Battleground Wisconsin

We discuss the retirement of David Prosser from the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Scott Walker’s ability to appoint a successor who will not face election until 2020. We also talk about Walker blaming the photo ID lawsuit for a lack of state funding for a public education campaign; Rep. Jesse Kremer says gender restrictions on school bathrooms are to protect women and "progressive activists have finally blatantly, and unintentionally, unveiled their real war on women;" Labor scores victories on “Right to Work” and Menards; New study shows teacher shortage; and Paul Ryan asks millennials to give “The Party of Trump” a chance. Music by purple-planet.com

We discuss Scott Walker’s decision to support Donald Trump if he is the GOP nominee and his effort to shamelessly touts kicking 41,149 people off foodshare as a jobs program. Walker called it an opportunity for those kicked off "to live their piece of the American dream." Fortunately, most workers aren’t buying Walker’s snake oil, as 64% in a new poll said the state Wisconsin's economy was either "poor" or "not so good." We profile a new living wage ordinance in Eau Claire County and Robert updates us on the Humana Aetna merger that Gov. Walker rubber stamped. Jorna has the weekly installment of Paul Ryan Watch.

This week Jorna Taylor subs as host for Matt Brusky, who is on the short term disabled list. We have an in-depth discussion with the Director of the Fair Elections Project, Sachin Chheda, to talk about the hot Wisconsin redistricting law suit which is moving to trial. Also in the courts, Walker's photo ID law takes another hit in federal court and the so-called Right to Work law is ruled unconstitutional in a case that will ultimately be decided by Wisconsin's corrupt State Supreme Court. We also preview the Fight for $15 strike, and discuss the Radio Active campaign to break the right-wing media monopoly with Citizen Action Cooperative Organizer Anna Dvorak. Finally on our Paul Ryan watch feature, our protagonist continues to play possum in the Republican prez race. Music by purple-planet.com

We dig into the Wisconsin spring election results, which included record turnout, decisive wins for Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz, and a disappointing outcome in the state supreme court race. We discuss the presidential race, drop off voters and the impact of photo ID. We also talk about President Obama’s move against unpatriotic and insidious corporate inversions in the wake of the Panama Papers, and the incredible alignment of the presidential candidates on outsourcing and global trade. Music by purple-planet.com

We welcome Citizen Action endorsed State Supreme Court candidate JoAnne Kloppenburg to discuss her campaign as it heads into the final week before the Tuesday, April 5th election day. Vote early today until Friday. For more information about voting early: http://www.gab.wi.gov/voters/absentee

With Arizona primary “election” in the rear view mirror, the Wisconsin presidential primary takes center stage. We discuss both the latest contours of the Democratic and GOP primaries and how the trade issue continues to play a central role in the Wisconsin election. Jorna reviews Paul Ryan’s speech this week where he laughingly bemoaned the poor state of political discourse and the lack of trust in governing institutions that are the result of his party’s deliberate strategy. Robert informs us about a proposed merger between two of the five largest health insurers in the U.S., Humana and Aetna, which could have major ramifications for health insurance costs and employment in Wisconsin. We remind you that you can vote early now until Friday, 4/1 at 5pm. For more information about voting early: http://www.gab.wi.gov/voters/absentee

Music by purple-planet.com

We remember former state representative Tamara Grigsby who left us way too early this week. Christine Neumann-Ortiz from Voces de la Frontera joins us to discuss the Senate failing to pass a bill banning municipalities or counties from having a policy preventing officials from inquiring about the immigration status of arrestees. We analyze the latest developments in the presidential race including the increased likelihood of a Trump v Clinton race and President Obama nominating Merrick Garland for Supreme Court. We also discuss Attorney General Brad Schimel’s support for allowing guns on City of Madison buses and the new Citizen Action Western Wisconsin Organizing Cooperative has successfully reached its goal of 200 members.

We welcome Jenni Dye from One Wisconsin Now Institute to discuss their shocking research on Rebecca Bradley’s hateful writing as a college student and its implications for the April 5th Supreme Court election. This week the inevitable avalanche of special interest TV ads began. We review new data ranking Wisconsin 36th in job creation, what could be done to expand opportunity in the state. WEDC remains in hot water over Oscar Meyer debacle but Scott Fitzgerald points the finger at Paul Soglin. Johnson Controls on the hot seat as Hillary and Bernie get specific on outsourcing and trade. Kevin Kane updates us on the development of the NEW Western Wisconsin Cooperative. We remember community organizer Juan Carlos Ruiz and Robert’s aunt Eloise. Music by purple-planet.com

Media Call: Wisconsinites At Risk of Leaving Millions on the Table this Tax Season

County and City-level numbers to be released showing amount of federal funds available in region if eligible residents claim Earned Income Tax Credit.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin and State Representative Daniel Riemer will host a media call to release how over $200 million in additional revenue will not enter the Wisconsin economy unless all eligible residents claim large tax rebates targeted to working families, and what can be done to bring this money in. Data showing the amount of money on the table will be released for all Wisconsin counties and major metro areas.

There is a growing recognition that our communities cannot thrive when workers hold lower-wage economy-busting jobs. When working families can afford the basics, they are able to spend money at local businesses, generating more jobs and more prosperity.

Participants on the conference call share how local governments and organizations across the state are pushing to help residents raise their incomes by promoting these tax credits in English and Spanish. Language barriers are one of the major barriers to bringing in higher tax rebates.

We discuss President Obama’s visit to Milwaukee this week to celebrate the city’s victory in the Healthy Communities Challenge to sign up residents for the Affordable Care Act. The panel unpacks news that the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) dissuaded WEDC from contacting Kraft Heinz before the company announced it was closing the Oscar Mayer plant in Madison. We look at Russ Feingold’s effort to expose Sen. Ron Johnson’s support for bad trade deals. We also discuss whether the modern Republican Party is imploding or simply morphing into the “Party of Trump”. “Paul Ryan Watch” finds Trump threatening Ryan that he will pay a “big price” for not getting along with dear leader. Finally, progressive State Senator Nikiya Harris-Dodd announces her retirement from the legislature.

intro music by purple-planet.com