Citizen Action Weekly; July 4th Weekend
Friday, July 2nd
“State Budget Blues” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast
We discuss the disastrous Republican State Budget that cleared the Legislature this week. After digging into the budget’s many failings, we ask: why did 7 Democrats vote yes? We continue our call for the Governor to veto the state budget, although the signs are not promising. Next we turn to the looming presence of Donald Trump on Republican politics, and the panic he engendered this week among Wisconsin Republicans. It got so bad that State Senator Chris Kapenga bowed to him in a “dear leader” letter worthy of the most authoritarian leaders in the world, drawing national ridicule. Meanwhile U.S. Sen Ron Johnson’s reckless anti-science crusade which reached new lows this week. Robert tells us about the launch of an “End Child Poverty” campaign with news events in Eau Claire, Milwaukee, Appleton and Wausau, next week. We close with a special guest, Angela Lang, Executive Director of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities (BLOC) to discuss their campaign to induce Gov. Evers to call for an Executive Commission on safety and policing.
Listen Now – Episode #499
Download Mp3
It’s time for hospitals to step and support BadgerCare Expansion!
Hospitals and health systems have a tremendous amount of influence on the Legislature. Their support could be game-changing in the fight for BadgerCare Expansion. So far, though, they have been nearly silent on the issue. That’s why it’s important for the leaders of our local hospitals and health systems to hear that we expect them to speak up in support of building a healthier community, starting with BadgerCare Expansion.
This form will allow you to send emails to the executives of Gundersen, Mayo, and Prevea encouraging them to speak out in support of BadgerCare Expansion. Feel free to use our template email messages or customize your own.
Join us for the Citizen Action of Wisconsin Driftless Coop Annual membership meeting, Sunday, July 25th, 1pm
Come enjoy a day in the park and help shape the future of Wisconsin! The Citizen Action of Wisconsin Driftless Co-op is hosting its annual membership meeting on Sunday, July 25th at Coon Valley Memorial Park (just off Highway 14). We want to see each of you there and hear from all of you as we plan out the coming months and years.
We will be
- Hosting a keynote speaker (TBD)
- Recapping the work we have done over the past 12 months
- Conducting a survey to help build the official Citizen Action of Wisconsin platform
- Planning how we can build our power locally and across Southwest Wisconsin
- Collecting stories related to healthcare and climate change
- Potluck style snack table
- An optional group hike with a photo opportunity at Coon Valley’s own “selfie wall”
- There is even a playground for the kids
Please RSVP below so we know how many people to expect. Also if you know a progressive activist we are not connected with BRING THEM ALONG.
Sunday, July 25, 2021 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM CT
Coon Valley Veterans Memorial Park, 93 Roosevelt St, Coon Valley, WI 54623
Update on our fight against the Roth Feeder Pig II CAFO
One of the biggest projects Citizen Action has taken up locally this year is a fight against plans to build the largest hog farm in the state of Wisconsin. The “Roth Feeder Pig II” CAFO plans threaten our waterways, our drinking water, our clean our and our way of life! These plans would leave the Kickapoo River vulnerable to major pollution.
Citizen Action of Wisconsin (along with Crawford Stewardship Project) have been leading a major effort to ask the DNR to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement before they approve the building permits. The DNR comment period has ended but we are very proud to announce that we helped to generate almost 1,000 contacts to the DNR requesting an Environmental Impact Statement. These contacts were collected (and sent to the DNR) through phone calls, emails, petitions, and postcards. We even recruited 78 activists to attend the virtual DNR hearing about Roth Feeder Pig II.
Now we wait for a decision from the DNR. It could be weeks or months until we hear anything new. If/when the DNR approves the permit we still have the chance to fight against the construction of this farm. If the DNR approves construction the final decision on whether to build will be made by the Crawford County Board.
We are already creating plans to fight when the decision is made. We will be looking for volunteers to canvass homes in Crawford County to find folks to sign a petition and call their county board rep. If you are interested in getting out and canvassing when the time comes please reach out to Ben Wilson at [email protected].
Our water is all connected. We have to do everything we can to protect our Driftless waters. We will not stop fighting until there are no plans for ANY CAFOs in the Driftless region.
La Crosse YWCA Racial Justice Workshops
YWCA La Crosse now offers Racial Justice Workshops! The first of our summer sessions will be held virtually, over the course of 5 consecutive Wednesday evenings, beginning on July 14th at 5pm. The second series will take place in-person, over the course of three 8-hour days, August 30th through September 1st. Future workshops will be posted on our FB page, as they are scheduled. Workshop fees are $250 per participant. Scholarships are available. To get information or register, contact our Mission Impact Coordinator at [email protected].
Medicare for All booth at La Crosse Interstate Fair
Dr Mark Neumann (La Crosse Alderperson, healthcare activist, and local Citizen Action leader) will be hosting a booth at the La Crosse Interstate Fair to talk about Medicare for All July 14-18! Mark will be stepping out to reach beyond the free mongering and talk to folks about the positive impact a single payer healthcare system could have on their lives!
If you are planning to head to the fair be sure to stop by Mark’s booth. If you would like to help out and work the table for a few hours contact Mark directly at [email protected]
Learn More About the Fair Here
Watch this week’s episode of the Healthcare for All Show
Dr Mark Neumann and Karen Kirsch talked with Andre Walton of Our Wisconsin Revolution about Medicare for All. Learn about what first activated him around the issue and what he thinks are the most common misconceptions about Medicare for All. Andre was instrumental in leading the Medicare for All resolution in Milwaukee County.
Join us LIVE every Wednesday night at 7pm.
Citizen Action in the News
Citizen Action’s Robert Kraig was on the Earl Ingram Show for the entire hour discussing the dreadful state budget that just reached the Governor’s desk, and where to go from here. Listen to the whole interview here.
Citizen Action’s Robert Kraig was on the Jeff Santos Show for the full hour to discuss whether Joe Biden has given into conservative Democrats and what’s next. Listen to the whole interview here.
Facebook post of the week
