MILWAUKEE - We are joined by State Senator Jeff Smith to discuss the first week of the gerrymandered State Legislature. Seeking to influence the State Supreme Court race, the session opened by placing on the Spring ballot a cynical political referendum asking voter opinion on a BadgerCare work requirement and a constitutional amendment on cash bail. The top priority of this illegitimate Legislature appears to be more tax giveaways for the ultra rich. Sen. Smith tells us why he is leading the charge to oppose the Republican attack on Wisconsin’s progressive income tax.

We also talk about state budget strategy,rural broadband, and the deepening bi-partisan public concern over PFAS in our water. Eau Claire City Council member and Citizen Action Organizing Director Kate Felton joins us to discuss her effort to organize local leaders in Western Wisconsin to fight for desperately needed increases in state shared revenue to municipalities during the upcoming state budget fight.

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MADISON – Senator Jeff Smith (D-New Brunswick) joined his Democratic colleagues in the State Senate in calling for the resignation or dismissal of Wisconsin Elections Commissioner Bob Spindell following comments Spindell made bragging about voter suppression targeting Black and Brown people in Milwaukee, then doubling down on his statements.

“Republicans have been covertly using voter suppression for years, and Mr. Spindell’s boasts make that clear,” said Smith. “For years, Republicans have employed these tactics, but overtly bragging about it warrant his removal as a board member on our agency to oversee elections. While I am not surprised by these comments, I am appalled that Mr. Spindell remains in a position of public trust.

“It’s appalling that he remains on the commission,” Smith continued. “If Mr. Spindell doesn’t do the right thing and resign, it falls solely on Senator LeMahieu to remove him from the commission as his pick.”

The 31^st Senate District includes all of Buffalo, Pepin and Trempealeau counties and portions of Pierce, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson and St. Croix counties.

MADISON – Yesterday, Senate Democrats and community leaders called for the resignation of Wisconsin Election Commissioner Bob Spindell after he celebrated successful voter suppression efforts in the 2022 election. Last week, it came to light that Senate Republican appointment to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, Bob Spindell, sent an email stating that Republicans ‘can be especially proud of the City of Milwaukee (80.2% Dem Vote) casting 37,000 less votes than cast in the 2018 election with the major reduction happening in the overwhelming Black and Hispanic areas.’

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

“Wisconsin Election Commissioner Bob Spindell is celebrating voter suppression in the light of day, celebrating that efforts to undermine the democratic process in one of Wisconsin’s most diverse cities was successful. Bob not only recently applauded lower voter turnout amongst minority groups, he also served as a fake elector for Donald Trump after the former president lost his 2020 re-election bid.

“Bob’s motives are clear and for the sake of our democracy, he has absolutely no business serving on the commission charged with administering Wisconsin’s elections and supporting more than hundreds of county and municipal clerks. He is unfit to serve the people of our great state and he must immediately resign.

“Unlike Bob Spindell’s efforts to thwart voter participation, my Democratic colleagues and I know that every eligible voter should be empowered to cast a ballot in each election. Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and Wisconsin’s elections must remain free, fair, and accessible.”

We should hear from the people and gather their viewpoint on eliminating Wisconsin’s 1849 criminal abortion ban, says Agard.

MADISON — Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez delivered the Democratic Radio Address on Thursday highlighting her inauguration, her background as a nurse and public health professional, and her commitment to partnering with Gov. Evers to build a better future for Wisconsin.

Audio File of Radio Address.

Hey there! It’s Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez.

I’m incredibly humbled the people of Wisconsin have placed their trust in me to serve as lieutenant governor alongside Governor Evers.

Over the last year, I had the pleasure of traveling all over our great state to meet folks and families in their homes and businesses to hear about their lives and the challenges they face—and I had the chance to share a little bit about my own story, too.

I’m a born-and-raised Wisconsinite from Waukesha County. I'm the granddaughter of dairy farmers, the proud daughter of a working-class family, and now a mom of two teenagers.

I’m a nurse and public health professional who worked for more than 20 years, answering calls at all times of day and night to take care of my patients, friends, and neighbors.

So, the lesson I learned from conversations with Wisconsinites I met on the road won’t surprise you: we aren’t all that different.

Every family, like mine, wants to earn a good living, to have access to quality, affordable healthcare, and every family wants to be healthy.

Every family knows that fully funding our public schools is an investment in our kids and our future and that investing in affordable childcare and early education, maternal and infant health, and paid family leave will ensure our families succeed.

We want to reduce gun violence with commonsense gun safety reform, safe communities for kids to play in, clean water to drink, and to know that we’re leaving our kids with a better world than the one we inherited.

I ran for the State Assembly and then to be your lieutenant governor because issues like these were heavy on my mind—as a mother, as a small business owner, as a healthcare provider, and as a Wisconsinite.

We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, but I promised to always answer the call—and I meant it. I could not be prouder or more humbled to be a part of building that future as your lieutenant governor.

MILWAUKEE - We are joined by Tobita Chow, the director of Justice is Global to discuss the new House committee aimed at the Chinese government and has Republicans warning of a “New Cold War”. We discuss why a cold war is disastrous to progressive governing and unnecessarily stokes anti-Chinese hate in America.

We debrief Citizen Action’s excellent State Supreme Court progressive candidate forum Wednesday night. We encourage you to watch and vote on what Citizen Action should do in the election. We talk about the newly unveiled Republican agenda in Congress and the State Legislature to provide tax cuts and tax avoidance for the wealthy while declaring no legislative pathway on very popular issues like legalized marijuana. We also review disgraced Wisconsin Election Commissioner Robert Spindell bragging about suppressing voters.

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MADISON – Today, Governor Tony Evers appointed deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA), James Bond, to fill the vacancy created by former Secretary Mary Kolar’s retirement. Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison) released the following statement:

“Wisconsin veterans and their families sacrifice so much for our communities, our state, and our country and deserve to be adequately supported throughout their life. As a disabled veteran with over ten years of service to the DVA, I am confident that Secretary-designee James Bond will be a dedicated leader and fierce advocate for Wisconsin veterans and their loved ones. Furthermore, this is a historic appointment in Wisconsin as James Bond will serve as the first openly LGBTQ secretary in any of the state’s cabinet agencies.

“I am looking forward to working with Secretary-designee James Bond during the 2023-24 legislative session on behalf of Wisconsin's veterans and their families. I know he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this position and will serve our state’s population of veterans with the utmost integrity.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/trump-jan6-attack2.pngTwo years after the Jan. 6 insurrection and coup attempt, and still we’ve had no accountability for Donald Trump and his accomplices.

As Tony Evers Begins 2nd term as Wisconsin’s 46th Governor.

MADISON – Tuesday, Senator Melissa Agard (D-Madison) addressed the Wisconsin State Senate as Senate Democratic Leader during the 2023-24 Inauguration Ceremony.

Senator Agard released the following statement:

“Congratulations to Governor Tony Evers, newly-elected Lieutenant Governor Sara Rodriguez, Attorney General Josh Kaul, my current and new colleagues in the State Legislature, and all constitutional officers who took an oath of office today to uphold the values and serve the people of the great state of Wisconsin. It is a privilege to hold these positions.

“The beginning of each legislative session is the most hopeful time of our two-year cycle. My Senate colleagues and I gathered today with optimism in our hearts and a willingness in our spirit to do great things.

“While there are political lines drawn around our districts - the people of Wisconsin are one. They share the same values, hopes, and dreams whether they live in Superior or Elkhorn, Ellsworth or Oconto. At the end of the day, Wisconsinites generally want the same things out of their state government - affordable health care and prescriptions, housing that doesn’t break the bank, clean air and water, and the ability to live with purpose and with the freedoms we expect as Americans.

“With Governor Evers' re-election, I am hopeful all legislators can work together in pursuit of the commonsense policies the people across our state voted for when they elected him to a 2nd term with an even larger margin than 2018: strong public schools, strengthening our democracy, continuing to invest in our transportation infrastructure, and supporting our local units of government. These are not Democratic values or Republican values – they are Wisconsin values.

“We must put government back to work for the people of Wisconsin, including reinvesting the state’s $6.6 billion surplus and confirming Governor Evers’ appointees, ensuring that the peaceful transition of power is upheld and our democracy remains strong - something all Wisconsinites resoundingly support.

“I aim to make this session one that is remembered for the positive work accomplished for the people of our state and for building a better way of doing things as colleagues. I am hopeful that we can rise above our divisive times and strive to be better. My Senate Democratic colleagues and I are ready to roll up our sleeves, compromise, and get to work. Make no mistake, we will hold true to our values but we are genuine in our interest in creating a better discourse.”