http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/voting-dropbox-s5.jpgPopular method to file your absentee ballot safely without standing in line or using the mail challenged by conservative think tank WILL.

MILWAUKEE - Wisconsin hits a record number of COVID hospitalizations as Legislative Republicans push bills to undermine public health precautions and efforts to distribute free N95 masks finally pick up. Next, our panel dives into a discussion of the 2022 elections. Finally, Senator Ron Johnson announced his bid for reelection, and many are surprised when Wisconsin’s longest serving Governor, Tommy Thompson, floated another run. Will Johnson win a 3rd term in the Senate and Thompson a 5th term in the Governor mansion? President Biden makes a big public push for voting rights leading into MLK Jr. Day with a fiery speech in Georgia. Can he and the Democrats make it happen or will he again be undermined by Senators Manchin and Sinema (and their big corporate backers pulling the strings) In Wisconsin, Legislative Republicans continue their nationally coordinated effort to rewrite the 2020 election and pull apart democratic institutions, making a legislative maneuver to end secure ballot drop boxes and to allow partisan politicians to nullify elections when they don’t like the results. We ask the question, does anyone trust Speaker Robin Vos’ promise that the Legislature will not name Wisconsin electors in 2024? We close with an interview of Citizen Action Field Director Zoe Roberts on Citizen Action’s volunteer Tuesday night phone banks, which are calling critical swing voters in key legislative districts.

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MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers Thursday delivered the Democratic Radio Address on the Evers Administration's continued support for Wisconsin's schools, educators, and students as the omicron variant spreads. Earlier this week, the governor joined the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) in a letter to all public, private, and independent charter schools detailing resources available by DHS and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to help in this effort.

Audio File of Radio Address.

Hello, Governor Tony Evers here.

We all want our kids to be safe and in the classroom. So, just as we have from the beginning of the pandemic, we're continuing to work to provide the necessary support and resources our kids, educators, and districts need to be healthy and safe.

We've been working with schools on a school-based testing program. This program received federal funding and provides free, safe, and flexible testing for teachers, staff, students, and their families.

Testing remains a critical component of slowing the spread of COVID-19. Regular testing can help support schools in making important decisions to protect the health and safety of those in their buildings, so we're encouraging schools to sign up to participate in the program.

We also know the best protection from getting seriously sick, being hospitalized, or dying from COVID-19 continues to be the safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines.

That's why we're also encouraging schools to host school-based vaccination and booster clinics with the help of DHS during drop-off and pick-up times.

All kids ages five and older are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, and the CDC recommends all kids ages 12 and older receive a booster five months after they receive their first vaccine series.

While kids generally experience less serious symptoms from COVID-19, hospitalizations among people under 18 are rising quickly and nearly all youth COVID-19 hospitalizations in Wisconsin and across the country are occurring among the unvaccinated.

Schools are uniquely positioned to help educate families about the benefits of the vaccine, as well as meet kids and parents where they are and in their own neighborhoods.

For the last two years, parents and educators have gone above and beyond to do everything they can to make sure our kids are caught up and in the classroom, and we will continue to support them in their efforts in any way we can—just as we have since day one.

Let's keep working together to make sure our kids, our educators, and our communities stay healthy and safe.

Thank you.

While Wisconsin hospitals reach maximum capacity, GOP leaders hold public hearings on bills that spread misinformation, says Senator.

MADISON - Wednesday, the GOP Committee on Health Chair held public hearings on a slate of bills that would limit private business ability to stop the spread of COVID-19 within their place of business.

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

“As we near the two year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic and cases are skyrocketing, Republicans are still promoting and peddling misinformation that contradicts scientists and medical professionals. We, as a state, have to do better in order to best protect ourselves and those who are most vulnerable in our communities.

“The testimony being heard today in the Senate Committee on Health is dangerous and continues to perpetuate false narratives about COVID. Our neighbors and loved ones are dying. We need to put the falsehoods to bed and listen to our medical experts to best protect ourselves, our neighbors, and our medical professionals.

“What we should be doing is providing our communities and healthcare professionals the necessary tools to stop this surge of COVID cases. We should be respecting Wisconsin businesses who are trying to keep their employees and communities safe. We should be properly thanking our healthcare heroes by passing the bill introduced by Representative Vining, Senator Erpenbach, myself, and many other Democratic colleagues today to honor their sacrifices throughout this pandemic.

“Let’s lift up our healthcare workers, scientists, and medical professionals by passing common sense legislation that supports them and the heroic work they have been doing for nearly two years.”

GREEN BAY, WI - The candidates vying for the Democratic Party nomination to face Senator Ron Johnson in 2022 are all educated, experienced, and talented people who have good ideas.  Which candidate wins the Democratic nomination in the primary doesn’t matter if that person doesn’t have a winning strategy for the general election campaign.  Alex Lasry stands out to me because he has proven to be a visionary leader who can draw people together and inspire them to achieve common goals.

After working at the White House during the Obama administration, Lasry moved to Wisconsin to help lead the Milwaukee Bucks organization.  As senior vice president of the franchise, he led the Fiserv Forum and Deer District development projects.  Lasry recognized that the team had a responsibility to create living-wage jobs and to be inclusive in the hiring process to make sure that people who have historically been left out and left behind got a chance to do good work and make good money doing it.

Lasry proved that it is possible for companies to be good corporate citizens and profitable entities at the same time.  The Bucks benefited from the public/private partnership, but so did construction material suppliers,  contractors, workers, and everyone else in Milwaukee, which is how it should be.

In 2019, Milwaukee was named the site of the 2020 Democratic National Convention because Lasry once again brought people together in pursuit of a mutually beneficial goal.

During his Senate campaign, Lasry has shared his ideas about how to improve the lives of everyone in Wisconsin.

In August 2022, I will be voting for Alex Lasry because I believe that he can unite Democrats in order to beat Ron Johnson and lead all Wisconsinites toward a better tomorrow.

Jarrett Brown

***

Jarrett Brown is a factory worker, labor activist, and writer who lives in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Rep. Shae Sortwell and Sen. Duey Stroebel introduce bill that would make it even harder for formerly incarcerated people to vote.

MADISON - There’s a nasty, and frankly racist, bill that’s circulating in the Wisconsin legislature right now that would make it even harder for formerly incarcerated people to vote in our state.

Before they’d be able to vote, they’d have to pay off all fines, costs, fees, surcharges, and restitution, which can run into five figures.

No one should be prevented from voting based strictly on the amount of money they have or their ability to pay. 

My colleague Iuscely Flores just posted her strong piece on this issue, which you can read here:

New GOP Bill in Wisconsin Is a Modern-Day Poll Tax

And we’d like to urge to contact your legislators and tell them not to co-sponsor (and not to support in any way!) these two bills.

Rep. Shae Sortwell and Sen. Duey Stroebel introduced LRB-1886 and LRB-5532, and they are trying to line up co-sponsors by Jan. 11.

That’s why it’s so important that you contact your legislators on this no later than Monday morning!

Thanks for your activism on this vital issue.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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MADISON, Wis. — Thursday, Governor Tony Evers marked the first anniversary of the January 6th, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol:

Click here to view the full Twitter thread:

“There are those who would have us forget the fear, violence, and chaos of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol one year ago in an effort to prevent the peaceful transfer of power—the very cornerstone of our democracy. But we cannot forget, and we will not forget.

“We will not forget first responders who bravely defended our country, including the 140 officers who were assaulted, and those we’ve lost in the tragic aftermath. We will not forget those who feared for their lives, seeking shelter in closets and offices in our country’s Capitol.

“We will not forget all those that day and in the days since who’ve failed to condemn these actions, who’ve worked to revise history, and who’ve lacked the courage to do the right thing and defend our democracy when it mattered most.

“And we cannot forget because we are reminded every day what’s at stake. The assault on our democracy never stopped. For those who continue to sow division between us, those who spread misinformation about our elections, and those who stand idly by in silence, we will not forget.

“Our work to defend our democracy must continue. And I’ve said it before and I’ll say again today that democracy isn’t something that just happens for us—we choose to make it every day.

“As we reflect on this anniversary, Kathy and I are thinking about the first responders, elected officials, staffers, and members of the press put in harm’s way that day—who still grapple with the trauma caused by this event—and we're praying they find peace.”

Matt highlights 5 articles on GOP attempts to nullify your vote and play politics with the pandemic.

MADISON - On this first anniversary of the Trump coup attempt, I wanted to flash a light on Wisconsin’s own collaborators. You can read my piece here:

Wisconsin's January 6 Collaborators

This week, I also wrote about a couple bills sponsored by Republican Rep. Timothy Ramthun that are scary, as you’ll see:

Wisconsin Republican Floats Way to Nullify Elections

New GOP Bill Would Dissolve the Wisconsin Elections Commission

Meanwhile, my colleague Mike Buelow, our research director, compiled a powerful report on those who bear some responsibility for the fact that Wisconsin has surpassed the morbid milestone of 10,000 fatalities from COVID:

Playing Lethal Politics with the Pandemic in Wisconsin

And my colleague Iuscely Flores, our racial equity and economic justice advocate, wrote an excellent related piece:

The COVID Crisis in Our Schools

I hope you like these articles.

And I hope you’ll call Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson and press them to pass the federal Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The U.S. House passed the voting rights legislation in March 2021, and now the U.S. Senate must follow through. Consider using this excellent tool to write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Passing this legislation is crucial to bolstering our democracy.

Thanks for your concern and your activism.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/trump-insurgents3-s5.pngGoal of those who attacked the U.S. Capitol continued by Wisconsin Republicans today, says Representative from Oshkosh.

As we begin the new year, we must look forward with a new determination to protect democratic institutions in our state and nation, says Beloit Representative.

BELOIT - State Representative Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit), the ranking Democratic member of the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections, issued the following statement on the first anniversary of the failed insurrection on behalf of former President Donald Trump on January 6th, 2021:

“As we reflect on the brutal attack on our nation’s Capitol one year ago, it is more clear than ever that we must reject the contempt for democracy we witnessed that day. Even now, we continue to reckon with the images of our Capitol occupied by those seeking to deny the results of a democratic election.

“Disturbingly, the anti-democratic and anti-American ideals that drove the attack on our Capitol have not subsided. Recent polling shows that the barrage of lies that former President Trump and his enablers manufactured have had their intended impact and deeply damaged our republic’s stability.

“In the aftermath of the failed insurrection on January 6th, while the majority of Americans reacted with shock and sadness, some preferred to dodge responsibility and lie about the violence that they instigated. Despite overwhelming evidence demonstrating that our electoral systems are secure, transparent, and fair, the same extremists have continued to lie about the 2020 election. Every day, they continue to use the same rhetoric that led to a mob attempting to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. It has led to a further erosion of trust, wasted tax dollars, and unprecedented threats against local election officials who have administered elections with integrity.

“As we begin the new year, we must look forward with a new determination to protect democratic institutions in our state and nation. I will continue to push back against the lies from those who would undermine our democracy - lies about the 2020 election and about the events of January 6th, 2021. I will continue to work to preserve and expand the democracy that we share.”