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Statement on the Budget

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  Dear friends, Last week, Wisconsin’s Republican-led legislature reached a deal with Governor Evers on the 2025–27 state budget. And just before the holiday weekend, Congress passed the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill — a sweeping federal package that Republican lawmakers are touting as a win for working families. Let’s be clear: it’s not. Together, these two budgets — state and federal — represent a coordinated gutting of public investment in our communities. What We’re Up Against: In Wisconsin’s budget: $0 in new state aid for public schools. At a time when schools are closing, kids need more support than ever, and educators are burning out. Child care support is being phased out. A short-term bridge program replaces Child Care Counts, but it won’t be enough to prevent closures or rising costs. Special education reimbursement increases — but still falls short. 45% is better than nothing, but well below what schools need. No Medicaid expansion. No postpartum coverage. Vulnerable...
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June Meeting Minutes

  MINUTES DPOC Monthly Meeting, June 9, 2025 | 7-8pm Welcome, Promise to America and Land Acknowledgement (3)   Vice-Chair Fenton Fenton called the meeting to order at 7:01pm and  welcomed attendees to the meeting, especially first time attendees.  He led the Promise, and read the Land Acknowledgement. Approval of May Minutes (3) Secretary Mary Kohrell Kohrell asked for approval of the May Member meeting minutes.  Trisha Kostelny/Josh Kernan motion to approve the minutes as presented; no discussion.  Motion carried. Review and Approve Treasurer’s Report (3) Treasurer Alyssa Vandenberg Vandenberg presented the Treasurer’s report and called for a motion to approve. Ann Johnson/Cindy Fallona motion to approve the treasurer’s report.  Motion carried. Update on State Budget Process Rep. Lee Snodgrass (5):  Representative Snodgrass shared an overview of the state budget.  The budget process is experiencing some challenges.  There had been ...
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Call to Action: Contact the JFC about cuts to higher ed

We have received and urgent call to action from our area Democratic legislators, though the urgency is state-wide.   Robin Vos and the Republican members of the Joint Finance Committee are threatening to cut $87 million from the Universities of Wisconsin. This is not only unconscionable given the state’s 4.3 billion surplus it would be catastrophic to the state in many ways. Vos is citing “political correctness” and “lack of political diversity on campuses” as a reason for considering the cuts.   It is imperative you send an email to each of the Joint Finance Committee members urging them not to take this action. The list of email links is below the talking points. You can send one email and copy and paste each of their email addresses into that. For you convenience we put all the emails together for on simple copy and paste. Thanks for taking the action. Our democracy depends on you.   Here is a list of talking points. Use them all or use some of them. Or use your own. ...
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June 2025 Newsletter

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  In the June Newsletter Day of Action and volunteer textbanks Monthly Meeting and ice cream social Defend the Constitution Rally Medicaid Matters Panel Biennial Budget Action Item Become a Poll Worker Fox Valley Pride Festival The  Outagamie  County Fair   Volunteer textbanks and Day of Action this month Fresh off our big state supreme court victory we turn our attention to the 2026 midterms. On June 28, sign up for our Day of Action to go out and have conversations with voters and find out what is on their minds. We will be talking to  Democrats  who sat out the November election as well as voters for whom we have not party affiliation data. This is the necessary groundwork to win in 2026.  Sign up here.  Shifts are 9, noon and 3.   We also need your help to recruit volunteers for the action above and other volunteer opportunities as well as send out invitations for upcoming events.  We'll be using the REACH app for our textbanks on We...
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