STATEWIDE - We discuss Tuesday’s primary election in Wisconsin and celebrate huge victories by Citizen Action members Mandela Barnes, Sarah Godlewski, Marisabel Cabrera and Jeff Smith. Our panel begins to handicap the Governor and U.S. Senate races. and we welcome Citizen Action co-op member and candidate for the State Assembly Kim Butler to discuss her important race in Western Wisconsin.

LISTEN NOW - EPISODE #356
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MADISON – Senator LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) offered the following weekly Democratic radio address today on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day.

The audio file can be found here.

A written transcript of the address is as follows:

“Hello. I’m State Senator LaTonya Johnson. On August 7, we observed Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. Women on average earn 80 cents for every $1 paid to men and for this reason we hold Equal Pay Day in April. In other words, equal pay for equal work. But did you know for women of color the pay gap is even wider? In Wisconsin, African American women earn only 61 cents for every dollar paid to men, which made August 7 of this year the day that their salaries caught up to what white men made in 2017.

“Senate Democrats are committed to ensuring women, including women of color, are paid fair wages for equal work and addressing contributors to the wage gap, such as employment discrimination and lack of affordable child care.

“According to the Institute for Women's Policy Research, if women were paid the same as comparable men then the economy would add $513 billion in wages and salary, and the poverty rate for working women would fall by nearly half. Closing the wage gap is not only an issue of fairness, but it’s an economic imperative that benefits everyone in our community.”

Help monitor truth in election advertising this fall by reporting ads by issue advocacy groups or independent expenditure committees -- TV, radio, online/social media, newspapers, billboards or direct mail to our Hijack Hotline.

Tuesday’s Primary Election in Wisconsin takes center stage, plus Tammy Baldwin’s outstanding leadership on Medicare For All legislation.

STATEWIDE - We focus on next Tuesday’s Primary Election in Wisconsin. The panel discusses the Democratic governor primary and whether anyone other than presumed front runner Tony Evers can emerge the winner. We also review other important state legislative primaries, including Jeff Smith in Senate District 31 and Marisabel Cabrera in Assembly District 9. We announce Citizen Action’s endorsement of Earnell Lucas in the Milwaukee County Sheriff's race. Lee Snodgrass, Citizen Action’s endorsed candidate in Senate District 19, joins us to talk about her campaign, the importance of the race to gaining power in the legislature, and encourage volunteers to meet Lee and help get out the vote in the Appleton area this Saturday.

We close the show with a discussion of Tammy Baldwin’s outstanding leadership on Medicare For All legislation and more WEDC contracts for Scott Walker donors.

LISTEN NOW - EPISODE #355
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MADISON - With each passing day, I get more and more alarmed about where our country is headed under Donald Trump. Here are my considered thoughts on this ominous subject:

Trump and the road to fascism

We’ve also weighed in on the odious plan by the Trump Administration to insist on asking a citizenship question on the upcoming Census. Here’s the letter we sent out on this:

Letter on 2020 census citizenship question

Back here on the Wisconsin front, we’ve been busy following the money. We noticed that a new WEDC loan recipient just happens to have generous Walker donors at the helm:

WEDC gives $60M to company run by Walker donors

In covering the money chase in the elections here, the results of the horrendous 2015 rewrite of our campaign finance laws are becoming more obvious. Here are two examples:

Major state parties raising money hand over fist

Republicans outraising Dems with record-breaking hauls by legislative leaders

If you want to see the most up-to-date info on who has brought in the most money in the governor’s race and other statewide races, we’ve got a handy little chart right here:

Campaign finance information updated for all constitutional office candidates

As you can see, we’ve been busy around here!

Have a nice weekend.

Best,

Matt Rothschild
Executive Director
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P.S. If you like this urgent work that we’re doing, please support us with a tax-deductible donation today. Just click here. Thanks!

Wisconsin’s Fall Primary Election is on Tuesday, August 14th. Make a plan to make your voice heard.

MADISON, WI – Senator Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) offered the weekly Democratic radio address today.

The audio file of this week’s address can be found here.

A written transcript of the address is below:

“Hi, I’m State Senator Jennifer Shilling with this week’s Democratic Radio Address.

“Wisconsin’s Fall Primary Election is just around the corner! I know, I know, you’re in the midst of summer fun. But on Tuesday, August 14th, voters have the opportunity to head to the polls and make their voices heard.

“Casting a ballot only takes a minute and it’s the most effective way you can get involved in shaping our Democracy.

“For help finding your polling place, checking your registration status or seeing what’s on your ballot, visit MyVote.WI.Gov. Again, that’s MyVote.WI.Gov.

“Make a plan to make your voice heard this election season.

“Get out and vote on Tuesday, August 14th! Then you can get back to your summer fun!”

Democratic candidate for Governor thanks the United Steelworkers who led the fight to keep the mill open.

MADISON, WI - Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kelda Roys released the following statement on the Midwest Paper Group’s investment in the Fox Valley and creation of over 300 jobs at the former Appleton Coated facility in Combined Locks:

“I thank the Midwest Paper Group - I'm thrilled to see them double-down on their investment in the Fox Valley. I would also like to commend the workers and a community that fought back against difficult odds and saved this 129-year-old mill.

“It's important to recognize that Governor Walker and his administration did almost nothing to help and were nowhere to be found when the chips were down and Appleton Coated was fighting to stay alive. It took an election year and bad poll numbers for the governor to suddenly take interest in Appleton Coated, Kimberly Clark, and the paper industry. That's not leadership.

"I want to thank - from the bottom of my heart - the United Steelworkers (USW) who led the fight to keep the mill open. Without their leadership, perseverance and commitment to community, Governor Walker and a room full of politicians up for re-election would not be able to bask in unearned limelight and take undeserved credit."

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Kelda Roys, 39, is a small business owner, attorney, former state representative, and past head of NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin who has been standing up for women and families throughout her career. In the Assembly, she stood out as an influential and effective lawmaker, delivering results for working families and helping lead the opposition to Governor Scott Walker’s divisive agenda. As a parent and step-parent of four girls, Roys will fight for paid family leave, affordable childcare, great schools, and quality healthcare for all. In a year in which Wisconsin voters are ready for change, Kelda Roys provides the clearest contrast to Scott Walker.

We discuss ICE’s detainment and attempt to deport of Citizen Action/Accion Ciudadana member Ricardo Fierro, our current immigration policies, Marisabel Cabrera's run for the Assembly, Jeff Smith for State Senate, and more...

STATEWIDE - Special guest panelist, Luz Sosa, educates us on ICE’s detainment and the attempt to deport of Citizen Action/Accion Ciudadana member Ricardo Fierro, a major civic leader who is married with 7 children. The shocking case reveals the moral bankruptcy of our current immigration policies. We are joined by Citizen Action board member Carmen Cabrera to discuss the important primary election for co-op member Marisabel Cabrera on August 14th and why you need to volunteer to help her win a seat in the State Assembly.

Western Wisconsin co-op leader Jeff Smith talks with us about his primary election for State Senate. Finally, Robert educates us on the latest Trump and Walker efforts at sabotaging the Affordable Care Act.

LISTEN NOW - EPISODE #354
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Patty Schachtner of Somerset, a medical examiner and state senator, talks about how meth addiction has strained our local health and public safety resources.

MADISON, WI – Senator Patty Schachtner (D-Somerset) offered the weekly Democratic radio address today.

The audio file of this week’s address can be found here.

A written transcript of the address is below:

“I’m State Senator Patty Schachtner with this week’s Democratic Radio Address.

“Communities across Wisconsin are facing a meth epidemic.

“Between 2010 and 2017, the use of meth has increased by 462 percent in Wisconsin. That increase has strained our families, friends, and communities. It has also strained our local health and public safety resources.

“In my capacity as a medical examiner and state senator, I have spoken with law enforcement and health experts. The overwhelming response is that the status quo cannot continue.

“Wisconsin’s prison populations are heading for record highs, and counties are finding the rising cost of child placement and care unsustainable.

“That is why it is more important than ever to focus on expanding access to treatment and health care.

“Around 2.8 million people with substance use disorders have gained coverage under the Affordable Care Act, and millions more have access to addiction treatment through Medicaid.

“Medicaid expansion in Wisconsin can help our communities tackle the meth crisis, all while improving health outcomes for residents and saving state taxpayer dollars.

“Thank you.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/medicare-patient-s5.jpgNorthwestern Wisconsin's new Senator Patty Schachtner talks about these crucial health care coverage programs and how we need to expand access to them.