Press Releases

Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) released the following statement in reaction to the State Coincidence Indexes and State Leading Indexes published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

“It is important to remember that this is the same administration and legislative leadership that gouged $1.6 billion dollars from public schools to reward campaign contributors through corporate tax breaks and giveaways and attempted to label it reform."

(MADISON) Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) released the following statement today following the Read to Lead Task Forces’ formal recommendations.

“In only a year’s time, we have seen Governor Walker enact historic cuts to public education that have left our state’s school districts in dire straits,” said Rep. Pope-Roberts.

(MADISON) Today, Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) reacted to the recently published State Coincidence Indexes from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The Indexes, which are calculated monthly based on three-month periods, are based off of a robust amount of economic data and give a picture of each state’s financial health.

(MADISON) Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) released the following statement today after further evaluation of the survey data provided by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA) and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI):

(MADISON) Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) today exposed the faulty logic and conclusions the Walker administration drew from a new survey by the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA) and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). The annual survey is conducted to gain a better understanding of the issues districts are facing statewide.

(MADISON) Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts called into question the showing of the movie ‘Waiting for Superman’ in the State Capitol today. The movie, which champions charter schools, was followed by a panel moderated by extreme right-wing talk show host, Charlie Sykes, who recently headlined a Republican fundraiser.

MADISON - Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) today released the following statement regarding the only Republican scheduled session day in September.

– Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) unveiled a fiscally responsible proposal that addresses current fiscal challenges while preserving Wisconsin’s commitment to public education. The “Save Our Schools” initiative takes advantage of recent positive budget projections by providing $376 million for public schools and tech colleges while paying down debts neglected by the Republican majority.

Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) released the following statement on Assembly Democrats’ petition drive to preserve SeniorCare. The short petition drive generated tremendous enthusiasm with over 14,000 people signing in support of SeniorCare

Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) will oppose Republican efforts on Tuesday to shift state support away from Wisconsin public schools and towards private schools. The Republican majority is slated to pass three bills Tuesday that extend state support for vouchers and private schools at the expense of public schools.

State Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) added her name to a petition on Wednesday to protect SeniorCare. Governor Walker’s budget proposes to push Wisconsin seniors into more expensive, less beneficial federal plans under Medicare Part D and off of SeniorCare.

State Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) highlighted the numerous mistakes in the public education budget numbers invented by Governor Walker. A comparison of data from the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) and the Walker Administration spreadsheet revealed some glaring discrepancies in the projected savings and revenue limits, even when using numbers based on Walker Administration assumptions. The attached spreadsheet includes his assumption that every district can save at least roughly 5% and 12% on pension and health insurance, which is only the case if they are not in the middle of a contract and the current contribution – no matter what level it is at for a district – can be raised by those amounts.

MADISON- State Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) rejected the rosy rhetoric Governor Walker is using to mask his true intent on education. Unable to twist the arm of the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) to paper-over his devastating cuts, Walker invented new deceitful estimates that are blatantly false, and should be immediately dismissed.

Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) released the following statement following Assembly action to remove collective bargaining rights from Wisconsin workers for a second time: “Republicans finally acknowledged their true intent on Thursday passing a non-fiscal bill to strip collective bargaining rights of state workers. This is the second time the Republican majority has broken Assembly rules, and likely violated state law, in their haste to hurt middle class families in our state.

Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) released the following Assembly passage of Assembly Bill 8, which will further expand executive authority: “Assembly Republicans once again demonstrated their disdain and disinterest in sensible rules and procedures by handing more authority to Governor Walker on Tuesday. In their hurry to please the Governor, my Republican colleagues voted in lock-step to approve the ‘Walker Rules,’ a dramatic revision of the administrative rule-making process which will circumvent transparency and extend executive power.

When I was first elected to the Wisconsin Assembly I was given a mirror with a metal frame encircled with a floral pattern and the state of Wisconsin seal affixed in the upper-right corner. At the base of the glass pane there is text emblazoned with my oath of office and a reminder of the tremendous responsibility of my office and the trust and accountability it entails. I keep the mirror near my desk as a reminder of the obligation I have to the people of the 79th Assembly District. My job is to listen to you and be your voice in the Assembly. Unfortunately during the debate over the budget adjustment bill on successive Fridays, the Republican majority tried to silence my voice and yours.

“In his budget address Scott Walker demonstrated once again that he is firmly entrenched against Wisconsin workers, Wisconsin families, and Wisconsin children. Walker will decimate education in the state of Wisconsin by cutting nearly $750 million in aid to schools and local governments, and slashing revenue authority by around $500 per student. Coupled with a forced cap on property taxes, the end result will be shuttered schools, thousands of teachers fired, and crowded classrooms for the surviving schools.

Assembly Republicans approved a budget adjustment bill that strips collective bargaining rights of public employees and adds sweeping new unchecked authority to Governor Walker. Thursday’s vote continued the disturbing trend displayed by Assembly Republicans of voting in lock-step to approve everything Governor Walker has mandated of them.

Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) released the following statement on Assembly Democrats’ compromise proposal to move forward on Wisconsin’s budget: “On Thursday Assembly Democrats released a substitute amendment that represents a sensible compromise that could quickly gain full legislative approval. My Republican colleagues have an opportunity to demonstrate that they are not out of touch with working families and working families in this state. They can show that they have been listening to the hundreds of thousands of state taxpayers who have contacted them opposed to the extreme measures Governor Walker has put forward that is tangentially connected to Wisconsin’s budget and a direct assault on state workers and his political enemies.

Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) on Tuesday applauded the tireless efforts of numerous law enforcement officials, especially Capitol Police, who have helped maintain order during the historic demonstrations at the state capitol. The Capitol Police have helped preserve a secure environment in the Capitol building while protecting the rights of Wisconsin citizens to peacefully assembly to petition their government for a redress of grievances.

“Assembly Republicans today tried to cheat the rules, and cheat Wisconsin’s families. We have been witness to continued bending of the rules and distortions of the democratic process as this anti-worker legislation has advanced through the legislature. Instead of debating the bill on its merits before the public, we have seen a consistent trend of back-room deals and rushed policy making to mask extreme agenda.

Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) released the following statement in support of Wisconsin teachers: “I reject the intentionally inflammatory rhetoric from Republicans trying to vilify public teachers in order to justify Governor Walker’s reckless anti-worker proposal. Teaching is an honorable profession worthy of praise not condemnation. Teachers help lay the foundation for a strong Wisconsin economy by educating the workforce of tomorrow.

Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) challenged her Republican colleagues Wednesday to demonstrate actual leadership and side with working families of Wisconsin instead of Governor Walker. So far this session the Republican majority in the Assembly has not stood up to the Governor on a single vote.

Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) expressed outrage at the latest overreach and dangerous power grab by Governor Walker announced this morning. Governor Walker is introducing a budget repair bill that will strip collective bargaining rights for public employees, in effect overturning more than 50 years of employment precedent.

Earlier this week a group of four legislative Republicans outlined dramatic changes to charter schools in Wisconsin that are laudable in intent but misguided in effect for education in the state. Wisconsin has a rich history of successful charter schools and currently has the nation’s 7th highest number of charter schools. “While there are undoubtedly changes that can be made that will improve current law, the proposal introduced by my Republican colleagues misses the mark in outlining real education reform,” Rep. Pope-Roberts said. “The proposal exempts any employee of a charter school from civil and criminal responsibility for their actions which endangers students, it doesn’t help them learn. I also believe the legislation puts our limited financial resources in jeopardy of fraud without any statutory recourse.”

Using the blizzard conditions in Madison to try and obscure their actions, Republicans moved rapidly Wednesday on a series of troubling actions that will reduce transparency in state government. Republicans had Governor Walker exempt the Assembly from the executive order closing state government in order to rush through legislation to bend the rules process, reward a political crony, and turn the Department of Commerce into a political agency.

“I look forward to working with Governor Walker and Assembly Republicans on serious job creation measures that benefit both businesses and workers in the weeks ahead. There is no doubt that job creation and economic development need to be the primary focus of the Governor and the legislature right now. Unfortunately, so far all we’ve seen from Republicans are the same, tired, recycled ideas with a new label.

Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) stood up for public education in the Assembly Tuesday to try and spare Wisconsin schools from severe budget cuts. Rep. Pope-Roberts authored an amendment to protect state support for education by making it more difficult for the legislature to decrease general school aid. The Republican bill passed Tuesday requires a 2/3 supermajority for increases in the state sales tax, income tax, or franchise tax. Rep. Pope-Roberts’ amendment, rejected on a party-line vote, would have subjected a 2/3 supermajority vote for a decrease in general school aids.

Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) was deeply disappointed by Republicans’ spending spree Thursday that harms consumers and did not directly help boost job creation in Wisconsin. The first day of the special session was purported to focus on job creation, but instead is on track to spend over $120 million without spurring job growth.

Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) expressed serious concerns over the extreme Voter ID bill circulated Friday afternoon by Assembly Republicans. Coupled with their overreach on redistricting, the highly partisan legislation is another signal that Assembly Republicans are more interested in political objectives than job creation and economic development. The Voter ID bill is designed to restrict voting access by adding additional hurdles for eligible voters to express their voting rights. The legislation has long been a priority for Republicans with the hopes of depressing voter turnout.