New Poll Shows Wisconsinites Support Medicaid Expansion, Other Democratic Priorities

A new Marquette University Law poll released on Thursday showed that several policies my Democratic colleagues and I have championed enjoy strong public support. The poll showed strong majorities of Wisconsinites backing a higher minimum wage, increased funding for special education, and a nonpartisan redistricting process.

The poll also found that most Wisconsinites support accepting federal funds to expand our state’s Medicaid program. 62% of registered voters polled supported expansion, while only 25% said they were opposed. Governor Evers and other Democratic candidates called for Wisconsin to accept federal dollars during last year’s campaign, and my Democratic colleagues and I have introduced legislation along these lines multiple times. Unfortunately, legislative Republicans remain intransigent in their opposition to Medicaid expansion.

If Wisconsin were to fully expand Medicaid, more than 80,000 of our neighbors would gain BadgerCare coverage and our state would save $190 million each year. That means by refusing to accept federal dollars, Wisconsin is spending more to cover fewer people. This situation is untenable, both financially and morally.

Too many Wisconsinites don’t have access to quality, affordable health care coverage. Everyone deserves access to needed medical care, and no one should go broke just because they got sick. It’s time for the Legislature to listen to our constituents and do the right thing for the people of Wisconsin. 

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State of the State Address Shows Governor Evers Recognizes Wisconsin’s Economic Challenges

In his State of the State address Tuesday evening, Governor Evers described his vision for a Wisconsin economy that works for everyone. Evers said, “Fixing our economy remains a priority…There is more to an economy than counting job creation. And the state of our state is more than just our unemployment rate.”

Republican legislators were quick to criticize Governor Evers’ comments, arguing that Wisconsin’s economy doesn’t need fixing. The truth is that, despite low unemployment numbers, Wisconsin’s economy still isn’t working for everyone. A recent United Way study found that a third of Wisconsin households struggle to afford the basic necessities of housing, child care, health care, food, and transportation. These folks work hard, play by the rules, but still can’t afford basic needs.

Too many jobs created in Wisconsin in recent years have been low-wage jobs that don’t pay enough to live on. This means too many Wisconsin families have to make tough choices, like deferring health insurance coverage to afford rent or child care.

Governor Evers also discussed the importance of investing in public education and closing the achievement gap for low-income students and students of color. He advocated for the state to accept federal dollars for Medicaid expansion, expanding access to affordable healthcare to tens of thousands of Wisconsinites. Finally, he urged legislators to abide by the will of the people and seek to pass legislation in the spirit of bipartisanship.   

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Do You Have High Radon Levels In Your Home?

Radon, which is common in Wisconsin, is a naturally occurring, invisible, odorless, radioactive gas that can leak into your home. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.    

Public Health Madison & Dane County is encouraging homeowners to test their homes for radon now.  Radon tends to build-up in the winter months when doors and windows are kept closed.  

Testing is simple and inexpensive. Test kits can be purchased at local hardware or home product stores, usually for under $25.  Public Health Madison & Dane County also has test kits for sale at $10 per kit.   To purchase a test kit or speak with the Public Health Radon Specialist, call the South Central Wisconsin Radon Information Center at 608-243-0392.  

If testing shows you do have a radon problem, a certified contractor can install a radon mitigation system in your home in less than a day. The cost of a mitigation system can vary, but typically runs around $1,200. 

For more information, check out Radon Information for Wisconsin.

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It’s Time to Give Voters a Say on Citizens United

While political discussions in Wisconsin often focus on the different perspectives of people in rural versus urban areas or conservative versus progressive communities, there is one issue on which people in Wisconsin are strongly united – getting big money out of politics. That is why we need a constitutional amendment overturning the US Supreme Court’s ruling on Citizens United.  

Since the Supreme Court ruling on Citizens United, outside spending on elections by special interests has reached an all-time high. Rulings by the Wisconsin Supreme Court have allowed the sources of much of this spending to go undisclosed, keeping Wisconsinites in the dark about who is trying to influence their votes.  As a result, in Wisconsin's 2018 midterm election, outside groups spent over $61 million, more than was spent in 2010 and 2014 combined. 

In Wisconsin, 144 counties and municipalities have now joined over 780 counties and municipalities nationwide in passing similar referendums or resolutions calling for an amendment.  In Wisconsin, about 3 million people (55% of Wisconsinites) live in the jurisdictions where resolutions or referendums opposing Citizens United have passed.   This not only includes approval in places like Madison, but overwhelming approval in places like Lake Tomahawk, a community in northern Wisconsin that strongly supported President Trump in the 2016 election.

In order to send a strong, unified message to all of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation, I am introducing an Assembly Joint Resolution to place the following advisory referendum question on the November, 2020 ballot:

“The U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions in Citizens United and related cases allow unlimited spending to influence local, state, and federal elections. To allow all Americans to have an equal say in our democracy, shall Wisconsin’s congressional delegation support, and the Wisconsin legislature ratify, an amendment to the U.S. Constitution stating: 

1. Only human beings—not corporations, unions, nonprofit organizations, or similar associations—are endowed with constitutional rights, and
2. Money is not speech, and therefore limiting political contributions and spending is not equivalent to restricting political speech.”

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Expensive Legal Contract Shows the Need for Nonpartisan Redistricting Reform

A newly-released contract shows a law firm hired by Republican legislators to defend them in a redistricting lawsuit could collect an $840,000 fee. Taxpayers have already paid $2.5 million for law firms to draw legislative maps and defend them in court. 

It is outrageous that Wisconsin taxpayers are spending millions of dollars on outside attorneys to draw maps that tilt the playing field in favor of one party. Instead, we should be using the nonpartisan resources that already exist to draw fair maps that reflect the will of the voters. That's why my Democratic colleagues and I introduced legislation to establish a nonpartisan redistricting process along the lines of the successful Iowa model.

Voters should pick their representatives, not the other way around. 

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Fun Wisconsin Fact

As we do our best to cope with the bone chilling cold that has arrived in Wisconsin today, things could always be worse.   The village of Couderay in Sawyer County, hit a record low of -55°F on February 4, 1996.  This is the coldest temperature ever recorded in the state.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

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