State Senate Democrats unveil agenda: Wisconsin Families First
yeah--but we sure do not need Walker!
TWEET;
Madison.com Politics ?@MadPolitics Jan 22
State Senate Democrats unveil agenda, say Wisconsin needs a 'full-time governor' http://dlvr.it/8Bw9yZ
Link to
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/sendem/Pages/Put-Wisconsin-Families-First.aspx
Wisconsin Families First
A Commonsense Plan from Senate Democrats
to Move Wisconsin Forward
While the rest of the nation is recovering from the Great Recession and experiencing strong economic growth, Wisconsin families continue to struggle as a result of our lagging economy, stagnant family wages, and a looming $2.2 billion budget deficit. With Gov. Walker distracted by his presidential ambitions and Republican leaders at odds over their legislative agenda, Senate Democrats are stepping forward with a plan to put Wisconsin Families First.
Click here to sign our petition to put
Wisconsin Families First.
Senate Democrats have a clear plan to grow our economy and move Wisconsin forward by investing in families, businesses and local communities. We are focused on addressing the issues that matter most to working families, children, and seniors in our state. Over the next several days and weeks, Senate Democrats will be introducing several legislative proposals to encourage job creation, increase family wages and strengthen local communities as part of our plan to put Wisconsin Families First.
Protecting Wisconsin Students
Restore funding to local schools
Voucher school accountability
Higher Ed, Lower Debt Act
Investing in Communities
Infrastructure investments in roads, bridges, bike/ped, transit and broadband
Constitutional amendment to prevent raids on hunting and fishing fees
Protect local control and ensure clean air, land and water
Promoting Good Jobs
Made In America Act
Invest in worker training
Increase minimum wage to $10.10
Restore pay equity protections
Guarantee retirement security
Strengthen Health Care
Strengthen BadgerCare
Improve access to mental health and rehabilitation services
Expand access to health care choices
Savings program for long-term care
Click here to sign our petition to put
Wisconsin Families First.
PROMOTING GOOD JOBS
Invest in worker training
Budget priority
Funding cuts over the past four years have prevented many workers from learning the skills they need to compete in a 21st century global economy. We must invest in our technical colleges, universities and community-based worker training programs to close the skills gap and create new opportunities for Wisconsin workers and businesses.
Increase minimum wage to $10.10
2015 Senate Bill 2 (Wirch)
An overwhelming margin of voters in Wisconsin support an increase in the minimum wage. It is estimated that over 500,000 Wisconsin workers would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage and all residents would benefit from the increased economic activity and job creation this proposal will generate.
Restore pay equity protections
In drafting (Hansen)
Too many Wisconsin families and communities continue to struggle as a result of pay discrimination and stagnant wages that haven't kept up with our neighboring states. Lack of enforcement of state equal pay laws cost Wisconsin women and their families $10,234 per year. Men and women across Wisconsin deserve to be treated fairly and compensated for their hard work.
Made in America Act
LRB?1056 (Hansen / Lassa)
This legislation will encourage the purchasing of American-made materials used in infrastructure projects and help reinvest in local businesses to keep jobs here in Wisconsin.
Secure Retirement Act
In drafting (Hansen)
Currently over 1.5 million Wisconsin workers do not have a retirement plan. This proposal would create a retirement plan for workers, farmers and small business owners based on the strengths of the Wisconsin Retirement System. Making sure every resident has the financial security they need to retire will help decrease poverty among seniors and save tax dollars by reducing the need for public assistance programs.
INVESTING IN COMMUNITIES
Infrastructure investments in roads, bridges, bike/ped, transit and broadband
Budget priority
Democrats believe that investing in public infrastructure is key to attracting new businesses and creating jobs in local communities. We want to ensure that our infrastructure is an asset, not a liability to business growth and expansion.
Constitutional amendment to prevent raids on hunting and fishing fees
In drafting (Erpenbach)
Fees paid by Wisconsin hunters and anglers should be used to maintain and preserve our sporting heritage. Democrats want to protect these investments and prevent fund raids for unintended purposes.
Protect local control and ensure clean air, land and water.
In drafting (Vinehout)
Democrats will continue to advocate for commonsense standards to protect clean air, land and water. We will support policies and proposals that empower local communities and protect the rights of citizens against corporate over-development and pollution.
PROTECTING WISCONSIN STUDENTS
Restore funding to local schools
Budget priority
Wisconsin public schools have seen historic cuts as Republicans have expanded the taxpayer-funded voucher program. In order to provide every student with a great education and the opportunity to compete for the jobs of the future, we need to restore funding and invest in our local public schools.
Voucher school accountability
2015 Senate Bill 3 (Harris Dodd / Larson)
Every school, including taxpayer-funded voucher schools, should be held accountable if it is failing to properly educate and protect children. We need to ensure that taxpayer funding is being invested wisely and that all publicly funded schools play by the same set of rules and meet the same high set of standards that parents expect.
Higher Ed, Lower Debt Act
In drafting (Hansen)
The growing student loan debt crisis is preventing too many young adults and families from achieving the American Dream. Democrats believe that relief from high student loan interest rates and new flexibilities will provide much-needed economic relief to working families.
STRENGTHEN HEALTH CARE
Strengthen BadgerCare
In drafting (Erpenbach)
Wisconsin voters overwhelmingly support this Democratic proposal to accept available federal funding and strengthen BadgerCare. It is time to do what many other states across the nation have done and accept federal funding to strengthen BadgerCare, lower health care costs for everyone and save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars over the coming years.
Improve access to mental health and rehabilitation services
Budget priority
Access to mental health services remains a challenge for many residents in both urban and rural areas. We must do more to improve access and remove the stigma associated with mental health care in order to improve the lives of residents, increase worker productivity and ensure the safety of our communities.
Expand access to health care choices
Repeal 2013 Wisconsin Act 37 (forced ultrasounds and admitting privileges for physicians)
All women should have access to comprehensive health care coverage. No politician should be involved in decisions that are better left to a woman, her family, her doctor and her faith.
Savings program for long-term care
In drafting (Miller)
As more and more seniors plan for long-term care costs, we should help to encourage responsible savings and incentivize early planning. We want to build upon proven state programs and offer aging adults new opportunities to plan for their golden years.
Click here to sign our petition to put
Wisconsin Families First.
= new reply since forum marked as read
