Citizen Action Weekend 2025 Newsletter, Friday, November 7th
Join Citizen Action of Wisconsin Today!
Citizen Action members talking to voters in our communities.
Citizen Action Event in Milwaukee Talks Public Transportation
Citizen Action hosted the “Milwaukee County Community Conversation on Budget, Climate, Transportation, and Equity” on October 30th. Over 60 attendees joined to engage directly with County leaders about transit, climate, health, equity, and parks. Participants asked questions, shared stories, and helped identify priorities that reflect the community’s call for a fair and forward-looking budget. Attendees also included five County Supervisors and representatives from MCTS, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Office of Sustainability
Due to constituent input related to proposed MCTS cuts, the County Board introduced a budget amendment and resolution directing the Department of Transportation and MCTS to develop a plan to maximize 2026 transit and paratransit service levels while minimizing community disruption. The amendment includes a $5 million commitment to protect critical routes, improve accessibility, and ensure equitable mobility for students, seniors, and workers across Milwaukee County.
The event also raised concerns about parks funding, public health, and climate resilience, reinforcing that these issues are deeply connected to community well-being and opportunity.
Citizen Action Northwest Co-op Holds a Healthcare Town Hall: A Community Call to Action. Thanks to all who attended
Over 50 community members came together in Eau Claire for a powerful Healthcare Town Hall hosted by Citizen Action of Wisconsin’s Northwest Co-Op. The event focused on the growing threat to affordable healthcare access and the urgent need for state action to protect Wisconsin families.
Kristie Tweed, Citizen Action’s Healthcare Action Coordinator, spoke about the devastating effects of the federal “Big Ugly Bill” (HR1) on healthcare. She explained how many Wisconsinites are being hit with a “double whammy” — losing their enhanced premium tax credits while also facing insurer rate increases averaging 20%, with some people seeing their rates double or even triple. Kristie also highlighted new bureaucratic red tape that could push more than 140,000 Wisconsinites off their Medicaid coverage, further deepening the healthcare crisis. Between ACA, Medicaid and Medicare cuts, over 270,000 Wisconsinites could lose healthcare coverage
Jeremy Gragert, Citizen Action’s Northwest Co-Op Organizer, shared information about the Co-Op’s ongoing healthcare organizing work, including its monthly Northwest WI Healthcare Action Team meetings held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7pm via Zoom. These meetings are open to community members who want to take action for more affordable and accessible healthcare. Email Jeremy if you are interested: jeremy.gragert@citizenactionwi.org
Several Co-Op members shared personal stories about how HR1 and rising healthcare costs would impact their lives. Their experiences underscored the urgent need for Congress to get to work and stop the harmful cuts in HR1 and for state solutions to protect coverage and lower costs.
Citizen Action Board Member Rita Simon also addressed the group, sharing updates on a key piece of legislation that Citizen Action is working to advance: the Hospital Accountability Act, developed in partnership with Senator Jeff Smith. Also discussed was The BadgerCare Public Option Bill that Citizen Action has been promoting for several cycles that would offer an “option” for people to buy into the BadgerCare program at a lower cost option than is currently offered on the exchange. Both proposals would help hold hospitals accountable, expand affordable coverage options, and mitigate some of the harm caused by HR1.
The evening ended with a shared sense of determination and hope. As Citizen Action continues organizing across the state, community members left the town hall ready to take action to ensure that every Wisconsinite can access quality, affordable healthcare.
To join our healthcare for all organizing, contact: Kristie.Tweed@citizenactionwi.org
Join Citizen Action North Side Rising’s Housing Resource Team
Citizen Action North Side Rising’s Housing Resource Team met this Thursday night with Brady Steigauf from Focus on Energy to discuss their community outreach in Milwaukee area.
North Side Rising members are making big plans, including talking directly to more community members about their housing needs and challenges and how they can access renewable energy resources for their homes.
To join the team, contact: Keviea.Guiden@citizenactionwi.org
Attend Southeast Wisconsin Local Climate Action, Friday, November 22nd
Citizen Action of Wisconsin is co-hosting “Addressing Climate Change in Milwaukee County” along with the League of Women Voters, Our Future Milwaukee, and Healthy Climate Wisconsin. Join us on Friday, November 22 to have a discussion with Erick Shambarger (City of Milwaukee Environmental Collaboration Office) and Grant Helle (Milwaukee County Sustainability Office) on local efforts to reduce emissions, strengthen sustainability initiatives, and prepare our communities for climate impacts.
This event will highlight how city and county leaders are working to advance climate equity and what residents can do to take action.
Citizen Action Southeast Organizing Co-op Weekly Update
Our organizing keeps growing stronger across the Southeast region! From health care to climate justice and neighborhood outreach, we’re continuing to move people into action.
Our organizing continues to gain momentum across the Southeast region — from health care to climate justice to community outreach!
🏥 Health Care Team
Our Health Care Town Hall has been moved to January to ensure we can make it as impactful as possible. The team is continuing to plan and build energy for the event — if you’d like to join the Health Care Team, reach out to ruben.aquino@citizenactionwi.org to get involved!
🌿 Climate Team
Our first Climate Team meeting went great! Members discussed priorities for clean energy and environmental justice in our communities. We’ll meet again on Monday, December 2 as we continue to grow the team and prepare for more action. If you’re passionate about climate and utility justice, now’s the perfect time to jump in.
🚪 Canvassing
Canvassing remains strong across the Southeast region! Every week, members are knocking doors, talking with neighbors, and bringing new voices into the movement. If you’d like to help build grassroots power, we’d love to have you join us.
🏛️ Climate & Utility Justice Lobby Day – November 11 in Madison
Citizen Action members from across Wisconsin will gather in Madison for our Climate & Utility Justice Lobby Day to meet with legislators and push for a cleaner, more equitable energy future.
For more information or to get involved in any of our work, contact ruben.aquino@citizenactionwi.org
Citizen Action in the News
Citizen Action and some of our key community allies working on the skyrocketing cost of utilities and the climate crisis held a forum to demand that WE Energies provide the City of Milwaukee more detailed information about its rates and the number of people who are shut off when they can’t pay.
See coverage in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Citizen Action’s Northwest Wisconsin Organizing Co-op held a town hall meeting this week in Eau Claire on the skyrocketing costs of health care, the impact of federal cuts, and solutions the Wisconsin legislature should pursue.
See coverage from NBC TV 13 Eau Claire.
Citizen Action’s Health Care Action Coordinator Kristie Tweed participated in a health care roundtable in La Crosse hosted by State Senator Brad Pfaff.
See coverage from WIZM Radio La Crosse.
“I’m a mother of seven. I’m a manager. I work over 60 hours a week, and I tell y’all, it’s so hard with being a single mom,” said Natasha Prescott, a SNAP benefit recipient and Citizen Action North Side Rising member. “Now, due to this government shutdown, I have to work 90 hours. I don’t see my kids. My kids don’t see me no more.”
See coverage on FOXTV6 Milwaukee. Thanks Natasha for telling your story.
Listen to “Election Whiplash?” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast.
With Matt under the weather, Robert goes solo with the help of podcast producer Mollee Albinger asking the questions.
We dig into the aftermath of the Democratic sweep in the off year elections this week. What does it mean for the ending of the government shutdown and the fight to save liberal democracy? Meanwhile, still unwilling to negotiate with Democrats over health care costs, Trump doubles down on his calls on Senate Republicans to end the filibuster, and Ron Johnson flips to support the President. Is ending the filibuster one of the only good things for democracy Trump may accomplish?
We also dig into the trumped up political scandal focused on the Department of Instruction’s handling of teacher misconduct cases, more revelations on the massive environmental and economic costs of the Data Centers, plus Marathon County cooperation with ICE, and book banning in the Milwaukee burbs.
Listen to the show.
Social media post of the week
