Citizen Action Weekend 2025 Newsletter, March 8th
Citizen Action members attend State Budget Capitol Lobby Day!
Citizen Action members from across Wisconsin traveled to Madison this Tuesday for a lobby day focused on key Citizen Action State Budget priorities, including expanding BadgerCare.
Members fanned out across the Capitol to visit their State Representatives and Senators. It was a powerful day for Citizen Action members telling their stories and what they want to see in the State Budget.
Call Governor Tony Evers today at 1 (608) 266-1212 and urge him to veto any budget that does not include BadgerCare expansion.
Call your state legislators in support of expanding BadgerCare. Call 1-800-362-9472.
Citizen Action North Side Rising Organizing Cooperative has a large group of members attend Capitol Lobby Day!
Citizen Action North Side Rising 
had a very successful meeting with State Assemblymen Supreme Moore-Omokunde and Darrin Madison. We voiced our support for the expansion of BadgerCare and a more serious commitment to protect our state from the negative impacts of climate change. This includes funding to increase training for Green Jobs. We also support a limit of 2% of household income paid for energy costs.
Rep. Supreme Moore-Omokune shared this important reality about community power. “ Elected officials need to hear from you. They will use the excuse that no one talked to them about this or that. No one came to my office, no one complained. But my colleagues who got no visitors today will ask me what my constituents were here to talk about.”
Call your State Legislators toll-free at 1-800-362-9472 and tell them that you are unhappy with the utility monopoly that raised your rates every year and no one should have to pay more than 2% of their income for utilities. Tell them your community needs more family supporting transitional green jobs in the state budget. Tell them that they don’t deserve any better healthcare than you do and to expand BadgerCare for our state. Go to myvote.wi.gov to find out who represents you in Madison. Then contact them.
Also, contact Governor Tony Evers at 1 (608) 266-1212 and urge him to veto any budget that does not include BadgerCare expansion.
To get involved in North Side Rising, contact: [email protected]
Citizen Action SE Wisconsin Organizing Cooperative member Joshua Salazar attends Lobby Day this week.
This Tuesday, March 4th new Citizen Action member Joshua Salazar went to the State Capitol to participate in Citizen Action’s State Budget Lobby Day. The visit was a powerful experience for Jousha and many members who attended.
Here are some reflections from Joshua Salazar of his Lobby Day experience.
I went to Madison for one mission and one mission alone, to be a voice of the working class and the marginalized, those without a voice.
As I went in, deprived of sleep, as to be awake early enough to go to the event, not knowing much what would happen, what the event entailed.
I have been active with the DSA for about a year now, attended the Palestine camp at UW Milwaukee, and thus, this was my next step to advocate for the liberation of the people.
Walking in I met with Mr. Ryan Clancy and Chris Larson in the first meeting, organizing him on state budget priorities like expanding BadgerCare, and urging them both to protect social security from the draconian Trump fascist regime. I was raised on survivors insurance, and like many orphans in this great country, without social security I would have died. Social security shall not be infringed, it saves millions of lives, feeds millions who can’t work or fend for themselves.
As we left the meeting with Mr Clancy, I followed Citizen Action organizer Ruben Aquino to the press conference.
Most of the meeting I stood behind with my sign. But I eventually got tired of being silent. I asked myself, “what is my mission? Why am I here?” I then asked to present a statement. Representative Clancy and Senator Larson and Representative Hong gave me the podium to speak.
I made a statement, suggesting we expose the Republican Party on the issue of economics. We must bring up the undeniable fact that Medicaid expansion, social security protection and green policy will save billions of dollars and millions of lives, saving us billions and creating a surplus.
The room erupted into applause, this random 20 something first time in Madison, let alone the Capitol building. May I add, beautiful city.
After then, we proceeded to the break room where Citizens Action members were gathered, Ruben and I, both excited about what happened. I told him I’m gonna keep that fire up, as we need something to spice things up, and upset the status quo.
Believing in my own will to fight for lady liberty and the freedom of all humanity, and to save my countrymen here in Wisconsin, I kept pushing, first to meet with Mr. Darrin Madison, next to Mr. Supreme Moore-Omokunde, then to debrief our lobbying experience with other Citizen Action members.
After the debrief I saw a protest within the Capitol. This was my moment to put a cherry on top.
I stood atop a ledge on the third floor, and started chanting “not going back, resist fascism!” As the crowd got louder and louder.
It indeed was an experience, and it showed me that perhaps the spirit of the American working class isn’t defunct, but instead, half asleep and ready to wake up and scream. Thank you for reaching out to me, comrade Ruben. Solidarity forever!
I’m so glad to have meet you all at Citizens Action” – Joshua “josue” Salazar
Member and leader of the Citizen Action North Central WI Organizing Co-op, Nancy Stencil, had this to say about her Capitol Lobby Day experience
“On Tuesday while sitting down and talking with mostly legislative aides, I tried to leave my own biases aside and just have a conversation. Much to my surprise I found that the people we spoke with were attentive. This led to some great dialogue and ultimately it led to building on common ground.
I especially enjoyed talking about the climate bill and looking for singers that were interested in steering what way this bill may come out looking. Our group was able to get further into the conversation when we didn’t feel the need for the outcome to be in a specific direction.
Several of us spoke with one legislator directly and even though we are on different sides of the aisle, we were able to inject a little humor along with our friendliness and make the visit much more pleasant.”
Help us organize more action, contact: [email protected]
Big Capitol Media Event for Climate Accountability Act
Citizen Action members join legislative allies for a big Capitol media event, announcing the introduction of the Climate Accountability Act.
The Wisconsin Legislature has NOT adopted a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions and meet critical climate goals. Without action, our state will face worsening climate disasters, rising costs, and lost economic opportunities.
The Climate Accountability Act would require the next Legislature to:
Adopt a concrete, enforceable climate action plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, aligning with the Paris Climate Accords and global scientific consensus.
Ensure that climate action maximizes economic benefits for all Wisconsin residents, particularly those in urban and rural areas who have been historically excluded from economic opportunities.
See the whole news conference on WisconsinEye.See coverage from Badger Herald, Daily Cardinal, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and ABC TV 27 Madison.
Take action in support of the Climate Accountability Act.
Tell Congress, Don’t cut Medicaid to give tax cuts to billionaires!
Citizen Action is planning a series of Medicaid town halls. Here are the events so far:
- Wausau on Saturday, March 22. Click here to register
- La Crosse on Monday, March 24. Click here to register
- Eau Claire on Tuesday, March 25. Click here to register
Volunteer for Citizen Action’s Crawford/Underly virtual statewide phone bank, Tuesday, March 11th, 5pm.
It’s time to get busy! Volunteer to make calls from home for Susan Crawford for Wisconsin and Dr. Jill Underly for WI, Tuesday, March 5th, 5pm
Governor Evers visits with Citizen Action members in Chippewa Falls to discuss health care
Governor Tony Evers and Department of Health Services Secretary-designee, Kirsten Johnson, met with community leaders, including members of Citizen Action, Wisconsin Farmers Union, and AARP, on March 6 in Chippewa Falls, to discuss healthcare in the state budget, including ways to improve access to care and make insurance and prescription drugs more affordable.
Concern for mental healthcare was a top issue, and State Senator Jeff Smith emphasized that any new hospital coming into the area needs to provide behavioral health services. Julia Bennker, who provides childcare for ten families in Eau Claire, said she relies on the state’s Medicaid program, BadgerCare, to keep her healthy mentally and physically. Rita Simon, a retired family physician, asked the Governor to veto any state budget that doesn’t accept the federal Medicaid expansion to make BadgerCare available to more people.
Contact Governor Tony Evers at 1 (608) 266-1212 and urge him to veto any budget that does not include BadgerCare expansion.
Attend the annual Labor History through film event in Wausau
Founding member of the NC Organizing Co-op, Jeff Starr, has made it his passion to educate the community with Labor History Through Film.
He has worked with labor unions, the NC WI Central Labor Council (also a member of Citizen Action), his family and others to make this possible. The event is free to the public because of this. T
There is also a Professor facilitating the event, and the discussion in between films and after the event. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
The event is March 29th, 9am – 3:30pm at UW Stevens Point at Wausau, Center of Civic Engagement; Veninga Theater, 625 Stewart Ave.
Citizen Action in the News
Citizen Action hosted a news conference with close legislative allies to unveil the Climate Accountability Act, Sponsored by Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde in the Assembly and Sen. Chris Larson in the State Senate. The bill requires the Legislature to address the climate crisis at the scale and in the timeframe needed by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030.
See the whole news conference on WisconsinEye.
See coverage from Badger Herald, Daily Cardinal, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and ABC TV 27 Madison.
Citizen Action’s Robert Kraig was on the Earl Ingram Show for the full hour to dig into the tangled lies of Donald Trump’s Address to a Joint Session of Congress. Dr. Robert Kraig collaborates with Earl to dissect Trump’s speech to Congress, incorporating audio of Bernie Sanders’ reaction to the events.
Robert is on Earl’s show every Wednesday from 9 AM to 10 AM on the statewide Civic Media Network. Station list here.
Listen to “People power at the Capitol” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast
This week Citizen Action hosted a major news conference at the State Capitol with Legislative allies and Citizen Action members from around the state to unveil the Climate Accountability Act. The bill, which is already rapidly winning co-sponsors, requires the Legislature to pass a concrete and enforceable plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. Following the media event, Citizen Action members fanned out across the Capitol to visit their Representatives and State Senators and discuss state budget priorities, like expanding BadgerCare.
We unpack the latest MU Law Poll which shows a clear pathway for key priorities in Governor Evers’ state budget, if he is willing to use his stronger public popularity against a very unpopular Republican Legislature.
We review the lessons learned from the first two weeks of phone calls at Citizen Action talking directly to Spring Election voters. We also discuss the most important developments in Donald Trump”s assault on the constitutional order, including a critical 5-4 Supreme Court ruling this week that sided against President Trump over $2B in frozen foreign aid and his unhinged prime time address to a joint session of Congress.
Listen to the show.
Social media post of the week
