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RSVP at https://act.berniesanders.com/signup/rsvp-oligarchy-altoona/
Just in from Vernon County Dems:
When: Today, Friday, February 28 at 2:30 pm. The event runs from 3:00 pm-5:00 pm.
Where: Pearl Street Brewery. 1401 St. Andrew St. Since the parking lot is private property, we will gather at the corner of St. Andrews St and Loomis St. Here is a link to a Google Maps pin of the location.
Message: Protect Social Security, Protect Medicare, Protect Medicaid, Restore Funding to Farmers, Protect the Constitution, etc.
RSVP: If you plan to attend (info@vernoncountydems.org) PLEASE respond to this email with your name and phone number. This will give us a headcount and enable me to contact you quickly if the event is cancelled. This is a distinct possibility, so please, NAME & PHONE NUMBER.
Signs & Carpooling: The Vernon Dems office (122 N. Main St. Viroqua) will be open today at 12:30 pm for sign making. We will also be organizing carpools from the office. We will leave from the office at 1:30 pm.
On Monday, February 24, 2025 twelve concerned citizens met with an aide to Senator Tammy Baldwin, Gregg Wavrunek, at Baldwin's La Crosse Office. We were all welcomed into his office space which was quite small compared to the multiple room office where we had met with Van Orden’s staff the Friday before.
Our concerns for those harmed by actions of the current administration in Washington, D.C. included veteran’s services, security of government employees’ positions, Medicaid/ Medicare, local transportation, U.S.AID, farmers: the many whose positions as well as services are threatened. Especially noted is the emotional stress such actions by this administration have caused.
Our concern for the damage done to the Constitutional structure of the United States generated much discussion. I compared the actions of Musk and the Muskovites to the Watergate Scandal. There a burglary in the dark of night was exposed by the Nixon tapes as a plan originating in the Oval Office and resulted in several members of that administration going to jail and Nixon being forced to resign. Now we have a broad daylight burglary of multiple U.S. Government offices over a whole month’s time. The cloud of mystery around these heinous acts veils the perpetrators from responsibility. This is part of the “Shock and Awe” strategy that is dismantling our Democracy.
I recalled that in 2010 Wisconsin Democratic legislators went over the state line in an attempt to halt the destruction of public workers’ unions – except fire and police who supported Republican initiatives. The Minnesota legislature has had a similar experience. I urge all Democratic Senators and Representatives to vacate the halls of Congress, where their every parliamentary maneuver is met with Republican blocks. I urge them to attend/hold Town Hall meetings in every Red and Blue and Purple town in their district. Let the voices of We the People enriched by the media-drawing presence of electeds drown out the Shock and Awe media deluge.
Here I must interject that a recent Heather Cox Richardson talk mentioned that the Congressional Republicans are trying to blame the inability to move the budget process forward on the Democrats. I am not sure how that information affects the willingness of Democratic legislators to abandon a fruitless process in a world where the Constitution, the balance of powers, the rule of law, and judicial orders are disemboweled. The executive branch is relying on a cloud of confusion to shield themselves from responsibility.
We the people are the only ones with power. We must find ways to unite our individual pains across red and blue and make our collective voice louder than the daily bombshells exploding our Democracy.
SOUP at The Rivoli
February 27, 5:00 p.m.
For a suggested donation of $5, you’ll enjoy a warm bowl of soup, fresh bread, and sweet treats, all while playing an active role in deciding the next community project to be funded by La Crosse SOUP.
Het more info at https://SoupNation.org
Reconciliation. It sounds nice, but this year it's a nightmare. As described in this Brookings article, budget reconciliation is a way for Congress to pass tax and spending bills with a simple majority.
"The single most important thing you can do, by a parsec, is show up at a town hall w/ your GOP member and talk to them face to face.Heroes like @indivisible.org helped organize last time. People drove for hours to spend just a few minutes talking to their members. But we saved lives because of it.The next most important thing you can do is call your GOP member's office every single day. When I worked in the Senate, in every single weekly all-staff meeting, we went over the phone calls we'd received.Tell them you don't want any Medicaid cuts. Tell them you don't want any SNAP cuts. Tell them you don't want huge tax cuts for billionaires.Tell them why it matters to you. *Make them* hear WHY Medicaid matters to you. That is how we convinced Murkowski, Collins, and McCain to vote no.This will be a very hard fight, but it's worth it, because people matter.We owe it to our family members who rely on Medicaid and SNAP. We owe it to our friends. We owe it to our neighbors. We owe it to the people we'll never meet."
Derrick Van Order voted for the Republican budget resolution. He emailed constituents: "Today's budget resolution did not include any cuts to specific programs. Anyone saying otherwise is lying ..."
These are weasel words. As the New York Times notes, while no program cuts are specified in the resolution, there are few paths to achieving the Committee on Energy and Commerce $880 billion reduction goal that don't include deep cuts to Medicaid. The alternatives the NYT offers include cutting Medicare instead, cutting everything else to $0 (which would still not be enough), or fudging the numbers.
The Center for American Progress lays out the potential cuts by Congressional district. More than 140,000 Van Orden constituents will be harmed by a $1.75 billion loss over nine years.
Our daily calls are still needed. La Crosse: (608) 782-2558 and DC: (202) 225-5506.
Where: Governor Rusk Historical Site US 14 (Main Street) Viroqua: 0.1 mile south of County Highway BB; on right travelling North.
When: Friday, February 28, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What: Stand in front of Walmart, MacDonalds, Pizza Hut/Culvers…. Protest the takeover of our government by billionaires.
How: Peaceful – stay calm avoid confrontations. Obey all car and pedestrian laws. Make signs: BUY LOCAL/SHUT IT DOWN, etc. Make up a chant. *Cross 14 only at the light at County RD BB*
ALSO: Porta-potty (TBD) and refreshments available
We must energize and mobilize to take action and help fight back for our communities, our planet, and our democracy. Join us to hear how you can contribute to the fight, and how uplifting real stories of the human consequences of the freeze helps members of Congress to push back.
From Barbara:
As the organizer I was not informed of the size limitation till the day before by email. Our Congressional aide had tried to find a larger space when I sent an email that we might have many people attend. A larger space was not found.I was not informed of the time limitation till we were four minutes late in being invited in. We were moving in without invitation at that point.
We tried to focus the meeting on two concerns with the chaos that has erupted in the Executive branch of the U.S. Government since January 20, 2025. First, we spoke of the great number of people’s lives being compromised physically, economically, professionally and most assuredly psychologically. Second, that we have seen the utter disregard for the rule of law as enacted by the Congress and as determined by the Judiciary.
I left knowing that the meeting could have been better. It held me for a long time. We attended a presentation about “Braver Angels” Friday night here in Viroqua. Then, while seeking sleep, I found the lack that I was seeking.
We had a good meeting of trading our realities back and forth. But there were at least two missed opportunities for a deeper conversation that I missed as organizer of the meeting. I share this description now because, perhaps, I and maybe others can seize those opportunities as they arise in the future. I am exploring options in the following analysis and hope that others may come up with similar responses to what I have been able to construct. If you do please share them.
An important moment in the discussion of the first concern above came when our aide reassured us that the funding cuts were “temporary.” That was a moment to step back from our trading of world views to examine those world views. I could have asked for clarification: What does temporary mean? What do you think the effect of the “temporary” has on individuals, on service organizations, on farmers, businesses? I had asked that Mary Carney construct a line from 1 to 10 on her note paper to record negative to positive responses. Are these most “necessary/top priority” (10) or are they (1) “harmful/destructive diversions”?
Then, the next question is why do you rate it at that number rather than another number on the scale? That question can then be reiterated to urge further expression of the reasoning/feeling underlying the first. This expression of curiosity can be followed further. A possible result is to find where the two world views meet.
During my reading of my script on the second concern above, another moment when curiosity would have been important occurred. I read, “the pardoning of January 6 rioters who were convicted in various jurisdictions by a full court trial.” Mary Carney interjected that (as I remember): “They served four years!” Here again I could have stopped reading my script, which I had submitted as a paper copy, and asked for her rating of that pardoning from (1) Negative to (10) Positive. And why that number? And….
Perhaps in these two cases we might have found a deeper conversation possible. I invite, as I wrote above, readers of this to think of other “scale questions” that might have brought more meaningful communication than trading world views. Share them here or there. Use them when an opportunity arises.
We have a gulf in our nation that needs to be bridged. [Shared: YouTube video about Braver Angels.]
A meeting with Senator Tammy Baldwin's La Crosse aide has been scheduled for Monday, February 24 at 1 p.m. at the La Crosse office, 210 7th St. S., 2nd floor. This will be a peaceful, respectful meeting.
If you attend, please try to bring a one page statement of your top one or two issues to leave with the aide. Indivisible has suggestions; here's an excerpt:
If You Have a Democratic Senator: Make Them Hold the Line
Democrats held the floor for 30 hours to try to block Vought, but the fight isn’t over. They need to keep up that level of resistance—not just for one nominee, but for every part of Trump’s agenda.
The ACLU has a good guide for writing an effective statement/letter. Stick to one page. Clearly state what you want. Tell how the issue affects you, your family, or your community. If you can, include your contact info to confirm you are a constituent.
If you can't attend in person, please plan to call the office (608-796-0045) and/or email Send. Baldwin using this form: https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/contact/contact-tammy
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The voter who set up this meeting included the following information:
There are two major concerns with the chaos that has erupted in the Executive branch of the U.S. Government since January 20, 2025. First, we have experienced a great number of people’s lives being compromised, physically, economically, professionally and most assuredly psychologically. Second, we have seen the utter disregard for the rule of law as enacted by the Congress and as determined by the Judiciary.
Brief examples of the first include: US Dept of Agriculture programs such as EQIP and US AID Funding blocks that have hurt Wisconsin Farmers and millions of needy persons overseas, and the blocking of operation funds for Head Start programs here in Wisconsin. Dedicated public servants have been forced out of their positions in D.C and in national parks across the land.
Secondly, examples include: the pardoning of January 6 rioters who were convicted in various jurisdictions by a full court trial and the continued impoundment of legislatively appropriated funds even after court orders to release them.
Thus, we must protest the breaking of the Constitution by the actions of Musk and Trump. This is “Shock and Awe” (1) that the U. S. has used internationally from Central America to SE Asia, to Africa and the Middle East, to overthrow “unfriendly” governments in disregard to international law. It is now being used against the citizens of the United States to destroy our democratic rule of law system. In the U. S. Constitution there are three branches of government with different responsibilities that check and balance each other. We the people choose representatives to a Congress that makes laws and appropriates funds. We the people elect an Executive who can veto laws but once the law is signed it must be carried out. The Congress has oversight. New laws can be enacted that change the previous- but that goes through the Congress – not by executive action. Congress has passed legislation that the impoundment of funds is illegal also.
Trump had the votes in Congress to do what he has done through Shock and Awe. Instead he has sidelined Congress. He and Musk have chosen the way of Shock and Awe and we are called to protest, to resist. There are safeguards with each of these two branches that have oversight – they have been destroyed by the actions of Trump and Musk. We protest.
Article Three of the Constitution provides for an independent judiciary one of whose tasks is to decide on whether laws follow or do not follow the Constitution and its Amendments. Lawsuits have been filed concerning the actions of Trump and Musk. For the most part Musk and Trump have not followed the court orders requiring them to desist. On 2/18 one lower court supported Trump’s and Musk’s actions but most have called for them to desist.
We demand that Senator Baldwin abide by her US Congressional oath to protect and defend the US- and it's Constitution. We see that Congress and the courts - Articles1 (especially section 5), 2 and 3 of the Constitution - are sidelined by the actions of Musk and Trump.
We urge Senator Baldwin, by banding together as an elected Senate representing "WE the PEOPLE" to stop the illegal sidelining of Congress and abuse of the separation of powers. She has always stood for the ordinary people so we are counting on her to return after this recess energized to stop business as usual and declare a crisis of Constitution Rule of Law.
1) Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein: Privatization, Deregulation, and Union Busting are the three primary principles.
This is a free, family-frirndly event with author Darrell Ferguson reading from his book "A Long Way to Find a Home - George Edwin Taylor as a Child."
[Photo from BlackPast.org]
Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. You may register to vote at your polling place (be sure to bring an ID that shows your current address to register). If you have an absentee ballot you haven't returned yet, return it to your polling place or the clerk's office (or the City Hall drop box by 4 p.m.).
Get more information about voting, including where to vote, what's on your ballot and more at https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/
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Trump orders sow chaos in global public health
First USAID Death as Freeze Sees Oxygen Supplies Cut Off for Refugee
Trump’s freeze on science grants will delay lifesaving cures and cost jobs
Trump funding freeze could leave communities on their own as climate threats grow
NOAA imposes limits on scientists, sparking concerns over global forecasts
Here’s how big a hit some universities may take if NIH slashes support for indirect research costs
How the Trump administration could end a century of American scientific dominance
CDC cuts expected to devastate Epidemic Intelligence Service, a ‘crown jewel’ of public health
Sent by a friend.
Monday, Feb 17 is a day of action whether or not you can make it to protest. Call, call, call and encourage others to call. Use a toll like 5calls or Indivisible.
Also, Indivisible notes that the House is on recess February 14—Febrary 23. Read more here to start planning how you're going to get their attention. (Where is Derrick Van Orden?)
The DogE gang is illegally cutting VA staff, infectious disease information specialists, and Nuclear Security Administration employees. (Read this if you are or know a probationary employee who's been fired.) Now they are turning their sights on election security work.
"[V]ote on, Nov 5. After that, you don't have to worry about voting anymore. I don't care because we're going to fix it. The country will be fixed, and we won't need your vote anymore."
From the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF):
Texas v. Becerra is a court case in Texas. A group of 17 states have sued the United States government. The states are asking the court to get rid of Section 504 and its new rules that protect people with disabilities from discrimination in health care and human services.
What is Section 504?
Section 504 is an important law that protects people with disabilities. Section 504 says you can’t discriminate against disabled people if you get money from the United States government. To discriminate means to treat people badly because of who they are. Section 504 says you cannot treat people badly because of their disabilities.
Section 504 has rules that explain what disability discrimination is. The rules say that places like schools, hospitals, and doctors’ offices have to include people with disabilities. The rules say what these places have to do to include people with disabilities. Anyone who gets money from the United States government to serve the public or do business has to follow the rules.
The United States government finished the first Section 504 rules in 1977. Many disabled people protested so that the government would make the rules strong.
The United States government updates the Section 504 rules over time. The government just finished updating the rules in 2024. Many disability advocates wrote to the government about what to put in the rules. The updated rules are stronger and have more examples about what disability discrimination is.
What is the suit about?
The 17 states suing the government have asked the court to get rid of Section 504. The states disagree with a few things in the updated Section 504 rules. But the lawsuit asks the court to get rid of all the updated rules – and to get rid of Section 504 itself, not just the rules they disagree with. The lawsuit says that Section 504 goes against the United States Constitution. The lawsuit says that no one should have to follow any part of Section 504. If the dying states win, this would be a disaster for people with disabilities.
The states are Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
There are action items for residents of all 50 states. For more details and a link to email and mail templates, call scripts, and more visit https://dredf.org/protect-504/
This is not right.
In a series of articles for Rolling Stone magazine, Michael Embrich describes efforts by the current regime to "purge veterans from the government." This is in keeping with statements made by the new Secretary of Defense and VA Secretary last year.
A Military Times article describes the situation in more detail and reports on a protest held outside the VA Headquarters in Washington, DC on Thursday. (Remember, DogE is not a real federal department no matter how big the presidential wand is.)
What does our Representative have to say? Why not email and ask him or call (608-782-2558) or visit his La Crosse office.
From Green New Deal network:
From Our Revolution:
We are not powerless in this moment, and there will be real opportunities coming up to take on Trump and the Oligarchs — as well as impact a unified opposition on part of the Democratic Party. To connect with likeminds and see how you can get involved, we hope you’ll join our Citizen Action Team meeting on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Central.
Our Revolution is building out a Grassroots Army with networks in Washington, D.C. and every congressional district in the country. Now is the time we need every person of conscience to get involved — and there’s always something everyone can do to help, big or small.
RSVP TO JOIN THE CITIZEN ACTION TEAM MEETING THURSDAY 2/13 AT 7:30 p.m. CT.
This week, we kicked off actions with our Climate Coalition. We gathered for a town hall Monday night, zeroing in on the legislative and budget fights ahead and the leverage moments we’ll use to block the worst of Trump’s fossil-fuel frenzy.
Then, on Wednesday, we rallied on Capitol Hill with Bernie Sanders, Ilhan Omar and our Coalition to End Polluter Handouts to launch a fight to stop our tax dollars from funding climate destruction.
At the Citizen Action Team meeting Thursday, we will tie all of these threads together and connect the dots of a broader analysis of the Oligarchy Rising — and how we can navigate it and unite in opposition. We’ll lay out a clear plan of actions and offer training on how to make an impact from where you are.
Click here to RSVP and we’ll send you a reminder to join us Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. CT.
