Battleground Wisconsin

Citizen Action members joined State Reps Debra Kolste and Melissa Sargent today to introduce a new bill and a new idea for WI: make pharmaceutical companies publicize what they spend on manufacturing, R&D, marketing, lobbying and profit for each drug to prevent massive unnecessary price hikes! Next to them are pill bottles sent from consumers and Citizen Action members across the state, many with personal stories, in support of actions to reduce prescription drug costs. Support lower drug prices

We discuss President Obama’s new rule expanding overtime to 4.2 million more full-time salaried workers, including 198,000 in Wisconsin, a change that will be an economic boon to Wisconsin communities. We look at the horribly slanted coverage of the new overtime rule from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and much of the mainstream media. We review Ron Johnson's embarrassing week where he said his support for Donald Trump does not mean he is endorsing him and he compared the 2016 elections with United Flight 93 on 9/11.The panel also talks about the surprising state supreme court vote against Gov. Walker’s education plan and conservatives in the state senate may reject the new election commission head who was unanimously nominated by bi-partisan commission. Finally, we are joined by Citizen Action organizer Anita Johnson who testified in trial this week for our lawsuit which challenges voter ID and other recent changes to Wisconsin election law.

After a brief update on photo ID law, we discuss the critical role trade and outsourcing is going to play in the 2016 election. We review Citizen Action's tour with Russ Feingold in Green Bay and Milwaukee which featured conversations with workers who have been impacted by outsourcing. Robert tells us about a new report that finds Wisconsin has the 2nd highest medical costs in the nation. Jorna discusses an important CapTimes article on how women in politics have to deal with sexist garbage. This week's Paul Ryan Watch feature finds our fair haired boy preparing to jump on the Trump train while his Tea Party opponent goes on the attack from a motorcycle.

We discuss the inevitable GOP presidential nomination of Donald Trump and whether Republicans from the #NeverTrump camp will publicly oppose him or get in line with Christie, Gingrich, Walker, Fitzgerald and Ron Johnson. We also review another bad week at WEDC that included revelations a New WEDC board member also sits on the board of company that got WEDC dollars after outsourcing Wisconsin jobs and Gov. Walker struggles to explain why WEDC hasn't clawed back money from companies that outsourced jobs. Badger Meter, who promised more Wisconsin jobs if ‘right to work” legislation passed, is exploring a sale and Jorna has our Paul ryan watch update

We discuss the retirement of David Prosser from the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Scott Walker’s ability to appoint a successor who will not face election until 2020. We also talk about Walker blaming the photo ID lawsuit for a lack of state funding for a public education campaign; Rep. Jesse Kremer says gender restrictions on school bathrooms are to protect women and "progressive activists have finally blatantly, and unintentionally, unveiled their real war on women;" Labor scores victories on “Right to Work” and Menards; New study shows teacher shortage; and Paul Ryan asks millennials to give “The Party of Trump” a chance. Music by purple-planet.com

We discuss Scott Walker’s decision to support Donald Trump if he is the GOP nominee and his effort to shamelessly touts kicking 41,149 people off foodshare as a jobs program. Walker called it an opportunity for those kicked off "to live their piece of the American dream." Fortunately, most workers aren’t buying Walker’s snake oil, as 64% in a new poll said the state Wisconsin's economy was either "poor" or "not so good." We profile a new living wage ordinance in Eau Claire County and Robert updates us on the Humana Aetna merger that Gov. Walker rubber stamped. Jorna has the weekly installment of Paul Ryan Watch.

This week Jorna Taylor subs as host for Matt Brusky, who is on the short term disabled list. We have an in-depth discussion with the Director of the Fair Elections Project, Sachin Chheda, to talk about the hot Wisconsin redistricting law suit which is moving to trial. Also in the courts, Walker's photo ID law takes another hit in federal court and the so-called Right to Work law is ruled unconstitutional in a case that will ultimately be decided by Wisconsin's corrupt State Supreme Court. We also preview the Fight for $15 strike, and discuss the Radio Active campaign to break the right-wing media monopoly with Citizen Action Cooperative Organizer Anna Dvorak. Finally on our Paul Ryan watch feature, our protagonist continues to play possum in the Republican prez race. Music by purple-planet.com

We dig into the Wisconsin spring election results, which included record turnout, decisive wins for Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz, and a disappointing outcome in the state supreme court race. We discuss the presidential race, drop off voters and the impact of photo ID. We also talk about President Obama’s move against unpatriotic and insidious corporate inversions in the wake of the Panama Papers, and the incredible alignment of the presidential candidates on outsourcing and global trade. Music by purple-planet.com

We welcome Citizen Action endorsed State Supreme Court candidate JoAnne Kloppenburg to discuss her campaign as it heads into the final week before the Tuesday, April 5th election day. Vote early today until Friday. For more information about voting early: http://www.gab.wi.gov/voters/absentee

With Arizona primary “election” in the rear view mirror, the Wisconsin presidential primary takes center stage. We discuss both the latest contours of the Democratic and GOP primaries and how the trade issue continues to play a central role in the Wisconsin election. Jorna reviews Paul Ryan’s speech this week where he laughingly bemoaned the poor state of political discourse and the lack of trust in governing institutions that are the result of his party’s deliberate strategy. Robert informs us about a proposed merger between two of the five largest health insurers in the U.S., Humana and Aetna, which could have major ramifications for health insurance costs and employment in Wisconsin. We remind you that you can vote early now until Friday, 4/1 at 5pm. For more information about voting early: http://www.gab.wi.gov/voters/absentee Music by purple-planet.com

We remember former state representative Tamara Grigsby who left us way too early this week. Christine Neumann-Ortiz from Voces de la Frontera joins us to discuss the Senate failing to pass a bill banning municipalities or counties from having a policy preventing officials from inquiring about the immigration status of arrestees. We analyze the latest developments in the presidential race including the increased likelihood of a Trump v Clinton race and President Obama nominating Merrick Garland for Supreme Court. We also discuss Attorney General Brad Schimel’s support for allowing guns on City of Madison buses and the new Citizen Action Western Wisconsin Organizing Cooperative has successfully reached its goal of 200 members.

We welcome Jenni Dye from One Wisconsin Now Institute to discuss their shocking research on Rebecca Bradley’s hateful writing as a college student and its implications for the April 5th Supreme Court election. This week the inevitable avalanche of special interest TV ads began. We review new data ranking Wisconsin 36th in job creation, what could be done to expand opportunity in the state. WEDC remains in hot water over Oscar Meyer debacle but Scott Fitzgerald points the finger at Paul Soglin. Johnson Controls on the hot seat as Hillary and Bernie get specific on outsourcing and trade. Kevin Kane updates us on the development of the NEW Western Wisconsin Cooperative. We remember community organizer Juan Carlos Ruiz and Robert’s aunt Eloise. Music by purple-planet.com

Media Call: Wisconsinites At Risk of Leaving Millions on the Table this Tax Season County and City-level numbers to be released showing amount of federal funds available in region if eligible residents claim Earned Income Tax Credit. Citizen Action of Wisconsin and State Representative Daniel Riemer will host a media call to release how over $200 million in additional revenue will not enter the Wisconsin economy unless all eligible residents claim large tax rebates targeted to working families, and what can be done to bring this money in. Data showing the amount of money on the table will be released for all Wisconsin counties and major metro areas. There is a growing recognition that our communities cannot thrive when workers hold lower-wage economy-busting jobs. When working families can afford the basics, they are able to spend money at local businesses, generating more jobs and more prosperity. Participants on the conference call share how local governments and organizations across the state are push

We discuss President Obama’s visit to Milwaukee this week to celebrate the city’s victory in the Healthy Communities Challenge to sign up residents for the Affordable Care Act. The panel unpacks news that the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) dissuaded WEDC from contacting Kraft Heinz before the company announced it was closing the Oscar Mayer plant in Madison. We look at Russ Feingold’s effort to expose Sen. Ron Johnson’s support for bad trade deals. We also discuss whether the modern Republican Party is imploding or simply morphing into the “Party of Trump”. “Paul Ryan Watch” finds Trump threatening Ryan that he will pay a “big price” for not getting along with dear leader. Finally, progressive State Senator Nikiya Harris-Dodd announces her retirement from the legislature. intro music by purple-planet.com

We start with the conservative State Assembly's end of session late night toga party. Then we move to the bizarre behavior of Rep. Bernier who burst out of a meeting with local school board members. We welcome former state representative Jeff Smith to discuss Rep. Bernier’s actions and Citizen Action’s new campaign, led by Jeff, to organize the creation of a Citizen Action Organizing Cooperative in Western Wisconsin. We discuss new polling numbers that reveal 62% of Wisconsinites want to see the U.S. Supreme Court seat filled this year, and Senator Ron Johnson's efforts to block the appointment. Paul Ryan watch finds Ryan continuing to fight with Trump and adding Megyn Kelly to his list of sparring partners. Finally, Robert discusses over $200 million that working families risk leaving on the table this tax season which could boost flagging local economies across Wisconsin.

We review this week’s big Spring Primary Election that included a strong performance by JoAnne Kloppenburg and a huge upset win for Chris Larson. We discuss the bevy of bad bills conservatives rammed through the legislature this week and one awful bill that did NOT, the privatization of municipal water systems. Wisconsin learns more about the critical role immigrants play in our economy, particularly the state's iconic dairy industry, during Thursday’s "A Day Without Latinos" rally at the Capitol. Robert tells us about his trip to Wausau to talk about how we can expanding economic opportunity in Wisconsin.

We welcome Eyon Biddle, Deputy Director of the Wisconsin Working Families, to discuss why Citizen Action of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Working Families have endorsed Chris Larson for County Executive in Tuesday's primary election. Eyon also tells us about other candidates for Milwaukee Common Council and County Board that have been endorsed by Wisconsin Working Families and how you can help Get Out The Vote by phone banking and canvassing this weekend for Chris Larson.

We welcome former Milwaukee talk radio host and new podcast panelist Earl Ingram to the show. We discuss next Tuesday’s spring primary election, this week’s vote in the assembly to restrict voter registration and a new conservative bill to give lawmakers access to John Doe records. Earl and Robert review this week’s launch of Citizen Action's Radio Active project to fight back against right wing media. Jorna also updates us on Paul Ryan’s struggles with the right-wing freedom caucus on a budget deal.

We discuss the latest rushed conservative legislation to restrict voting rights and the newly open (and potentially competitive) Congressional seat in Northeast Wisconsin. We review new dismal approval ratings for Scott Walker and GOP predictions of a bad state budget. Milwaukee Teachers Education Association president Kim Schroeder joins us to update listeners about a national Walk-In for Public Schools day next Wednesday, February 17. Jorna provides a Paul Ryan Watch update on the snack party he held this week for the conservative "Freedom" Caucus. We talk about Sen. Tammy Baldwin's legislation to end corporate inversions like the one Johnson Controls recently announced. Finally we chat with Citizen Action Organizing Cooperative member Ted Kraig about the exciting new Radio Active media project launching next Monday evening in Milwaukee.

Progressive Talk Show host, Jeff Santos, gives a ringing endorsement to the new Citizen Action of Wisconsin Cooperative's Radio Active program. RADIO-ACTIVE is an effort to take back Milwaukee’s airwaves from the corporatist right wing, and it features two phases: (1) We plan to monitor local talk radio hosts, and hold them and their corporate sponsors accountable for their deceptive, hate-filled messages, and (2) we will work towards founding a community-owned radio station that will air commercial progressive talk programming.