News | AFT-Wisconsin Retirees Council

Some Upcoming Events

Monday, May 17, 2021 – Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

View this FREE webinar from the comfort of your own home. Hear from:

David Stein, Chairman of SWIB Board of Trustees

Edwin Denson, Executive Director/Chief Investment Officer, SWIB
and John Voelker, Secretary of ETF.

For more details and to register, go to Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants (wicoa.org)

Wednesday, May 19, 2021 -- Wisconsin Democracy Campaign's Virtual Gathering

RSVP by Sunday, May 16 via link below.

Agenda

5:00 – 5:30 Welcome and a Year in Review

5:30 – 5:40 Bruce Murphy: Media Democracy -- Wisconsin Democracy Campaign and Media in Wisconsin

5:40 – 6:00 Keynote Speaker Rep. Francesca Hong: Democracy, Racial Equity, and Economic Justice

6:00 – 6:30 Q&A

For more details & RSVP, go to Wisconsin Democracy Campaign's Virtual Gathering 2021 - Wisconsin Democracy Campaign (wisdc.org)

Biennual Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans (WIARA) Convention

The VIRTUAL Biennial Convention of the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans has been scheduled for April 28th, 11:00am – 1:00pm.

To attend the Biennial Meeting on April 28, you'll need to register in advance on ZOOM. See The flyer for details.

Flyer

Proposed Bylaw Changes

Budget Input Sessions #2 (Governor Evers)

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Governor Evers’ Badger Bounceback Budget Live Sessions - April 2021

Economic Recovery & Opportunity: Thursday, March 18, 2021, at 6 p.m.
Register to attend here.
Accessible & Affordable Healthcare: Thursday, March 25, 2021 at 6 p.m.
Register to attend here.
Transportation & Infrastructure: Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at 6 p.m.
Register to attend here.
What’s Best for Our Kids: Thursday, April 8, 2021, at 6 p.m.
Register to attend here.
Justice Reform & Marijuana Legalization: Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at 6 p.m. Register to attend here.
Climate Change & Our Environment: Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 6 p.m.
Register to attend here.

AFL-CIO Flyer

Budget Input Sessions #1 (Joint Finance)

Joint Finance Committee Hearing Schedule - April 2021

Friday, April 9: Whitewater, UW-Whitewater, 800 W Main Street, Whitewater, WI 53190. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Wednesday, April 21: Rhinelander, The Hodag Dome, 665 Coolidge Ave, Rhinelander, WI 54501. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Thursday, April 22: Menomonie, UW-Stout, 712 Broadway St S, Menomonie, WI 54751. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Wednesday, April 28: Virtual. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Those wishing to testify must register in advance; more details to come.

AFL-CIO Flyer

Budget Opportunities and Challenges

State Budget Challenges and Opportunities

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WEBINAR: State Budget Challenges and Opportunities

Monday, December 14th, 7:00 pm

Jon Peacock & Tamarine Cornelius of the Wisconsin Budget Project will give us a

presentation on Wisconsin's state budget. These experts analyze our state's

budget and tax system, and will have some new thoughts about what to look

for in the FY21-22 state budget decisions. Although Gov. Evers won't formally

present his state budget proposal until February 16th, the outlines are already

shaping up. How can state employees help create a state budget that meets

our needs and priorities and those of the public? Will new leaders in the Joint

Finance Committee -- and a starkly new pandemic context -- make this spring's

legislative budget negotiations different than in the past? Will the Governor

wield his veto pen to good effect?

This presentation is sponsored by State Worker Power & the Association of Career Employees.

Also see the Wisconsin Budget Project's new website https://www.reimaginewisconsin.org/

for three principles for an equitable economy in Wisconsin.

Register in advance for this meeting on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvdeispzguHdQpYNtnqo2jgpBylZO9WEJI

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about

joining the meeting.

GOTV

Labor “Get Out the Vote” Virtual

Rally & Phone Bank

Saturday, October 17, 2020

Noon – 4:00 p.m.

Stephanie Bloomingdale, Mark Pocan & Josh Kaul

Flyer

WiARA Power Lunch

The Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans (WiARA) will be holding its annual Power Lunch on October 12. This year, it will be a virtual meeting. See the flyer for more details.

Flyer

Social Security 2100 Act

August 25, 2020: In a recent Zoom Conference with Congressman Mark Pocan arranged by the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans (WiARA), we learned that the House of Representatives have prepared a bill to strengthen and protect Social Security.

The effort was led by Representative John Larson. The bill would increase the cap for payroll taxes to $400,000, set a minimum benefit level and more. The bill hasn't been introduced yet and is awaiting Speaker Pelosi's determination of the right time for introduction.

For more details, go to https://larson.house.gov/social-security-2100

Check Your Voter Registration (or Register)

June, 2020 -- See the notice from the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans about how to confirm that your voting information is correct.

WiARA Notice

Support LTEs

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Help make Wisconsin safe during the Corona virus threat. Support LTEs who don't have paid sick leave or health insurance. See the letter from AFT-W President Kim Kohlhaas to Governor Evers advocating for LTES.

Letter from AFT-W President to Governor