North Side Rising

05/29/2026

Read the latest Citizen Action Weekend '26 Newsletter. We have news on our Annual Member meeting next Saturday, Statewide Healthcare Action Team meeting next Tuesday, Statewide Climate Action Team meeting on June 11th, and more.

Read now https://citizenactionwi.org/2026/05/29/weekend26may29/

05/21/2026

"A failed deal on tax relief and school funding would have left Wisconsin in the red by billions of dollars, according to a memo released Wednesday by the Legislature’s nonpartisan budget office...

According to an analysis prepared by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, that proposal, combined with preexisting expenditures from the state budget and legislation passed over the last year-and-a-half, would have caused the state to spend an additional $3.5 billion over four years.

The analysis found — assuming no other changes in revenue or spending — that would leave the state with a $2.95 billion deficit...

In a statement to WisPolitics, Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, whose caucus sunk the deal, said the Fiscal Bureau’s analysis justifies her members’ concerns."

A failed deal on tax relief and school funding would have left Wisconsin in the red by billions of dollars, according to a memo released Wednesday by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

05/14/2026

The Senate Democratic Caucus should be commended for having the political courage to stand in unity against terrible budget policy that made for good sound bites but in reality would have squandered what is left of Wisconsin's budget surplus and put the next Governor and Legislature in a fiscal hole.

The backroom deal between Evers, Vos, and LeMahieu, reflects the kind of shortsighted bumper sticker politics which has eroded public faith in democracy.

The tough vote every Democratic State Senator took last night, standing up to a Governor of their own party when he is wrong, offers hope for a bold new leadership in Madison that will at long last deliver on the real and pressing needs of all working and middle class Wisconsinites."

Thanks Senator Dora Drake and Sen. LaTonya Johnson

05/08/2026

Do you want to learn more about how Wisconsin candidates for Governor are approaching big climate issues like our state’s clean energy plans, data centers, community health resilience, and energy affordability?

Join 350 Wisconsin, Faith in Place, and Healthy Climate Wisconsin on May 11th and May 19th to hear candidates’ responses to the tough questions that Wisconsinites are asking.

Register here ➡️ tinyurl.com/WI-Env-Forum

Watch Citizen Action's governor forum from April here >> https://www.facebook.com/CitizenActionWI/videos/818940800772313

05/07/2026

Landslide win for workers forming their union at new downtown Milwaukee concert facility, Landmark Credit Union Live!

"Landmark Credit Union Live's employees have won recognition for their labor union – about a month after the new downtown Milwaukee concert venue's food service workers made a similar move.

The bargaining unit consists of 209 employees in sales, box office, cleaning, operations, runner, security, and usher/ticket taker jobs at Landmark Credit Union Live.

More than 80% of those workers signed union authorization and membership cards, according to a May 6 announcement from Milwaukee Area Service & Hospitality Workers (MASH) Union.

'It’s critical to have a union in an economy where it’s become nearly impossible to make ends meet,' said venue operations worker and union activist Skylar Majerus, in a statement.

'The way for workers like us to secure livable wages, rights on the job and dignity in our workplaces is by coming together in a union so we have the power together to win them in a contract,' Majerus said."

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Peter Rickman, president of the MASH union, will join us on this week's Battleground Wisconsin Podcast to discuss the organizing victory, the growth of the union, and its commitment to the $20 Living Wage legislation. The podcast will be released later today.

The bargaining unit consists of 209 employees in sales, box office, cleaning, operations, runner, security, and usher/ticket taker jobs at the venue.

05/04/2026

"All seven joined a Wisconsin Health News event focused entirely on healthcare as well as a Wisconsin Citizen Action online forum, where healthcare led off a discussion that covered a cross-section of other issues as well."

Hear for yourself what they have to say about healthcare, watch the Citizen Action Governor Candidate forum, including healthcare questions used in this article >> https://www.facebook.com/CitizenActionWI/videos/818940800772313

The seven leading Democrats in the race for governor share many of the same priorities but differ in how they'd execute them.

05/01/2026

"It is not fair to make workers come and beg the politicians for a wage that doesn't even get us to a living wage," said state Sen. Roys.

"This is about dignity in your work," Rep. Hong said. "This is about putting power back in the hand of working-class people to fight back against corporate corruption and greed."

"When we have a living wage, we have a safer community," Barnes said. "When we have a living wage, we have healthier community. When we have living wages, we provide opportunity to those folks who have been denied it for far too long."

The current minimum wage in Wisconsin is $7.25 per hour.
The new legislation would raise pay to $20 an hour. Supporters hope the bill will be signed into law by 2027.

https://www.cbs58.com/news/state-leaders-advocate-for-adoption-of-20-minimum-wage-in-wisconsin
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Learn more about why the $20 Wage bill is so important to pass >> https://citizenactionwi.org/20-minimum-wage/

TAKE ACTION and send email to your state legislators in support of $20/hour bill >> https://tinyurl.com/20WageWINOW

For more information about getting involved in our organizing for $20 bill, contact: [email protected]

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- State leaders unveiled their new plan in Milwaukee Friday, to help Wisconsin residents earn more money. It's a one-year campaign led by the Wisconsin Living Wage Coalition. Joining

05/01/2026

05/01/2026

Citizen Action North Side Rising members joined the Wisconsin Living Wage Coalition today in Milwaukee for a May Day media event with three Democratic Governor candidates who made a commitment to sign a $20 minimum wage bill by May Day 2027 if they are elected Governor.

Gubernatorial candidates State Senator Kelda Roys (sponsor of legislation), Wisconsin State Representative Francesca Hong (original co-sponsor of legislation), and former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes joined the Living Wage Coalition at the event.

Gubernatorial candidate Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley also publicly supports comprehensive living wage

legislation with a $20 minimum wage, but was unable to attend.
Learn more about why the $20 Wage bill is so important to pass >> https://citizenactionwi.org/20-minimum-wage/

TAKE ACTION and send email to your state legislators in support of $20/hour bill >> https://tinyurl.com/20WageWINOW

For more information about getting involved in our organizing for $20 bill, contact: [email protected]

04/30/2026

We welcome Christine Neumann Ortiz, the Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, to discuss their huge May Day marches and rallies in Milwaukee and Madison. Christine educates our listeners on the federal and state agenda for immigrant rights and urges everyone to attend one of the May Day events.

Listen now >> https://soundcloud.com/citizen-action-of-wi/bg738

A packed U.S. Supreme Court guts what is left of the Voting Rights Act while cynically claiming not to overturn it. We delve into the the implications for civil rights and for the 2026 and 2028 elections
And so much more on the NEW Battleground Wisconsin Podcast.

Listen now >> https://soundcloud.com/citizen-action-of-wi/bg738

04/16/2026

Seven major Democratic candidates running for Wisconsin governor turned out for an online forum held by Citizen Action of Wisconsin.

Read WUWM 89.7 FM - Milwaukee's NPR's top takeawys from the forum >> https://www.wuwm.com/takeaways-from-wisconsin-democratic-governor-candidates-forum

Watch entire forum now >> https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BdVbfDJeo/?mibextid=wwXIfr

On April 14, all seven major Democratic gubernatorial candidates participated in an online forum hosted by Citizen Action Wisconsin. Here are some takeaways.