ELECTIONS
-
- Freedom To Vote Act
The Freedom to Vote Act improves voter access with reforms like Same Day Registration, Automatic Voter Registration, and expanded early voting. It sets national standards for voting by mail. Our government should respond to the will of the people, not the interests of powerful corporations and wealthy donors. The Freedom to Vote Act includes provisions to increase transparency in campaign funding and limiting the power of Super PACs. Read More... - Gerrymandering
According to a recent Marquette poll, 72% of Wisconsinites want Fair Maps drawn in 2021, and 62% of Wisconsin Republicans favor it too. 47 out of 72 counties have passed resolutions opposing map manipulation and endorsing Fair Maps; many of the counties were carried by President Trump in 2016. Read More… - Purging the Voter List
Another attempt by the GOP to make it harder for people to vote. Turnout rates really do matter… and the understanding on the part of both parties now is that high turnout is likely to benefit Democrats. Read More… - Gavel In, Gavel Out
The Majority Party in the Wisconsin Legislature is working hard to avoid work. And when they do convene, Rep. Voss and Sen. Fitzgerald call to order, only to adjourn immediately with no action – gavel in, gavel out. Read More… - The Wisconsin Supreme Court Race for Justice
On April 7, voters will choose who will sit on the Wisconsin Supreme Court for generations. This court will likely consider cases on gerrymandering, environmental protection, and women’s rights over the next decade. Read More…
- Freedom To Vote Act
FARM INITIATIVES
- Rural Vote
The Biden/Harris plan Rural Americans for Biden is to “build a pathway to the middle class for rural Americans” including elements that we find hopeful for Jefferson Co, WI. Read More… - Getting Behind Farmers
In his State of the State address, Gov. Evers announced several initiatives and challenged the legislature to cooperate and act with urgency on several fronts, including highlighting a message of rural prosperity. Read More…
HEALTH
- Medicaid Expansion
70% of Wisconsinites Approve Medicaid Expansion but Wisconsin Republicans are ignoring our will and playing politics with your healthcare. Get more information about Medicaid Expansion and how it affects all Wisconsin citizens. Read More… - Affordable Healthcare
If the Affordable Care Act is struck down, 153,000 people will lose coverage, and people with pre-existing conditions won’t be protected by Wisconsin laws. The State Legislature Must Take Action to Protect Health Coverage. Read More… - COVID-19 Funding
April 15, 2020 — Just an hour after passage by the Senate (32-0) and one day after the Assembly approved it (97-2), Gov. Tony Evers signed the Wisconsin COVID-19 Bill. Read More…
PUBLIC SAFETY
- Common Sense Gun Laws
Sensible gun safety reforms are long overdue. Citizens across the country are ready to challenge the powerful interests that block reform. People want legislators to pass laws to prevent more deadly domestic abuse, suicide, and school shootings. Here in Wisconsin, we finally have courageous leadership determined to follow the will of the people on gun safety. Read More… - Police Reform
Since the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police on May 25, 2020, the world has witnessed an historic level of protests — from coast to coast, and across Wisconsin — condemning police practices, seeking accountability, and calling for an end to anti-black oppression across institutions of all kinds. Read More…
ENVIRONMENT
- Clean Water
Gov. Tony Evers and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes are standing up for children despite GOP lawmakers removing $40 million from the state budget that would have begun replacing lead service lines. His executive order this July directs state agencies to create a position in the state Department of Health Services to work with other state agencies to address childhood exposure to lead. Read More… - Restricting PFAS
PFAS have been found in more than 30 sites around Wisconsin, including in Marinette, where a facility produced and tested the foams for decades. People near the plant have to drink bottled water because their wells are contaminated. Studies suggest that some PFAS compounds are associated with cancer, asthma, liver damage and thyroid disease. Read More…
ECONOMY
- School Funding
Every community deserves fair and fully funded public schools. Republican lawmakers are voting against Wisconsin children and their families. Even so, there is some good news. We have replaced the Walker Administration, and Democratic Governor Tony Evers has been able to make strides in returning public education to its rightful and historical place a priority for Wisconsin. The 2019-2021 state budget reflects some of this renewed investment. Read More… - Farm Closings
A worldwide surplus of milk has driven down the price farmers receive to the point where many have lost money for months, or even several years, at a time. Nearly 3,000 U.S. dairy farms folded in 2018, about a 6.5% decline, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures. Wisconsin lost nearly 700 last year — almost two a day — as even dairy farmers used to enduring hard times called it quits in a downturn now headed into its fifth year. Read More… - Strong Middle Class
According to the 2017 Jobs and Economy Report by the Wisconsin Budget Project, a growing concentration of income is being held in the hands of the top 1%, while the incomes of everyone else stagnate, making it harder to make ends meet and achieve economic security. Read More… - Job Losses in Manufacturing
According to reporting by Mitchell Schmidt, Wisconsin State Journal: Wisconsin manufacturers employed 6,800 fewer people in September compared with a year earlier, which continues a trend toward the largest year-over-year decline since the last recession. Read More… - Paid Sick Leave
The coronavirus pandemic has made it painfully obvious: every worker should have paid sick leave. This widespread employment benefit takes the stress off workers. Read More… - Wisconsin Workers Need Help
The Department of Workforce Development reports that Wisconsin missed out on $25 million in federal funding to cover unemployment claims because the GOP-led legislature took too long to approve a COVID-19 bill in early April. Read More…
BADGER BOUNCE BACK UPDATE
Gov. Evers’ Get Kids Ahead Initiative awarded $15 million to help nearly every Wisconsin school district provide school-based mental health supports. Funds may be used for mental health services, staff training, or family assistance programs.
- School districts in Jefferson County received the following grants: Cambridge $21,474; Fort Atkinson $44,554; Jefferson $33,081; Johnson Creek $19,280; Lake Mills $30,608; Palmyra-Eagle $22,857; Waterloo $20,650; and Watertown Unified $57,571.
###
Gov. Evers’ Tourism Capital Investment Program announced $21.9 million in grants to 27 local governments and organizations for major improvement projects that help promote, maintain, or bolster Wisconsin’s tourism industry. Since 2020, Gov. Evers has prioritized more than $200 million in support for travel, tourism, lodging, and entertainment industries.
- Jefferson County will receive $242,000 for site improvements at Fair Park which holds more than 200 days of events throughout the year.
###
Gov. Evers’ Safer Communities program awarded over $50 million statewide to address reckless driving, alleviate court backlogs, expand pre-trial supervision, and support local law enforcement agencies. This brings Gov. Evers’ overall investment in violence prevention and public safety to more than $100 million.
- Local investments include: Jefferson County $92,118; Fort Atkinson Police Department $33,867; Jefferson Police Department $22,190; Watertown Police Department $67,369; Lake Mills Police Department $18,033; Palmyra Police Department $7,000; Waterloo Police Department $11,437; Johnson Creek Police Department $7,000; Lake Mills Town Police Department $7,000; Oakland Town Police Department $7,000.
###
Based on the Public Service Commission, Jefferson Co. received a total of $1.3 million for high-speed internet expansion.
###
COVID relief funds distributed to Jefferson County totaled more than $6.7 million and included funding for small businesses and family farms; rental assistance; pandemic planning, testing and contact tracing; and grants for cultural venues and nonprofits.
###
Gov. Evers announced nearly $60 million in new Workforce Innovation grants to develop long-term solutions to the state’s workforce challenges. Madison Area Technical College received $29 million to address pandemic-related workforce issues in South Central Wisconsin, including Jefferson County, where MATC will expand the pipeline of childcare professionals, support childcare facilities, and help working families find child care. Additionally, MATC plans to develop more skills training for in-demand jobs in advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and information technology.
Follow Us!