Citizen Action Weekend
Weekend ’24, Friday, December 20th

Weekend ’24, Friday, December 20th

Happy Holidays! See you in 2025!

Join Citizen Action Today!

Citizen Action welcomes our new Healthcare Campaign Coordinator, Timothy Faust.

We are thrilled to introduce our new Healthcare Campaign Coordinator, Timothy Faust to lead our statewide healthcare organizing.

Timothy was born in Appleton, and has a professional background in healthcare, tech, political campaigns, reproductive health, independent wrestling, and haunted houses.

Between 2017 and 2020 he drove cross-country in a 2002 Honda CRV to talk to people about what healthcare and health inequity look like in their homes and promote a vision of American health justice that includes, but is not limited to, Medicare for All.

He turned this research into a book, Health Justice Now, which the Washington Post called “the best concise explanation of why the United States needs single-payer healthcare — and needs to widen the definition of healthcare itself.”

Read more about Timothy’s healthcare advocacy work in Current Affairs

He, his wife, and their pets live in Bay View, Milwaukee.

If you want to learn more about our healthcare organizing or get involved, contact [email protected]

Citizen Action Sends Letter to the Governor on State Budget Priorities.

With a closer balance of power in the Legislature we have the best opportunity in over a decade to make progressive breakthroughs in the state budget process. This week Citizen Action of Wisconsin sent a detailed letter to the Governor outlining our budget priorities. We also met with the Governor’s staff to discuss these priorities. The letter puts a special emphasis on our two top issue campaigns, health care and climate change. It also addresses education funding, child care, criminal justice reform, and raising the minimum wage.

Rampant health care industry profiteering is forcing Wisconsinites to choose between crippling medical debt and foregoing the care they need. Citizen Action will again lead the fight for BadgerCare Expansion in this budget, which will fill a dangerous coverage gap. We will also push for the only legislation introduced over the last decade which comprehensively addresses the cost of health care, our BadgerCare Public Option bill. This bill doubles BadgerCare eligibility, while allowing individuals and small businesses to buy-into public coverage. This coverage is more comprehensive and is not plagued by the high deductibles and malicious claims denials imposed by big health insurance corporations. In the last session, the BadgerCare Public Option drew a record 43 co-sponsors. We are also working with Senator Jeff Smith to address the abuses of the big hospital chains. Their cut throat competition has led to skyrocketing prices, Wisconsin hospitals charge the 5th highest prices in the U.S., and an unstable system, forcing the closures of critical facilities across the state.

We have a moral responsibility to our children and future generations to address the climate crisis when there is still time. With the federal government poised to pull back on its climate change commitments, it is incumbent on Wisconsin and other states to pick up the slack. The only thing that stands in the way is the profit model of Wisconsin’s big for-profit utilities who continue to dominate our state energy policy. These highly profitable corporations are slow-walking the clean energy transition, blocking access to conservation measures that would dramatically reduce energy use, while jacking up prices to pay for new unnecessary fossil fuel infrastructure. The result is utility prices which are unaffordable for moderate income people and communities of color who live in older less energy efficient housing.

Governor Evers is to be commended for committing Wisconsin to reaching the international climate goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. However, the only way to safeguard our children’s future is to make more immediate progress. Climate change is manageable if we take necessary action now.  According to the global consensus of climate scientists, the only way to prevent runaway climate change is to meet the 2030 emissions targets. Wisconsin needs a plan to meet the 2030 international target of cutting emissions by 45%. Citizen Action is urging the Governor to commit the state to develop a concrete action plan in the next two years to meet the very achievable 2030 targets in a way that also improves economic and racial equity. We also propose a series of specific policies that will dramatically improve energy efficiency and the availability of clean renewable energy such as rooftop solar and community solar. To address the affordability of energy, we propose a utility rate cap of 2% of income. Other states such as Ohio and Nevada already have rate caps in place.

Citizen Action is also demanding a $20 minimum wage to raise the income floor for all Wisconsinites.  Read the entire Citizen Action letter to the governor here.

Contact the Governor in support of our State Budget issues. leave your written budget comments here.

In 2024, Citizen Action of Wisconsin connected with over 1,000 individuals to share the transformative potential of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in lowering energy costs, weatherizing homes, and tackling the climate crisis. By accessing IRA funding, families can reduce their energy burden through efficiency upgrades like improved insulation, modern HVAC systems, and rooftop solar installations, creating more comfortable homes while cutting monthly utility bills. These investments not only support household budgets but also reduce carbon emissions, helping Wisconsin transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future. Join us to learn how IRA funding can make a difference for your home and the planet,

Learn more about the IRA in our presentation or visit Green Homeowners United IRA Calculator.

Interested in getting involved in our IRA outreach? Contact Kat Klawes at [email protected].

Citizen Action North Side Rising Holiday Party a huge success!

North Side Rising Holiday Party was a total success. Members, family and friends gathered last week Saturday to debrief the outcome of the election and the PSC (Public Service Commission) latest decision to grant We Energies another rate increase as of January 1, 2025.

The children in attendance were the highlight of the event! They danced, played, colored and sang songs.

Brunch was served along with a family traditional punch made by NSR Organizer Keviea Guiden. Albert Robbins (guest speaker) spoke on the Black Agenda and Lawanda Chambers (guest speaker) spoke on Black Mental Health both were asked by NSR members to come back because folks were inclined to learn more. NSR also hosted an appreciation ceremony for their members who’ve been supportive throughout 2024 to let them know how much volunteering their time means to them.

For more information about getting involved in Citizen Action North Side Rising, contact: [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]

Citizen Action Joins the Clean Economy Coalition to Oppose New Gas Plants in Southeast Wisconsin

Citizen Action of Wisconsin joined forces with the Clean Economy Coalition to rally against We Energies’ proposed gas plants in Southeast Wisconsin. These projects represent a step backward in our fight for clean, renewable energy and a sustainable future.

The proposed gas plants, if approved, would lock the region into decades of fossil fuel dependency, exacerbating climate change, raising energy bills, and disproportionately impacting low-income and marginalized communities.

Current proposed gas plants include:

  • Oak Creek Expansion: We Energies plans to convert the Oak Creek coal plant into a $1.2 billion natural gas facility, generating 1,100-1,200 MW by 2028, raising concerns about continued fossil fuel dependency.
  • Mount Pleasant: Microsoft’s new data center in Mount Pleasant will rely heavily on new natural gas infrastructure, drawing calls for renewable energy alternatives to meet the massive energy demand.
  • Paris (Kenosha County): A proposed $300 million natural gas plant in Kenosha County would add 128 MW by 2026, sparking criticism over environmental and air quality impacts.

Citizen Action and coalition partners are advocating for Wisconsin utilities to prioritize clean energy solutions. Instead of investing billions into polluting infrastructure, we urge We Energies and Microsoft  to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources that create jobs, reduce costs, and protect our communities.

Citizen Action Driftless Organizing Co-Op Update

I’m excited to be back and jumping right back into the important work we have ahead of us. As your organizer, I’ve been reconnecting with current and new members, redeveloping our action teams, and laying the groundwork for our upcoming spring election endorsement process.

Our work around affordable healthcare is more important than ever, and I’m thrilled to be engaging with passionate individuals who are committed to pushing for positive change. Additionally, we will be reorganizing our climate action team. We are focusing on critical, community-driven solutions to create a sustainable future for everyone in the Driftless region.

As we look ahead to the spring elections, we’re also gearing up for our endorsement process. We are carefully watching as the candidate slate develops and preparing for an exciting local election season. We look forward to endorsing and working for candidates that align with our values of equity, justice, and sustainability.

If you’re interested in getting involved, we’d love to have you join one of our teams! Whether you’re passionate about healthcare, climate action, or supporting candidates for the spring elections, there’s a place for you to contribute and make an impact. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly if you’d like more information or want to get involved.

As we close out the year, I want to take a moment to wish all of you a peaceful and joyful holiday season. I hope you’re able to take some well-deserved time off to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. I’m looking forward to the year ahead and all that we will accomplish together.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to our shared vision of a more equitable and sustainable community.

Finally, Welcome new Driftless Co-Op Members: Suzanne Morgan, Sally Safranski and Leanne Stokes!

Kristie Tweed, Driftless Co-Op Organizer; 608-317-1331 or [email protected]

Attend Childcare advocacy event “Chillin’ with the Children” Jan 18 in Eau Claire

A free concert for families with young children, featuring live music from The Nunnery, will bring folks together and help attendees learn about childcare-related resources and advocacy opportunities, on Saturday, January 18th from 4:00pm-7:30pm at SHIFT Cyclery & Coffee Bar (615 Graham Ave) in Eau Claire.

Local Citizen Action member and childcare provider Julia Bennker, of Ms. Julia’s Schoolia, is organizing the event with her brother Micah, because they want to help families enjoy a fun indoor concert in the winter, as well as learn about ways to take action to support funding for childcare programs in the next state budget. Food and beverages available for purchase, with some food for free.

For more information or to get involved in future child care organizing, contact: [email protected]

Citizen Action in the News

Citizen Action’s Robert Kraig was on the Earl Ingram Show for the full hour to discuss the GOP threats to prosecute Liz Chaney and others who conducted the January 6th investigations, and other developments in the increasingly bizarre Trump transition.

Robert is on Earl’s show every Wednesday from 9 AM to 10 AM to discuss the breaking federal and state issues.

Listen to the full interview here.

Listen to “GROWWING Organizing” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast

We open with a discussion of the latest horrific school shooting, this time, it’s in our backyard.

We also discuss the significance of the latest Enbridge oil pipeline spill, Attorney General Josh Kaul announces a $1.7 million settlement with a sleazy Milwaukee landlord, and we preview next year’s state budget fight.

We welcome Danny Akenson, a field organizer with GROWW to hear more about their community organizing in Western Wisconsin and their recent victory against corporate farms (CAFOs).
Learn more about GROWW.

Listen now.

Social media post of the week

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *