A special election will be held tomorrow, Jan 16 for the Senate District 10 seat left vacant by Sheila Harsdorf. Normally I have not endorsed candidates in the past, but this is a very important race both for the people of SD 10 and symbolically for the country. This race pits a Wisconsin progressive candidate against a die-hard new-style Wisconsin Republican and is being watched nation-wide as a bellweather of things to come in the mid-term elections later in the year.
“Who put all this policy in the budget?” I whispered to my colleague the night the budget passed. “Groups,” he said glumly. “I call it the ‘Shadow Legislature.’”
These groups are often from outside Wisconsin and often funded by large donors. Behind the scenes, they push for policy, added at the last minute, which is unrelated to the state budget but changed laws.
We are sponsoring our first Wis.Community community film showing. We hope to do more of these in the coming months - films that enlighten and entertain, and that will not show in local theaters otherwise.
LOOK & SEE is a cinematic portrait of farmer and writer Wendell Berry. Through his eyes, we see both the changing landscapes of rural America in the era of industrial agriculture and the redemptive beauty in taking the unworn path.
MADISON – Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters proudly endorses Patty Schachtner for Wisconsin’s Senate District 10.
The upcoming special election on Jan. 16 in SD10 provides voters one of the first major opportunities to send a message to the anti-conservation elements in Madison and Washington D.C. by electing Patty Schachtner.
“I’m paying higher property taxes and I haven’t had a raise in years.” Sound familiar?
You are not alone.
Property taxes are a regressive tax – the tax falls harder on those with less means. Property tax bills take a bigger bite out of the paychecks of people who have not received a raise in years.
Snow falls gently on the farm. It’s the light, fluffy snow that comes when it’s very cold.
We’ve seen bitter temperatures to end the year. Like many, the cold caused its share of problems on our farm. I was reminded to appreciate running water when our well pump went out Christmas Eve. When an electric waterer failed, we carried buckets of water to our horses.
As the year draws to a close, I often look back on my time in the Legislature and think of decisions that have an effect on our families and our neighborhoods.
This year, big companies are unwrapping gifts. The luckiest of really big companies is Foxconn. The $3 billion deal to bring the flat-screen TV and computer monitor manufacturer to Racine County is overwhelmingly unpopular in western Wisconsin. I’ve received over one-hundred calls and letters from folks who asked about the lack of taxpayer and environmental protections. They wonder where the money will come from in an already tight budget.
MADISON – Today, Senate GOP Leaders formally asked Attorney General Brad Schimel to investigate the Government Accountability Board, the now defunct agency republicans disbanded in 2015. The vote passed in the Committee on Senate Organization, 3-2, with Senators Fitzgerald, Roth, and Vukmir voting for the request and Senators Shilling and Bewley voting against.
Trump’s EPA Appoints Former DNR Secretary Who Left the Agency in Tatters
MADISON – In a damaging blow to Wisconsin’s – and its neighbors’ – environmental and public health, former Wisconsin DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp is now in charge of environmental protection for the entire Midwest.
“Every Wisconsinite should have access to education or training past high school… To be pursued at whatever point and pace makes sense for individual workers and industries,” wrote researchers at the Center on Wisconsin Strategy (COWS) eight years ago.
I have not seen it reported in the news anywhere, but it appears a large part of the State of Wisconsin web infrastructure has been down all morning, including the state web portal at https://wisconsin.gov . It's not you, it's really down.
All around Wisconsin, people are feeding a stinky, green and oftentimes toxic life form. Algal blooms are a regular occurrence on Wisconsin's lakes during the summer, and the microorganisms that comprise them need phosphorus to thrive. It's among the essential building blocks of life, but too much phosphorus can throw an ecosystem out of balance.
The Do's and Dont's of building relationships with the media, pitching stories, and getting your message amplified. This is a talk given at the Western Wisconsin Citizen Summit on Nov. 12, 2017 in Eau Claire.
Lisa Lucas is the Communications Director at Wisconsin Voices. She has a background in nonprofit and communications management. A Wisconsin native, Lisa holds a BA in Political Science and Public Relations from the University of Wisconsin.
