MADISON - The state office staff had a busy week. Here is a summary of the highlights.

National Voter Registration Day was Tuesday, September 26. More than a dozen local Leagues and many League members participated. We had wonderful local print and broadcast new coverage. Here is one example from Appleton. Thanks to all of our Leagues and members who participated Tuesday, as well as those who are scheduling additional registration events this fall.

On Wednesday, Andrea Kaminski and Carolyn Castore were honored by Community Shares of Wisconsin for their long-term dedication and work with the League. Andrea received the Linda Sundberg Civil Rights Defender Award for her years of championing voting rights as our executive director, as well as for enhancing the capacity and strength of our organization. Carolyn Castore, a long-time member of LWV Milwaukee County before moving out-of-state, received a Backyard Hero Award for creating and organizing our now statewide Election Observation program. We are so grateful for both Andrea and Carolyn’s work. If you're on Facebook, click here to see Andrea accept her award and hear her inspiring speech which resonates with all of us to bond together to make positive changes in our communities.

Next week Tuesday, October 3, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the Gill v. Whitford partisan gerrymandering case from Wisconsin. Locally, you can support the plaintiffs in the case with a send-off rally on Sunday, October 1 in Milwaukee.  More information on that event here.  LWV US also will be holding a rally in Washington DC the morning of October 3. Both LWVUS and LWVWI filed amicus briefs in support of the plaintiffs.  

Andrea Kaminski’s Op-Ed this week outlines reasons why the U.S. Supreme Court should put an end to partisan gerrymandering, a position LWV has long held. Elections should be won, not rigged.

Debra Cronmiller, LWV WI President, is returning from Washington, D.C. after a 2-day meeting of the LWV US Steering Committee for the “League Transformation” which will guide the League at every level into its second century. She will update Leagues in Wisconsin about the meeting and progress of the organizational transformation at this year’s Issues Briefing in Madison on October 28.

Speaking of Issues Briefing, have you registered yet? You can register online now through October 19. More information can be found online or in the upcoming edition of the Forward newsletter which you should receive in the next week. Check out the knowledgeable speakers and great topics in this year’s agenda. 

Finally, our online contribution form is repaired. Thanks to the members who let us know that it was down following a recent web hosting transition. You can once again make a secure contribution to LWV WI via our website. Your contributions support all the work that we have been able to accomplish this week and our ability to continually assist local Leagues in their direct action within their communities. Please consider giving today.

Wisconsin deserves to hear the facts about the latest GOP tax plan that has more tax cuts for the rich while increasing rates on low-income Americans.

MADISON - Republican Gov. Scott Walker joined Vice President Mike Pence Thursday for a photo op designed to distract from who their new national tax plan really helps. However, their staged optics are not fooling the people of Wisconsin or Indiana. We have experienced the GOP record pushing 'reform' plans that overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy and giant corporations.

In response, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Martha Laning released this statement:

"As governors, Mike Pence and Scott Walker share a record of touting so-called reforms that actually lavish tax breaks overwhelmingly on the wealthy. Today Gov. Walker will help Vice President Pence peddle a national tax cut for the rich and big corporations that was crafted by former Wall Street insiders. In contrast, Democrats across our state will continue to fight for jobs, health care and an economy focused on the needs of Wisconsin's middle-class families."

Governors Should be Servants, Not Masters, according to Wisconsin governor candidate Mike McCabe.

LA CROSSE, WI - Wisconsin governor candidate Mike McCabe announced Monday at a rally in La Crosse that if elected he will insist on an annual salary that is one dollar less than the average Wisconsin worker makes in a year.

The current salary of the governor is $147,328 a year. According to the most recent figures available from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average wage in Wisconsin is in the neighborhood of $45,000 annually, or less than a third of the governor’s salary.

McCabe previously announced he will not live in the Governor’s Mansion if elected.

“Governors should be servants, not masters. That’s why I won’t live in the mansion once elected and won’t accept the full salary of the governor. I’ll be paid one dollar less than the average Wisconsin worker makes,” he said.

If state law or administrative procedures prevent the salary of the governor from being adjusted to reflect his commitment, McCabe will either return the excess amount of salary to the state treasury or donate it to charity.

The campaign website is www.GovernorBlueJeans.com.

MADISON - A new Politico Magazine profile is helping Wisconsinites find out who Kevin Nicholson really is -- a political opportunist who can't be trusted.

In the article, interviews with people who have known Kevin Nicholson for years confirm that he is running for himself, not Wisconsin:

Nicholson’s Friends And Foes Testified To His “Deep-Seated Political Aspirations.” “After conversations with more than two dozen people who know Nicholson, I’ve concluded that there’s something to both of these narratives. Friend and foe alike testify in detail to his methodical preparation and deep-seated political aspirations, leaving no illusion that he finds himself running for federal office by happenstance.” [Politico, 9/22/17]

People Said That Nicholson “Decided The Clearest Path To Public Office As A Straight, White Man In Wisconsin Would Be As A Republican.” “The generous view holds, more or less, that Nicholson quit politics because he felt abandoned by the Democratic Party, discovered his inner conservatism and re-emerged serendipitously back home just as Wisconsin’s GOP bench was growing a bit stale. The cynical view is essentially that Nicholson has wanted to be president since he was a teenager and has few core convictions; that he saw the demographic winds shift during his time in D.C. and decided the clearest path to public office as a straight, white man in Wisconsin would be as a Republican.” [Politico, 9/22/17]

Nicholson's High School Teacher When Told He's Running For U.S. Senate As A Republican: "You're shitting me." "When I talked with two of the Social Studies department’s longest-tenured teachers—Ernie Millard and Steve O’Brien, both of whom taught when Nicholson was there—neither could muster a memory. Only after I showed Millard his photo did he remember coaching Nicholson on the freshman wrestling team. When I told them he’s running for U.S. Senate, O’Brien leaned forward. “You’re shitting me.”" [Politico, 9/22/17]

Nicholson's College Democrats Vice President Said Nicholson Isn't Running for the "Right Reasons" “I did not like Kevin, and he would be the first person to tell you that,” says Alexandra Acker-Lyons, who was Nicholson’s vice president and is today a Democratic consultant. “Kevin is that guy—D.C. is crawling with them, summer interns and Hill staffers—who you know wants to run for office, and you know isn’t doing it for the right reasons.” [Politico, 9/22/17]

Nicholson's College Roommate And "Political Disciple" Said Nicholson Was "Verbally and Emotionally Abusive" In College. "Tillotson says he became Nicholson’s friend and political disciple. 'There were so many people who saw great things in him,' Tillotson tells me. The two rented an apartment together near campus, but soon had a falling out. Tillotson packed his bags. They never reconciled, and Tillotson—who today leads a teachers union and makes no bones about being a partisan—is now Nicholson’s fiercest critic, bombarding Wisconsin reporters with tales of the Senate hopeful’s zealous pursuit of the Oval Office. Among many other accusations, Tillotson says Nicholson was verbally and emotionally abusive toward people during college." [Politico, 9/22/17]     And from previous news stories: Former Nicholson Colleague: “I Really Just Think He’s An Opportunist.” “Alexandra Acker-Lyons, a self-proclaimed Baldwin supporter, says she wants Wisconsin Republicans to know the Kevin Nicholson she knew. She said, ‘I really just think he’s an opportunist.’ Acker-Lyons worked with Nicholson while he was the National President of the College Democrats of America. Acker-Lyons said, ‘When I heard he was running for Senate and running as a Republican, I was just frankly floored.”’ [CBS 58, 4/7/17]   Nicholson “Is Everything That Is Wrong With Politics- Self Serving, Pugnacious, & Narcissistic.” “Now, one of Nicholson’s former college roommates at the University of Minnesota has begun attacking him on social media. ‘I was @KevinMNicholson roommate in college,’ wrote Adam Tillotson. ‘He is everything that is wrong with politics – self serving, pugnacious, & narcissistic #fraud’” [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7/11/17]   Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning remarked, "Kevin Nicholson embodies what is wrong with politics. Those that know him believe that he's running for office for the wrong reasons. Nicholson's goal isn't to help the people of Wisconsin -- he is in this to help himself."

LA CROSSE, WI - Since his official kick-off in Curtiss, WI on Sept 12, 2017, McCabe’s Principle Over Party campaign has been barnstorming the state with a message about getting government working for all of us and not just a few. Stops have included Curtiss, Wausau, Green Bay and Milwaukee.

The next rally stop will be in La Crosse on Sept 25th.  Several stops will be made that day including meetings with small business owners and tour of a local brewery. The day will conclude with a larger event  from 5:30pm - 8pm at the Concordia Ballroom.  (1129 La Crosse St, La Crosse) The event is free and all are welcome.

Mike understands that both major political parties bend to the interests of the rich donors and too often leave regular people feeling left out and forgotten. But, like Bernie Sanders, he is running in the Democratic primary because he recognizes that the U.S. has a very strong two-party system and the best chance to make change in our political system and return government to the people is to run in a major party primary.

“Wisconsin has lost its way and is becoming a shadow of its former self. Our state once was an industrial powerhouse, but now is leading the nation in shrinkage of the middle class and is dead last in new business start-ups. Roads and bridges are deteriorating badly, with some towns tearing up pavement and going back to gravel because they can’t afford to fill the potholes. Too many can’t drink what comes out of the water faucets in their own homes. Schools are slipping toward mediocrity. Education beyond high school is unaffordable, burying so many young people under a mountain of debt. The root cause of all of this is a poisoned political culture that celebrates greed, a political system that caters to a privileged few and ignores the rest of us.”

For 15 years, McCabe led the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a nonpartisan watchdog group that tracks the money in elections, exposes corruption and works to make people matter more than money in politics. ( wisdc.org/wdcaccomplishments.php ) He went on to start up the grassroots group Blue Jean Nation, which works to empower regular people to challenge the political establishment.

McCabe does not belong to any political party, but is entering the Democratic primary. The campaign’s website is  GovernorBlueJeans.com.

Announces Plan at Milwaukee Rally Thursday. "The house belongs to the people of Wisconsin," he says.

MILWAUKEE, WI - Wisconsin governor candidate Mike McCabe announced Thursday that he will decline to live in the Governor’s Mansion if elected but will leave it up to the people of the state to decide what to do with the residence.

“Governors should be servants, not masters. To me, that means a governor is under the people, not above them,” McCabe said. “It doesn’t seem right to move into a 20,000-square-foot mansion in the name of public service. I’ve never lived in a mansion in my life and getting elected to represent the people is no reason to start.”

He went on to say: “We have a poisoned political culture that glorifies greed and dooms us to a government and economy that work great for the rich and powerful at everyone else’s expense. Concern for the common good has fallen out of fashion. Genuine public service has given way to a lot of back scratching, nest feathering and ladder climbing. Bringing back true public service for the common good requires leadership by example.”

If elected, McCabe will continue to live in the 1,400-square-foot home he shares with his wife and teenage son. He won’t decide the future of the Governor’s Mansion, however.

“The house belongs to the people of Wisconsin. Let the people decide what to do with it,” he said. “If they want it sold, it should be sold. If they want to keep it for some future governor to live in, it should be kept. If they want to turn it into a museum, then that’s what should happen. Hell, if they want to make it into an Airbnb, it’s up to the them.”

The campaign's website is www.GovernorBlueJeans.com.

A nationally televised interview this morning showed irresponsible ignorance at best, or lack of compassion for Wisconsinites at worst, as the Republican health-care disaster hurdles forward

MADISON - This morning on MSNBC, Senator Ron Johnson turned an interview into an alarming spectacle by revealing under direct questioning how little he knows about the devastating impact his Graham-Cassidy-Heller-Johnson bill could have on the people in the state of Wisconsin and nationwide.

After failing miserably to silence the anchors by talking over them with a rant against the Affordable Care Act, Johnson showed that he has no answers on the most basic and vital questions on this bill that he wants to ram through at top speed with little information on its impact.

When broadcast  journalist Willie Geist asked him, "People will lose coverage under your plan, Senator?" Johnson remarked, "I can't guarantee that."

Johnson went on to attack the Affordable Care Act with an incomprehensible claim that pre-existing conditions are not covered for those who have a job and those people would have to quit their job to get such coverage.

Again he was asked by Geist, "Senator, I want to be very clear in an answer you gave a minute ago because I think this is at the core of what we're talking about here, will people who currently have coverage, medical coverage, lose it under your plan in the United States?"

Johnson, again, gave an incorrect answer: "Listen, millions of people lost coverage under Obamacare. There are no guarantees other than the fact that premiums have already doubled and continued to skyrocket."

That is false, but the journalists were not surrendering to his failed attempts to distract.

MSNBC Morning Joe senior contributor Mike Barnicle stepped in with a heart-wrenching question in a last ditch attempt to get a straight answer out of Johnson:  "Somewhere in Wisconsin there is a child with cystic fibrosis currently covered under what you call the disaster of Obamacare. Can you tell that family that their premiums under your proposed bill -- that you're about to vote on -- their premiums will not go up?"

And what did Johnson say? "They certainly shouldn't go, they should be going down."

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning reacted to Sen. Johnson’s terrifying interview, responding:

"Senator Johnson either has absolutely no idea of how his legislation will harm families across Wisconsin or – perhaps most alarmingly -- he cares more about Republican elections than the people this stands to truly and deeply harm.

“Either way, the fourth iteration of Trumpcare does exactly what the previous versions did: It institutes an age tax for older Americans, jeopardizes protections for people with pre-existing conditions, eliminates the ban on lifetime caps and yanks health care away from millions. Senator Johnson may not know what's in his own legislation, but one thing from today’s terrible media exchange is clear – it would be malpractice to let this dangerous bill pass.”

State barnstorm rally will be at The Eight Nightclub, 618 N Water St, Milwaukee from 6pm - 9pm. The event is free and all are welcome.

MILWAUKEE - After his official kick-off in Curtiss, WI on Sept 12, 2017, McCabe’s Principle Over Party campaign will barnstorm the state with a message about getting government working for all of us and not just a few, a living wage for every worker, health care for all, debt-free education and job training, and high-speed Internet to every doorstep.

The next rally stop will be in Milwaukee on Sept 21.  Several stops will be made that day culminating with a larger event  from 6pm - 9pm at The Eight Nightclub.  (618 N Water St, Milwaukee) The event is free and all are welcome.

“There is risk involved in taking a stand against the influence of big money. But there is an even greater risk if everyone keeps going along with the corrupt way election campaigns are regularly being funded. If big money rules again in the next election for governor, some candidate will win but the people will lose,” McCabe said.

“If money decides the election, the people will continue to be stuck with elected representatives who scratch the backs of those who scratched theirs, and our government will continue to be controlled by the wealthy and well-connected. Breaking free of this trap involves risk. It requires faith and the courage of conviction,” he said. “Political insiders will call this unilateral disarmament. No, it’s acting on principle. The insiders say you have to spend four or five hours a day begging rich people for money if you want to be taken seriously. That’s exactly what has gotten us into the mess we’re in.”

For 15 years, McCabe led the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a nonpartisan watchdog group that tracks the money in elections, exposes corruption and works to make people matter more than money in politics. ( wisdc.org/wdcaccomplishments.php ) He went on to start up the grassroots group Blue Jean Nation, which works to empower regular people to challenge the political establishment.

McCabe does not belong to any political party, but is entering the Democratic primary. The campaign’s website is  GovernorBlueJeans.com .

Expresses support for conservative Sen. Leah Vukmir instead.

JUNEAU, WI – Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R–Juneau) released the following statement Monday regarding the 2018 U.S. Senate race:

“After thoughtful consideration, I have decided that I will not enter the race for U.S. Senate and will remain dedicated to serving the 13th Senate District.

“I would like to express my complete support for Sen. Leah Vukmir, an actual conservative. She is an exceptional leader, one of the best Wisconsin has to offer, so I am choosing not to run for the U.S. Senate knowing we are in great hands. Leah will listen to the grassroots and will provide Wisconsinites the leadership they deserve in Washington.

“Leah is a dedicated public servant and her commitment to serving the people of Wisconsin is reflected in her record. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Leah in the State Senate and have complete confidence that she has the strength and determination to unseat Tammy Baldwin.

“It’s time to turn Wisconsin entirely red, and Leah is the candidate that will help us achieve that goal. I support Leah Vukmir, and I strongly encourage others to join me.”

New Republican proposed budget continues the same old out-of-touch Madison political games at the expense of Wisconsinites.

MADISON – Last week, after two months of infighting by Governor Walker and legislative Republicans, the Joint Finance Committee convened to finish their review of Gov. Walker’s 2017-19 state budget.

Notable last-minute provisions railroaded through the budget process on the last day by a party-line vote include: more tax breaks for the rich, hefty handouts to big corporations, doubling the school voucher program for students with special needs, auditing family planning clinics like Planned Parenthood, and instituting overreaching surveillance of UW System faculty workload.

Tony Evers, Democratic candidate for Governor, released the following statement:

“Can you say out-of-touch? Instead of working to invest and build Wisconsin’s middle class – which has been impacted by significant manufacturing job and wage losses over the last year – legislative Republicans doubled-down on tax breaks for those who do not need it and, to pay for it, they eliminated tax breaks for those who need it most. It’s no surprise Wisconsin’s middle class is shrinking faster than any other state in the country. Look no further than Kansas to see the devastating impact that these careless and ballooned tax breaks to big corporations will have.

“The politicians are at it again. For example, they are taking cheap shots at Planned Parenthood, which provides life-saving preventive health services like cancer screenings to over 60,000 Wisconsinites every year and trying to tell UW faculty how to do their jobs. Scott Walker and legislative Republicans should instead focus on creating jobs, improving our schools, and growing Wisconsin’s economy.”

Tony Evers has been elected three times to serve as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, winning 70 of 72 counties in his last election, with 70 percent of the vote statewide. Evers has spent his entire career educating our kids, previously working as a science teacher, a high school principal and as school district superintendent. As State Superintendent, Evers runs one of the largest agencies in the state, with responsibility over 70,000 educators and 860,000 students. Evers is the father of 3 children and 6 grandchildren, raising his family in communities throughout Wisconsin, including Plymouth, Baraboo, Tomah, Oakfield, Omro, Oshkosh and Verona.