DNR held a public hearing to hear feedback regarding PFAS standards in ground and surface water.

MADISON - Today, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources held a public hearing to receive feedback on their administrative rules to limit PFAS in ground and surface water.

Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“Water is life. Access to clean water is a human right, and in Wisconsin it is imperative that we have leadership that prioritizes this necessity for communities across Wisconsin. I am grateful that Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin of Department Natural Resources are doing exactly that.

“Across our state, PFAS are polluting wells and other water sources, posing huge concerns for public health and the health of our wildlife and natural spaces. PFAS contamination is a public health crisis. No one should ever be without access to clean, drinkable, and usable water. We must take PFAs seriously and act aggressively to mitigate the damaging effect of PFAs, but also protect our uncontaminated water sources.

“Wisconsin should be the gold standard for water quality. This is an important first step to getting there.”

Sen. Smith writes about the open enrollment period happening now for health insurance. It’s easy, safe and affordable for families looking for health insurance through the federal marketplace.

State Trooper lost his life after contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty.

MADISON — Gov. Evers today signed Executive Order #143 ordering the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin to be flown at half-staff tomorrow, Tues., Nov. 30, 2021, as a mark of respect for Wisconsin State Patrol Master Trooper Daniel Stainbrook, who lost his life in the line of duty due to complications from contracting COVID-19.

“The state of Wisconsin lost a true public servant with the passing of Dan Stainbrook. With two decades of dedicated service to his community and the state of Wisconsin, his loss is felt deeply by all those who knew and worked with him,” said Gov. Evers in a statement released at the time of Master Trooper Stainbrook’s passing. “Dan was a part of our team, and Kathy and I extend our deepest condolences to Dan’s family and loved ones as well as his colleagues in the Wisconsin State Patrol and Department of Transportation during this incredibly challenging time.”

Services for Master Trooper Stainbrook will be held on Tues., Nov. 30, 2021. Executive Order #143 will be in effect from sunrise to sunset on Tues., Nov. 30, 2021.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/ahmaud-arbery-verdict1-s5.pngGeorgia jury on Wednesday finds three white men who hunted down and killed black man who jogged in their neighborhood guilty of murder.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/business-small-open-s5.jpgSen. Smith writes about Small Business Saturday and the many different ways Wisconsinites can support their neighbors and local businesses this holiday season.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/waukesha-parade-tragedy-s450.pngLeading voice for victims of domestic abuse in Wisconsin says violence at home may often spill over to larger community.

Former American Family Insurance executive steps down. Deputy will serve as interim commissioner.

House Democrats Pass Historic Bill To Increase Health Care Coverage and Affordability, Tax the Rich and Corporations, Invest in Climate Change Mitigation, & Create Millions of New Jobs.

MILWAUKEE - In response to today’s passage of the Build Back Better Act by House Democrats this morning, Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, released the following statement:

“House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats, including Representatives Gwen Moore, Mark Pocan, and Ron Kind, deserve our thanks and recognition for the tremendous effort it took to create and pass President Biden’s historic Build Back Better Act.

Hard compromises had to be made, as always happens in major legislation, but the reforms that survived the process represent generational reform. For the first time in a half a century we have a President and a Congress seriously acting on the nation’s economic, social, racial, and ecological challenges up to the necessary scale.

While Build Back Better will not solve all our nation's problems, no bill in American history ever has, nor include every policy that Americans need in our challenging times. The bill is a huge step forward in addressing climate change, dramatically expanding economic opportunity and racial equity, closing the BadgerCare expansion gap, lowering drug prices, requiring the super rich and big corporations to pay their fair share, making healthcare and education more affordable, cutting child poverty nearly in half, guaranteeing a universal preschool education, finally making child care affordable for every family, holding big corporations accountable for violating their workers right to form unions, and many other advances that we have waited decades to achieve.

These lifesaving policies in Build Back Better are widely popular, will improve millions of lives, reshape the economy, and finally enable many more people to have a fair shot at prosperity, security, and mobility.

This legislative success also again proves that the government can work for the people at a time when democracy is under threat. In the early 1930s many leading commentators predicted that the failure of the government to meaningfully address the economic misery of the Great Depression would lead to an authoritarian government capable of acting boldly. FDR’s success in enacting bold New Deal legislation likely saved American democracy. President Biden's Build Back Better Act, when combined with the infrastructure bill and the American Rescue Plan will, again prove that our form of government is up to the task of meeting the challenges of our time.

Now, the Senate must pass the Build Back Better Act so that President Biden can sign the bill into law and Democrats can deliver on their promises for millions of people in America. It will require a strong public voice in the next couple weeks to get Build Back Better over the last hurdle in a long and difficult process.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/kenosha-rittenhouse-verdict-s5.pngGovernor calls for calm and reason as we move forward from today's verdict in Kenosha.

Strongest action the United States has ever taken to combat the climate crisis, say Conservation advocates.

WASHINGTON D.C. – Wisconsin Conservation Voters applauds the passing of the Build Back Better Act by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Build Back Better Act is an historic piece of legislation that comprises the largest effort to combat climate change in American history. It is a first-step victory for a cleaner, healthier, more prosperous future and is the result of intensive work by conservation voters, supporters, volunteers, and elected officials at all levels of public service. Their commitment to passing a bill with strong climate provisions made this moment possible.

This transformational legislation will focus on climate change while creating good paying clean energy jobs and finally make real investments for environmental justice.

Wisconsin will benefit from the Build Back Better Act. It will assist the transition to clean energy, build climate resilience, and create thousands of jobs while centering on communities of color and climate justice. With Wisconsin's gerrymandered, anti-conservation legislative majority at the state level, the Build Back Better Act is a lifeline for these critical issues – and a lifeline for our health, families, and future.

Executive Director Kerry Schumann had this to say about the historic moment:

“Today, the House of Representatives has finally passed the Build Back Better Act. This legislation is the strongest action the United States has ever taken to combat the climate crisis. From Superior to Milwaukee, this historic legislation will cut emissions, create good-paying union jobs, and invest directly into communities of color too often left behind – all while putting the U.S. on path to cutting our climate pollution in half by 2030. All of our communities will benefit from the Build Back Better Act.

This is a historic moment for Wisconsin and the planet. We thank our members and allies for their efforts to bring us to this point, Reps. Ron Kind, Gwen Moore, and Mark Pocan for their votes to pass the bill, and look forward to its passage in the U.S. Senate and President Joe Biden's signature.

While this is a monumental achievement, it remains only a step toward making sure this legislation becomes law and is then enacted properly and effectively here at home. Wisconsin Conservation Voters will continue to push climate action at all levels of government and work to ensure that the Build Back Better Act lives up to its promises on climate and its potential to create a cleaner, brighter, healthier future for everyone."

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Engaging voters to protect Wisconsin’s environment.