| Time | Saturday, April 2 · 6:00pm - 9:00pm |
|---|---|
| Location | Recall Oshkosh Headquarters 480 N Main St Oshkosh, WI |
| Created By | |
| More Info | See real art, made by actual public employee's. Be able to mingle with actual public employee's and find out for yourselves that they are not the scary slobs we have heard about. |
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Public Art By Public Employees @ the Oshkosh Art Walk
http://www.facebook.com/?eid=213554828659239#!/group.php?gid=25262968258
Rally and Vote Early!
Rally and Vote Early!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120464638032151| Time | Monday, April 4 · 3:30pm - 4:30pm |
|---|---|
| Location | Winnebago County Courthouse Steps 415 Jackson St Oshkosh, WI |
| Created By | |
| More Info | Meet and rally on the Courthouse steps and walk over to the Oshkosh City Hall to vote early for Winnebago County Dems endorsed Candidates: Joanne Kloppenberg for Supreme Court Jer Hall for Oshkosh City Council John Lemberger for Oshkosh School Board |
Martin Luther King, Jr Documentery "At the River I Stand"
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=175473342504549
| Time | Monday, April 4 · 7:00pm - 10:00pm |
|---|---|
| Location | New Moon Cafe 401 N Main St Oshkosh, WI |
| Created By | |
| More Info | Come view the documentary and celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr's commitment and sacrifice to civil rights and economic justice on the anniversary of his tragic death. Martin Luther King, Jr was killed on April 4th, 1968 while helping to unionize Memphis Public Workers. From http://newsreel.org/video/ Memphis, Spring 1968 marked the dramatic climax of the Civil Rights movement. At the River I Stand skillfully reconstructs the two eventful months that transformed a strike by Memphis sanitation worker into a national conflagration, and disentangles the complex historical forces that came together with the inevitability of tragedy at the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
Thursday, March 17, 2011
U.S. Sen. Kohl: Administration should protect SeniorCare program
U.S. Sen. Kohl: Administration should protect SeniorCare program
3/17/2011
Contact: Joe Bonfiglio
Phone: (202) 224-5364
Tells Secretary Sebelius to hold firm to current program waiver
WASHINGTON – Today U.S. Senator Herb Kohl urged Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to deny any request to change Wisconsin’s popular prescription drug program, SeniorCare. In 2007 and 2009, Kohl fought to extend the SeniorCare program, which was established by Gov. Tommy Thompson in 2002. In a telephone conversation earlier today, Kohl asked the Secretary to preserve the current federal SeniorCare waiver, negotiated by Kohl; any change to the program must be approved by the HHS Secretary.
“SeniorCare has proven to be an efficient, cost-effective choice for Wisconsin seniors. It would be a mistake to dismantle this program, which provides exceptional coverage while saving consumers, taxpayers and the state money. I’m confident that the Administration recognizes the value of SeniorCare,” Kohl said.
SeniorCare Fact Sheet
SeniorCare saves Wisconsin seniors money every day
With a $30 annual enrollment fee, copayments ranging from $5 to $15 and no gaps in coverage, SeniorCare provides more comprehensive and less expensive coverage than Medicare Part D.
SeniorCare saves Taxpayers money every day
According to the Department of Health in Wisconsin, in 2009, the average annual federal cost per enrollee for SeniorCare was $588, less than half the $1,690 federal government spent to subsidize a Part D participant. SeniorCare negotiates lower drug prices and saved $50 million in 2009 alone. SeniorCare currently has a $20 million surplus that the State of Wisconsin wants to use to plug the budget deficit.
The state plan to change SeniorCare will boost drug company profits at the expense of Wisconsin’s lowest income seniors
Because Medicare Part D does not negotiate drug prices, most, if not all, Wisconsin seniors enrolled in SeniorCare would see the cost of their medicines rise. Wisconsin would no longer receive drug rebates through negotiation, further padding drug company profits.
Any change to SeniorCare must be approved by the Health and Human Services Secretary
Under the terms of the 1115 Medicaid waiver that authorizes the program, changes to SeniorCare are prohibited without federal approval.
Links:
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/news/PressReleases/2009/021009SeniorCare.htm
http://www.jsonline.com/business/117911229.html
3/17/2011
Contact: Joe Bonfiglio
Phone: (202) 224-5364
Tells Secretary Sebelius to hold firm to current program waiver
WASHINGTON – Today U.S. Senator Herb Kohl urged Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to deny any request to change Wisconsin’s popular prescription drug program, SeniorCare. In 2007 and 2009, Kohl fought to extend the SeniorCare program, which was established by Gov. Tommy Thompson in 2002. In a telephone conversation earlier today, Kohl asked the Secretary to preserve the current federal SeniorCare waiver, negotiated by Kohl; any change to the program must be approved by the HHS Secretary.
“SeniorCare has proven to be an efficient, cost-effective choice for Wisconsin seniors. It would be a mistake to dismantle this program, which provides exceptional coverage while saving consumers, taxpayers and the state money. I’m confident that the Administration recognizes the value of SeniorCare,” Kohl said.
SeniorCare Fact Sheet
SeniorCare saves Wisconsin seniors money every day
With a $30 annual enrollment fee, copayments ranging from $5 to $15 and no gaps in coverage, SeniorCare provides more comprehensive and less expensive coverage than Medicare Part D.
SeniorCare saves Taxpayers money every day
According to the Department of Health in Wisconsin, in 2009, the average annual federal cost per enrollee for SeniorCare was $588, less than half the $1,690 federal government spent to subsidize a Part D participant. SeniorCare negotiates lower drug prices and saved $50 million in 2009 alone. SeniorCare currently has a $20 million surplus that the State of Wisconsin wants to use to plug the budget deficit.
The state plan to change SeniorCare will boost drug company profits at the expense of Wisconsin’s lowest income seniors
Because Medicare Part D does not negotiate drug prices, most, if not all, Wisconsin seniors enrolled in SeniorCare would see the cost of their medicines rise. Wisconsin would no longer receive drug rebates through negotiation, further padding drug company profits.
Any change to SeniorCare must be approved by the Health and Human Services Secretary
Under the terms of the 1115 Medicaid waiver that authorizes the program, changes to SeniorCare are prohibited without federal approval.
Links:
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/news/PressReleases/2009/021009SeniorCare.htm
http://www.jsonline.com/business/117911229.html
Dept. of Veterans Affairs: Veterans Capitol Rally to advocate for support of veterans’ issues
Dept. of Veterans Affairs: Veterans Capitol Rally to advocate for support of veterans’ issues
3/16/2011
Contact: Kathleen Scholl 608-267-3582
(MADISON) – The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) announces there will be a Veterans Capitol Rally in Madison on Wednesday, April 13, 2011.
“It’s very important that we have a strong showing to advocate for veterans’ pressing needs,” said department Secretary Ken Black. “Support for the Veterans Trust Fund is vital to keep veterans programs running.”
Veterans and the public are invited to participate in the daylong activities, with the opportunity for all veterans advocates to network with friends and colleagues, meet with members of the Wisconsin State Legislature, and rally in support of the Veterans Trust Fund and other veterans’ issues.
The day will begin with registration and briefings on veterans’ legislative priorities, at 10:00 a.m. in the ZeitlinEducationCenter of the WDVA Central Office, located at 30 W. Mifflin St. in Madison. After a lunch program, participants will go across the street to the State Capitol for a rally, and then groups will attend scheduled meetings with their state legislators. Late in the day, at around 3:00 p.m., participants will take part in a social gathering at a downtown Madison restaurant (Quaker Steak & Lube on State Street).
All attendees should register before April 1st either online at www.WisVets.com/Rally or by calling 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387). For more information, visit www.WisVets.comRally or contact Max Dulberger at max.dulberger@dva.state.wi.us or (608) 267-0784.
3/16/2011
Contact: Kathleen Scholl 608-267-3582
(MADISON) – The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) announces there will be a Veterans Capitol Rally in Madison on Wednesday, April 13, 2011.
“It’s very important that we have a strong showing to advocate for veterans’ pressing needs,” said department Secretary Ken Black. “Support for the Veterans Trust Fund is vital to keep veterans programs running.”
Veterans and the public are invited to participate in the daylong activities, with the opportunity for all veterans advocates to network with friends and colleagues, meet with members of the Wisconsin State Legislature, and rally in support of the Veterans Trust Fund and other veterans’ issues.
The day will begin with registration and briefings on veterans’ legislative priorities, at 10:00 a.m. in the ZeitlinEducationCenter of the WDVA Central Office, located at 30 W. Mifflin St. in Madison. After a lunch program, participants will go across the street to the State Capitol for a rally, and then groups will attend scheduled meetings with their state legislators. Late in the day, at around 3:00 p.m., participants will take part in a social gathering at a downtown Madison restaurant (Quaker Steak & Lube on State Street).
All attendees should register before April 1st either online at www.WisVets.com/Rally or by calling 1-800-WIS-VETS (947-8387). For more information, visit www.WisVets.comRally or contact Max Dulberger at max.dulberger@dva.state.wi.us or (608) 267-0784.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Hundreds Pack Full City Block to Protest WI GOP Fundraiser in DC
Hundreds Pack Full City Block to Protest WI GOP Fundraiser in DC
They can run, but they can't hide.
They can run, but they can't hide.
Canvas with Senator Erpenbach!
Canvas with Senator Erpenbach!
| Time | Saturday, March 19 · 12:00pm - 3:00pm |
|---|---|
| Location | Oshkosh Recall Randy Hopper Office 480 North Main Street Oshkosh, WI |
| Created By | |
| More Info | Be prepared to canvas! We will have walk packets ready, with scripts and directions to the turf. If you have any questions we will have plenty of people available to answer your questions. Please let us know if you are planning on attending Saturday so that we can be fully prepared. If you have any questions please call 920 664 2417. |
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
WisDems: Silencing the Opposition: Scott Walker Must End Scott Fitzgerald's Banana Republic
Silencing the Opposition: Scott Walker Must End Scott Fitzgerald's Banana Republic
MADISON-Following is the statement of Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate following news that Scott Fitzgerald was forbidding 14 Senate Democrats from voting in committees.
"Republican State Senators weren't content with stripping thousands of working families of their voice in the workplace, now they want to strip them of their voice in state government as well. Scott Walker must end Scott Fitzgerald's move to silence senators that represent more than two million Wisconsinites and immediately restore their voting rights."
Sen. Miller: Statement on Senator Fitzgerald’s directive to not count Senate Democrats’ votes
Sen. Miller: Statement on Senator Fitzgerald’s directive to not count Senate Democrats’ votes
3/15/2011
Contact: Senator Mark Miller
608-266-9170
“I am disappointed that the Senate leader who orchestrated 18 Republican Senators to take away 50 years of workers rights in 30 minutes is now prohibiting the votes of Senate Democrats from being counted.
“Senator Fitzgerald can try to take away our vote but, as the people of Wisconsin have shown, he cannot silence our voices. Senate Democrats will continue to speak out in support of Wisconsin working and middle class families by opposing Senate Republicans and Governor Walker’s war on the rights and values of Wisconsin citizens.”
3/15/2011
Contact: Senator Mark Miller
608-266-9170
“I am disappointed that the Senate leader who orchestrated 18 Republican Senators to take away 50 years of workers rights in 30 minutes is now prohibiting the votes of Senate Democrats from being counted.
“Senator Fitzgerald can try to take away our vote but, as the people of Wisconsin have shown, he cannot silence our voices. Senate Democrats will continue to speak out in support of Wisconsin working and middle class families by opposing Senate Republicans and Governor Walker’s war on the rights and values of Wisconsin citizens.”
WisDems: Wisconsin GOP Heads to DC to Collect Corporate Cash From Mega-Lobbyist Haley Barbour
Wisconsin GOP Heads to DC to Collect Corporate Cash From Mega-Lobbyist Haley Barbour
MADISON - Having rammed through Scott Walker's extreme power grab to strip workers of their collective bargaining rights and make Wisconsin more like low-wage, low-benefit Mississippi, Wisconsin's Republican establishment is headed to Haley Barbour's D.C. lobbying firm Wednesday to bag lobbyist cash.
Barbour is renowned for his ability to raise huge sums of corporate cash, including 7-digit checks from the likes of Koch Industries and Fox News parent company Newscorp. These huge corporate special interests are the same ones to which Scott Walker and the Republicans have catered shamelessly, offering no-bid contracts to their political benefactors like the Koch brothers and tax breaks to the wealthy.
The Republican mission to answer to their fat cat masters will include Scott Fitzgerald, who has run the Wisconsin Senate like a Banana Republic in trying to shut down dissent to the most divisive piece of legislation in Wisconsin history - legislation that 74% of Wisconsinites opposed.
"When it comes to the Republicans in Wisconsin like Scott Walker and Scott Fitzgerald, we know they heed their master's voice," Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said Tuesday. "Millions of Wisconsinites are fearful for their communities, their jobs and their standards of living following Walker's divisive power grab, and with their trip to "Big Daddy" Barbour's lobbying lair, it looks like Wisconsin Republicans are going to cash in on Wisconsin's misery."
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Recal Sen Hopper Info
Recall Sen Randy Hopper Info
The Recall Sen Hopper office is open - 480 N Main St, OshkoshThe office should be open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM to pick up & drop off papers.
For info call Ross Allen: (402) 319-1056 - we will have an office phone soon.
WIARA - Calling union retirees for upcoming Supreme Court election and recalls
TO: WIARA Affiliates: As we know, Governor Walker and Republican legislators have not only taken away public employee rights to collective bargaining but numerous budget provisions that cuts significant services/programs to kids, the poor, retirees, people/kids with disabilities and middle and lower class working families. He also has numerous policy provisions in his budgets that is counter to Wisconsin's tradition of open and clean government.
After the Governor and Republicans rammed through the so called budget repair bill, our strategies have changed to WI Supreme Court race and recalls of some Republican state senators. There will be a number of legal challenges on the budget repair bill which might get to the WI Supreme Court. THAT IS WHY THE APRIL 5TH SUPREME COURT RACE IS SO IMPORTANT AND WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP.
Over the next 3 weeks, I need you and any member from your retiree organization to help and make calls to union retirees telling them why it is so important for them to vote on April 5th or sooner and why they should consider electing JoAnne Kloppenburg. The WI Alliance would supply you and your members a script to guide you in calling union retirees and a list of their phone numbers. You can do it from your home if that would be convenient for you to do. The WI Alliance would reimburse you for those calls because in many cases you will be calling long distance.
The Winnebago County Democratic Party is an Affiliate of the WIARA
I hope you and any of your members could do some calling. PLEASE email me and let me know if you can help. Thanks for your consideration. Billy Feitlinger, Executive Director WIARA
PS. A vote for Prosser=A vote for Walker
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A New Low: Scott Walker Administration Compares Capitol Protests to the Holocaust
A New Low: Scott Walker Administration Compares Capitol Protests to the Holocaust
MADISON - Scott Walker's administration has reached a new low by comparing the peaceful protests at the Capitol to the systematic murder of six million Jews by the Third Reich.
Introducing Walker at an event Wednesday, Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Ben Brancel spoke of Republican legislators and said, "They came to town with a lot of ideas and a lot of concepts they could really work on and then they got stuck in the middle of a "Holocaust" in a horror story..."
Police agencies have uniformly said the protests have been peaceful and orderly.
"For Scott Walker to allow the comparison of peaceful protests to his divisive power grab to the murder of Europe's Jews is a low that I did not believe even he could reach," Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said in a statement. "Scott Walker has tried mightily to warp the coverage of the thousands of cops, firefighters, nurses and teachers who have spoken out against him, but this language suggests that what has become warped is his sense of decency."
Introducing Walker at an event Wednesday, Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Ben Brancel spoke of Republican legislators and said, "They came to town with a lot of ideas and a lot of concepts they could really work on and then they got stuck in the middle of a "Holocaust" in a horror story..."
Police agencies have uniformly said the protests have been peaceful and orderly.
"For Scott Walker to allow the comparison of peaceful protests to his divisive power grab to the murder of Europe's Jews is a low that I did not believe even he could reach," Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said in a statement. "Scott Walker has tried mightily to warp the coverage of the thousands of cops, firefighters, nurses and teachers who have spoken out against him, but this language suggests that what has become warped is his sense of decency."
- 30 -
A Hollow Victory
 |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE THURSDAY, March 10, 2011 CONTACT: Graeme Zielinski, WisDems Communications Director (608) 260-2427, graemez@wisdems.org “Hollow Victory” MADISON- Following is the statement of Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate on today’s Assembly vote:"It is a shameful day for Wisconsin. Ultimately, our working families will have their day and Scott Walker's victory will ring as hollow as his pledges to their well-being. Today, the Koch Brothers can pop some champagne. But know that our total focus now is on recall." |
Authorized and Paid for by The Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Michael J. Tate, Chair |
Poor and Vulnerable hurt by Walker Budget
Winnebago County's Deputy Director of Human Services Ellen Shute said children, seniors, disabled, mentally disabled and the poor would be hit hard by proposed Medicaid, SeniorCare, BadgerCare and social support program cuts. In Winnebago County, she said the budget proposal would impact eligibility requirements and co-pays for:
— 18,000 BadgerCare participants.
— 1,900 SeniorCare participants.
—1,400 blind and other disabled residents.
— 14,000 FoodShare participants. And
— Create a 690-person waiting list for FamilyCare services by July 2013.
"This will impact all their abilities to access essential services," Shute said. "They will feel that crunch."
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20110310/OSH0101/103100484/1987
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Abuse of Power: Republicans Rubber-Stamp Scott Walker Power Play
Abuse of Power: Republicans Rubber-Stamp Scott Walker Power Play
Clock Begins Ticking on Days Before He Is Eligible for RecallMADISON-Following is the statement of Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate following the Republican vote to end collective bargaining for public employees in Wisconsin.
"Using tactics that trample on the traditions of our Legislature, the Republican leadership has betrayed our state. Republicans have rubber-stamped the desire of the Koch Brothers and their godshead Scott Walker to cripple Wisconsin's middle class and lower benefits and wages for every single wage-earner in our state. The vote does nothing to create jobs, does nothing to strengthen our state, and shows finally and utterly that this never was about anything but raw political power. We now put our total focus on recalling the eligible Republican senators who voted for this heinous bill. And we also begin counting the days remaining before Scott Walker is himself eligible for recall."
Statewide Call to Action - Thursday March 10
Statewide Call to Action - Thursday March 10
from Blog by Melissa Baldauff
What we witnessed from the Senate Republicans tonight was truly heinous. Seven decades of labor peace annihilated in less than five minutes, all to cement Scott Walker's divisive political overreach that has nothing to do with fixing Wisconsin's fiscal problems and everything to do with power-grabbing at the expense of working Wisconsin families. Tomorrow the Assembly will take up the so-called "budget repair" bill, stripped of fiscal provisions, that denies hard-working teachers, nurses and corrections workers the right to bargain collectively.
To be sure, Thursday, March 10, will be an unprecedented statewide day of action.
We will be rallying at the Capitol at 9am tomorrow morning. If you can't make it to Madison, we will have protests taking place at 9am statewide as listed below. If there isn't anything by you, we encourage you to go to your local county courthouse.
Senate District 2
Green Bay Chamber of Commerce
300 N. Broadway - Green Bay
Senate District 10
River Falls City Hall
222 Lewis Street - River Falls
Senate District 13
Dodge County Administration Building
127 E. Oak Street - Juneau
Senate District 14
Birthplace of the Republican Party
303 Blackburn Street - Ripon
Senate District 17
Richland County Courthouse
181 W. Seminary Road - Richland Center
Platteville City Hall
75 N Bonson- Platteville
Senate District 18
Oshkosh Opera House Square
Corner of Algoma Ave and Main St - Oshkosh
Veterans Park
Main St. and Western Ave - Fond du Lac
Senate District 19
Senator Ellis' District Office
429 S. Commercial St. - Neenah
Senate District 21
Monument Square
500 South Main Street - Racine
Senate District 23
Eau Claire City Hal
203 S. Farwell Street - Eau Claire
Senate District 32
La Crosse County Courthouse
400 4th St N - La Crosse
from Blog by Melissa Baldauff
What we witnessed from the Senate Republicans tonight was truly heinous. Seven decades of labor peace annihilated in less than five minutes, all to cement Scott Walker's divisive political overreach that has nothing to do with fixing Wisconsin's fiscal problems and everything to do with power-grabbing at the expense of working Wisconsin families. Tomorrow the Assembly will take up the so-called "budget repair" bill, stripped of fiscal provisions, that denies hard-working teachers, nurses and corrections workers the right to bargain collectively.
To be sure, Thursday, March 10, will be an unprecedented statewide day of action.
We will be rallying at the Capitol at 9am tomorrow morning. If you can't make it to Madison, we will have protests taking place at 9am statewide as listed below. If there isn't anything by you, we encourage you to go to your local county courthouse.
Senate District 2
Green Bay Chamber of Commerce
300 N. Broadway - Green Bay
Senate District 10
River Falls City Hall
222 Lewis Street - River Falls
Senate District 13
Dodge County Administration Building
127 E. Oak Street - Juneau
Senate District 14
Birthplace of the Republican Party
303 Blackburn Street - Ripon
Senate District 17
Richland County Courthouse
181 W. Seminary Road - Richland Center
Platteville City Hall
75 N Bonson- Platteville
Senate District 18
Oshkosh Opera House Square
Corner of Algoma Ave and Main St - Oshkosh
Veterans Park
Main St. and Western Ave - Fond du Lac
Senate District 19
Senator Ellis' District Office
429 S. Commercial St. - Neenah
Senate District 21
Monument Square
500 South Main Street - Racine
Senate District 23
Eau Claire City Hal
203 S. Farwell Street - Eau Claire
Senate District 32
La Crosse County Courthouse
400 4th St N - La Crosse
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
1 Month Anniversary of the Budget Repair Bill Battle Rally in Oshkosh
Oshkosh is going to be continuing the Thursday rallies at Opera House Square in downtown Oshkosh. Here are the details for this week:
1 Month Anniversary of the Budget Repair Bill Battle
4:30pm-6:30pm
Opera House Square (at the Sundial)-Oshkosh
Bring your signs, noisemakers and bullhorns and help us observe the eve of the 1 Month Anniversary to the introduction of the Budget Repair Bill. Let's make this the biggest group yet!
1 Month Anniversary of the Budget Repair Bill Battle
4:30pm-6:30pm
Opera House Square (at the Sundial)-Oshkosh
Bring your signs, noisemakers and bullhorns and help us observe the eve of the 1 Month Anniversary to the introduction of the Budget Repair Bill. Let's make this the biggest group yet!
Following Is A Statement From Senator Jauch On The Senate Democrats Ongoing Efforts To Protect Worker Rights:
Following Is A Statement From Senator Jauch On The Senate Democrats Ongoing Efforts To Protect Worker Rights:
I am doing my job in representing the citizens of northern Wisconsin who have overwhelmingly expressed opposition to Governor Walker's plan to eliminate collective bargaining. Thousands of citizens have contacted my office to oppose Governor Walker's plan and they have asked me to seek a solution. Statewide public opinion polls indicate that over 67% of the public strongly disapprove of his proposal.
My colleagues and I took the decision to leave the state seriously. We had to take unprecedented action to respond to the unprecedented and unjustified assault on workers rights. Our decision to leave the state was to slow down the process and allow the public a chance to better know the harmful consequences of the budget repair bill and provide the public a chance to engage in the deliberation process.
Since we left the state hundreds of thousands of citizens have traveled to Madison to voice their displeasure regarding the bill. The more the public knows about the legislation the stronger the opposition to the measure.
The Governor, Senate Democrats and the unions are in the heat of an agreement regarding the plan to increase pension and health care employee contribution. If Governor Walker is serious regarding the fiscal concerns of the state then he should accept our offer to adopt the fiscal matters that will save $845 million and remove the collective bargaining provisions that are so strongly opposed by the public.
Since Governor Walker introduced this legislation, I have talked with Republican lawmakers and former Thompson Cabinet officials every day to seek a pathway to find common ground. Those conversations revealed that 6 or 7 Republican Senators hated the collective bargaining provisions but felt pressured by Governor Walker to vote for the bill.
The reality is that there is a strong majority of legislators who don’t want to get rid of collective bargaining but voted against the wishes of the constituents because they were compelled to vote with Governor Walker. Recently Representative Stone, a Republican candidate for Milwaukee County Executive, admitted that he voted for the budget repair bill but did not agree with getting rid of collective bargaining. I have spoken with a number of Republican representatives who voted for the bill and are hoping the Senate will adopt compromise language.
Yesterday Governor Walker said that he had been working day and night to find a solution to the issue. The fact is that he has held more press conferences blasting Democrats than there have been meetings. It took his Administration 18 days before a request was made for a meeting.
Last Wednesday evening my colleague and I received a call inviting us to a meeting in Kenosha with two members of his staff. Along with Senator Miller we met at 9:00 in Kenosha for an hour and half discussion.
We had a candid and professional conversation regarding several issues that may be concepts for an agreement, however, there was no agreement on either the process or the areas under consideration.
The following day I drafted some additional details for further discussion but upon receiving the memo my computer crashed as a result of a virus. I contacted his staff to call me so I could explain the memo. Unfortunately, they took it into Governor Walker and he held yet another press conference angrily denouncing the Democrats.
At my request the Governor’s staff met Senator Cullen and I at a meeting in South Beloit to consider possible agreeable items. After our two hour discussion I sent them a summary of those items which I hoped would be the basis of an agreement.
Governor Walker’s statement that Senator Cullen and I were working for an agreement so that he and I and a couple more legislators could come back to Wisconsin was an absolute lie. As leaders it is our obligation to find solutions to problems that constitute a win for the citizens of Wisconsin and Senator Cullen and I dedicated considerable time to meet that obligation. We had many conversations with his staff to indicate our desire to pursue solutions that would heal the deep divisions within the State Legislature and hopefully bind the wounds that divided Wisconsin.
Any serious leader does not negotiate contentious issues by press conference. His public announcement of what were supposed to be confidential discussions is a serious breach of faith. Furthermore, Governor Walker’s identification of Senator Cullen and me was intended to use us as a wedge in public opinion and showed he was not seriously interested in achieving a meaningful solution.
An election determines winners and losers. Governing requires leadership by public officials to develop policies that are considered a win for the state. Wisconsin was the first state in the nation to offer collective bargaining for public employees and public opinion soundly opposes the effort to become the first state in the nation to eliminate collective bargaining.
The Archbishop of Milwaukee said it best, “hard times do not nullify the moral obligation each of us has to respect the legitimate rights of workers.” As Pope Benedict wrote in his 2009 encyclical, Caritas in veritate:
Governments, for reasons of economic utility, often limit the freedom or the negotiating capacity of labor unions. Hence traditional networks of solidarity have more and more obstacles to overcome. The repeated calls issued within the Church's social doctrine, beginning with Rerum Novarum [60], for the promotion of workers' associations that can defend their rights must therefore be honored today even more than in the past, as a prompt and far-sighted response to the urgent need for new forms of cooperation at the international level, as well as the local level. [#25]
This has become a protracted fight about unions when we should not lose sight that the ultimate goal is to protect workers rights as a moral imperative. These hard working citizens contribute to the public good and should not be considered the public enemy. They are hard working teachers, bus drivers, prison guards, snowplow operators, nurses, firefighters, clerks, and police offers whose contributions to the commonwealth make Wisconsin a great state.
This is an historic moment. We didn’t plan for it, but citizens have seized the opportunity to protect the values, traditions and rights that make Wisconsin special. I stand by my decision to leave Wisconsin to go to the Land of Lincoln to protect these values. When history records our time I wish to be on the right side of protecting workers and not on the wrong side of eliminating workers’ rights.
I hope that the Governor and the Republicans will soon realize that their obligation is to listen to the overwhelming majority of the citizens of our wonderful state and not adhere to the rigid ideologues who don’t care about good government in our state.
Wisconsin policies have always been a beacon to the rest of the nation. It is my hope that we can find a resolution that protects worker rights and taxpayer and preserves collective bargaining. Such an agreement can lead to unity instead of division and enable us to then work together to improve our economy and move Wisconsin forward.
###
Contact: Senator Jauch
608-266-3510
6th Congressional District convention coming up!
Hello Fellow Democrats,
The 6th Congressional District convention is coming up on Saturday, April 16th.
The location it will be held this year is:
Alibi’s Dining & Spirits –Hwy. 23 West, Ripon WI 54971 (920) 748-7400
The cost will be $25.00 per person
We have about 20 slots that are not claimed right now. If you want to attend, I need to know who is attending by April 1st or so. You need to let me know you are going FIRST so that I can keep count, before you perform the following action. If there are more than 20 people, I will draw names out of hat to decide who is going.(Officers of the county party need not let me know--you are already included in our total count of people).
From the 6th CD secretary, Sue Reich:
Also please ask your delegates to send payment to me by April 7th and include their county from on the check. Checks should be made out to 6th Congressional District. My address is:Sue Reich 127 E Rees St. Fond du Lac WI 54935
We will be electing officers for the Congressional District at this convention, as well as going through the resolutions submitted by each county party.
If you have other questions, please let me know and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
--Sara, your chair
Received: We Are winning!
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