On Wisconsin

On Wisconsin

Forward Together

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers delivered his first State of the State address to a joint session of the state legislature this week marked by calls for bi-partisan efforts conducted with civility and mutual respect. Evers’ remarks were enthusiastically received by Democratic legislators who stood often to applaud and cheer as the Governor laid out his plans for our future. Unfortunately, the only measure that brought the Republicans to their feet was Evers’ plan to provide a 10 percent tax cut to individuals making less than $100,000 and families earning less than $150,000 annually. They sat back down when Evers told them he planned to pay for it by limiting tax breaks for wealthy corporations.

Stressing that “what’s best for kids is best for our state,” Evers will propose fully funding two-thirds of the cost public education, increasing special education funding by $600 million and increasing mental health services in our schools five-fold. In addition, his upcoming budget will seek to deliver on his campaign promise of providing all Wisconsin residents with quality and affordable healthcare, in part, by expanding Medicare eligibility to 76 million low-income people. The Governor noted that several GOP controlled states like Kentucky and Nebraska had expanded Medicaid coverage with no ill effects, as have Democratic states like our neighbor Minnesota.

The only lowlight came with Evers announcement that he was sending Attorney General Kaul a letter asking him to withdraw Wisconsin from the lawsuit challenging the pre-existing coverage provisions of the federal Affordable Care Act. The recent lame-duck legislative session passed a bill taking that authority away from the Governor and vesting it with the legislative leadership. Since the address, Evers’ office has walked back his comments and it remains unclear what, if any, ability he has to get Wisconsin out of that case. He may have an easier path directing Kaul to change Wisconsin’s position in the litigation from opposing to supporting the ACA’s pre-existing coverage provisions. In any event, Wisconsin withdrawing or changing positions in the lawsuit is not likely to alter the outcome as nineteen other states would remain in the case to carry the argument to its conclusion.  

Governor Evers also addressed the transportation funding crisis that has led to deteriorating highways and other transportation problems. He announced the formation of a bi-partisan task force led by his Department of Transportation Secretary-designee to come up with a plan that addresses and prioritizes the needs as well as formulates a way to raise the funds necessary to meet them. All of the transportation stakeholders will have a seat at the table.

Announcing 2019 as the year of Clean Drinking Water, Evers embarked on a plan to cleanup or replace contaminated private wells and replace lead water service lines across the state. Doing so will increase life-long earning capacity and provide better health outcomes for millions of Wisconsin families.

The Governor concluded his remarks with another call for the legislature to work with him on his People’s Budget and not to try crafting their own instead. There was no mention of a veto should they do so, but his office made it clear later that such a veto was certainly possible. He reminded all in the chamber of a slogan embedded in the ceiling of the Governor’s Office, “the will of the people is the law of the land.”

Our new governor struck just the best tone and delivered the correct content given the debate engendered during the campaign. A majority of voters across the state voted for the agenda Evers delivered in his remarks. It is certain that he will take his budget directly to the people for grass roots pressure on those in the legislature who might not be on board. It remains to be seen if constituent pressure will be sufficient to overcome the re-election purse strings held by Speaker Vos and Senate Majority Leader Fitzgerald.

A New Year

A New Year

A New Direction

Tony Evers took the oath of office this past Monday and became the 46^th Governor of the State of Wisconsin. He was joined by Mandela Barnes, Wisconsin’s first African-American Lt. Governor, Josh Kaul our new Attorney General, long-time Secretary of State Doug LaFollette and Sarah Godlewski, our newly elected State Treasurer. All these proud Democrats were elected in November by a majority of the voters who joined them in calling for a return to Wisconsin’s proud progressive tradition of good, clean government that works for everybody, not just those who can pay the price of admission.

The newly elected constitutional officers all spoke about working with the Republican controlled legislature to improve the lives of working Wisconsin citizens and those in need of a helping hand. Governor Evers spoke clearly about his vision for properly funded public education, casting himself as a “Kids Governor.”  Lt. Gov. Barnes, recognizing the historical election of a black man to his position, spoke about those who paved the way for him and the need to continue to strive for human equality. Attorney General Kaul told those assembled in the Capitol that he would stand up for Wisconsin values and challenge all who put them in jeopardy. Kaul made it clear that he would seek judicial scrutiny of the lame duck laws passed to limit the authority of the newly elected administration.

None of these officials would have celebrated their victories yesterday were it not for the blood, sweat, tears and work of those who took up the mantle of resistance as the GOP coup revealed what was to come. Those who protested, recalled, knocked on doors, spoke to their neighbors and wrote stirring calls for progressive reforms kept the lights on for those who were sworn in yesterday. They led the way, letting people know that it is ok to be progressive, to care about the education our children receive, to work for immigration justice, for working people to receive a family supporting minimum wage, to promote universal healthcare and to end mass incarceration. The slow work of organizing and persuading those in the middle finally paid off.

Now the work continues. It is not sufficient to say, “we won.” We need to join with Governor Evers to develop popular support for his upcoming budget proposals. He learned that if the people speak up, their voices are louder than the donors who contribute to maintaining the status quo. Even in districts that lean heavily republican like our own, we can and will mobilize popular support for improving our roads and infrastructure, making public education all that it can be by showing the world that teaching is one of the most important professions one can enter, increasing Medicaid funding by accepting Federal money to broaden the coverage pool for those without health insurance, and passing gun control measures supported by a broad majority of our fellow citizens. We can and will end the heavily gerrymandered districts for congressional seats and the state legislature by creating independent commissions with the power to redraw the maps to make all districts competitive.

We can find common ground with our neighbors on these and other important issues and begin to bring increased pressure on those elected to the state Senate and Assembly to join with Governor Evers to address them through positive, people supporting legislation. It will not be easy. Entrenched special interests who have benefitted from GOP tax breaks and regulatory roll-backs will continue to exert pressure against reforms that threaten their bottom lines. We will have to show that the will of the majority is more powerful than the bankrolls of the wealthy. Lawmakers will have to decide which side they are on. Many will face new election cycles two years out and whether they compromised or resisted what the majority wants will decide their electoral fates. Let us hope they choose wisely.

It is time to stop speaking in buzz words like individual freedom, personal responsibility, smaller government and lower taxes. We need to focus on practical solutions to specific problems that we all face together, regardless of political affiliation. We can no longer afford to hide behind these platitudes and dog whistles. We must demand that our elected officials address specific problems we all face with concrete positive proposals.

We cannot rest on our laurels. We must continue to speak to our neighbors and friends about issues that matter. We now have momentum. Let us and those newly elected use it wisely.