[Lekooks] This Thursday, 5/6-Join the effort to affect our Wisconsin State Budget

[Kerry Duma]

The State Budget, which guides spending for the next 2 years in our state
is in the final stages of review by the Joint Finance Committee, which is
showing disregard for citizen input.  WISDOM and the UU State Action
Network, along with* Building Unity *are all working together to try to
support progressive priorities such as criminal justice reform, public
education, Badger Care expansion and climate justice.

If you'd like to make your voice heard, read on.  We are being asked to
call members of the Joint Finance Committee on Thursday, and/or join the
Just Budget Unity Tour which will be at UUCW this Saturday, May 8th at 1:00
PM.  This site was chosen as a safely distanced outdoor tour stop site as
it is in the district of Senator Kooyenga who is on the Joint Finance
Committee.

Click here
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C5SETj74LxEHCSS_yJcqkuWfL1dBYLBYAJS3zPRnXzg/edit?usp=sharing>
to
view the “Call for a Just Wisconsin Budget” and those who have signed on.

Please sign on <https://forms.gle/otVEEmVT28dbQq4q6> and ask other groups
and individuals to do the same.


Dear Friends of Justice,

We are at a very serious time in our state. Wisconsin people are calling
for justice in the budget, but the Joint Finance Committee is removing
justice measures from the budget bill at alarming rates including the
proposal to expand Badgercare! It makes no sense. By expanding Badgercare
and accepting the federal dollars, Wisconsin would save over $1.6 billion
and insure over 90,000 more uninsured people.

It is time to make our voices heard! Joint the Just Budget Unity Tour -
either in person or virtually and share the information below.

* The first piece is about the Coalition for a Just Wisconsin Budget that
will continue this Friday and Saturday with in person, safely distanced
stops in the rest of the Joint Finance Committee Districts.

* The second piece is a call to action from our friends at Wisdom. Please
Call and/or write to the members of the JFC today!


The Coalition for a Just WI Budget and partners will continue to hold press
events and public “speak-outs”  in all of the districts of all 16 members
of the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) over the two days of May 7th & May 8th. We
are calling this the Just Budget Unity Tour
<http://buildingunitywisconsin.org/just-budget-unity-tour/>.
This tour is a great opportunity for people who live in or near the
districts represented by JFC members, to share your testimonies for a just
budget.

Please do the following to help promote justice in the state budget:

   1.

   Share this email with your network.
   2.

   Check out our *Tour Schedule, Posters and JFC Contact Info
   <https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cmlt25_Qs7bP6M16u-gHpRDaCrbtAXT4ie8f4TXKLyY/edit?usp=sharing>*
and
   share!
   3.

   Help invite people to join the public “speak-outs” that will happen at
   each “Tour Stop.” Consider sending written testimonies to the Just
   Budget Video Project
   <http://buildingunitywisconsin.org/just-budget-video-project/> which is
   turning people’s testimonies, articles, and songs into inspiring videos
   like this one
   <https://youtu.be/wWJB-jwZW-Y?fbclid=IwAR0WqHaDaXfPNOs3ZwCiMr14i8s8AFLpDZFAxRw0272UmvIzhgPAi52-txU>.
   Send written testimonies to marykbaum at gmail.com. If you need ideas about
   what to write or speak about, check out our “Call for a Just WI Budget
   <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C5SETj74LxEHCSS_yJcqkuWfL1dBYLBYAJS3zPRnXzg/edit?usp=sharing>”.
   You can also explore our talking points document
   <https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p17HpKQ6-pqD4Gmjj6B9CexYaza1BNcQE6m2dt7cVKQ/edit?usp=sharing>
that
   has more information about things in the Governor’s proposed budget that we
   support or oppose.
   4.

   Like and Follow Building Unity’s Facebook Page
   <https://www.facebook.com/buildingunitywi>. We will stream portions of
   the tour throughout both days. Please view, like and share the “Whole
   Tour Event <https://www.facebook.com/events/525695695257482>” as well as
   the individual “Tour Stop Events” that can be found in the Events section
   <https://www.facebook.com/buildingunitywi/events/> of Building Unity’s
   Facebook page.


Join us at 6:30 PM on Friday, May 7th, for a virtual video showing of the
videos that have been made by the Just Video Project
<http://buildingunitywisconsin.org/just-budget-video-project/> (as well as
some footage from that day’s tour) This brief video sharing will be
followed by a community discussion about the budget and what can still be
done to increase the chances for a just Wisconsin Budget. Click HERE
<https://forms.gle/mn4HR8oLhZDm76Rc6> to register for this event.

Please share this event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/255823812914253

*** In the weeks following the tour, there will be Virtual Town Hall
Meetings. Each “Town Hall” will spotlight different issues, constituencies,
and/or geographical areas of the state. If you or your group would like to
help organize, plan, and/or play a part in these virtual town halls, please
call Tim at 608-630-3633.

Banners on the side of the UnityMobile say:

WI NEEDS A JUST BUDGET

Join Our Next Virtual Town Hall!  Info @:

www.BuildingUnityWisconsin.org <http://www.buildingunitywisconsin.org/>

Save the Date: Saturday, May 22nd - 6PM

Our Next Town Hall will focus on supporting youth justice leaders.

More information at www.buildingunitywisconsin.org or follow us on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildingunitywi.




In Solidarity for Justice,

Tim Cordon

608-630-3633


Please sign on <https://forms.gle/otVEEmVT28dbQq4q6> to the “Call for a
Just Wisconsin Budget
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C5SETj74LxEHCSS_yJcqkuWfL1dBYLBYAJS3zPRnXzg/edit?usp=sharing>
”


<https://click.everyaction.com/k/28654839/283916754/1511201757?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9BVi9BVldJVy8xLzg1ODYyIiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjc1MTliMDVhLTAxYWQtZWIxMS04NWFhLTAwNTBmMjM3YWJlZiIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAibWFyeWtiYXVtQGdtYWlsLmNvbSINCn0%3D&hmac=tKt-cqIs8Fg0j1E8MLwaoy4bWSFMeCSeN5LhK70QYXg=&emci=4b32e6ba-fcac-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&emdi=7519b05a-01ad-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&ceid=22125>

Last Thursday the legislative Joint Finance Committee (JFC) received the
last testimony from citizens about the 2021-23 State Budget.  Immediately
after the comment period ended, the Republican members of the Committee -
without even informing the Democratic members - released a huge list of
items they intend to "remove from consideration."  *Clearly, the list was
prepared before they heard or reviewed the public comments. * The timing of
the release gives the impression that they intended to make clear that they
were not paying attention to the input from citizens and taxpayers.

Some of the many items the JFC intends to remove from consideration in one
big motion on Thursday include:

   - Expansion of Medicaid
   - Drivers' licenses for undocumented people
   - Expansion of programs that would provide alternatives to revocation
   back to prison
   - The "raise the age" provision that would send 17 year-olds back to the
   juvenile system

Their list includes much more. To download the whole list, click HERE
<https://click.everyaction.com/k/28654840/283916760/880172666?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9BVi9BVldJVy8xLzg1ODYyIiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjc1MTliMDVhLTAxYWQtZWIxMS04NWFhLTAwNTBmMjM3YWJlZiIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAibWFyeWtiYXVtQGdtYWlsLmNvbSINCn0%3D&hmac=tKt-cqIs8Fg0j1E8MLwaoy4bWSFMeCSeN5LhK70QYXg=&emci=4b32e6ba-fcac-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&emdi=7519b05a-01ad-eb11-85aa-0050f237abef&ceid=22125>
.

*Today, we are asking WISDOM members and supporters to take action to let
JFC members know that we are unhappy with their decision to summarily
remove from consideration so many items from the state budget.*  You can
let them know if there are particular things you are concerned about.  Or,
you can let them know that you are upset by the complete lack of
transparency in the process.

The Joint Finance Committee intends to meet and to pass their omnibus
motion on Thursday morning at 11:00 am.  *We are asking each of you to call
one or more members of the Joint Finance Committee Thursday morning at 10
am.  *Ask them to slow down and re-consider this sweeping show of disregard
for the people who believed there was meaning to their participation in the
process the JFC itself established.  At the end of this email are the
names, emails and phone numbers of the JFC members who are in the majority
party.

If you would like to go to the Capitol in person, we invite you to join
with many groups who will be showing up in person on Thursday morning about
10 am to express their unhappiness with the JFC.  On Friday morning, Mark
Rice of EXPO will be among the speakers at a rally at St. Luke's Lutheran
Church, 7337 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton.  If you are available, your
presence there would also be appreciated.

*Please, make at least one phone call Thursday morning.  Do not accept the
excuse that they are "just removing policy that shouldn't be legislated
through the budget."  All of these items have significant budget impacts.
And, the JFC is never hesitant to fund policy tweaks that they like.*

Here are the Republican members of the Joint Finance Committee:

*Representative Mark Born (Co-Chair)*
*Rep.Born at legis.wisconsin.gov*
(608) 266-2540

*Senator Howard Marklein (Co-Chair)*
*Sen.Marklein at legis.wiscosin.gov*
(608) 266-0703

*Senator Duey Stroebel*
*Sen.Stroebel at legis.wisconsin.gov*
(608) 266-7513

*Senator Dale Kooyenga*
*Sen.Kooyenga at legis.wisconsin.gov*
(608) 266-2512

*Senator Mary Felzkowski*
*Sen.Felzkowski at legis.wisconsin.gov*
(608) 266-2509

*Senator Kathleen Bernier*
*Sen.Bernier at legis.wisconsin.gov*
(608) 266-7511

*Senator Joan Ballweg*
*Sen.Ballweg at legis.wisconsin.gov*
(608) 266-0751

*Representative Amy Loudenbeck*
*Rep.Loudenbeck at legis.wisconsin.gov*
(608) 266-9967

*Representative Terry Katsma*
*Rep.Katsma at legis.wisconsin.gov*
(608) 266-0656

*Representative Shannon Zimmerman*
*Rep.Zimmerman at legis.wisconsin.gov*
(608) 266-1526

*Representative Jessie Rodriguez*
*Rep.Rodriguez at legis.wisconsin.gov*
(608) 266-0610

*Representative Tony Kurtz*
*Rep.Kurtz at legis.wisconsin.gov*
(608) 266-8531
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