MADISON - Last night, Trump admitted that he’s coming for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security if reelected in 2020.

These programs are important for hundreds of thousands of hardworking men and women across the state, and taking them away would have serious consequences. Take it from Denise, who worries that Trump will take away her benefits.

The Supreme Court also announced this week that it will hear a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act later this year. This deserves attention here in Wisconsin, seeing as 2.4 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions could be charged more or be denied coverage completely.

The truth is, “Disease doesn’t know if you have a D or an R next to your name — it doesn’t care about politics.” Jarrett knows this first hand: his parents, lifelong Republicans, were reluctant to sign up for the ACA. Fortunately, they signed up at the last minute and it saved their family from financial ruin. Read his piece here.

Earlier this week, women small business owners gathered in La Crosse to talk about whether or not the Trump Administration’s economic policies are working for them. Penny Fassler, a local business owner, said she has not seen any tax cuts since President Trump imposed his tax plan. Instead, she sees tax breaks going to big corporations.

Penny’s right. In fact, by 2027, 83% of the Trump tax law’s benefits will go to the top 1%, while many small businesses have seen their taxes go up.

If you’re interested in hearing from Wisconsinites whose lives have been made better by the ACA or who feel that Trump’s economy just isn’t working for them, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Best, 
Cassidy

No news on whether Warren will endorse one of the other Democrats still running in the presidential race yet.

State Senator Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) continues to single handedly block efforts to strengthen protections for Pre-Existing Conditions.

MADISON - As the Trump Administration renews their push to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Senator Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) continues to single handedly block a proposal to protect health coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. Senate Bill 37, also known as the Comprehensive Health Care Protection Act, would safeguard federal health protections at the state level, and ensure families and seniors are able to access the care they need without going bankrupt. Despite overwhelming public support, the bill has languished in the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services where Senator Patrick Testin serves as chair.

“It is appalling that Senator Testin continues to block access to affordable and quality health coverage,” said Katie Iliff, SSDC Executive Director. “Senator Testin and the rest of his Republican colleagues have made it their mission to undermine the health care marketplace and protect the profits of wealthy insurance executives. Not only is he refusing to do his job, he is actively working to eliminate health care protections for the 2.4 million Wisconsin residents living with pre-existing conditions. This fall, voters will finally have a chance to protect our care and send greedy pals of the insurance industry like Patrick Testin packing.”

In addition to blocking protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions, Sen. Testin has established a pattern of ignoring children, families and seniors who lack access to affordable health care. Already this session Sen. Testin has voted against legislation to lower insulin costs, improve birth outcomes and expand Medicaid coverage for thousands of Wisconsinites while saving taxpayers millions of dollars.

He also endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, saying it was clear from the Super Tuesday results that Biden was the best candidate to defeat Trump.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/amy-klobuchar-pbs-debate-s5.pngSen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) will end her presidential campaign on Monday and endorse Joe Biden.

Buttigieg's decision to drop out of the race comes after billionaire Tom Steyer suspended his campaign on Saturday following a poor showing in South Carolina.

Stevens Point Veteran to run for Wisconsin’s 24th Senate District

Stevens Point, WI – Citing the need to lower health care costs, provide quality education for our children, restore local decision making authority and protect our drinking water, central Wisconsin native and longtime law enforcement officer Paul Piotrowski, has formally announced his candidacy for the 24th State Senate District.

“I’m running for State Senate because we deserve a stronger voice than what we have in Madison,” said Paul, “Residents throughout the 24th Senate District need someone they can trust and rely on. From my service in the Navy to protecting our community as a police officer, I know how to fight for the issues impacting families every single day.”

Piotrowski, a Democrat, proudly served his hometown for close to 27 years as a Stevens Point police officer. He is a veteran of the United States Navy, earning a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and most recently served as the Stevens Point City Clerk, an elected position. As an officer for the Stevens Point Police Department, Paul served in various roles including Patrol Sergeant and Community Resource Officer. Piotrowski represented the department on different committees and commissions like Portage County Alliance for Youth, the Family Crisis Center Advisory Board, and Triad with senior citizens. He has also served as a volunteer in the community over the years, particularly for the Portage County Cultural Festival. Paul and his wife Cindy live in Stevens Point. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.

“I’m a native of central Wisconsin. Cindy and I raised our children here and we both have been deeply involved in our community and the region. I look forward to meeting voters across the district and to learning about their needs and expectations.” he said

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Residents can learn more about Paul at: www.piotrowskiforsenate.com

The 24th Senate District includes portions of Adams, Portage, Monroe, Marathon, Wood and Waushara Counties.

MADISON, WI - Despite numerous promises that Mexico would pay to fund a border wall, Donald Trump is stripping millions of taxpayer dollars away from Wisconsin, again, to pay for his vanity project. Most recently he took aim at the Oshkosh Corps, which supports thousands of manufacturing jobs, by taking away millions of dollars in funding for the military vehicles they build. In September of 2019, Trump diverted millions of dollars from the Truax Field Air National Guard Base.

Read below how Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin is fighting to reverse Trump's budget cuts.

Wisconsin Examiner: Bill would reverse funds transfer for wall, restore Wisconsin military contracts
Erik Gunn

Sen. Tammy Baldwin joined two-and-a-half dozen other Senate Democrats this week in a bill to reverse the Trump administration’s transfer of $3.8 billion from the Department of Defense to pay for building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.

The bill aims to pressure the administration to restore funding for military contracts with two Wisconsin manufacturers. It also would limit the DoD from diverting more funding for the wall, which was a top talking point for President Donald Trump in his 2016 campaign and has remained so since his election.

“You promised the people of Wisconsin that Mexico would pay for your ineffective border wall,” Baldwin (D-Wis.) wrote in a letter she sent to Trump on Monday. “However, you are once again making American taxpayers fund it and you are taking funding away from Wisconsin manufacturers that strengthen our national defense and create jobs.”

Earlier this month, Trump announced the transfer of $3.8 billion in DoD funds for the wall project. Included in those funds, according to Baldwin’s office, were $101 million that Congress appropriated for Army heavy wheeled defense vehicles to be built by Oshkosh Defense, a brand of Oshkosh Corp. in Oshkosh, Wis. Also included, Baldwin stated, was $650 million for an amphibious Navy ship powered by diesel-engine electric generation systems built by Fairbanks Morse in Beloit, Wis.

The Restoring Military Priorities Act of 2020, authored by Sen. Dick Durbin (R-Ill.) and cosponsored by 31 other Democratic senators, including Baldwin, would reverse the $3.8 billion transfer. It would also cut how much the DoD could transfer under the fiscal 2020 budget, from $6 billion to less than $2.2 billion.

The $3.8 billion diversion comes on top of $2.5 billion in DoD money transferred last spring to help pay for the wall.

In addition, Trump has announced plans to move another $7.2 billion in military money to the wall project, “diverting funding from military families and forcing American taxpayers to pay for his vanity project and failed campaign promise,” Baldwin said in a statement.

Bernie ahead now, but much more to come.

WASHINGTON, DC - With the first three presidential nominating contests in the books, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is the undisputed front-runner in the Democratic field, but the overwhelming majority of primary voters have yet to cast their ballots.

Other candidates are looking to make up ground in less than a week on Super Tuesday, when 15 states and territories — including the two biggest — will allocate a third of the pledged delegates up for grabs this cycle.

Centrist candidates are increasingly warning of the dangers they say a Sanders nomination can pose to the party and its chances in November, and some are looking to Tuesday's primaries as the best chance to boost their flagging campaigns.

But polling shows Sanders in a strong position heading into the March 3 contests, particularly in delegate-rich California, fueling fears that the Vermont lawmaker could run away with the nomination after next week, following his close second-place finish in Iowa and victories in New Hampshire and Nevada.

Read the full story here

WASHINGTON, DC - The Democratic White House hopefuls slugged it out on Tuesday at the party's 10th presidential debate, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) coming under a fierce volley of attacks ahead of Saturday’s primary in South Carolina.

Here are five takeaways from a heated night in Charleston, S.C.

Read the full story here