Wisconsin Eye

Health Care is a right.  Our nation, our state, and our communities are safer and healthier when MORE people have affordable access to Health Care.  Wisconsin is one of only 12 states who have not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act.  Our legislature failed to expand medicaid in 2014, 2017, 2019, and again in 2021 - during a pandemic - declining more than $1.6 billion in federal funding.

This callous disregard for the struggling families of Wisconsin not only left hundreds of millions of our tax dollars in Washington, but made it more difficult for tens of thousands of people to access the healthcare they need for themselves and their families.

I fully and whole-heartedly support full and equal rights for everyone, regardless of race, gender, identity, age, religion, country of origin, or disability.  Our Assembly recently passed several bills that were aimed at further marginalizing and endangering transgender youth.  These bills include banning transgender athletes from playing on girl's or women's sports teams,   (I have many thoughts on this) and another law that would allow lawsuits to be filed against school districts or school officials over the use of students’ chosen names or pronouns. These bills are especially offensive to me because I care about the mental health of our youth.  Data shows that LGBTQ youth are four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. Our transgender kids should be celebrated and protected, not targeted and marginalized.

 It’s no secret that the agenda of republicans in Wisconsin and across the US is to defund and dismantle public schools and turn them into privately run schools that get government funds.

WI Assembly Republicans have authored several bills usurping the authority of local school boards and district administration, dictating authority over what is taught, and directing money for our public schools to be given to private “voucher” schools.  

I am a firm believer in protecting public schools while also giving parents options to find a program that will help their children grow and learn.  I support innovative and equitable options like public magnet and charter schools, and teacher-led schools that meet the same standards and have the same oversight as other public schools.  The pushing of private voucher schools takes money out of public schools and I do not support that.  Unaccountable, unregulated, privately-run voucher schools should not be receiving government funds.

Inflation isn't just a Wisconsin issue.  Heck, it isn't even just a US issue.  It's a *global* issue caused by price gouging and COVID-related supply and demand.  Wisconsin Assembly Republicans passed ZERO bills this session to help alleviate some of the strain families are feeling.   There were bills authored to help lower prescription drug costs, increase access to affordable childcare, and make health care more affordable.  They never made it out of committee.  Instead, the majority party focused their attention on dismantling public schools, targeting transgender kids, and *still* investigating voter fraud.  

 Wisconsin is one of 10 states with a pre-existing law to ban abortion.  It is only enforceable due to Roe.  In addition, lawmakers have also made it harder for someone to access this important health care with a 24 hour waiting period, a ban on telehealth appointments, a biased counseling session, a mandatory pamphlet, and an invasive and unnecessary vaginal ultrasound.

You can be assured that the current Republican majority will uphold the ban on abortion in Wisconsin.  

I know that the majority of Wisconsinites support legal abortion.  I believe that no one, anywhere, ever, should be forced to give birth.  The decision to have a child is deeply personal and should be made only by the person who is pregnant.  Politicians should not interfere.  Abortion is health care.

One of the most glaring examples of Republicans preventing popular and priority legislation right now is on the issue of clean water. 

Clean water is on the minds of everyone in Central Wisconsin right now.  When PFAs were recently detected in several of our communities, my opponent said he was “concerned” and said he would “discuss efforts on the state response.” 

The CLEAR Act, which would have provided resources and action aimed at PFAS did not even receive a public hearing in either the Assembly or the Senate.

Instead, Wisconsin Republicans passed a grant program that would aid municipalities in cleaning up their water, but also included a provision barring them from holding those responsible for the pollution responsible.

The Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce (WMC) sued the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, DNR Secretary Preston Cole and the Natural Resources Board over trying to hold them responsible for PFAs contamination of our waterways.  The WMC funded a $15,000 attack ad against Pat Snyder’s opponent in 2020.  

Who do you trust to protect your water?

There are 13 bills recommended by the Speaker’s Commission on Water Quality at various stages in committees right now.  This commission, created by Robin Vos, was directed to “gather information and make policy recommendations to better assess and improve the quality of both surface water and ground water in our state.” The Assembly Repubicans have taken no action on these bills.

I will protect Wisconsin’s water and hold polluters accountable.

Let me state this right off the bat, because I KNOW my stance on this will be used against me.  I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE AWAY YOUR GUNS. I support the 2nd Amendment.  Full Stop.

I want less people to die from gun related deaths.  That’s it.

I believe that individuals who are at risk for harming themselves or someone else should not have access to a weapon.  That will save lives.

I believe that individuals should have to pass a background check for all gun purchases.  That will save lives.

In an average year, more than 600 Wisconsinites will die due to gun violence - either by suicide or homicide.  This includes, on average, 42 women who were killed by an intimate partner, and 48 children - half of which were suicides.

We should do better.  We can do better.