HEALTH CARE: STEPS TO THE FUTURE
An older man contacted me recently with a problem. A visit to the doctor left him with thousands in unpaid bills. Medicare deemed the tests “routine” and not a “medical necessity.” But the gentleman was told, for his occupation, the tests were absolutely necessary.
He was left with a medical bill costing more than his 2017 income.
The top-notch staff at the Department of Health Services (DHS), discovered the man was likely eligible for Medicaid. But the man wasn’t interested.
The constituent relations department within DHS has been a godsend over the ...
FIREFIGHTERS EARNED AND DESERVE THEIR PENSIONS
By Steve Wilding, Fire Fighter, Oak Creek Local 1848
Every day, firefighters like me put our lives on the line for communities across the state. Whatever time of the day it is, when the bell rings in the firehouse, we take the call. We strap up, hop on our trucks, and race to the car accident, house or office building fire. We do it without question, knowing the risks or dangers that may lie ahead. We work hard and long hours and our bodies deteriorate quickly due to long-term stress, but we know that we can retire with dignity thanks to our defined benefit pension.
...
LIBRARIANS DESERVE RETIREMENT SECURITY
I was a librarian for a total of 30 years in Wisconsin and spent the last 23 years working in La Crosse schools. Becoming a librarian was definitely a calling. I enjoyed teaching others to read and appreciate literature, the challenge of research and teaching children to do it, and mastering and teaching the new technologies as they came along. Not everything is easy in this profession. Each day presented a new set of challenges, but when working with children, there is never a dull moment. Librarians often take home low pay, but have the promise of a guaranteed secure ...
ACTIVISM WORKS
Senate Health Care Bill did not pass. It's not clear what Republicans will try next but it is clear that engaged citizens can and do make a difference. We can't promise it will always work. But we can see that voter resistance can force a change of course. So when Trump and McConnell and Ryan cook up their next nasty "tax cut masquerading as healthcare" stew, you'll know just what to do.
Josh Marshall has what I think is the best explanation of why the Republican plan to repeal the ACA has come such a cropper. First he acknowledges the vital role played by how unpopular ...
Action Alert: Thomas Street Road Design (CISM — Public Comments Allowed), Wed, July 12, 5:30pm
At City Hall on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at 5:30 p.m (CISM Committee), there will be discussion and possible action on the design alternative for Thomas Street from 4th Avenue to the Wisconsin River Bridge. Public comments allowed.
Public comments relating to this agenda item will be allowed when the specific item is considered, so any opinions or concerns about the design project can be addressed by residents at that time.
View Agenda: https://www.ci.wausau.wi.us/Portals/0/Departments/Council/Archives/Standing%20Committees/Capital%20Improvements%20and%20Street...
2 More Days to Give the City Your Comment Form on Phase II of the Thomas St. Project
Submit Your Comment Form to Oppose the Four-Lane on the Thomas St. Project
Phase II: 4th Avenue to the Bridge
Form Link: https://www.ci.wausau.wi.us/Portals/0/Departments/Engineering/Documents/Thomas%20St%20-%20PIM%20Handout%20%206-26-17.pdf
Deadline to Submit Input: July 5, 2017
Return to:
City of Wausau Attn: Engineering Department
407 Grant Street Wausau, WI 54403
or email to: eric.lindman@ci.wausau.wi.us
If You Cannot Email or Mail the Form Itself: If you encounter a technical issue, please simply email input and comments in a standard email and ...
Ruminations on Mowing Grass
“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Mathew 6:28 & 29
I thought of this the other day when I was mowing grass. The wood violets were in full bloom all over the yard. I paused to “consider” the wild flowers of the field. They don't have to toil. They just come up with the spring rains. Neither did I have to buy them, plant them, weed them, or all the rest of the work of making a garden. I had just helped my ...
WINNING IS THE ONLY THING
Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo wrote an important post last week arguing that Voting Rights Defeatism is Toxic. It's his response to some of the ways people and pundits reacted to John Ossoff's loss in the Georgia special election. Complaining about voter suppression may provide some emotional balm. But "the simple fact is that Democrats or anyone who believes in voting rights will need to win elections under the current restrictive system to be able to change laws to change that system.
The fact that that is challenging and unfair doesn’t change the reality of ...
PROTECT OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
I believe public schools are the heart of our communities. Taxpayer-funded vouchers are quietly bleeding our public schools of much-needed funding. This school year, vouchers silently skimmed $245 million in taxpayer state aid away from our public schools.
School districts are being forced to pay for taxpayer vouchers in their districts. This year Marshfield paid $58,584, Merrill paid $175,752, Stevens Point paid $339,225 and Wausau paid $428,610 for private school tuition. The costs will be higher next year.
Eight-five percent of this year’s taxpayer vouchers went ...
LOVE WATER, NOT OIL
This year the 5th annual Love Water Not Oil tour includes stops and events along the Enbridge pipeline route in Wisconsin. There will be three featured musical performers and maybe as many as 40 horseback riders from around the country. The schedule outline is below and more detailed information can be found at https://www.honorearth.org/lwno2017
July 9th - Kick-off event in Madison, WI @Majestic Theater featuring Nahko, Annie Humphrey, Gingger Shankar
Purchase Tickets online and RSVP
Doors open @6PM - Show starts @7PM
$25 Advanced | $30 at the door
July ...
