Neubauer News - November 2021

November 18, 2021

Dear Neighbor, 

It’s November already, and as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday next week, I am feeling extra thankful for the work I’m seeing around our community as our neighbors work to make Racine a warm, welcoming home for everyone. 

It’s been a busy month in the legislature as we head toward the holiday recess, but I am glad to take a moment to share some exciting updates with you all. This e-update includes highlights from the last month, upcoming events, policy updates and more! Below you’ll find:

✔️ “Forward on Climate” Bill Package Introduction

✔️ Redistricting Update: Votes and Vetoes

✔️ Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

✔️ Grant Program for Domestic Abuse Survivors

✔️ Blue Book Requests

Thank you for reading along and keeping up-to-date on my work in Racine and Madison! I am continually grateful that you are staying informed about our state and local affairs, supporting our neighbors, and helping to build a better future for our community. Check out the update below and don’t hesitate to reach out and share any questions or concerns that you may have.

In Solidarity,

Greta Neubauer

State Representative

66th Assembly District

Introducing the “Forward on Climate” 2021 Bill Package!

Earlier this week Senator Jeff Smith and I introduced our 2021 “Forward on Climate” package, alongside our coauthors from the Assembly and Senate Democrats, Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes, and members of the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change. 

Building on recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change, Forward on Climate includes twenty-two bills that work to create good, family-supporting jobs, reduce inequality, and fight climate change through Wisconsin-centered policy. Hundreds of people, including many of you, contributed to these bills through the Governor’s Task Force by submitting comments, coming to listening sessions, and sharing how you would like to see Wisconsin move forward on climate. 

These bills touch on many parts of Wisconsin life, from funding to weatherize our public school buildings, to support for sustainable farming practices, to programs to help Wisconsinites train for the next generation of green and renewable energy jobs. I am especially excited about our initiative to create an ambitious Wisconsin Climate Corps that will bring an entire generation into the work of taking on the climate crisis. 

If you’d like to learn more about the Forward on Climate package, check out these articles from WPR and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel! Let’s move #ForwardOnClimate together.

Redistricting Update: Votes and Vetoes

This month, work in the Legislature has been dominated by redistricting — the process of redrawing legislative districts for the next decade.

For the last decade, Wisconsinites have lived under unrepresentative legislative maps that have allowed Republicans to hold a permanent majority. As Wisconsin entered the new redistricting process, instead of moving forward with a nonpartisan process or working across the aisle to develop a fair, competitive legislative map, the GOP has proposed a plan to cement their unfair advantage for the next decade.

Legislative Republicans introduced maps designed to change as little as possible from their current gerrymandered districts, despite unanimous opposition from the public during legislative hearings. When the GOP maps came to a vote on the Assembly floor last week, I was proud to stand with my fellow Democrats in unanimous opposition. Despite overwhelming negative feedback, Republicans voted to send their maps to the Governor’s desk.

Today, Governor Tony Evers vetoed the gerrymandered maps that legislative Republicans sent to his desk. With this veto and the Republican insistence on continuing with unfair, gerrymandered legislative maps, it is likely that the courts will determine the final outcome of the redistricting process in Wisconsin.

While the battle around legislative maps continues, one thing is clear: Wisconsin needs to establish a fair, nonpartisan redistricting process in statute. People should be choosing their representatives, instead of politicians choosing the people they represent. I am also proud to be an original co-author of Assembly Bill 395, which would guarantee a fair, nonpartisan process for drawing our legislative districts. We need to pass this bill and guarantee fair and impartial redistricting for years to come, so our democracy functions like it was meant to. It’s the bottom line.

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

Every November, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, where we recognize the culture, accomplishments and contributions of the original inhabitants of the land we call home today. 

Wisconsin’s First Nations have a variety of resources available to everyone to aid in making sure that the stories of the Indigenous inhabitants of Wisconsin are told. Check out their website here, as well as their tools to see whose land you’re living on now and who your native neighbors are today!

Racine has been home to indigenous people for thousands of years. From the people of the Woodland and Hopewell traditions, to the Miami and Potawatomi nations, the land we live on has fostered life for many, many generations. It is our duty and responsibility to recognize and lift up the original stewards of our home.

Today, our state is home to 12 Indigenous nations, all of which are descended from the original caretakers of the land that would become Wisconsin. This month, please take a moment to reflect on the fortitude and resilience of Wisconsin’s first nations and the hardships they have overcome.

Additionally, check out the articles below for a glimpse at the achievements of Indigenous people in Wisconsin:

• Wisconsin’s 24 Most Influential Native American Leaders
• Learn More About Native American Heritage Month w/ PBS WI
• Native American traditional knowledge played key role in Wisconsin's Climate Change Report

New Emergency Funds Available for Domestic Abuse Survivors

This week, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) has launched the Living Independently Through Financial Empowerment (LIFE) program to support families whose safety is at risk. 

When survivors of domestic abuse escape from a dangerous situation, many struggle to meet basic needs, including safe housing and affordable food.The LIFE program works to help survivors build a safer, more secure future through financial assistance.  Survivors can qualify for up to $3,500 in assistance over a three-month period ($1,500 in month one and $1,000 in months two and three). 

To be eligible for direct financial assistance, applicants must:

1. Be experiencing domestic violence or the threat of domestic violence, or be fleeing a domestic violence situation; 
2. Be a parent of a child under 18 -OR- be pregnant; 
3. Be 18 years of age or older; 
4. Be a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen; 
5. Be a resident of Wisconsin (unless the applicant is a migrant worker); and
6. Currently receiving another public benefit or received a public benefit at some point in the prior 12 calendar months -OR- has income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. 

Applicants can apply via phone or in person at a Wisconsin Works (W-2) agency. For the applicant’s safety, all applicant and case information will be kept strictly confidential. 

Other assistance is available to help domestic violence survivors regardless of LIFE program eligibility. To find the nearest domestic abuse helpline or agency, visit End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin’s Get Help Map.

Blue Book Requests

Each legislative session, the State of Wisconsin issues a new and updated Wisconsin Blue Book — your official guide to Wisconsin state government. It includes everything from biographies and contact information for current legislators and elected officials to special features on Wisconsin’s history, updated for your reference every two years. The 2021-22 edition is finally here — sign up to get yours today!

Did you miss getting your copy of the 2019-20 Blue Book? Don’t worry, there’s still time! You can request a copy of both the 2019-20 and the new 2021-22 editions using this form. Blue Books will be mailed or delivered directly to you!

Happy Thanksgiving, Racine!

It's my final update before Thanksgiving, and I wanted to take a moment and make sure to wish you a peaceful holiday filled with gratitude.