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Democrats Deliver for Wisconsin Again [1]

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Date: 2022-11-18

Today I want to talk about some things going on around Wisconsin a week after the election. A lot has happened since Wisconsin voters went to the polls. So let's get started.

Marriage Equality Bill

A bipartisan group of Senators voted 62-37 to move forward with a bill that will codify same-sex and interracial marriage. I start with this because the main sponsor of this legislation is our own Tammy Baldwin. Tammy Baldwin will also be on WPR to talk about it Friday morning. All signs point to this bill becoming law before the start of the new Congress.

$13 Million for Rural Healthcare

Senator Tammy Baldwin secured $13 Million in grants to help rural healthcare facilities. This will help rural hospitals and healthcare providers implement telehealth and nutrition assistance programs, increase staffing to administer COVID-19 vaccines and testing, build or renovate facilities, and purchase medical supplies. The grants funded by the American Rescue Plan can also help regional partnerships, public bodies, nonprofits, and Tribes solve regional rural healthcare problems and build a more robust, sustainable healthcare system in response to the pandemic. (1)

HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital (Chippewa Falls) will use a $9.47 million grant to increase patient care capacity, improve long-term sustainability and address the adverse impacts of COVID-19 on Opioid/Substance/Alcohol Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery. This project will address the limitations of the response to substance use disorders in rural communities drastically affected by the pandemic by establishing telemedicine hubs, access to peer support and monitoring, and constructing pandemic-accessible recovery spaces and care. (1)

Augusta Area Home Inc. in Eau Claire County will use a $346,151 grant to recoup lost revenue in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will allow the facility to continue to operate efficiently while addressing expenses associated with the Covid -19 pandemic. (1)

Grant Regional Health Center Inc. in Grant County will use a $533,750 grant to construct a new satellite health facility in Fennimore, Wisconsin. The facility will be located 12 miles from the main campus to serve the local area population better, decreasing travel times for residents in remote areas. The clinic will provide patients with high-quality healthcare, including primary services, rehabilitation, X-ray, and lab processing. The facility will also allow employers in that community to help retain their workforce, including the ability for workers to receive healthcare in town rather than driving out of town, potentially missing work time, or relocating out of the community. (1)

These are just some examples of what a Senator is supposed to do. $13 Million for rural hospitals is a big frickin deal. They're not on Fox news daily complaining about where Hunter Biden's laptop is. This is real money that will impact hospitals in your backyard.

AG Kaul joins a multistate effort urging DEA to extend telehealth capabilities for opioid use disorder treatment.

Attorney General Josh Kaul is joining a coalition of 45 attorneys general to urge the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to permanently extend telehealth flexibilities for prescribing buprenorphine, an opioid use disorder treatment. Buprenorphine is one of three medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat patients suffering from addiction. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA allowed doctors to use telehealth services to prescribe medication. Still, the rule allowing buprenorphine to be prescribed virtually is set to expire once the COVID-19 public health emergency ends.

Kaul has served this state well. I was excited to see him get re-elected. His term ends in four years. Can he rise above the generic ballot? Could Kaul run for Governor in 2026 or wait til 2028 and run for the U.S. Senate? Jim Doyle was AG during the Tommy Thompson years and ran for Governor soon as Tommy went to the Bush Administration.

Chris Taylor is running for a seat on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.

Chris Taylor was a Democratic State Rep from 2013 to 2020. She served on the budget-writing committee. In 2020 Tony Evers appointed her to Dane County Circuit Court Judge. My perception is that her ultimate goal is to sit on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The election will be held in the spring of 2023.

Wisconsin Public Schools to receive $52 million from the Common School Fund in 2023, over $11 million more than in 2022

As Chair of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL), State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski announced that a record $52 million would be disbursed to public schools across Wisconsin, representing a notable 27% increase from the 2022 distribution. Librarians and media specialists will use these funds to expand student opportunities by purchasing new technology and educational materials. (1)

I was a big Sarah Godlewski supporter earlier in the primary. When she dropped out of the primary, she focused on helping state legislative candidates across Wisconsin. Ultimately she helped prevent a supermajority in the assembly. Godlewski lives in the 3rd CD, and I hope she will consider a run for that.

Conclusion

Democrats are delivering for Wisconsin. If we keep our momentum going into 2023 and beyond, Wisconsin will be a great place to grow and raise your kids. Think about this—more money for rural hospitals, school libraries, and advocating for people with addiction. The other side wants to impeach Joe Biden for some odd reason. We don’t know that yet. They haven't made it up yet. Democrats want to help keep America running.

www.wispolitics.com/…

www.wispolitics.com/…

www.wispolitics.com/...

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/11/18/2137032/-Democrats-Deliver-for-Wisconsin-Again

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