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
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 have our sights set on the future and the world we’re aiming to build. 
We already complete the first forum in Des Moines, Iowa in September. Nearly 50 Citizen Action members attended the forum and 3 asked questions of the Presidential candidates.
People’s Action is hosting one more Presidential Candidate Forum
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 discuss the latest power grab by Speaker Vos which would allow an unlimited number of veto override votes in the Assembly. Even more shameful is Vos’ petty maneuver to pair the motion with an unrelated disability accommodation that will allow Rep. Jimmy Anderson to participate in Assembly business. In a positive development, Governor Evers signed an Executive Order this week declaring Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Wisconsin. Next, we review a very bad week for Sen. Ron Johnson who ineptly attempted to walk back his damning comments about Trump’s actions in Ukraine, making himself a national spectacle. Also, Trump’s trade war sends American manufacturing into a recession, Milwaukee residents demand answers about police cooperation with ICE, and prescription drug actions target Rep. Sensenbrenner.
Sixteen GOP-led states, including three in process, have Medicaid expansion. Moreover, 55 percent of Republicans, nationwide, support expanding Medicaid (Kaiser Family Foundation). And, in Wisconsin, 43 percent of Republicans and 70 percent of all Wisconsinites support Medicaid expansion (Marquette Poll). Wisconsin Democratic Governor Tony Evers tried mightily to convince the GOP-led legislature to expand Medicaid: fought for its inclusion in the state budget; withdrew Wisconsin from the Scott Walker–Trump lawsuit seeking to have the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which includes Medicaid expansion, declared unconstitutional, and allocated $500,000 for outreach workers to help enroll eligible Wisconsinites in BadgerCare (Medicaid) or to be covered by ACA private insurance.
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.
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.
Watch
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