Tax handout Trump pushed through was a boon for large corporations, like Wisconsin's Kimberly Clark, that working people will end up paying for and his failed COVID-19 response will cost them their jobs.

WISCONSIN -- In 2016, Trump campaigned across Wisconsin pledging to be a champion for working people -- that he’d improve wages, create jobs, and lower health care and prescription drug costs. But since taking office Trump has broken every one of those promises, with his policies putting the rich and well-connected ahead of working people.

The tax law Trump pushed through was a boon for large corporations, including those in Wisconsin like Kimberly Clark, that used the handout to shutter their facilities, issue stock buybacks, and lay off workers instead of creating jobs and increasing wages. In fact, working Wisconsinites will ultimately end up paying more in taxes to pay for the $1 trillion hole it blew in the deficit.

Trump’s failed COVID-19 has also led to Wisconsin factory workers losing their jobs and livelihood. As he continues to ignore the pandemic and infection rates spike across the Badger state and America, more workers will lose their jobs with no replacement to help them pay for their rent, health insurance, or the food they put on their families’ tables. 

On top of killing millions of jobs across the country, Trump is continuing his efforts to strip health care from millions of Wisconsinites, including putting in danger protections for the 2.1 million Wisconsinites who have a pre-existing condition. 

Labor leaders blasted Trump for his continued attacks on working Wisconsinites:

AFL-CIO State Treasurer Dennis Delie: “In 2016 Donald Trump came to Wisconsin masquerading as a savior for working people, but every decision he has made as president has been about helping the already rich and powerful. Instead of creating jobs and increasing wages, Trump’s tax-scam bill encouraged outsourcing, rewarded executives with even bigger bonuses, and left working Wisconsinites behind. And now his disastrous response to the COVID-19 pandemic has put essential workers at risk as he continues to ignore the deadly realities of this virus.”

United Steelworkers District 2 Director Michael Bolton: “The greatest trick Trump ever played on working people was making them believe he cared about them. Even before the pandemic hit, everything Trump has done as president has made it harder for working Wisconsinites to get ahead. From attacking labor standards to trying to take health care away from millions of people across our state, Trump has never been about standing up for us. Even in the midst of a pandemic he couldn’t do the right thing, costing our country millions of jobs and using hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars as handouts for his country club buddies and giant corporations instead of the small businesses on main street that fuel our economy.”

President of UAW Local 72 and Vice-Chair of the UAW Wisconsin State Cap Council Jon Drew: “ I spent decades representing my fellow union members in Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee for the UAW. Without a doubt, Donald Trump has been the worst President for working people in my lifetime. He lied about bringing manufacturing jobs back, his appointees to the NLRB and OSHA have turned those agencies against labor and his utter lack of leadership on COVID-19 has put front line workers at risk. He has done nothing to fix a broken health care system and is actually trying to make it worse. Wisconsin workers can't afford four more years of Trump.”

Additional Background

Kimberly-Clark Said It Would Use Savings From The Republican Tax Law For A Restructuring Initiative That Would Including Laying Off 5,000 To 5,500 Workers And Closing Or Selling 10 Manufacturing Facilities.
“Kimberly-Clark — maker of brands such as Kleenex, Scott and Huggies — said the savings it receives from the new tax-cut law will help them pay for a restructuring program that includes layoffs.  The company said the restructuring initiative, which the company was planning to undertake regardless of the tax law’s passage, will involve reducing its number of employees by about 5,000 to 5,500 people, or 12 to 13 percent of its workforce. Kimberly-Clark also said it plans to close or sell about 10 manufacturing facilities.” [The Hill, 1/24/18]

Kimberly-Clark Executives Said They Planned To Use Their Windfall From The Tax Law To Cover The Costs Of Shrinking Its Workforce By Up To 13 Percent And Closing Factories.
“Kimberly-Clark, the Dallas-based maker of Kleenex, Huggies, Kotex and other consumer products, plans to use some of its windfall to cover the costs of shrinking its workforce by as much as 13 percent as it shutters factories and reorganizes operations… Chief Financial Officer Maria Henry said the company’s gains from the tax overhaul would help offset the cost of the restructuring plan.” [Washington Post, 1/23/18]

Kimberly-Clark Increased Dividend Payments For Shareholders And Planned To Spend $700 To $900 Million On Stock Buybacks.
“But at the same time, the company said it was raising its quarterly dividend to $1.00 a share from 97 cents a share, which based on 353.4 million shares outstanding as of Dec. 31, could cost the company an additional $42.4 million this year. The company also said it planned to spend between $700 million and $900 million to buy back its stock this year, after repurchasing $900 million worth of shares in 2017.” [MarketWatch, 1/23/18]

The GOP-Trump Tax Bill Would Raise Taxes On Low-And Middle-Income Wisconsin Residents By 2027...On Average, Wisconsin Taxpayers In The Middle Quintile Of Income Earners ($62,160 To $94,720) Would See Their Taxes Increase By $200 Under The GOP-Trump Tax Bill By 2027. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, 12/16/17]

Politico: The North America’s Building Trades Unions, Who Previously Embraced Trump, Were “At Brink Of War” With Him Over New Apprenticeship Rule.
“One of the nation’s largest labor groups embraced Donald Trump at the start of his presidency, in hopes he would create construction jobs and retreat from proposals that might reduce workers’ wages. But now the two sides are on the brink of war, endangering a key bloc of Trump’s support in Midwestern swing states in 2020. At issue is a deal gone bad between Trump and North America’s Building Trades Unions over a Labor Department apprenticeship initiative.” [Politico, 8/16/19]

A Former Labor Leader Said Putting Non-Union Contractors In Charge Of Training And Providing Benefits For New Workers Is Like “The Fox Guarding The Henhouse.”
“By contrast, the non-union contractors whom Trump would put in charge of training new workers offer low pay, no benefits, no pensions, and no job security, either. John Gaal, retired director of training and workforce development for the St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council, said of Trump’s scheme: ‘It’s the fox guarding the henhouse.’” [People’s World, 8/15/19]

A Plumber Wrote To The Labor Department Warning That Under The Finalized Apprenticeship Rule “Highly Trained American Workers Will Be Replaced With Poorly Trained, Underpaid Workers, Who Could Be Easily Exploited By Unscrupulous Contractors.”
“‘As I understand the proposed rules for Industry Programs, the standards for training won’t be as rigorous and apprentices could be paid the minimum wage,’ one plumber wrote to the Labor Department. ‘If this system is permitted in the construction industry, highly trained American workers will be replaced with poorly trained, underpaid workers, who could be easily exploited by unscrupulous contractors.’” [CQ, 9/16/19]

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/gb-gop-ki2-s5.pngJaeger appalled at GOP holding their annual State Convention in person, in Wisconsin’s second largest COVID-19 hot spot, and their careless disregard for the safety of Brown County residents.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/farm-family-s5.jpgA Year After Trump Claims Farmers Are “Over the Hump”, nothing could be further from the truth.

GREEN BAY - Thanks to Governor Evers the people will have input into the creation of non-partisan district maps for the first time in our history.

The criticism from Republicans is not surprising given their fierce opposition to any effort to take away their ability to draw maps that will help them keep their hold on power despite the overwhelming support from the pubic for drawing fair maps that result in competitive and fair elections. The ability of Republicans to rig the maps is the only way they can overcome an electorate that is moving away from them and their politics of dividing the people against each other for their own political gain.

I applaud Governor Evers efforts to restore balance in our elections to make sure that every person’s vote matters and look forward to seeing the resulting maps that result from this non-partisan effort.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered the Democratic Radio Address on The People's Maps Commission. This commission will provide a transparent and nonpartisan redistricting option for the state of Wisconsin.

Audio file of radio address.

Hi, folks. Governor Tony Evers here. 

When I ran for governor, I promised the people of this state that I would fight for nonpartisan redistricting and fair, impartial maps that were drawn in the light of day, and by golly, we’re going to make good on that promise. 

Because I believe, and I know Wisconsinites do too, that the people should get to choose their elected officials, not the other way around. 

In fact, 51 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties support a nonpartisan redistricting process.

Folks, the Legislature has had every opportunity to take up nonpartisan redistricting reform, but they’ve failed to act.

That’s why, following my State of the State Address earlier this year, we created The People’s Maps Commission to provide a transparent and nonpartisan redistricting option for the state of Wisconsin.

This committee will be comprised of the people of our state— not elected officials, lobbyists, or political party officials— and they will represent each one of Wisconsin’s congressional districts. 

They will hold public hearings across the state to hear from their neighbors, experts, and stakeholders on the redistricting process and use that input to draw maps free of bias. Then, it will be up to the Legislature to take up and pass The People’s Maps. 

Folks, this isn’t a Democratic or Republican redistricting commission, and it’s not the Tony Evers redistricting commission. 

It’s your commission. If you would like to apply to serve on the commission or to learn more, please visit: www.wisconsin.gov/peoplesmaps.

Thank you so much.

Politicians should have to answer for their choices in office. It is time to make that a reality.

West Point - Governor Evers announced the official application and selection process for The People’s Maps Commission Thursday, the nonpartisan redistricting commission to draw fair, impartial maps following the 2020 U.S. Census.

Wisconsin currently has extremely gerrymandered maps, which has cost Wisconsin taxpayers millions in lawsuits. Additionally, nonpartisan redistricting is widely supported, with 51 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties, representing approximately 78% of Wisconsinites, having passed resolutions or referenda supporting nonpartisan redistricting in our state. That is why The People’s Maps will directly reflect the will of the people all over Wisconsin, and put the power back in the hands of Wisconsinites, and not special interests groups, lobbyists, and politicians.

“There are many proposals that are supported by the majority of Wisconsinites that do not even get public hearings,” said Senator Erpenbach. “From expanding Medicaid, legalizing medical cannabis, to nonpartisan redistricting, Republican leadership has continuously blocked popular proposals that they claim are ‘non-starters.’ Politicians should not be able to ignore their constituents because of unfairly drawn and biased maps. It is time for change.”

The People’s Maps Commission will be comprised of people – not politicians or lobbyists, and the Commission will use the information it gathers to prepare maps that represent Wisconsin. Details about applying, eligibility requirements, the selection process, and the responsibilities of the Commission are available on the People’s Maps Commission website: https://govstatus.egov.com/peoplesmaps

“This pandemic has shed light on what happens when the voice of many is stripped and handed to a few,” said Senator Erpenbach. “Republicans have refused to show up to work and pass legislation to provide much needed relief to our businesses and families that are struggling as a result of COVID-19. The GOP consistently ignores the will of the people because they aren’t afraid that they will be held accountable at the ballot box. Politicians should have to answer for their choices in office. It is time to move our state forward to ensure that people come before politics.”

Dave Hansen has represented us well for years, and Jonathon is vying for the chance to follow in his uncle’s footsteps by winning the August 11 primary.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/coronavirus-masks1-s5.jpgCOVID-19 hasn't taken a holiday, and we can’t afford to undo all the sacrifices people have made to get us to this point.

WISCONSIN - The panel digs into the racist federal appeals court ruling restricting Wisconsin early voting, and risking a dangerous replay of the infamous pandemic primary. Citizen Action is a lead plaintiff in the case. We discuss a new report co-released by Citizen Action of Wisconsin on how 8 Wisconsin billionaires have made an economic killing from the pandemic.

The pandemic continues to accelerate, confounding Donald Trump and the GOP by refusing to go away on its own.  We point out some of the hotspots and controversies around the Badger State. We look at the rising pressure for Congress and the President to extend coronavirus economic relief, and to make bold new investments in publicly-subsidized jobs and a green transition. We report back on a major news event Citizen Action led in La Crosse this week to put pressure on the feds to act. Finally, we look at the latest Wisconsin racial justice protest developments, and unveil the latest round of Citizen Action legislative endorsements.

Listen Now – Episode #499
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Press Clips

Our military should not be a political issue, but an American issue. The President has a solemn, moral responsibility to protect and support them.

Brookfield, WI – U.S. Navy veteran Tom Palzewicz, the Democratic candidate for Wisconsin’s Fifth Congressional District seat, is concerned by President Donald Trump’s reaction to the story alleging Russia paid bounties to Taliban militants to kill U.S. Soldiers.

“The Russia Bounty story is just another made up by Fake News tale that is told only to damage me and the Republican Party,” Trump tweeted. “The secret source probably does not even exist, just like the story itself. If the discredited @nytimes has a source, reveal it. Just another HOAX!”

Palzewicz, who served aboard a nuclear submarine during his six-year enlistment, was confused by Trump’s lack of response when the story broke, but was even more perplexed by the president’s tweet.

“The President has a solemn, moral responsibility to protect and support our men and women in the armed forces,” said Palzewicz. “His statement suggests that he will not do or say anything to achieve that end. Even if the reports of the Russian activity are not completely accurate, the Commander-in-Chief must step up and defend our military.”

“Acting in the best interest of our military should not be a political issue, but an American issue,” Palzewicz continued. “We are all together in protecting our interests, our values and our security. When I am in Congress, protecting our military will be a high priority, regardless of political pressures.”