Citizen Action Weekend ’26 Newsletter, Friday, May 15th
Work for Citizen Action of Wisconsin
Join us for the 2026 Citizen Action Annual Membership Meeting, Saturday, June 6th, 10am
Join us on Saturday, May 6th, 10am – 11:30am, as we continue to work and build a progressive base of leaders across the state to garner the power we need to elect a Governor and a Legislature committed to tackling the affordability crisis.
If we work together it is within our grasp to elect leaders who will transform our healthcare system, fight climate change, lower utility costs, raise wages, and defend our democracy. Join us for our 2026 Annual Meeting to get engaged and lead the way for the change we need!
This annual meeting is taking place virtually. Once you sign up, you’ll receive a confirmation email. You will receive the Zoom link via email on the morning of the annual meeting.
Not a member yet, Join Citizen Action of Wisconsin today and attend our Annual Meeting!
Citizen Action wishes Climate Coordinator Kat Klawes well in her next chapter.
Citizen Action of Wisconsin is sharing the news that Kat Klawes will be leaving the organization to join 350 Wisconsin as their Deputy Director.
Kat has played an important role in advancing Citizen Action’s climate and utility justice work across Wisconsin in her 3 years with Citizen Action. Through her organizing, coalition-building, policy work, and commitment to environmental justice, Kat helped move forward campaigns that center working families, public health, affordability, and community voices.
We will miss Kat’s leadership, passion, and dedication, but we are excited to see her continue this work in her new role. Please join us in thanking Kat for her contributions to Citizen Action and wishing her the very best in this next chapter.
You can send well wishes to Kat at kat.klawes@citizenactionwi.org.
Citizen Action members join State Rep. Johnson to tout BadgerCare Public Option bill at Cashton farm.
This Tuesday at All Seasons Farm in Cashton farm, Citizen Action members join state Representative Tara Johnson to promote the BadgerCare Public Option bill in the state legislature. Attendees spoke to the immense need for improved access to healthcare for working people and lower costs for everyone.
From Vernon Reporter:
Viroqua small business owner Michael Browne detailed the administrative nightmare of keeping his family of five on BadgerCare amid unpredictable income streams. He described the current income limit as a sudden cliff, where earning even a single dollar over the $38,000 threshold immediately strips parents of their coverage. As an entrepreneur, his earnings can be zero one month and abundant the next, but the state system demands constant paperwork whenever the numbers fluctuate.
“Healthcare here right now, it is a cliff,” said Browne. “Every dollar over the limit is a cliff.”
Browne expressed intense frustration with a system that forces him to spend hours on the phone proving his eligibility instead of building his business and contributing to the local economy. He noted that the United States spends nearly $15,000 per person annually on healthcare, far more than other nations, yet life expectancy remains shorter.
“That money isn’t going to health, it is going to administration,” said Browne. “It is going to a machine of finger pointing and paperwork, and to people like me on the phone every month trying to prove that I still exist.”
Learn more about the bill.
Read media coverage: Vernon Reporter and WKBT TV 8
Find out how you can get involved and expand affordable healthcare to tens of thousands of Wisconsinites, contact: Kristie.Tweed@citizenactionwi.org
Attend Racine $20 Living Wage Town Hall, Thursday, May 21st, 6pm
Join us, State Representative Angelina Cruz and members and supporters of Wisconsin’s Living Wage Coalition for a town hall meeting about affordability and our comprehensive living wage legislation at the Racine Educators United, 1201 West Boulevard, Racine
No matter who you are or where you work, YOU deserve a living wage. The fight will not end until we win living wages for all working Wisconsinites. Hope to see you on May 21st!
RSVP for Racine Town Hall
Learn more and take action in support of the $20 Living Wage bill.
Attend Citizen Action virtual statewide climate strategy session
Citizen Action is inviting Citizen Action members to join a Climate Strategy Session on Wednesday, June 10 from 5:45–7:15 PM via Zoom.
As Kat Klawes transitions out of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, we are bringing leaders together to help shape the next 2 years of statewide climate work, including data center fight work, utility affordability, the 2% utility rate cap, and opportunities connected to the upcoming election.
We are looking for at least one representative from each co-op to join the conversation, help guide what comes next, and build a stronger statewide team ready to take action.
To join the session, please email Kat Klawes at kat.klawes@citizenactionwi.org.
Attention Milwaukee County residents: We Energies Transparency and Accountability.
Milwaukee County residents deserve clear public information about rising utility costs, data centers, large energy users, utility shutoffs, and major infrastructure projects that could impact our bills, health, air quality, and climate goals.
Citizen Action of Wisconsin is leading the Milwaukee County We Energies Transparency and Data Center Accountability Framework, a proposal that would create regular public reporting through the Milwaukee County Office of Sustainability. This would help the County and the public better understand rising energy demand, utility costs, shutoffs, data center growth, planned utility infrastructure, pollution impacts, and whether everyday residents are being asked to pay more for infrastructure built to serve large corporate energy users.
We Energies is asking state regulators to approve another major rate increase that could raise residential electric bills by more than 16% over the next two years. Families are already paying too much for basic energy service, and thousands of Wisconsin households face utility shutoffs every year. Milwaukee County needs clear information to fight back, protect residents, and meet its climate goals.
- Attend the CEED Committee hearing and testify in support:
Monday, May 18 at 9:30 AM
Milwaukee County Courthouse, Room 201-B
901 N. 9th St., Milwaukee - County Board vote and press conference:
Thursday, May 28 at 11 AM
Milwaukee County Courthouse, Room 200
901 N. 9th St., Milwaukee
Learn more about the campaign here
You can help by attending the May 18th hearing, bringing friends or neighbors to the press conference, and contacting your County Supervisor to share why utility transparency and accountability matter to you.
Questions? Contact Kat Klawes at kat.klawes@citizenactionwi.org.
Citizen Action congratulations Needmor Fund for Social Justice on 70 years
Needmor Fund for Social Justice is celebrating their 70th year. We want to thank them for supporting our organizing.
Needmor produced a video about your foundation’s journey to support community organizing that featured the photo above from our Capitol media event introducing the 2% of Income Utility Rate Cap bill. Watch video
Honor Needmor’s 70th birthday by taking action!
Sign and send a message to your state legislators urging them to support legislation:
(1) Calling for a Data Center Pause &
(2) Capping Utility Rates at 2% of Income
Listen to “Don’t you let that deal go down” Battleground Wisconsin Podcast
We discussed the failed State Budget surplus deal that left few happy, undercut the next Governor, and left most wondering who asked for it? What does the deal say about Evers’ relationship with fellow Democrats? Is the divide really just a crystallization of what is at stake in this November’s election?
New education research underscores the importance of resources for our public schools to succeed. Wisconsin slid to 33rd in math and 30th in reading (out of 38 states evaluated) in sobering new research. Most importantly, the Education Scorecard found post-pandemic recovery achievement in the highest-poverty districts was largely driven by the federal pandemic relief funding. Without that relief, according to the study, the average high-poverty district would have remained at its 2022 level of achievement.
In other news, ultra-MAGA Congressman Derrick Van Ordin again loudly denies cutting Medicaid, making him a Liar’s liar. We close with speculations on what kind of gerrymandering Wisconsin will undertake in 2027, if there is a trifecta, to counter the outright theft of Congressional seats by Trump, SCOTUS, and red state governors.
We encourage our listeners to attend a $20 Living Wage Town Hall May 21, 6pm, in Racine at the Racine Education Association.
Listen to the show.
We recorded the podcast before the 18-15 failed vote in the Senate.
