At a time when Republican politicians are taking healthcare away from millions of Americans, I’m proud to have been able to deliver a win for Wisconsinites and our ability to access healthcare. I will never stop fighting for affordable, accessible healthcare for all.
After being vetoed several times, it finally became law last year! This legislation has helped alleviate some of Wisconsin’s provider shortages, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Last year, I helped get a bipartisan win to expand healthcare access in Wisconsin. For years, I was the only Democratic author, with some of my Republican colleagues, on legislation to allow APRNs/Nurse Practitioners to practice to the full extent of their training.
If we want property taxes lower – and I do! – we need appropriate state funding for public education.
Most recently, the state broke its promise to increase special ed reimbursement to 45%, because it only set aside enough money to get to around 35% – leaving districts short millions of dollars from what they should have received.
I authored the Save our Schools package to provide a permanent 90% special education reimbursement, just like private voucher programs do. This is especially important because all eight of the last state budgets have shortchanged our kids.
Why should seniors on fixed incomes have to vote to raise their own property taxes just to make sure their grandkids have good schools, when the state has had years of a multibillion dollar surplus?
Nearly every public school district has to turn to referendums to make up the differences, increasing property taxes – which makes it unaffordable for older Wisconsinites on fixed incomes to stay here.
DPI found that 71% of school districts received less general school aid this year than last, because Republicans refused to provide even a penny of additional aid to keep up with inflation.
For 30 of the last 32 years, Republicans have controlled our state legislature, and underfunded our public schools. Because of their financial mismanagement, property taxes are skyrocketing as schools struggle to keep teachers in classrooms and keep the heat on.
For the record, I’m against all illegal wars.
Trump promised to lower the price of eggs. Instead he gave himself $4 billion, slashed your healthcare, unleashed a violent paramilitary to murder Americans in the street, and is illegally attacking other countries. #iran
I listened and then drafted legislation to eliminate these barriers and help save these fun cultural events, so that small breweries can participate in these important festivals for tourism, economic development, and Wisconsin's cultural heritage as a great destination to enjoy your life.
Many constituents contacted me after attending beer festivals around the state last year and being shocked by how few small breweries were in attendance. I learned that a recent law change caused permit fees to skyrocket, making it too expensive for craft brewers to participate.
As elected officials, they should be accountable to the voters who elected them, not to the ultra-wealthy donors who fund their campaigns. Using paper ballots lets them govern in darkness – giving Republican politicians cover as they pass shady and harmful legislation without public scrutiny.
Republicans are hiding their votes from the public. Why? Because they are advancing an extremist, right-wing agenda instead of listening to what their constituents actually want.
Today, this legislation shows that we do too – everyone deserves the freedom to thrive.
The million workers are childcare providers, support staff in our schools, CNAs, retail and grocery workers, farm workers, hotel housekeepers. No one working 40-hours per week should be living in poverty, struggling to put food on the table.
More than 1 million Wisconsin workers earn less than a living wage. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle tell us to trust the free market to set the minimum wage.
A “free” market that doesn’t give families enough freedom to survive is a failed market. And we don’t have to accept it.
Today, we introduced legislation to raise Wisconsin’s minimum wage to $15 per hour with a scheduled path to reach $20 per hour by 2030.
Our kids deserve a state government that works for them. They deserve what I got as a little girl from rural Wisconsin — the best public education in the country.
Today in the CapTimes, I outlined my plan to stop property taxes from skyrocketing and fund our public schools so that our kids get a great public education like the one that drew my parents to build their family in rural Taylor County.
Retired educators have dedicated years to teaching our future generations; we must allow them to come back without penalty and immediately remedy one of the biggest challenges our schools face – the shortage of teachers.
There is no substitute for experience. Wisconsin is facing a dire teacher shortage, yet retired teachers are often blocked from returning to work because of complex retirement and pension laws that punish retirees.
Today, I am proud to introduce legislation to legalize recreational cannabis in Wisconsin. We have long needed to reform our state’s outdated cannabis laws, and this is an important first step. Our midwest neighbors have already legalized cannabis.
Now it’s our turn!
Many of these families assisted the United States during wars, and face grave danger if not able to come here. Betraying them makes us all less safe.
We must come together to protect our freedoms from this regime.
In yet another attack on immigrants, the Trump administration has cut funding for refugee resettlement agencies. These agencies help ensure that refugees fleeing war and violence have the resources they need to build their lives here in our state.
Spending time with kids always provides a lift. I had a great visit to Henderson Elementary yesterday!
ICE under the Trump regime is incompatible with a free society. ICE must be disarmed, dismantled, and prosecuted.
In Wisconsin, our opportunities shouldn’t be determined by where we’re from or how much money our parents have. Reckless fiscal decisions—mostly by Republicans over 40 years—mean we’re no longer meeting the promise of a great public education for everyone in the state.
Around the state, school districts are facing a difficult reality, the state legislature has left them with significantly less money than they need to keep classrooms heated and competitive compensation for staff to ensure kids can thrive.
