Capitol Lobby Day

media release: On Tuesday, May 27, WISDOM will join with Citizen Action of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Public Education Network and others to demand a State Budget that meets Wisconsin's needs and the priorities of Wisconsinites.

Wisconsin needs a budget that:

• Closes the Green Bay Correctional Institution WITHOUT building a new prison;
• Expands BadgerCare (while saving Wisconsin taxpayers $1.5 billion!)
• Properly funds Public Schools, especially Special Education.

Governor Evers needs to make clear that he will veto any budget that doesn't meet at least these three criteria.

We will gather at the Capitol at 10:00 AM to prepare, and to visit our legislators.  At 2:30 PM, we will rally and let Governor Evers know we will stand behind him if he stands up for our shared priorities.

There is no cost for the event, and lunch will be provided. Buses will be available from Milwaukee, LaCrosse and Eau Claire.  Ride sharing is bring arranged from Green Bay, and Wausau.

More on the 2:30 pm event:

Leading groups collectively representing thousands of Wisconsinites will hold a news conference and rally to demand a better budget from lawmakers and urge Governor Tony Evers to push over the finish line a budget that fully meets the needs of Wisconsin communities, and to veto any budget that fails to meet minimum standards for investments in education, health care, child care, and effective criminal justice reform.  

Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Public Education Network, WISDOM, Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed (W.E.C.A.N), Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC), American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin, MTI, MTI Retired, Green Bay Education Association, Kenosha Education Association, Racine Education Association, Progress North, the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and others will call on the Governor to champion the budget Wisconsinites strongly supported throughout the state budget hearings,.

They will urge the Governor to use the full Constitutional force of his strongest-in-the-nation veto power if necessary to break the cycle of chronic state disinvestment in public education, health care, and child care, and an unbalanced criminal justice system that prioritizes dilapidated prisons over more effective alternatives.

The news conference will follow a collective day of action where members and allies of the participating groups urge legislators to pass a better budget, and conclude with a march to the Governor’s office to encourage him to use his veto power if needed to force the issue with the Legislature and deliver a fair state budget.

The Governor's office has promised a statement, which will be provided at the event. 

Speakers include:

Robert Kraig, executive director, Citizen Action of Wisconsin (event emcee)

Heather DuBois Bourenane, executive director, Wisconsin Public Education Network

Rev. Kathleen Gloff, president,  WISDOM

Peggy Wirtz-Olsen, teacher and president, Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC)

Michael Jones, president, Madison Teachers, Inc.

Brooke Legler, co-founder of W.E.C.A.N., and Owner of The Growing Tree

Martha Siravo, Madison school board member and MadTown Mommas and Disability Advocates

Tanya Atkinson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin

Other speakers to be announced.