Matthew Brusky 
Friday, October 18th
Citizen Action joins Governor Evers’ at launch of Task Force on Climate Change
Citizen Action of Wisconsin was proud to stand with Governor Evers, Lt Governor Mandela Barnes, environmentalist, union, business and community leaders Thursday in the official launch of the Wisconsin Climate Change Task Force, chaired by Lt Governor Barnes, can you join us in thanking them?
In order to prevent a climate catastrophe, all Wisconsin institutions must work to reduce carbon emissions. That is why we at Citizen Action are working to help organize homeowners, renters, small businesses, and local government buildings in Wisconsin’s Driftless Region to reduce their carbon emissions and cut their utility bills. Governor Evers’ new Task Force will help shine a light on what steps we need to take, as soon as possible.
Vote in People’s Action Presidential Primary Candidate Survey
Citizen Action of Wisconsin is member of the national organizing network, People’s Action. People’s Action is driven by local and state organizing. People’s Action was founded in 2016 to ignite a movement of millions that captures the rising demand for change in our society.
The 2020 Presidential Election presents an historic opportunity for our movement! We believe elections should revolve around everyday people, not candidates. Elections also need to be centered on our issues and our long term Platform. We’re bringing leading Presidential contenders to early primary states for Q&A forums — and grassroots leaders running the show.
We already complete the first forum in Des Moines, Iowa in September. Nearly 50 Citizen Action members attended the forum and asked questions of the Presidential candidates.
We encourage our members to watch the Iowa forum!
As part of the process Citizen Action is surveying our organizing cooperative members on their attitudes in the Democratic presidential primary election. We are encouraging all members to VOTE in the survey starting today. Voting will continue until Sunday, November 3rd.
North Central Organizing Co-op Member Announces Run for the 7th CD
Founding member of the NC WI Organizing Co-op, Tricia Zunker, announced her run for the 7th Congressional District of WI this past Monday. Tricia currently serves on the Wausau School Board, and was appointed School Board President. During her time there, she made working on solutions to childhood hunger in our schools a top priority.
Over the past year, Tricia has worked tirelessly to get municipal governments to recognize the 2nd Monday in October as Indigenous People’s Day, as well as working with school boards across the State to pass resolutions stating that they oppose mascots that mock or mimic Native American culture or tribes. All of these efforts culminated into the Central WI Indigenous People’s Day Pow Wow this past weekend, which is the first Pow Wow in the Wausau area in over a decade. It seemed only fitting that Tricia made her announcement to run for Congress on Indigenous People’s Day.
Citizen Action will be conducting on endorsement process for the election that will include member participation. Watch for details soon!
To Impeach or not to Impeach?
Our executive director Dr. Robert Kraig participated in a formal debate around the case of impeaching President Trump to a packed house on the North shore of Milwaukee Sunday night sponsored by Grassroots Northshore. Over 200 concerned citizens attended to hear the history of impeachment, the pros and cons and the current circumstances which have appeared to spurn on the House to take action. Dr. Sheldon Wasserman, an esteemed county supervisor, took the anti-impeach stance but with heavy caveats. At the end, when the room was surveyed, yes to impeachment was the majority opinion in the room.
Northwestern Organizing Cooperative Fall Social and Summit
The Northwestern WI Co-op is hosting their annual Fall Social and Summit! There will be food, beverages, and amazing conversation. Please bring a brunch dish to pass. Rafael Smith, Civic Engagement Director, will be the guest speaker. He is going to talk about the Green New Deal and what that looks like in our neck of the woods! There will also be opportunities to talk to leaders in the co-op about our work in healthcare reform, climate change, and voter suppression. This is not just for members! If you know anyone that may be interested in becoming a member, bring them along.
Saturday, October 26th, 10:00AM
2010 W. Moholt, Eau Claire.
Southeastern Wisconsin Organizing Co-op Volunteer Opportunity
Looking for a behind-the-scenes way to help our Green New Deal efforts, on your own time? The Southeastern Wisconsin Co-op Green New Deal team is looking for a volunteer to update our new Co-op membership database to ‘tag’ members who have expressed a special interest in climate/equity issues. This will help us to target our communications and develop greater cohesion and momentum for this work.
If you are willing to help with data entry tasks, please contact: Rafael.Smith@citizenactionwi.org
Organizing Solidarity
Rally in support of workers at ThedaCare in Appleton
The SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin service and support workers at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center – Appleton are organizing a demonstration to bring the conditions in that hospital for both workers and patients into the public eye.
The rally will be in Appleton at 5:00 PM on October 21. 1301 N. Meade St, Appleton. Facebook RSVP
There are workers at ThedaCare who are homeless. Many work two or more jobs or donate plasma to pay for primary expenses. Some have been taken to collections by this very hospital, their employer, because they cannot afford to pay for healthcare with the insurance that this same employer provides. High turnover has led to chronic under staffing and under training, which has led to rooms not being adequately cleaned and operating equipment not being properly sterilized. There have been reports of cockroaches, bedbugs, and mice.
The workers have been bargaining with ThedaCare since April, and they’ve been operating without a contract extension since June. They’ve fought incredibly hard and now they need your support!
For Our Future WI’s Voter Voices Project
There is nothing in the world more powerful than a good story.
We hear them all the time. Middle class families who struggle to get by while those at the top get more and more through special tax breaks. Business owners who grapple with the effects of the Trump Administration’s trade war.
We are looking for people willing to share their stories about how government and politics directly affects their daily lives. If you have a story to share, please get in contact with For Our Future WI. If you are interested, fill out their interest form at tinyurl.com/y6gtn4ad
Citizen Action Present: Deindustrialization and the Green New Deal Panel Discussion Event
“Impeachment” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast
We discuss this week’s surprising House of Representatives vote where 129 House Republican members voted to rebuke Trump on Syria and will it lead to more movement for the impeachment of Trump. Robert and Karen Kirsch dive into a deeper discussion of impeachment. We also talk about the new state GOP effort to restrict Governor Evers’ veto power and to remove as many as 234,000 voters from Wisconsin’s voter roles.
LISTEN NOW – Episode #413
Download MP3
Facebook post of the week
My name is Noah Reif, and I am your new Citizen Action co-op organizer in Northeast Wisconsin. I am very excited to get to work on the issues that matter to our community like Healthcare for All, a Green New Deal, and fighting back against systemic oppression felt by our communities of color and the LGBTQ+ community!
Northwestern WI Co-op Hosts Fight For Affordable Housing 
Health Care for All Co-Op members urge Rep. Sensenbrenner to support lower prescription drug prices
negotiate their prices with the government. A few constituents, including Health Care for All Organizer Karen Kirsch and member Lynn Carey, also hand-delivered letters to the Congressman’s office. Lynn wore a price tag around her neck which showed that without support from Medicare, her prescription drugs would cost over $20,000/year. That is unacceptable! To learn more about our Lower Drug Prices Now campaign, check out 
Community leader, and Co-op member Tricia Zunker, has worked tirelessly with community partners and tribal entities to organize Wausau’s first Pow Wow in the Wausau area since 2007! Prior to 2007, the Wausau area hadn’t had a Pow Wow regularly for a decade. It is very exciting to have this event back in our area.
Citizen Action of Wisconsin is member of the national organizing network, People’s Action. People’s Action is driven by local and state organizing. People’s Action was founded in 2016 to ignite a movement of millions that captures the rising demand for change in our society.
We already complete the first forum in Des Moines, Iowa in September. Nearly 50 Citizen Action members attended the forum and 3 member asked questions of the Presidential candidates.
We had 26 potential members join us. We laid out a plan for 10 house meetings, 86 person one on ones, and 14 organization connections. Now the work of our 60 day recruitment drive begins!
Kevin Kane was on hand to present about the co-op organizing model and our plan to help upgrade 1,000 area homes with energy efficient upgrades like solar panels, new insulation, better windows and new appliances. Not only did Kevin build this campaign he also was the first to upgrade his own home! News Channel 8 will even be talking to Kevin very soon about this program!
Thursday, October 10th, 11am
Citizen Action of Wisconsin’s Bright Futures Organizer Supreme Moore Omokunde will give an update on efforts throughout the State by Citizen Action of Wisconsin on their effort to promote prevention of Substance Use Disorder.
People’s Action hosting 3 more Presidential Candidate Forums
Saturday, October 26th
We discuss President Trump’s new “Protecting Medicare from Socialist Destruction” health plan announced Thursday. We dig into Trump’s health care record, and what to expect in the impeachment debate. We also discuss Congressman Ron Kind’s impeachment position, Trump Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s shocking attack on small dairy farmers during a visit Wisconsin, and the latest developments in the Democratic presidential primary.
Sunday, October 13th
Members of the Driftless Region co-op joined thousands of activists from across the country this weekend at the People’s Presidential Forum. Annette McGinley, K.C. Cayo, Sue Conard, Carla Pena and Fran Hegenbarth all traveled to Des Moines and got to hear from top Presidential candidates and learn about how each of these candidates plans to fight for progressive issues such as climate change, housing costs, college costs, healthcare for all and social justice.
I was one of the five La Crosse area activists with Citizen Action of Wisconsin to attend the people’s Forum in Des Moines, Iowa on September 21st. The Forum was well-organized and well-attended. I was impressed by the number of different organizations that have worked on issues that are meaningful to me.
Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, who is also a Citizen Action Co-op member and former Board member, held round table discussion with some of the members the Milwaukee City-County Task Force on Climate & Economic Equity for clean energy week.
A few of the ideas were; reduce monthly cost energy cost, Installation Maintenance – job creation, budget for energy efficiency and job training equity, budget for energy efficiency and job training and land use reform freeways or transit. The conversation was lively and energetic and the member left feeling good about the opportunity to work the Governor and Lt. Governor office in the future
This past Tuesday the SE-Co-op Climate Issue team held the first of a series of events that hopes to inform the public on the components of a Milwaukee Green New Deal.
The Driftless Region co-op will be hosting our launch event next week! Thursday October 3rd we will be meeting at 410 West Ave South in La Crosse at 7:00 PM to formally launch our brand new organizing co-op. This is a chance to learn about our movement and get involved! This event is open to the public. If you are in the area, please join us and bring some friends!
Learn from Citizen Action how to have difficult conversations with our deep canvassing training and feel more empowered talking about difficult topics!
UAW Local 722 Union Family Day Saturday, Sept. 28th, Hudson, WI
The Driftless region would like to spotlight a brand new co-op member, Jade Johnson. Jade is excited to join the Driftless co-op and help fight climate change and create a better world for the next generation. Jade is a social worker. Her work with foster families across the southwest part of the state has literally saved lives and created families. Jade has had a meaningful impact on dozens of Wisconsin children.
North Central Organizing Co-op members were well represented at Fighting Bobfest in Stevens Point last Saturday at the Pfiffner Pioneer Building.
Join us
Working Families Party’s Rebecca Lynch leads our discussion on the controversial Working Families Party endorsement of Elizabeth Warren. Then we welcome UAW Local 722’s Steve Frisque, live from a Wisconsin picket line to talk about the GM strike. We weigh-in on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s bold new prescription drug plan. Will Trump follow-through on his campaign promises and support it, or will he again cave to Big Pharma? Finally we discuss vaping illnesses and the push to legalize and regulate THC in Wisconsin, and Friday’s international climate strike which is coming to many Wisconsin cities.
Sarah presented on the role of the State Treasurer, and what she hopes to work on while serving the great State of WI. Attendees also had ample time to ask questions of our State Treasurer. Topics discussed included the fund that the Office of the State Treasurer oversees, what can be done to help public schools, the possibility of a statewide retirement system that all of us could buy into, student loan debt and more.
The Driftless Region co-op set up a table at the 7 Rivers Area Pride Event this past week. We were able to network with festival goers and area progressive groups. 28 festival goers signed up to learn more about how they can be a part of building a Green New Deal here in the Driftless Region!
want to help save our environment and build a local economy that works for everyone have them reach out to our Driftless Organizer Ben Wilson! 
The 2020 elections must respond to the needs of people, not big money and wealthy corporations – this election is happening from the grassroots up. It all starts with presidential candidate forums held by People’s Action in four states and anchored in Iowa by Iowa CCI Action Fund.
This September 20th, millions of us will walk out of our workplaces, schools, and homes to join youth climate strikers on the streets and demand an end to the age of fossil fuels.
Green Bay Climate Strike
We talk about the lame duck session fallout, including Wisconsin not being among the two dozen states reaching a tentative settlement agreement against opioid seller Purdue Pharma. We also discuss the party of Trump’s alignment behind Tom Tiffany in the CD 7 special election, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel slamming Speaker Vos and Rep. Nygren for charging exorbitant fees for open records, and the Foxconing of UW-Madison. We review new NPR/Marist presidential primary poll and welcome Citizen Action co-op member State Representative Jodi Emerson to discuss her first year as a state legislator.
If you are a member of Citizen Action, we are excited to announce that we are offering 2 opportunities to join us on some issue and political adventures. If you aren’t a member or need to renew, you can still take advantage of the offer if you sign up for a monthly membership. 
Members of the North Central Organizing Co-op marched in the Wausau Labor Day Parade. Wausau School Board President and Co-op member, Tricia Zunker, received the honor of being the Grand Marshall for the event, from the Marathon County Central Labor Council AFL-CIO. Here she is photographed with some of the kiddos that helped pass out candy during the parade.
This past Thursday, September 5th, the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) educated the Environmental Resources Committee of the Marathon County Board on the 
All we can say is, “wow!” From the solidarity march through downtown Eau Claire to our powerful speakers and everything in between, an enormous thank you to all of our members who showed up to take action. There is so much energy in the air and people know that the next year is going to be a big one in our part of the state.
We discuss the surprise announcement that Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner is retiring after 40 years in Congress, setting off CD 5 candidate speculation. We take stock of his fractious legacy. The panel reviews the new MU Law Poll which continues to reveal a vulnerable President Trump and plenty of opportunity for Democratic presidential candidates in 2020. We talk about a new The Hill article which includes Sauk County on a list of the 10 bellwether counties that will determine the 2020 election. Citizen Action is building a new organizing co-op this fall and winter in the region. We discuss an open records request by citizen-activist Sheila Plotkin revealing overwhelming public opposition to the GOP’s lame duck session last year, which was entirely ignored by the gerrymandered GOP majority.
Attend a Labor Day
Ben will be working in the last part of 2019 to build our newest Organizing Co-op, the Southwestern WI Organizing Co-op covering La Crosse, Vernon, Monroe, Juneau, Crawford, Iowa, Sauk, and Richland Counties. Email 
Citizen Action Northwestern co-op organized a candlelight vigil Wednesday at Phoenix Park in Eau Claire. State Rep. Jodi Emerson, school board president Eric Torres and local victims of gun violence talked about why they believe universal background checks are necessary.
Rep. Emerson and Gov. Evers introduced a plan to have universal background checks in Wisconsin. Republicans have not been supported background
Members of the healthcare co-op met with Susannah Dyen from Caring Across Generations. They discussed the caregiver shortage and how to build a movement around the caring economy. Solutions discussed were raising the wage and guarenteeed paid leave. We need to keep the discussion going within our community that our elders deserve good care, love and respect and the people that do this work are very valuable.
This week we say a fond farewell to Northeastern Wisconsin Co-op Organizer Joile Lizotte. While we will miss Jolie very much, we are really excited about her new role with our partner and ally SEIU! Jolie and Northeastern Wisconsin Co-op members accomplished some amazing things over the past 2 years, including stopping expansion of the Winnebago County Jail, their work on a Fair Maps Resolution, and the exciting new work on housing in the Oshkosh area. In addition, Oshkosh elected a new progressive mayor with Jolie’s support.
weekly organizer calls and taking over statewide liaison for our Fair Maps work across the state earlier this year. Congrats and best wishes to Jolie on her new adventure!
While families are struggling to afford their prescriptions, Big Pharma is raking in record profits and increasing prices. This Tuesday in Milwaukee, Citizen Action joined Congresswoman Gwen S. Moore, State Sen. LaTonya Johnson, Marlene Ott of Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans, and other allies to demand lower drug prices now and put
Continuing a series of events to jump start a new Driftless Organizing Co-op in Western/Southern Wisconsin, 15 labor leaders, county officials, energy experts, farmers, doctors and concerned citizens gathered in Onalaska to talk about how we could upgrade 1,000+ homes to be more energy efficient. Showing that doing so reduces carbon emissions more dollar for dollar than just about anything else, we looked at urging utility companies to access federal USDA funds to create residential upgrade programs at scale. Furthermore, we could create good jobs, lower utility bills and ensure healthier homes.
Citizen Action co-op members named to 34 most powerful Wisconsin Latinos list
A huge thank you to all of the volunteers and partners who attended our Citizen Action Deep Canvass Training and Action! Our deep canvassing training and script makes having those hard conversations on doors easier and lays the groundwork for our issue campaigns in 2020 and beyond. If you would like to see a deep canvass training in your community, reach out to your co-op organizer to schedule one today!
Join Citizen Action on August 28th in a vigil to commemorate all victims of gun violence. There have been more mass shootings in 2019 than days in 2019. Thanks to the leadership of our Governor there is a renewed call for Universal Background Checks. We will gather to remember the victims, support survivors, and take action. The vigil will begin with speakers at 730PM, followed by a moment of silence at 8 PM. The venue is the Phoenix Park Amphitheatre in Eau Claire.
A growing number of school boards across Wisconsin that already have – or will consider – supporting a proposal to retire Native American mascots thanks in part to an amazing organizing effort of North Central Co-op member, Tricia Zunker. The proposal that is rapidly spreading across the state, was drafted by Zunker and originally passed at the Wausau School Board this month.
Since the Wausau school board unanimously approved the resolution last week and called upon other school boards have signed on. Other school districts that have approved similar proposals, or are slated to do so in the next few weeks, include: Shawano, Appleton, La Crosse, Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee, Prescott, Shorewood, and Sun Prairie.
This week Citizens for a Clean Wausau (CCW) was selected from a nation-wide application process as a grant recipient from the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ). CCW is a grassroots volunteer group that monitors the activities and impacts of significant current and past polluters, in order to define the nature and extent of local contamination so that it will be remediated. Many of the members of the group are also founding members and current leaders of the Citizen Action North Central Organizing Co-op.
Guest panelists Claire Zautke, Citizen Action’s healthcare director, tells us about this week’s national day of action to lower prescription drug costs. We also discuss Gov. Tony Evers’ creation of a new office to help achieve his goal of 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050, as well as new data showing Wisconsin’s life expectancy is plummeting, especially for African Americans. We welcome Susannah Dyen from Caring Across Generations to discuss building a national movement to make caregiving a respected profession that it is properly compensated.
In a huge win for Citizen Action and our partner organizations in other states, the American Medical Association (AMA) has ended their relationship with the Partnership for America’s Future. If you aren’t familiar with the Partnership, they are a coalition of corporate healthcare organizations that support the for profit healthcare system. They oppose Medicare for All and also are against many of the provisions that were in the ACA like Medicaid Expansion.
You can read more about them
It was an exciting weekend, because Citizen Action of Wisconsin and the Chapters of the DPW (Democratic Party of Wisconsin) worked together in the NC region, to do issue based canvassing in Wausau (Marathon County) and Merrill (Lincoln County). It is great to see groups working together, and it will take this kind of unity if we want to be successful in 2020 and beyond.
Chair of the Steering Committee for the NC Organizing Co-op, Don Dunphy, and organizer Joel Lewis went as a team in Merrill. They had at least 2 people who typically vote Republican, but told them that in 2020 they are strongly considering voting for a Democrat. One of the people gave the reason that the cost of healthcare is out of control and the Republicans are offering no solutions to this problem. Other voters were not pleased with how the President speaks about minority groups or with how he acts. We look forward to doing more of these types of canvases throughout the year.
Co-op member, and all-around community leader, Hans Breitenmoser continues to fight tirelessly for Fair Maps. He believes that this is the top issue, because until this is changed to a more fair system, the politicians are picking the voters instead of the other way around.
Co-op members get chance to meet new State Chair of the DPW
The Healthcare for all Co-op is at Center Street Daze having conversations about Medicare for All and 2020 Election
“Face-to-face communication is the most effective way to connect with supporters. Canvassing is a key part of any campaign, however, it can also be extremely intimidating! Learn from Citizen Action how to have difficult conversations with our deep canvassing training and feel more empowered talking about difficult topics. Connect with your neighbors on the issues that matter to you and your community.
Over 68,000 Wisconsin Citizens are disenfranchised from voting due to laws that disproportionately affect communities of color and individuals of low-income. Thank you to EXPO and in particular, Carl Fields and Sarah Ferber, for their leadership and advocacy. Citizen Action is proud of our member, Representative Jodi Emerson, and her co-sponsorship of the Unlock Lock the Vote legislation.
The panel talks about Boss Vos’ stubborn unwillingness to accommodate State Rep. Jimmy Anderson, a legislator with a disability. We discuss the news that state leaders met with Foxconn officials this week in the wake of reports that taxpayers will pay $172,000 – $290,000 per job, if there are any. Governor Evers floats the idea of a special session on gun violence and pays a visit to the heart of right-wing political darkness, WMC. Clean Wisconsin and other environmental groups sue EPA over Trump’s retrograde coal power rule, and we discuss the presidential candidacy of Sen. Kamala Harris.
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2019 Press Clips
“GM Strike & Working Families Party endorses Elizabeth Warren” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast
Bill Kaplan: Can a Democrat succeed Duffy?
2019 Press Clips