Battleground Wisconsin

The membership of the Citizen Action of Wisconsin Cooperative recently embarked on a new campaign called RADIO-ACTIVE. It’s 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. The Thom Hartmann Program is on our A-list for the station.

We discuss Johnson Controls’ decision to desert Wisconsin and America for a tax dodge and how Hillary's and Bernie's responses are instructive in understanding the policy divisions in the Democratic Presidential Primary. We explore the reticence of elected officials to critique a large local company, even when it’s behavior is morally bankrupt. We review new data ranking Wisconsin 38th in private job creation. We also discuss a Democratic effort to make in-state college tuition free, the January 31st ACA enrollment deadline and DJ Ryan can’t stop lyin’ even in a snowstorm. We also talk about the passing of Richard “Dick” Presser. Dick was a force in the Wisconsin labor movement and a driving force in the creation of Citizen Action of Wisconsin in the 1980s.

We welcome Judge Joe Donald to announce Citizen Action’s endorsement of Judge Donald for Wisconsin Supreme Court. The important race includes a Primary Election on Tuesday, February 16th and a General Election on Tuesday, April 5th. Our panel discusses Gov. Walker’s state of the state speech, Senate GOP votes to end civil service in favor of political patronage, Planned Parenthood healthcare clinics are defunded, immigrants come in large numbers to the Capitol to stand up for “Sanctuary Cities” in Wisconsin and Paul Ryan promises an Affordable Care Act replacement in 2016.

We welcome U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin to discuss her letter to Governor Walker calling on him to stop withholding data on the number of people he forced off BadgerCare who have successfully transitioned to Affordable Care Act health insurance. Sen. Baldwin also discusses the future of health care reform and her comprehensive efforts to make higher education more affordable and accessible. The panel also discusses a crazy right-wing bill to allow concealed weapons in schools, the latest outburst from Rep. “Loose Cannon” Bob Gannon, a bill to expand the number of locations you can vote early, public records concealed by Walker's WEDCulous jobs agency, and this week's Paul Ryan Watch.

Media Call: County Latino Health Enrollment Rankings During Latino Health Care Week of Action, ranking of WI Counties on Latino Affordable Care Act enrollment will be released Tuesday Citizen Action of Wisconsin and Covering Kids & Families will host a media call to release for the first time rankings of Wisconsin counties on Latino enrollment in the Affordable Care Act. Latinos are Wisconsin’s fastest growing constituency, and are spread across the entire state. Enrollment in the Affordable Care Act is a particular concern in the Latino community because information has been slower to reach them due to cultural and language barriers. Using the most recent data, Citizen Action will show how many Latino residents are estimated to be eligible for Healthcare.gov in counties across the state and what percent of those eligible are confirmed as enrolled so far. Locations for the Spanish speaking for enrollment help across the state will also be shared on the call. Open enrollment for 2016 ends on January 31s

2016 starts with a whimper, as Paul Ryan orchestrates a 62nd repeal the Affordable Care Act, symbolically taking healthcare away from 22 million Americans. We dig into President Obama’s common sense gun safety reforms, the right wing gun culture, and the politics of gun control. We review the latest racist invective spewing from right-wing state legislator Bob Gannon, and Wisconsin's continuing economic decline under Walker's failing economic policies.

Our final podcast of 2015 reviews Citizen Action’s stunning new report on healthcare costs in Wisconsin. The report reveals large health insurance cost disparities which are having devastating economic impacts and closing off access to health care. We also discuss race-baiting Rep. Bob Gannon (R-Right Wing Suburbs) who called this week for vigilante shootings reminiscent of a Charles Bronson "Death Wish" movie. We also talk about the latest round of bad job reports and Gov. Walker’s shameful effort to blame workers, and the speculation of insiders about a potential brokered GOP convention that could nominate House Speaker Paul Ryan for President.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin is releasing the 10th annual Wisconsin Health Insurance Cost Ranking report Monday morning on a statewide media call. In addition to providing new numbers and cost rankings for 2016, this year’s report includes data on the historic rates of health insurance inflation for each city. This year’s report also provides data on the quality of health insurance plans offered in each city and region. For the first time, this year’s report will provide composite health insurance cost rankings that include premiums and deductibles for all major types of insurance by Wisconsin metro area. The report finds a large disparity in health insurance costs and inflation between cities and regions of Wisconsin.

We discuss the victory for UAW Local 883 Kohler workers in their 32 day strike. Workers will see significant wage increases along with improvements in healthcare and pension. We also review the gutting of campaign finance laws, a Democratic bill to repeal and replace the discredited WEDC, and new data showing that Walker’s rejection of federal medicaid money will cost the state $1.07 billion. Also in our Paul Ryan watch segment, the New York Times delves into the politics of Ryan’s new beard. Finally, we announce Citizen Action election endorsements for U.S. Senate, Milwaukee County Executive, and Milwaukee Mayor.

We discuss the stunning news that 64% of GOP primary voters support Trump’s unconstitutional call to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. How will this turn towards fascism impact Trump’s ability to win the nomination and the future of the American experiment? We also talk about new revelations about Walker’s attacks on open records and transparency, Walker hints that he might seek re-election, and another Republican governor's decision to accept federal Medicaid money. We also have the latest installment of our Paul Ryan Watch update.

We discuss news that Wisconsin household incomes took a sharp downturn since 2009, while Assembly Democrats call for an Extraordinary Session on jobs and the discredited WEDC. Senator Ron Johnson and Senate Republicans voted this week, for the 16th time, to repeal health care from 16 million Americans. Our weekly Paul Ryan Watch finds him talking about cutting Medicare and Medicaid. GOP state senator Rick Gudex will not seek re-election and Mount Horeb demonstrates real community support for a transgendered child.

We welcome Kevin Kane, Citizen Action Organizing Director, to discuss the continued shift in public opinion in support for moving beyond the ObamaCare fight and the unique opportunity progressives have on health care in the 2016 elections. We discuss the on-going strike at Kohler, and encourage podcast listeners to donate money or food and visit the picket line this Thanksgiving weekend to support the workers fighting on the front lines of the battle for economic justice. Also we discuss Madison and Milwaukee educators voting overwhelmingly to re-certify their unions, and the discredited WEDC hireing a 6th CFO in 4 years as the public opposition to the agency grows. Have a great Thanksgiving Wisconsin!

We discuss the worker strike at Kohler Co. with former UAW Local 883 president & current UAW Region 4 Representative Pete Behrensprung. We talk about the history between the union and the company, key issues at stake and how you can help. We provide details on this Saturday’s mass picket from 9am to 3pm. Robert educates us on UW graduate student assistants efforts for a new pay plan. Jorna has another installment of the Paul Ryan Watch - including Paul’s inquiring into what coffee their office should switch to. We shame Rep. Kremer and Sen. Nass for their bullying of transgendered school kids and we review another dysfunctional week at WEDC.

We discuss the surprising announcement that Rep. Robin Vos is receptive to overhauling WEDC after another awful week for the agency following last week’s announced closure of the Oscar Mayer plant. We recap the flip-flop of the cowardly “Lion of Ripon,” Sen. Luther Olsen, who joined Republicans in ending GAB and gutting campaign finance laws. Robert outlines the key findings from a new Citizen Action report which finds Wisconsinites are paying 47% more for healthcare on the federal marketplaces than Minnesotans. We also review this week’s Fight for $15 rally and march in Milwaukee, Jorna gives us a “Paul Ryan Watch” update, and we discuss a potential strike by more than 2,100 workers at the Kohler Company.

Media Call: 2016 Wisconsin vs Minnesota Health Cost Report Local price data shows a striking and growing cost disparity between Minnesota and every Wisconsin metro area Statewide: Thursday November 12 at 9:30 AM, Citizen Action of Wisconsin will host a media call with State Senator Jon Erpenbach, State Representative Debra Kolste and Minnesota State Representative Jennifer Schultz to release the 2016 Minnesota vs Wisconsin Health Cost Comparison Report. This report will show large rate disparities between the two states on the individual insurance market. The 2016 Minnesota vs Wisconsin Health Cost Comparison Report compares both the premiums and the deductibles that consumer in each state pay. The numbers are broken down by metro areas. The report shows major variations in the overall cost of coverage both between the states and within Wisconsin. For the first time this report will look not just at premiums, but at the overall cost for consumers (both premiums and deductibles together). Public policy opt

We discuss the likely Friday Senate passage of legislation ending the non-partisan GAB and gutting campaign finance laws. We are joined by Rep. Chris Taylor to discuss the devastating news that Oscar Mayer will be leaving Madison and laying off 1000 workers. We also talk with Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa about educating people about the current open enrollment period for the healthcare marketplace and Speaker Ryan’s refusal to consider immigration reform during Obama’s presidency.

We welcome Rep. Debra Kolste to talk about WEDC’s indefensible decision to give $2 million to John Deere to end 100 Janesville jobs for 80 jobs in Horicon. Tamarine Cornelius, an analyst with the Wisconsin Council of Children and Families to talk about new legislation to restrict local school districts ability to hold referendums to raise money for their schools. We also review the latest on efforts to take a machete to the nonpartisan Government Accountability Board and campaign finance laws. We also discuss Paul Ryan’s election as Speaker of the House of Representatives and the release of the 2016 health insurance rates on healthcare.gov.

We welcome Matt Rothschild, executive director at Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, to talk about this week’s rushed legislative action to dismantle the nonpartisan Government Accountability Board and allow unlimited corporate money into Wisconsin elections, leaving the state open to corruption. We review new St. Norbert polling that reveals huge levels of dissatisfaction with Gov. Walker and Wisconsin’s economy. We also discuss the political theater surrounding the conservative courting of Paul Ryan for Speaker and Sen. Ron Johnson’s failure to act on impending Medicare premium hikes.

We welcome Jay Heck, Executive Director of Common Cause Wisconsin, to discuss the Republican effort to ram through bills that end the nonpartisan Government Accountability Board, gut campaign finance laws and restrict voter registration. We talk about the surreal story that the CEO of WEDC toured a fake factory with fake equipment and GOP efforts to allow concealed carry in UW buildings. We also review the first Democratic presidential debate.

We welcome Ruth Conniff, Editor-in-Chief of The Progressive, to talk about Scott Walker's return to "governing" in Wisconsin and potential opportunities for the progressive movement. Ruth discusses The Progressive's Public School Shakedown Project that is exposing the privatizers of public education and highlighting people on the front lines of public education. We also discuss conservative legislative efforts to gut GAB and the civil service, and reveal a new bigoted bill that targets transgender youth in Wisconsin schools.