten lies of 2017 that includes Citizen Action for supporting BadgerCare for all. Happy holiday to all our listeners. See you in 2018!

LISTEN NOW - EPISODE 324
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MADISON - Rep. Gary Hebl (D - Sun Prairie) gives this week’s Democratic Radio Address.

Audio of Radio Address

The text of the address is presented below.

Hello. This is State Representative Gary Hebl with this week’s Democratic Radio Address.

The holidays are a time to come together with family and friends to enjoy good food and good conversation. Those conversations can provide an opportunity to discuss the issues that matter most to you.

For Wisconsin Democrats, those issues include access to quality, affordable health care, supporting public K-12 education, affordable higher education, creating family supporting jobs, and ensuring a clean and healthy environment for future generations to come.

The holidays are also a time to reflect on the year that’s passed and to look forward to the New Year.

More than any other year, 2017 has taught us the power of civic engagement, from the Women’s March in January to sweeping progressive victories in Virginia, New Jersey, and Alabama in recent months.

This resurgent civic engagement brings with it hope for 2018. Democrats are looking forward to next year because we are eager to get back to the issues that are important to you, the residents of Wisconsin.

Democrats in Wisconsin have not forgotten that we were elected to be your voice in the Capitol.

That is why I encourage you, now more than ever, to contact your elected officials and share your thoughts on how to move Wisconsin forward. Whether it’s by calling local school board members or contacting your state representative or senator, we want to know which issues are important to you.

I would like to thank everyone that has taken time to make sure their voices were heard over the last year, and I want to wish everyone happy holidays and a wonderful New Year.