Wisconsin educators speak out on Project 2025 on World Teacher’s Day
Wisconsin educators and Secretary Godlewski advocate for making education and child care more affordable, and easing the burden of student loans.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) - Educators across Wisconsin are using World Teacher’s Day to bring attention to “Project 2025″ and how it could impact children’s education across the country.
Those educators joined elected officials and community leaders today in cities across Wisconsin, highlighting the Harris-Walz campaign’s fight to strengthen public education and working to educate the public on what they say is a very real threat to cut federal funding.
Those we spoke with say although it’s not an easy conversation to have, it is necessary if we wish to continue protecting what we value most: our children, and their ability to make it in the real world.
“I think they’re difficult conversations. They’re very difficult, but if we open ourselves to the discomfort, we can help people to see that democracy is what we all rely on,” said Ellie Hinz-Radue, a teacher at Green Bay West High School.
The Wisconsin GOP and chairman Brian Schimming released a statement about the campaign on Saturday: “While Democrats peddle lies and falsehoods about Donald Trump and Project 2025—an initiative that Trump has consistently condemned—Wisconsin Republicans are focused on lowering costs for working families, expanding school choice, and securing the border. These are the issues that matter to the millions of Wisconsinites who will decide this election.”
Wisconsin Democrats and Republicans react to Trump's IVF plan, rally for Harris
“His words cannot cover up his egregious actions against reproductive rights.”
MADISON (WKOW) -- State Democratic lawmakers and reproductive freedom advocates gathered on the State Capitol steps Wednesday to address former President Donald Trump's stance on abortion and rally for Vice President Kamala Harris.
In just the last few days, Trump - who is a Florida voter - said he would vote to uphold that state's six-week abortion ban. Around the same time, the former president also unveiled a new plan for in vitro fertilization (IVF).
"He senses that this is a big losing issue for him, that reproductive freedom and overturning Roe could cost him the election, and he is desperate to say anything," said Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison) at Wednesday's press conference.
Former President Trump said the government or private insurers should pay for IVF treatments under his administration.
But Democrats are not buying it.
"Donald Trump is nothing but someone who will only say what people want to hear, and that political pandering, we have to call it out as we see it, because Donald Trump is not for our reproductive freedom," said Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski (D-WI).
Read the full story at WKOW.com
Secretary of State talks about bringing DNC enthusiasm back to Wisconsin
Secretary Godlewski previews VP Harris’s acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Opinion | Don't give do-nothing Legislature more power
“It is up to us once again to show the extreme gerrymandered Legislature that Wisconsin demands checks and balances and rejects this consolidation of power.”
Opinion by Sarah Godlewski, The Cap Times
On Aug. 13, Wisconsinites face a critical choice that could reshape our state’s future. This election provides an important opportunity to reject two constitutional amendments that would erode the checks and balances in our government and give the Legislature unfair authority to dictate our state’s future.
Voters will have two constitutional amendments on their August ballot. At the heart of these amendments is an extreme power grab that gives the Legislature sole power to distribute federal funds. Currently, the governor and legislators work together to allocate most of the federal funds directed to our state. In emergencies like natural disasters, the governor has discretion to direct funds to state agencies, ensuring timely relief to those who urgently need it.
These amendments would permanently prohibit Wisconsin governors from having a role in how these funds are used, and recent history shows such a change would be disastrous.
Wisconsin has a full-time Legislature, yet under Republican control, it was the least active full-time legislature in the country during the pandemic. This year, the Assembly gaveled out on Feb. 22 and the Senate on March 12. Their inaction has led to tens of millions in federal funds — our tax dollars — being revoked from Wisconsin. Even now, they’re holding funds hostage that should be used to clean up toxic chemicals from our water and help keep rural hospitals open.
Photo by The Cap Times. Read the full piece at CapTimes.com
Vel Phillips, trailblazing Black leader, honored with sculpture on Capitol Square
Hundreds gathered outside the Capitol for the unveiling of a sculpture honoring Vel Phillips, a Milwaukee native whose decades-long career included service as Wisconsin’s first black, and first female, Secretary of State.
From WORT 89.9 FM - A lifelong Democrat and champion of housing reform, Phillips began her political career in 1956 when she was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council. In 1962, she proposed an ordinance to outlaw housing discrimination which lost in an 18-1 vote of the Common Council. She was the only city official to be arrested during the storied “long hot summer” of 1967. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s law school, she became a judge in Milwaukee in 1971. And in 1978, she became Wisconsin’s Secretary of State making her the first Black person and first woman elected to statewide office.
Much was made of the many “firsts” of Phillips’ career. As State Rep. Shelia Stubbs reiterated, “the first African American woman to graduate from UW–Madison law school, the first African American woman to serve on Milwaukee’s Common Council, the first Black judge in the state of Wisconsin.”
But other speakers made as much of the work still to be done. Work they hoped the sculpture would help inspire. “And that’s where representation matters,” said State Rep. Lisa Subeck, who chairs the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board, which oversaw plans for the sculpture. “Because every kid that comes to this building now for their fourth grade field trip is going to see the sculpture of Vel Phillips. They are going to ask ‘Who is she?’ And they are going to hear about her remarkable accomplishments. There are little girls, little girls of color, who are going to see themselves when they see Vel Phillips. And that is just so vitally important for our future.”
Despite her outspoken progressive views, Phillips commanded respect from both sides of the aisle. Former Republican State Rep. Amy Loudenbeck, and former Wisconsin GOP official Gerard Randall both spoke at the event. Other speakers included Gov. Tony Evers, Wisconsin’s current Secretary of State, Sarah Godlewski, and Sen. Tammy Baldwin.
Read the full story at WORTFM.org