Citizen Action Weekend E Newsletter; Friday, January 27th
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Citizen Action Endorses Judges Everett Mitchell and Janet Protasiewicz.
Citizen Action Makes Dual Endorsement in Pivotal WI Supreme Court Election.
This Wednesday, Citizen Action of Wisconsin announced the dual endorsement of Judge Janet Protasiewicz and Judge Everett Mitchell in the pivotal four way race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The election will decide the balance of the court, determining whether Wisconsin has a constitutional Supreme Court which fairly and equitably applies the law to ever changing social and economic circumstances or a court that dogmatically imposes an extremist right-wing agenda on the people.
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In a highly democratic process, Citizen Action conducted a public candidate forum, gathered member feedback on the candidates, and had an extensive board deliberation which reached the conclusion a dual endorsement best reflected the views of our members and organizational leaders. The board concluded that although Judge Mitchell and Judge Protasiewicz have different strengths, both meet Citizen Action’s endorsement criterion and both would be excellent supreme court judges.
Citizen Action leaders and members were deeply impressed by Judge Mitchell’s path-breaking work as the presiding judge of the Dane County juvenile division, where he oversees cases within the county’s high-risk drug court program. Citizen Action believes the reforms Judge Mitchell has implemented are a blueprint for creating a just and equitable criminal justice system. Judge Mitchell is in concert with Citizen Action’s cutting edge criminal justice reform platform.
Citizen Action was also deeply impressed by Judge Protasiewicz’s egalitarian judicial philosophy, and her deep commitment to restore the Supreme Court’s traditional role as a guardian rather than a usurper of democracy and majority rule. She also would be a staunch defender of basic constitutional rights, such as the right of women to control their own reproductive health decisions.
“After a far-reaching democratic process, Citizen Action of Wisconsin concludes that Judge Protasiewicz and Judge Mitchell would be Supreme Court Judges who would put the interests and rights of average citizens above the demands of self-interested corporations, the super rich, and craven politicians seeking power at any cost,” said Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin.
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Citizen Action Endorses Eric Genrich for Green Bay Mayor.
Contact Citizen Action Northeast Organizing Co-op organizer Natalie Hoffman to volunteer helping re-elect Mayor Eric Genrich. [email protected]
Citizen Action Driftless Organizing Co-Op Update
By Kristie Tweed, Driftless Area Co-Op Organizer
Greetings from the Driftless Co-Op! It’s been a busy two months since I joined the Citizen Action of WI team. I’m so excited to see plans starting to come together for our area co-op. We have several meetings and events planned for the next few weeks and I’m looking forward to meeting more of our members in person.
I’ve been working on rebuilding our co-op because I know there are so many area progressives that are anxious to get back to work on our many action teams. I’ve restarted the climate action team and the first rural issues team meeting is in the works. I’ve personally been participating in our Healthcare for All Co-Op meetings and can’t wait to start a local team for that as well. If you are interested in joining any of these teams, please call (608-317-1331) or email me [email protected].
If you aren’t able to attend these meetings but want to support our work through a donation or supporting membership please click here.
Join us for Citizen Action Driftless Co-op Meet & Greet Social
You are invited to come meet the new Citizen Action of WI Driftless Area Co-Op Organizer, Kristie Tweed, Movement Organizing Director, Kate Felton and other progressive allies from La Crosse County and surrounding areas. Find out how this grassroots organization is making a difference on Healthcare for All, Climate Change and other progressive policies at the local, state and national level. It will be a great time to network with other progressives from La Crosse and surrounding communities.
Guest Speaker State Representative Steve Doyle will talk briefly at 6pm followed by a few words by Organizer Kristie Tweed. A Social time with light refreshments will follow.
Thursday, February 9th – 5:30-7pm
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of La Crosse
401 West Ave South, La Crosse, WI
Federal infrastructure dollars could connect Wisconsin with passenger trains
The West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition held their annual meeting in Eau Claire on January 26 and a half dozen Northwestern Wisconsin Citizen Action Co-op members attended, as momentum builds to potentially expand passenger rail service in Wisconsin thanks to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed on the federal level in 2021.
Rick Harnish (right, at the lectern), co-founder and executive director of the High Speed Rail Alliance, came up from Chicago and shared a vision for interconnected passenger rail service to new destinations like Eau Claire, Madison, Green Bay, the Fox Cities, and Duluth/Superior. Representatives from Amtrak and WisDOT also presented, sharing that throughway bus connections to the rail corridors could reach rural areas across Wisconsin as well.
To get involved contact: [email protected]
RSVP for 2023 State Budget Watch Party, February 15th, 6:30pm
On Wednesday, February 15th, Governor Tony Evers will address the public and the state legislature with his vision for Wisconsin via his bi-annual budget address. Watch this address with like minded folks to cheer on and gently critique the Governor. The program starts at 6:30 PM with a chance for any questions about the state budget process before the Governor begins at 7 PM. There will be a virtual option and an in person option at our Milwaukee office, 4716 W. Vliet St. Milwaukee.
Virtual information will be sent to your email after sign up.
DONATE today to Citizen Action’s 2023 Supreme Court Action Fund
We need you to donate TODAY to this special fund that supports our “Deep Canvass” Field Program, which talks one-on-one with the targeted voters who will decide the election.
Citizen Action in the News
Citizen Action’s Director Robert Kraig was on the Jeff Santos Show to discuss such national topics as whether Prez Biden should run for a 2nd term, and whether questions like that should engage progressive leaders and activists. Watch Here (starting at 13 minute mark on the video)
Citizen Action’s Director Robert Kraig was on the Earl Ingram Show for the full hour to discuss how this state budget process can be different, but only if Governor Evers will stand and fight. The Earl Ingram Show is the top rated show on the growing Civic Media network, a progressive radio network in Wisconsin with 11 stations around the state. Listen to this week’s interview with Robert here.
Citizen Action’s North Central Wisconsin Co-op Organizer Joel Lewis was on The Chad Holmes Show, on the Civic Media Network to discuss building progressive power in the Northwoods. The show is part of the growing Civic Media network, a progressive radio network in Wisconsin with 11 stations around the state.
Listen to the whole interview here.
Listen to “Supremely important economic battles progressives must win” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast
We discuss Citizen Action’s duel endorsement of Judge Janet Protasiewicz and Judge Everett Mitchell as we head towards the critical February 21st Supreme Court Primary Election. After debriefing Governor Evers’ State of the State speech and the Republicans’ cynical response, we welcome back our in-house economist Dr. Micheal Rosen to discuss Republicans’ scheme to create a phony “debt crisis” and what President Biden and Democrats need to do to win the fight. We also talk with Dr. Rosen about Legislative Republican’s shameful and destructive pursuit of large state tax cuts for the wealthy and expose Speaker Vos’ bad idea to increase the sales tax 1% to pay for shared revenue to state municipalities.
Listen to the new show!
Social media posts of the week
