Planned Parenthood closing in Chippewa Falls, other cities

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                Contact: Laura Kendellen

May 16, 2013                                                                                                                                   414-289-3027

 

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin Closes Chippewa Falls Health Center

Loss of Cancer Screens, Birth Control Supported by Governor Walker,

Senator Moulton, and Representative Bernier

 

MADISON- Today, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin closed its health center in Chippewa Falls after 28 years of caring for thousands of patients. This center closure and those in three other communities comes as a direct result of budget cuts directed at Planned Parenthood’s patients supported by Governor Walker, Senator Moulton and Representative Bernier in the last budget cycle. Despite the cost-effective health benefits and need for continued access to preventive, essential health care, Governor Walker, Senator Moulton and Representative Bernier voted to end care for their constituents at the only health care provider offering affordable, essential reproductive health care in Chippewa Falls. Patients seeking cancer screens, wellness exams, birth control, and STD testing and treatment will now need to travel to the Planned Parenthood health center in Eau Claire. The governor’s current budget proposal threatens the availability of existing affordable patient care at providers like Planned Parenthood unless the public responds.

 

“For 78 years, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has been providing high quality health care for up to 70,000 women and families and we will continue to put the needs of our patients first,” said Tanya Atkinson Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin. “Ensuring every patient continues to receive affordable, quality health care, without interruption, remains our top priority. Senator Moulton and Representative Bernier’s previous votes to block health care access, their implicit support of the governor’s health care proposals, and misunderstanding of their own community’s health care needs and provider options challenges the future availability of affordable health care. Voting to eliminate the only source of affordable, preventive, lifesaving health care in their own community underscores just how out of touch Senator Moulton and Representative Bernier are with the needs of their constituents.”

 

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Why Wisconsin should not exempt rent-to-own

          

 

For Immediate Release:                                                         Contact:
May 13, 2013                                                                          Bruce Speight, (608) 658-3517

Survey Finds Astronomical Rent-to-Own Prices, Interest Rates
Predatory Industry Seeks Special Interest Exemption from Wisconsin Consumer Law

Madison – A report released today found that five rent-to-own stores in Rockford, IL on average charged an annual percentage rate of 221% and displayed outright cash purchase prices as much as two to seven times the cost of the same or similar products at other major retailers. The legislature is currently debating a controversial proposal in the executive budget proposal to provide a special exemption from the Wisconsin Consumer Act for the rent to own industry and which would eliminate the requirement to disclose an APR for Rent-to-Own products sold in Wisconsin. 

“Rent-to-own is a rip-off,” said Bruce Speight, WISPIRG Director.  “The industry preys on low-income and military families, deceptively markets its products, and seeks special treatment from state legislatures in order to make its business model work.  State leaders should not be carving out a special interest exemption for a predatory industry that traps consumers in a cycle of high-cost, perpetual debt.”

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Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden Travels to Japan to Participate in Third WFO Convention

For Immediate Release
May 7, 2013
Contact: Katy Phillips
kphillipsatwisconsinfarmersunion [dot] com
715-379-9299

 

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MADISON- On Friday, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin began the process of closing four health centers as a result of budget cuts directed at Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin Urges Legislature to Reject Additional Cuts to Women’s Health Care

 

MADISON- On Friday, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin began the process of closing four health centers as a result of budget cuts directed at Planned Parenthood’s patients, starting in the community of Shawano. Despite the cost-effective health benefits and need for continued access to preventive, essential health care, it only took one vote by our state legislature to end health care for Planned Parenthood patients in Shawano and surrounding communities. For more than 34 years, the Planned Parenthood health center in Shawano has provided thousands of patients with cancer screens, wellness exams, birth control, and STD testing and treatment. The Governor’s current budget proposal poses an additional risk of future health losses without strong public response. In response, Teri Huyck, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, issued the following statement:

 

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Senators Call for Public Hearing into Grant County Farmland Sale and Budget Provision to Allow Foreign Ownership of State’s Farmland

Office of State Senator Kathleen Vinehout
22 South State Capitol - PO Box 7882
Madison, WI  53707-7882
608-266-8546

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 16, 2013         

Contact:  Senator Vinehout      Senator Hansen

    608-266-8546        608-266-5670

    Senator Lassa       Senator Taylor

    608-266-3123        608-2665810

 

(Madison)—All four Democratic members of the Senate Agriculture, Small Business and tourism Committee today called for a public hearing on the recent sale of 9,800 acres of farmland in Grant County to a foreign investor and a provision in Governor Walker’s budget that would eliminate the current 640 acre cap on the sale of land to foreign businesses or individuals. 

“I am concerned that land prices will spike, cost will increase and new farmers will be priced out of farming,” said Senator Vinehout.  “My constituents are very worried about foreign corporations purchasing such large tracts of land and they tell me that we had better think twice about foreign ownership of our food supply.”

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Wisconsin Democratic Party calls for independent review of Walker admin interfering with DNR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
CONTACT: Melissa Baldauff
(414) 367-7350; melissabatwisdems [dot] org

Wisconsin Democrats Call For Independent Review of Potential Scott Walker Interference in DNR Investigation

 

MADISON -- The Democratic Party of Wisconsin today called for an independent review of whether or not Scott Walker's administration unlawfully interfered in a Department of Natural Resources lawsuit at the behest of a longtime Republican political fixer.
 
The Wisconsin State Journal reported on April 2nd that the Madison-Kipp Corp. had asked Walker's office to interfere in a lawsuit filed by neighbors of the company's plant on the East Side of Madison.
 
Longtime Republican operative Ray Taffora, who has represented other polluter companies, appealed on the company's behalf to Walker's office, according to a court deposition. In the same deposition, it was reported that a longtime regulator threatened to quit the DNR if pressure from the governor's office warped environmental enforcement action.
 
According to the State Journal, the 30-year veteran testified that "he could recall no instance where a company went to the governor's office" complaining about a regulatory decision.
 
In a letter sent Wednesday to the United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin and the Dane County District Attorney (attached), Chair Mike Tate wrote that, "Citizens are entitled to honest services in their government and I'm writing to urge that you review the actions by the governor's office to ensure that the public interest has been protected...and no state or federal laws have been broken."
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Organizations Representing Tens of Millions of Americans to Deliver Over 2 Million Petition Signatures Directly to the White House Rejecting Cuts to Social Security Benefits

Media Advisory For:

Tuesday, April 8, 2013

Contact: Don Owens, SSW – Office: (202) 637-3974 / dowens@socialsecurityworks.org

                                                   Mobile: (202) 302-5928

 

Organizations Representing Tens of Millions of Americans to Deliver Over 2 Million Petition Signatures Directly to the White House Rejecting Cuts to Social Security Benefits

Will Be Joined By U.S. Senator Who Vows to Block Benefit Cuts

Coalition Includes AFL-CIO, MoveOn.org, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, CREDO, National Organization for Women, Social Security Works, Alliance for Retired Americans, National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, Democracy For America, Campaign for America's Future, The Other 98%, Progressives United, Blue America, Rebuild the Dream, Center for Community Change, Health Care for America Now and Others

 

(Washington, DC) -- Senator Bernie Sanders and Reps. Mark Takano and Rick Nolan will join organizations representing tens of millions of Americans to deliver more than two million petition signatures opposing cuts to Social Security benefits to the White House on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

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Statement from Ed Fallone - Unresolved Dysfunction Continues in Justice Prosser Discipline Case

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The John Doe era ends

DA John Chisholm's offce announced today that the John Doe investigation has ended and that there will be no further charges.  Those of us who had been expecting charges against more people in the Walker administration (and particularly against Walker) are going to be sorely disappointed.   The PDF of the announcement is attached.

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Walker Press Release on Dennis Smith Resignation, Kitty Rhoades Appointment

Gov. Walker: Kitty Rhoades appointed Secretary of the Dept. of Health Services
2/22/2013

Contact: Cullen Werwie, 608-267-7303

Madison –Today, Governor Scott Walker received Dennis G. Smith’s resignation letter and appointed Department of Health Services (DHS) Deputy Secretary Kitty Rhoades as Secretary of DHS.

“I would like to thank Dennis for his service to the State of Wisconsin—because of his efforts Medicaid is now on a sustainable path,” said Governor Walker. “Kitty has the qualities necessary to lead the Department of Health Services and I am confident her long history of active involvement in health care issues will serve Wisconsin very well.”

Prior to being appointed to her current position in January 2011, Rhoades served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1999 until her retirement in 2010. During her legislative service, Deputy Secretary Rhoades served as the co-chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Finance and served on the Health and the Aging and Long-Term Care standing committees.

“I would like to thank the Governor for this great opportunity to move Wisconsin forward,” Rhoades said. “Wisconsin has been a leader in reforming our health care system, and with the Governor’s innovative proposals, we will continue this tradition.”

Rhoades has received numerous awards from advocacy groups in recognition of her leadership on long-term care issues, including her support for the development of consumer driven programs.

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