Green Bay's Dr. Kristin Lyerly quoted.

MADISON, Wis. -- One year ago, President Biden signed Democrats’ American Rescue Plan into law, expanding affordability measures and reducing health care costs for over 212,000 Wisconsinites. It’s no surprise that Republican Ron Johnson voted against this critical relief – he’s spent his career fighting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, strip away health care from thousands of Wisconsinites, and raise insurance premiums.

While Democrats work to lower costs, Wisconsin Republicans in Congress are running on a disastrous agenda that would hike taxes for 32 percent of families across the state and raise health care costs.

Take a look at what Wisconsinites who rely on the ACA are saying about the Wisconsin GOP’s 2022 agenda:

Lynn Carey:

“After 11 years of being on oxygen twenty-four seven and going through all of these treatments, I received a double lung transplant. [Becasue of the ACA] I knew I would get the care I needed. I knew I wouldn't go bankrupt. And now I hear one of our United States Senators, Ron Johnson, talking about taking that away from millions of Wisconsinites. He's told us over and over – and I've heard him say – that he believes health care is a privilege. Well, I can tell you that indeed, he may believe that but I don't believe that – and I don't believe most Wisconsinites believe that.

“And that is why he [Ron Johnson] and the GOP want to get power, so they can take away the Affordable Care Act. To me this is wrong. This is so wrong. And while he has built his Senate career opposing the ACA, Wisconsinites are benefiting.”

Sarah Conklin:

“Senator Johnson has made it clear he doesn't care about me or the other hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites who have pre-existing conditions. In my opinion, Senator Johnson is hell-bent on fulfilling his misguided self-serving agenda that only hurts people like me. He's more concerned with changing the laws to enrich himself and his donors than lowering health care costs or protecting vulnerable Wisconsinites like myself.”

William Gracia:

“Without the protections of the ACA, my daughter would never be able to have insurance. And without insurance, we could never afford the surgeries, the medicine, the ER visits – that have been a kind of constant presence in my daughter's life. So when I hear Ron Johnson say these things, it is very personal to me. If he's willing to throw my daughter out without insurance, and without a future, he's willing to do that to any child in Wisconsin and any child in America.”

Dr. Kristin Lyerly:

“Yesterday, Ron Johnson actually admitted that the main goal was to paralyze the government – paralyze the government – [to] not work until the GOP can take over. And then, he used the repeal of the ACA as his prime example of what he would do… His actions and his words tell us that Ron Johnson believes that health care isn't a right…No. Ron Johnson believes that health care is a privilege and only those who can afford it, deserve it.

“It's no wonder that Johnson joined the entire Republican Party in voting against the American Rescue Plan, which cut health care costs for millions of Americans and provided critical funding to hospitals and health clinics across the state to help us take care of our patients in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic. It's obvious, I can't trust Ron Johnson to stand up for my patients.”

Admission is the Latest Plank in Republicans’ Agenda of Tax Hikes and Raised Premiums

MADISON, Wis. – Yesterday, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley admitted that a Republican-controlled Senate would not take action on lowering drug prices, saying “If we want to reduce drug prices, then we need to do it now [under a Democratic Congress]."

Grassley’s comments come as Senate Republicans have spent the last few weeks outlining how a Republican majority would mean hiking taxes on working families, raising health insurance premiums, and doing nothing to lower costs.

Republicans trying to rip away health care from working families is not news to folks in Wisconsin, as Ron Johnson has spent his entire political career pushing a self-serving agenda that would reduce coverage and increase premiums for hundreds of thousands of families across the state. Just last week, Johnson doubled down by reaffirming his promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act – which would mean more than 100 million Americans with pre-existing conditions would lose insurance protections, Americans with private insurance could see their premiums skyrocket, 21 million Americans could lose their insurance, and more.

“Let’s be clear: the Republican plan is to raise taxes on 32% of Wisconsinites, increase health insurance premiums, and take away protections for folks with pre-existing conditions. Now they’re admitting a Republican majority means doing nothing to lower prescription drug costs. The GOP is only winning if working Wisconsinites are losing – which is why Wisconsin will remain blue in 2022,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Senate Communications Advisor Philip Shulman

MADISON, Wis. -- This week, Attorney General Josh Kaul launched a lawsuit against Johnson Controls and Tyco Fire Prodcuts over PFAS pollution at facilities in Marinette. Also known as “forever chemicals”, PFAS has been linked to numerous adverse health effects, including pregnancy-induced hypertension and cancer. This week’s suit brought by Attorney General Kaul seeks justice for families impacted by an alleged 2013 discharge that went unreported to the state.

NBC 26: Kaul sues Johnson Controls, Tyco over PFAS pollution

Attorney General Josh Kaul announced Monday morning that the Wisconsin Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Johnson Controls and Tyco Fire Products over PFAS pollution in Marinette.

Kaul filed the action Monday in Marinette County Circuit Court. The foam has contaminated the area's soil, groundwater, surface water, and air. The lawsuit alleges that Johnson Controls and Tyco failed to notify the state about a PFAS discharge back in 2013.

The chemical PFAS can have numerous adverse health effects, such as serum cholesterol, immune dysregulation, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and kidney and testicular cancers, according to a release sent by the Attorney General. The discharge has left many people in the town of Peshtigo without drinking water.

Kayla Furton discovered that her drinking water had been contaminated in 2018. Her home was a part of the initial plume of water that was contaminated with PFAS.

"We were added to the initial plume which is now known as the PWSA, the private wells study area, which is the one area that Tyco and JCI is accepting responsibility for," Furton said.

Her water at one point tested at 63 parts per trillion combined PFAs compounds - an amount that's considered dangerously high.

[...]

“Every home within the contamination area deserves access to clean drinking water, bottled water, POET systems as an interim measure and long-term safe drinking water," Furton said. "So this announcement from Attorney General Kaul today is huge for everyone in our community.”

[...]

"It is so welcoming to see the Attorney General filing this lawsuit saying I'm there with you," Oitzinger said. "We're going to put the full weight of the Attorney General's office behind enforcing our environmental laws for the protection of our environment but also for the protection and well being of the people that live in these communities."

Less than a minute into a special session called by the governor, the GOP-controlled Wisconsin state legislature gaveled out.

MADISON - Republicans in the Wisconsin state legislature are blocking Gov. Tony Evers’ efforts to lower costs, fund child care, and improve education for Wisconsinites. 

Less than a minute into a special session called by the governor, the GOP-controlled Wisconsin state legislature gaveled out, refusing to take action on Gov. Evers’ plan to put Wisconsin’s record surplus to work. The plan, which is supported by groups like AARP Wisconsin, would give a $150 tax rebate to every Wisconsin tax filer and each of their dependents, as well as invest in child care and education across the state. 

GOP candidate for governor Rebecca Kleefisch called the surplus plan a “non-starter” — even as a recent Marquette poll highlighted that Wisconsinites expect action on rising costs. 

While Republicans are leaving Wisconsinites high and dry, Gov. Evers continues to take action to address rising prices. During his first term, Gov. Evers signed historic tax relief for small businesses and delivered a 15 percent income tax cut for working families. Just yesterday, Gov. Evers joined five other Democratic governors in urging Congress to suspend the federal gas tax to give people relief at the gas pump. 

“Gov. Tony Evers has outlined a bold plan to invest Wisconsin’s historic surplus into solutions to the biggest challenges facing Wisconsinites,” said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. “Instead of taking action and supporting critical and necessary relief, Republicans are sitting on their hands. Wisconsin voters won’t forget how Gov. Evers consistently took action while Republicans turned their backs on Wisconsinites when it mattered most.”

Do Rebecca Kleefisch and Kevin Nicholson Agree?

MADISON, Wis. – Despite the complete lack of evidence and the legal impossibility of decertifying the 2020 election results in Wisconsin, disgraced former President Trump called Gableman’s sham interim report “incredible” and said he anticipates the state legislature will decertify the 2020 election results.

Even though recent polling showed more than two-thirds of Wisconsinites are confident that their vote in the 2020 election was safely counted and are ready to move on, the Republican Party is still harping on an election they lost almost a year and a half ago.

So far, Republican candidates for governor have only amplified these ridiculous conspiracy theories in an attempt to prove they are the most radical candidate in the race. Every single Republican running for governor refuses to call out Trump for his lies and will not admit that the election was free, fair, and secure.

Last month, Rebecca Kleefisch tripled down on her refusal to answer if she would have certified the election results if she were governor in 2020. Kevin Nicholson has continually doubted the validity of the 2020 election and voiced his desire to dismantle Wisconsin’s bipartisan elections commission in order to put politicians from his own party in charge of election administration. And of course, we know where Tim Ramthun stands. He has been leading the crusade to decertify the election results, something that he and Donald Trump may discuss when Ramthun visits Mar-a-Lago next month [1:30].

“You can't beg for an endorsement from Donald Trump and then say you stand for free and fair elections,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Rapid Response Director Hannah Menchhoff. “Trump’s push to decertify the election would disenfranchise more than 1.6 million Wisconsin voters, not to mention be completely unconstitutional. Republicans can’t have it both ways. Kleefisch and Nicholson need to tell voters where they stand — with democracy or with Trump.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/gaylord-nelson-s5.jpgEnvironmental advocates list their choices for a brighter, cleaner, more equitable Wisconsin in the April 5 local elections.

Nonpartisan voter rights organization says maps better than nothing, but more work needs to be done.

MADISON— Thursday, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin’s executive director, Debra Cronmiller, issued the following statement in response to the SCOWI decision regarding the new maps.

“We are pleased that the Supreme Court of Wisconsin has chosen a map that more accurately reflects the communities of color in Milwaukee based on the 2020 Census.

“Regardless, the Court rejected any maps that did not start with the past decade’s partisan gerrymandered maps. The Court refused to hear any truly fair maps, despite an overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites wanting fair maps.

“The League will continue to fight for nonpartisan, transparently-drawn maps. We will continue to advocate for legislation that would make gerrymandered maps illegal in Wisconsin.

“Partisan maps are what keep elected officials from listening to their constituents.

“Voters pick their elected officials. Not the other way around.”

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The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin is a nonpartisan political organization that advocates for informed and active participation in government. There are 20 local Leagues throughout Wisconsin. More information at lwvwi.org.

Court decision to adopt Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed redistricting map over the more gerrymandered majority Republicans one a win, say Democrats.

MADISON, Wis. —In response to Thursday’s decision from the Wisconsin Supreme Court to adopt Gov. Tony Evers’ proposed redistricting map for state legislative and congressional maps, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler released the following statement:

“Governor Evers ran on a promise to fight for fairer maps, and, with today’s state Supreme Court ruling, he delivered. While the Supreme Court’s decision to use the 2010 partisan gerrymander as a starting point means the work for fair representation continues, today’s ruling is a win for Wisconsin. By selecting the maps proposed by Gov. Evers, the Court rejected options that would further bolster the gerrymandered majority Republicans have used to hold our state hostage for the last decade.

“We’re grateful for Gov. Evers’ steady leadership, defense of democracy, and steadfast commitment to doing the right thing. We know the fight for fair maps is far from over, and we will continue to work to ensure that voters choose their politicians, rather than politicians choosing voters.”

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today released the following statement regarding the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision.

“Hell yes.

“The maps I submitted to the Court that were selected today are a vast improvement from the gerrymandered maps Wisconsin has had for the last decade and the even more gerrymandered Republican maps that I vetoed last year. We still have a long way to go, and I will never stop fighting for nonpartisan redistricting as long as I’m the governor of this great state. 

“Today’s ruling isn’t a victory for me or any political party, but for the people of our state who for too long have demanded better, fairer maps and for too long went ignored—today’s victory is for them.”

“Real People Are Struggling With These Pocketbook Issues”

MADISON, Wis. — When Senate President Chris Kapenga and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos invited Governor Tony Evers to deliver this year’s State of the State address, they wrote that “there are supply shortages and soaring inflation rates, causing families to have to pay significantly more on items such as food and gasoline. Real people are struggling with these pocketbook issues.”

That letter was sent 66 days ago on December 27, 2021. Since then, Gov. Evers has announced a common sense surplus plan that will direct a portion of the state’s record-breaking budget surplus towards delivering tax cuts for families, increasing child care opportunities so folks can fill jobs, expanding caregiving, and improving education quality — all while providing much-needed property tax relief for parents.

Wisconsin Republicans have now said that Gov. Evers’ common sense surplus plan is a “non-starter” — once again demonstrating that their letter was for show and that they have no interest in helping parents, filling jobs, or lowering costs.

At a time when families are feeling the effects of inflation and close to 96% in a recent poll have expressed concern, Wisconsin’s record-breaking budget surplus shouldn’t be collecting dust in Madison — it should be used to help the workers and families who created it.

Here’s how Gov. Evers’ surplus plan will benefit Wisconsinites:

• Wisconsinites are facing rising costs — which is why Gov. Evers’ plan delivers a $150 tax rebate to every tax filer and each of their dependents this year, meaning a family of four would receive $600.
• Parents need more affordable child care options  — that’s why Gov. Evers’ plan helps lower costs by expanding the Child and Dependent Care Credit.
• Gov. Evers’ plan creates a new Caregiver Tax Credit — which will help families and save the state money by investing in caregivers.
• Gov. Evers has long said that what’s best for our kids is what’s best for our state — that’s why his plan will improve education quality and provide property tax relief.

“Republicans and Democrats don’t always agree, but this isn’t one of those times,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Rapid Response Director Hannah Menchhoff. “Robin Vos asked for a plan on rising costs and Governor Evers has delivered — now it’s time for Wisconsin Republicans to put aside their political games and come to the table for Wisconsin families.”