Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog

Wisconsin Stands to Lose Massive Funding for Education, Healthcare and Public Safety from Sequester Cuts

Republicans are once again taking the economy hostage to protect tax loopholes for corporations and wealthy.  A new report shows just how devastating that can be to our economy.  An analysis from the Senate Appropriations Committee shows that Congressional Republicans’ threats to harm the economy by letting automatic across-the-board budget cuts – called “sequestration” – go forward on March 1, 2013 would cause Wisconsin to lose enormous funding for education, public safety, healthcare and job training.

The report further proves that Republicans’ insistence on cutting Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare benefits to pay for tax loopholes for corporations and the wealthiest 2 percent would directly harm working families.

These drastic cuts would slash nearly $17.76 million from Title I, the largest federal-funded education program in the United States, meaning schools would be left struggling to pay for teachers and tutors. Critical grants for public safety would be cut back by $859,502, leaving fire departments understaffed and working without necessary, critical equipment.

“Yet again, Republicans in Congress are threatening to throw the economy back into recession unless Democrats agree to benefit cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO. “They are willing to allow deep across the board cuts that hurt working families to go into effect rather than close wasteful tax loopholes and demand corporations and the richest 2% pay their fair share. We need to invest in our economy and our people by creating more jobs, not cutting them. Congress must stop protecting corporations and the richest 2% and cancel the sequester immediately.”

Additional state cuts:  Wisconsin tables start on page 178 of report.

	FY 12 Funding	FY 13 Sequester Cut	Impact
Head Start	$105,517,607	$8,230,373	276 Head Start jobs lost and 1,324 fewer children served
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grants	$11,727,640	$859,502	Reduced ability to respond to biological, radiological, chemical, and natural emergencies
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program	$105,171,626	$9,587,923	Less funding to provide home heating and cooling assistance to low-income individuals and families
Improving Teacher Quality State Grants	$39,886, 313	$2,877,876	3,034 fewer teachers, serving 45,298 students, receive professional development

 

 

The full report can be found at: http://www.harkin.senate.gov/documents/pdf/500ff3554f9ba.pdf

 

Gov. Walker’s Second Budget Rewards Corporate Donors at Expense of Middle Class

Last night Gov. Walker unveiled his 2013-2015 biennial budget.  Tucked inside are some scary proposals.  It is clear that Gov. Walker’s budget leaves Wisconsin’s middle class behind, doing more for his corporate donors than for the people of Wisconsin.  Gov. Walker’s budget is chock-full of suspicious givebacks to private interests and does not adequately fund our public schools and services. 

Scott Walker continues to perform his magic act of pretending ‘it’s working’ while making middle class jobs disappear and crushing the middle class.

It is important to look at the overall picture.  Gov. Walker’s drastic cuts to programs in his first budget are in no way offset in this proposal.  Gov. Walker’s first budget is still having a deep, devastating impact on the people of Wisconsin and this budget continues to suffocate our state’s growth potential.  For proof, just look at our dismal job numbers.  It’s time to stop playing partisan political games and get straight to the work of creating good jobs for Wisconsin. 

Let’s set the record straight: this budget is more smoke and mirrors propped up by a few token improvements instead of a meaningful proposal to adequately fund our schools, health centers and community services. 

Expanding private school voucher programs that have no accountability while starving resources for Wisconsin's public schools is reckless.  Rejecting federal funds to expand Medicaid and kicking Wisconsinites off BadgerCare for a made-up plan which will cost taxpayers more in the long-run is irresponsible.

In his time as Governor, Scott Walker has set the bar so low in putting forth meaningful budget proposals that would in any way help Wisconsin workers that almost anything in his second budget would be an improvement upon the first.  But instead, what we are seeing is that Scott Walker’s budget runs up the partisan score while leaving middle class families in the dust.   

New Report Shows Wisconsin Loses $814 Million of Tax Revenue Every Year Due to Offshore Tax Havens for Corporations and the Very Wealthy

As Wisconsin working families call on Wall Street and the wealthiest 2% to pay their fair share in taxes, a new report by U.S. PIRG, shows that Wisconsin loses $814 million in individual and corporate income tax every year due to tax havens set up by corporations and the very wealthy.

Corporate tax loopholes deprive Wisconsin of millions of dollars that could be used to pay for vital services like education, public safety and healthcare.  In 2011, states lost approximately $39.8 billion in tax revenues from corporations and wealthy individuals who kept money in offshore tax havens.

As Gov. Walker gets set to announce his 2013-2015 budget, it is important to remember that our tax code needs to be fair, balanced and responsible. We need to ensure that corporations and the wealthy are paying their fair share in taxes.  We need to close tax loopholes and tax havens which deprive our state of millions of dollars in revenue each year. 

“Corporations and the very wealthy benefit from roads, bridges, infrastructure and a healthy, safe and educated workforce we all pay for,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “Yet, they pay little to no taxes, shifting the costs of these public services onto the backs of working families who are already struggling to get by. Corporations’ profits continue rolling in while Wisconsin is strapped for cash and slashing funding for schools, health clinics and public services. It’s time to close corporate tax loopholes and to make corporations and the richest 2% pay their fair share.”

For more information, see: http://bit.ly/VHc4Hf

 

African-American Labor and Community Summit Generates Key Ideas to Boost Job Creation for Workers in Wisconsin

On Saturday, February 16 at the 11th annual African-American Labor & Community Summit hosted by the Milwaukee Chapters of the A. Philip Randolph Institute and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, workers, economists, policy makers and community members came together to identify best practices and policy positions for African-Americans and other working families on the issue of job creation.  A collaborative agenda on African-American job creation strategies was developed and will be presented to both state and local government for consideration in the hopes of implementation.

“It is critical for our elected leaders to pay special attention to job creation strategies for the African-American community,” said Anthony Rainey, President Milwaukee Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.  “It is clear that in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin black unemployment, especially among young people, is dangerously high.   The aim of this summit was to come together to collaboratively generate specific steps and policy proposals that can address the need to create good-family supporting jobs for all of Wisconsin.” 

“We need jobs.  We need good jobs, and we need to better connect workers with skills training and resources available to get people working,” said Nacarci Feaster, President of the Milwaukee Chapter of the A. Philip Randolph Institute.  “We aren’t going to solve all the issues that plague our communities in this summit, but we have come out of this conference with ideas, initiatives and concrete steps that we hope the Governor, the Mayor and the County Executive will consider to be able to better fulfill their campaign promises to bring good jobs to Wisconsin.” 

Remember to Vote 'Fallone for Justice' Tuesday!

Tuesday, February, 19, is the 3-way primary in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election.  Remember to get to your polling location tomorrow and cast your vote in this critical race.

The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO has endorsed Ed Fallone because of his commitment to stand up for working families. 

The two candidates who get the most votes on Tuesday will advance to the general election on April 2.  The Supreme Court race impacts every person living in Wisconsin.  The Wisconsin Supreme Court has the final say in key issues like voting rights, redistricting rules, Act 10 challenges and more!

Turnout is expected to be low this Tuesday so remind all your friends and family to get out and cast their ballot. 

Corporate contributors, many from out of state, have bought a 4-3 conservative majority on the Wisconsin Supreme Court which has become extremely dysfunctional and highly partisan.  Patience Roggensack, whom Ed Fallone is challenging, has received $20,000 in campaign contributions from Walmart owners and Amway founders, both leaders in the movement to privatize education.  Roggensack is backed by a number of corporate special interest groups including the Tea-Party group Wisconsin Club for Growth. 

Ed Fallone will restore integrity to the court because he is independent and will base his decisions on the law, not serve large corporate interests to insure their continued contributions.

Fallone’s qualifications are impressive:

•    Associate Professor at Marquette University Law School
•    Expert in Constitutional, Corporate and Criminal Law
•    Graduated magna cum laude from Boston University School of Law
•    Law practice spanning 24 years in both federal and state courts
•    Represented clients in complex corporate litigation and shareholder lawsuits
•    Served on the Steering Committee of Catholic Charities Legal Services for Immigrants and on the Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities of the Milwaukee Archdiocese
•    Involved in nonprofit organizations increasing access to justice for those who have difficulties using the legal system
 
Please remember to vote on Tuesday, February 19, and again on April 2, for Ed Fallone for Supreme Court.

Walker's Reckless BadgerCare Plan

This week Gov. Walker put politics ahead of the people of Wisconsin and turned down federal aid to increase BadgerCare coverage to currently uninsured Wisconsinites.  On Wednesday, Gov. Walker turned down billions of ObamaCare dollars that would have extended BadgerCare to over 170,000 additional Wisconsinites, created over 10,000 jobs, and saved the state millions.

The good news is that Gov. Walker has the ability to reconsider his decision, put Wisconsin back on the right path and accept Medicaid money at any time. 

Contact your state Representative and ask them to urge Gov. Walker to expand Medicaid now. 

Gov. Walker is taking a gamble and risking the health of hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin workers.  This decision means turning away jobs and leaving countless uninsured residents without access to affordable health care.

Gov. Walker’s estimates of people his plan can insure are intentionally misleading and dishonest.  We need to set the record straight.  Turning down Medicaid expansion hurts Wisconsin.  Accepting federal aid to help insure more people should have been a no-brainer.  We send our hard earned taxpayer dollars to Washington and when they come back to Wisconsin, Gov. Walker has a history of turning them away.

Phone Bank for Ed Fallone!

We wanted to let you know that starting this weekend phone banks will be up and running in Madison and Milwaukee for the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court race. 

This Tuesday, February 19, is the 3-way primary between Ed Fallone, Vince Megna and the corporate special interest group backed candidate Patience Roggensack. 

We have to remind our fellow union brothers and sisters to get out and vote this Tuesday!  The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO has endorsed Ed Fallone because of his commitment to stand up for working families. 

Can you help us spread the word and remind fellow supporters to get to the polls this Tuesday? 

Here are the details:

Milwaukee Phone Bank
WI State AFL-CIO Building    
6333 W. Bluemound Road – 2nd Floor
Saturday (2/16) – 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Monday (2/18) – 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Madison Phone Bank
Madison Labor Temple
1602 S. Park Street
Monday (2/18) – 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday (2/19) – 10:0 0 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The Supreme Court Race is vitally important to every Wisconsinite.  The Supreme Court has the final say on key issues like voting rights, redistricting lines, Act 10 challenges and more.

Let’s get on the phones and get out the vote this weekend!

Gov. Walker Turns Down BadgerCare Money

Gov. Walker announced today that he is turning down federal money to increase BadgerCare coverage to uninsured Wisconsinites.  This decision is the wrong way for Wisconsin and will have devastating consequences for the uninsured and unemployed.  It is estimated that the influx of federal dollars would have spurred 10,552 new jobs for Wisconsin. 

“Once again Gov. Walker is playing politics with people’s lives and letting partisan games get in the way of helping Wisconsinites,” said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “This decision means turning away jobs and leaving countless uninsured residents without access to affordable health care.”

“Just because you call it middle ground does not mean it isn’t senseless and archaic.  Quality health care for all should not be a partisan issue. Republican Governors across the nation are doing right by their states and accepting federal funds to expand Medicaid,” said Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “We send our taxpayer dollars to Washington and when they come back to Wisconsin, Gov. Walker has a history of turning them away. What a shame that the health of many low-wage workers will suffer because of Gov. Walker’s short-sided political calculations.” 

JOIN US: African-American Labor and Community Summit

On Saturday, February 16 at 12:00 p.m. the Milwaukee Chapters of the A. Philip Randolph Institute and the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists will host the 11th Annual African-American Labor Leadership & Community Summit.

The focus of this year’s Summit will be to identify policy positions for African-Americans and other working families on the issue of job creation.  The event aims to develop and launch a collaborative agenda on African-American job creation strategies to be presented to both state and local government for implementation by January 1, 2014.

The format for this year’s event will consist of a panel and audience discussion on the “State of Working Wisconsin” in specific regards to the African-American community.  The panel will consist of Professor James H. Peoples, UW-Milwaukee Economics; Laura Dresser, Associate Director of the Center on Wisconsin Strategy; and Fred Redmond, United Steel Workers International Vice President of Human Affairs.

Please join us for this great event!

Date:     Saturday, February 16, 2013

Time:     12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location:      Laborer’s Local 113 Hall, 6310 West Appleton Ave., Milwaukee, WI, 53210

Walker's Wrong BadgerCare Decision

At a time when many other states are putting partisan politics aside to improve access to affordable insurance, it seems that Governor Walker is going in the opposite direction.

Gov. Walker signaled today that he will not fully expand BadgerCare coverage to currently uninsured Wisconsinites as intended by the Affordable Care Act.  If true, this heartless decision will impact hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites and leave too many families without the ability to get proper health care. 

Gov. Walker is attempting to spin his decision as middle-of-the-road, but there is no middle ground in setting up federal exchanges.  You either accept the money and expand coverage or you disregard hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites’ health by rejecting the funds.

As Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin explains:  

We know of no credible middle path that would result in guaranteeing coverage to low income Wisconsinites who currently fall between the cracks in the BadgerCare program. As far as we know, taking the new health care reform money for BadgerCare really is an all or nothing proposition, and has been treated as such by all credible health care experts across the country and the six conservative Governors who have already accepted the money…. If Governor Walker turns down billions in federal money for BadgerCare, there is no doubt that many Wisconsinites will die as a consequence.

This decision will also cost Wisconsin jobs.  According to an independent analysis by Jack Norman the $12 billion in federal money for BadgerCare will create an estimated 10,000 new jobs in the health care industry.

Gov. Walker is expected to make an official announcement on BadgerCare tomorrow, Wednesday February 13. 

In the meantime you can send him a Valentine urging him to accept the money and expand BadgerCare.