http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/native-american-s5.pngSen. Smith writes about Indigenous People’s Day, the day to recognize the rich ancestral history and cultural impact of Native Americans in our state.

MADISON - I ran up to Marshfield yesterday morning to participate in a press conference denouncing gerrymandering and promoting the Fair Maps for Wisconsin Summit, which is being held in Marshfield on Saturday, Nov. 9, just four weeks from tomorrow.

It was a great press conference. The highlight for me was hearing from former Assembly Representative Amy Sue Vruwink, who used to represent Marshfield before her own district was gerrymandered. Click here for her comments, and for a full account of the press conference:

Gerrymandering Denounced in Marshfield

I also want to salute the amazing work that the Oregon Area Progressives and their organizer, Carlene Bechen, have done in laying the groundwork for this summit. For more information on speakers and panels and how you can attend, please go here:

www.fairmaps4wisummit.com

We posted two other stories this week that might interest you. The first is about an anti-consumer and pro-insurance company bill that almost no one else is paying attention to:

Senate Approves Cutting Notice Time for Insurance Policy Changes

And the second is about the plans by Richard Uihlein, one of the biggest donors to Wisconsin Republicans – and GOP candidates nationally – to bring Vice President Pence to an event in our state next week:

GOP Megadonors Host VP Pence

For the big donors, it’s still business as usual.

I hope you like these postings. Stay warm this weekend!

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

P.S. If you appreciate the work we’re doing on banning gerrymandering and demanding clean and open government, please send us a tax-deductible gift by clicking here. Thanks!

Republicans Pair Disability Accommodations with Yet Another Power Grab.

MILWAUKEE - State Rep. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement in response to Assembly Republicans forcing through the flawed and deceptive Assembly Resolutions 12 and 13 and forcing Rep. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg) to vote against his own disability accommodations:

“Yesterday, we saw Assembly Republican leadership’s drive for power truly laid bare - under the guise of providing disability accommodations to our colleague Rep. Anderson, Republicans decided to push through a number of rule changes that serve only to weaken the power of the minority party and expand Republican power. After spending months holding up the accommodations for Rep. Anderson mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act, Republicans finally allowed a vote on those accommodations, but with such extreme strings attached that Rep. Anderson was forced to vote against his own accommodations.”

Assembly Resolutions 12 and 13 combined some accommodations for members of the Assembly with disabilities with nine other rule changes, including new rules that would allow Republicans unlimited attempts at overriding a Governor’s veto (overturning a century of precedent), allow them to force through debate time limits without consulting Democrats, and taking away the ability of Democrats to recess in order to discuss last-minute bill changes proposed by Republicans.

“Assembly Resolutions 12 and 13 are, quite frankly, a stain on our institution and a huge missed opportunity to show full support for one of our colleagues without unnecessary and mean-spirited political gamesmanship. Yesterday, we could have come together and set an example for our constituents - that, despite our ideological disagreements, our respect for our fellow human beings comes before all else. Instead, Republicans decided to send the message that respect should only be given to those who agree with your way of doing things.”

MADISON - Sen. Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) and Rep. Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) talk about "Forward Together - Addressing Wisconsin’s Priorities".

Audio File of Radio Address

Sen. Shilling: Hello, I’m Democratic Leader Senator Jennifer Shilling

Rep. Hintz: And I’m Democratic Leader Representative Gordon Hintz. This week, both the Senate and the Assembly were back in session with unfortunately light calendars. If it wasn’t clear to everyone by now - Republicans want to limit the number of remaining session days to avoid scrutiny for their refusal to act on major issues supported by the public.

Sen. Shilling: Assembly and Senate Democrats remain focused on values that put families, workers, and communities first. This week, in communities across the state, we introduced Forward Together a list of legislative priorities focused on the issues Wisconsinites continue to face every single day like lowering health care costs, ensuring our schools are properly funded, and expanding economic security for families and seniors.

Rep. Hintz: Republican legislators choosing to only work for a handful of days from now until Election Day next November is not the work ethic we expect in our state. Legislators have a role to play when our water isn’t safe to drink, when prescription drug costs are skyrocketing, and when people are not able to survive despite working hard for 40 hours or more every week.

Sen. Shilling: The priorities laid out in Forward Together are issues that have the support of a majority Wisconsinites. Democrats continue to listen to the people of the state and are committed to finding solutions to the problems people face each day.

Rep. Hintz: While there is no magic wand or immediate solutions, we cannot sit back and do nothing. Right now, Republican leaders are choosing to do nothing. They are choosing to be a do-nothing legislature. They are refusing to do the job they were elected to do. That is unacceptable. It’s time to get to work on behalf of the people of Wisconsin.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/farm-family-s5.jpgSenator Jeff Smith's Weekly Column is about Wisconsin's work to help dairy farmers make it through the recent dairy crisis. To preserve our reputation as Americas Dairyland, we need to stop family farm closures and find new ways to help young people continue our state's rich agricultural traditions.

MILWAUKEE - After discussing our national emergency with President Trump, we welcome Wisconsin Examiner journalist, Isiah Holmes, to discuss his investigation into local police department’s cooperation with ICE, including Wauwatosa and Milwaukee. New Citizen Action Driftless Co-op Organizer Ben Wilson joins us to talk about next week’s launch event of the new driftless organizing co-op.

Listen Now – Episode #410
Download MP3
Press Clips

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/trump-boards-af1-s5.jpgMADISON, WI – Today marks the two-year anniversary of Donald Trump introducing his tax scam bill. The bill, which Trump promised would improve wages, bring back jobs from overseas, and improve hard working people’s well being, has turned out to be nothing more than a handout to the richest Americans and largest corporations.

MADISON, WI – Thursday, Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council President Dan Bukiewicz and Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wiker held a press call highlighting the negative impact of Donald Trump’s tax scam. Tomorrow marks the two-year anniversary of the introduction of this legislation that has been a disaster for hard working Wisconsinites.

You can read an excerpt of Bukiewicz remarks below and listen to the full audio of the press call here.

“The GOP promised that these taxes [tax breaks] would help the average working American. It is not true, particularly in the building trade. These tax cuts went to the top 1%...But hardworking people that are building our roads, our schools, our hospitals, our homes, are basically being penalized for going into work everyday and their safety is being compromised by with the roll backs...Their tools, equipment, and supplies, the things that are basic necessities for them to make a living with are no longer deductible. Using a personal cell phone [on the job] no longer deductible...car expenses while working none of that deductible for these individuals. As I said they maintain critical infrastructure for the entire country and they are being cheated on these deductions. These deductions in some cases depending on the trade add up to hundreds, if not thousands of dollars for the average worker...These create hardships for the families...Meanwhile the businesses are reaping all the benefits of the tax cuts. It’s completely unfair...the GOP once again broke their promise to working Americans.”  -- Dan Bukiewicz, President of the Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council

MADISON - Rep. Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) talks about a bill creating a temporary extreme risk protection order (ERPO) in Wisconsin to prevent gun violence and suicide deaths.

Audio File of Radio Address

Hello this is State Representative Melissa Sargent with this week’s Democratic Radio Address.

Last week I was proud to stand with Governor Tony Evers, Attorney General Josh Kaul, and State Senator Lena Taylor as we introduced a bill creating a temporary extreme risk protection order, also known as ERPO, in Wisconsin.

Under the ERPO process, if an individual is likely to injure themselves or another person, a family member or law enforcement officer, may petition a court to temporarily prevent the individual from possessing a firearm.

An ERPO injunction would be effective for up to one year, and could be extended by petition for periods if the court believes the person continues to be at risk.

As a member of the Speaker’s Task Force on Suicide Prevention, I have heard story after story from people whose lives have been personally impacted by suicide in our state.

At each of the six hearings held throughout Wisconsin, these individuals overwhelming asked the Task Force to take action to reduce suicide deaths in our state, specifically with sensible policies such as Extreme Risk Protection Orders. Yet, the recommendations released by the Speaker’s Task Force this week have failed to listen to the will of the people. By refusing to comprehensively address suicide by firearm, and ignoring the importance of ERPOs, the Task Force's work cannot be considered complete.

Thanks to legislation passed in many other states, we also know the real results that ERPOs have had in reducing suicide rates by firearm and in saving lives.

In Indiana, in the 10 years after the state passed its Extreme Risk law in 2005, the state’s firearm suicide rate decreased by 7.5 percent.

People across Wisconsin, regardless of whether or not they are a gun owner, want to see meaningful action. We don’t have to choose between upholding the 2nd Amendment and preventing gun violence in our communities. There is no excuse for inaction.

It is well past time to listen to the voices of the people of Wisconsin and take meaningful action to prevent gun violence and suicide deaths in our state. The time for action is now, and I am proud to continue fighting for this life saving measure.

Thank you.

MADISON – Today, the Speaker’s Task on Suicide Prevention released recommendations for legislation related to lowering the incidents of suicide in Wisconsin. Despite overwhelming statistical evidence that firearms are a significant factor in suicides in Wisconsin and nationwide, the task force barely mentioned this correlation in their report and related legislation. This is significant due to the fact that half of all suicides in the U.S. are by firearm.

Assembly Democratic Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) released the following statement on the task force:

“Only Wisconsin Republicans could ignore the single most data driven policy that can actually reduce suicides. A task force that holds hearings around the state is not a substitute for actually doing something. Legislation that would directly address the issue of access to firearms for those at risk, Extreme Risk Protection Orders, was ignored entirely by Republican task force members. The bottom line is that indefensible adherence to extreme ideology on gun violence is a bigger priority for Republicans than reducing the number of suicides.”