http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/ed-grad-day-s5.jpgSen. Vinehout writes about attending her son’s graduation ceremony. She describes the lessons learned by commencement speakers and how our graduates can use their education to play roles in the communities they serve.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/school-bus-kids-s5.jpgWalker and his allies are suing to take away the authority of the State Superintendent of Wisconsin’s public schools.

We discuss our new multi-year rural organizing project with our national network, People’s Action, to counter Trump’s fraudulent right-wing populism and DNR rubber stamping diversion of 7 million gallons of Lake Michigan water for Foxconn.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/mike-pence2-s5.jpgWalker follows Pence on road to extreme policies.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/donald-trump-golden-wings-s5.jpgAssad’s actions were despicable, but we have a Constitution for a reason. Allowing the president to usurp the power of Congress defies the founders’ plan.

Walker signs WMC, Koch-backed bill to limit work rules by local governments, landlord-backed bill easing rental inspections, and more...

MADISON - This week, Scott Walker continued his war on local control by signing three more bills that offend the Wisconsin Constitution’s “home rule” clause.

The first one, a bill backed by the powerful Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce and the Americans for Prosperity (a Koch outfit), prohibits local governments from lifting labor standards above the state level:

Walker signs WMC, Koch-backed bill to limit work rules by local governments

The second one, backed by another heavyweight, the Wisconsin Realtors Association, is an early Christmas present to landlords:

Walker signs landlord-backed bill easing rental inspections

And the third one, backed by the muscular Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce, lets drones fly just about anywhere:

New state law prohibits communities from regulating drones

These infringements on local control add to the 128 assaults that Walker and the Republican legislature passed from 2011 to 2016. And they used to be the party that clamored for local control!

Hey, have you ever wondered who the biggest individual donors were in Wisconsin? Well, here’s your answer:

Meet the top 100 donors in Wisconsin's partisan politics

I hope you enjoy this week’s offerings.

Happy Spring!

Best,

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

P.S. Reminder: May 3 is our annual celebration, with guest speaker Nancy MacLean, author of Democracy in Chains. Please click here for all the logistics. Looking forward to seeing you!

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/clean-air-s5.jpgSunday is Earth Day. For our children and grandchildren to enjoy the same opportunities we have, we need to safeguard access to clean water, land and air and prevent special interests from taking unfair advantage of our environment on every day.

Democrats can win in 2018 and 2020, but only if we’re willing to take a hard look in the mirror, listen to everyone, and organize conversations that bring people together.

We discuss the crowded Democratic gubernatorial primary race, the Wisconsin Choice campaign, and Ascension's plan to close much of the critical safety net hospital in Milwaukee.

STATEWIDE - We discuss the current very open state of the Democratic gubernatorial primary race and the news that Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and and progressive talk radio celebrity Mike Crute may enter the crowded field.

Marina Dimitrijevic from the Wisconsin Working Families Party joins us to discuss the Wisconsin Choice campaign to focus the primary on bold progressive issues, and to give activists the opportunity to vote in a straw poll on the candidates.

Finally we welcome members of the savestjoes.org coalition (Arkesia Jackson from BLOC and Nate Gilliam from WI Federation of Nurses & Health Professional and Katie Dunn from Citizen Action Healthcare for All Organizing Co-op) to discuss the news that Ascension will pause its plans to close much of the critical safety net hospital. The coalition is hosting a community meeting on April 24th, 6pm at Parklawn Assembly, 3725 N. Sherman Ave. in Milwaukee.

LISTEN NOW - EPISODE #339
Download MP3
Citizen Action Press Clips

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/russia-hacks-nbc-s5.jpgRussian attempts to sabotage Wisconsin's election systems in the 2016 Presidential Election were thwarted, but we still need to ensure our future elections are accurate, secure and valid.