Today the co-chairs and executive director of Our Wisconsin Revolution
called on Gov. Tony Evers to address four dire threats to the state’s health and welfare: economic inequality, health insecurity, social injustice and environmental insanity.
In a
letter, the group asked Gov. Evers and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes to adopt six strong progressive policies as centerpieces of a transformational 2021-23 state budget to be presented to the legislature early next year.
Known collectively as the Motion W Agenda, all six ideas have been embraced by voters in battleground states and Republican strongholds across America.
The Motion W Agenda includes:
- Boost wages so when you work you aren’t poor. Lift low-wage workers out of poverty by raising the state minimum wage in Wisconsin from $7.25 to $15 an hour.
- Reward work by restoring taxation based on ability to pay so earned wages are taxed at a lower rate instead of a higher rate than unearned income such as capital gains and inheritances.
- Promote wellness by accepting federal Medicaid expansion funds and setting up a state health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act, correcting two mistakes Wisconsin made that most other states did not. Obtain federal waivers to make as much of the state’s population eligible for BadgerCare as federal Medicaid rules allow.
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Wire Wisconsin to make the pandemic more manageable by bringing high-speed Internet connections to every doorstep in the state, allowing anyone anywhere in the state to work or run a business from home and for all our kids to be on an even footing for doing schoolwork.
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Wean Wisconsin from reliance on fossil fuels by aiming for solar panels on every roof and committing Wisconsin to a climate action plan to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050 or sooner, a 50% reduction in overall energy use by 2030 or sooner, and zero climate-disrupting air pollution emissions by 2050 or sooner. Commit at least 80% of economic development funding through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to initiatives in the renewable energy sector, which has been creating jobs nationally 12 times faster than the rest of the economy.
- Legalize weed for both medical and personal use. Tax legal sales by applying the state sales tax to purchases of medical marijuana and charging an additional excise tax on purchases for adult recreational use. Use proceeds—roughly $200 million annually or $400 million for the state’s two-year budget—for health care access, broadband expansion and renewable energy investments.
Take Action: Send a letter telling Gov. Evers and Lt. Gov. Barnes why they should take bold progressive action by making Motion W the centerpiece of their state budget
Bold action is needed to start reversing the concentration of wealth in fewer and fewer hands, cure what ails our sick health care system, arrest climate catastrophe, and come to terms with chronic and systemic injustices in our society.
Although we would all like to go back to normal, now is not the time for complacency. Given the enormity of the challenges facing us, this moment demands a crystal clear vision and the political will to think big and act boldly in proposing a new state budget for Wisconsin.
Our Wisconsin Revolution depends on the financial support of regular folks. Take a minute right now to give what you can. You can help even more by making recurring monthly donations so we can count on a steady stream of income to sustain our work..
