Who’s ready for some good news? I mean, seriously good news — the kind of news that reminds you that there are amazing people around us engaged in public service and advocacy.

This is an admittedly sedate photo. A bunch of people standing around as Gov. Tony Evers signs something. But this story is about the cheers that lit up the room moments after this photo was taken.

Those hollers, hoots, and whistles were long and hearty. The governor had just signed a bill making Wisconsin the 49th state to expand Medicaid/BadgerCare coverage to women for a full year after giving birth instead of the current 60 days. Why 49th? Because Assembly Speaker Robin Vos kept the bill bottled up for years. Only in Arkansas now are Republicans still refusing to take women’s health seriously.

Did the people who understood the value and necessity of stable, affordable healthcare coverage simply give up each time Vos blocked their bill? Heck, no! And their tenacity finally paid off.

The next day, Evers signed another bill, “Gail’s Law,” requiring health insurers to cover follow-up screening for breast cancer.

It’s a cliche but it’s true: Squeaky wheels get greased in politics. And sometimes that squeaking has to be loud and lengthy, which people only do if they truly believe in the worth of their ideas. That was the case here, and everyone who endured the doubters, the setbacks, and the closed doors deserved to enjoy those loud and lengthy cheers when their work on behalf of all Wisconsin women finally won.

Have a great week. Don’t forget to scroll down for our Question of the Week on whether Gov. Evers and Republican legislators should make a deal on additional school funding. And stay up to date with our social media posts.

1️⃣  Republican Exodus – State Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) is the latest high-profile Republican to join a growing list of GOP lawmakers deciding not to run for reelection in November. He joins Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Sens. Van Wanggard (R-Racine), Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), and Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) in choosing to leave the Legislature. And conservative state Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler has announced a year in advance that she won’t run for reelection in 2027. State Democratic Party Chair Devin Remiker has noticed:

2️⃣  Blatnik Bridge Boost – The replacement of the Blatnik Bridge between Superior and Duluth, Minnesota, remains on-track. It took two weeks of pressure, but US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy eventually released $1 billion in grant money appropriated under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The bridge, in Duffy’s former congressional district, is a key part of the Twin Ports infrastructure — and Wisconsin leaders did not want to see it blocked or delayed the way President Trump has done with several other projects. 

“There is no good reason these funds should have been held up in the first place, and I am glad we forced the Trump Administration to do right by Wisconsin,” said Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

3️⃣  Schimel’s ‘New’ Job – When former Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel lost last year’s state Supreme Court race to Justice Susan Crawford, he was given a consolation prize by President Trump: temporary US Attorney for Wisconsin’s Eastern District. That term has come to an end because a majority of the five federal judges in the district did not vote to keep him in office. They want a permanent, US Senate-confirmed prosecutor. But Trump and US Attorney General Pam Bondi have found a way around the rules: giving Schimel the title of “First Assistant United States Attorney” and refusing to appoint a new leader, allowing Schimel to continue running the office without approval of the Senate or district judges.

Local news is essential for democracy.

Our reporting cuts through false narratives, documents what’s actually happening in our communities, and provides voters with the clear, factual information they need—especially when the stakes are high.

Monday marks the 16th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act, landmark legislation that could have marked the beginning of improved healthcare security for Americans — but Republican politicians have undermined recent tax credit improvements and caused sharp price increases that have hundreds of thousands of people in Wisconsin facing the prospect of going without health insurance.

Nearly 25,000 fewer people in Wisconsin signed up this year for coverage through the ACA exchanges. Nationally, three-fourths of Americans in a new KFF survey worried about being able to afford emergency care or a hospital stay — and about 10% say they have dropped coverage because of the higher premiums. 

“Instead of lowering costs for working families, my Republican colleagues made the largest cuts to health care in American history with the poorly named One Big Beautiful Bill,” said US Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) at an event sponsored by Protect Our Care. “They gutted Medicaid, ripping coverage from nearly 33,000 of my constituents. And of course, they allowed insurance premiums for Affordable Care Act plans to skyrocket

“Extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits is central to the survival of small businesses just like mine,” said Milwaukee Chef Dan Jacobs, a frequent Food Network competitor and member of Main Street Alliance. “The ACA leveled the playing field that has long been tilted towards large corporations.”

WATCH: A new commercial released by Protect Our Care calling out US Rep. Derrick Van Orden for supporting the huge hike in premiums.

⏮️ Last Week: What should Democrats do about President Trump’s willingness to let TSA workers face financial hardship rather than change ICE tactics?

75% chose 🄰  Hold the line — Despite travel delays and TSA workers quitting, Republicans will hear from enough Americans and agree to make necessary changes to ICE.

10% 🄱  Let it go – Trump will never care about TSA workers and Republicans will never defy him, so Democrats will only get changes in ICE if they win control of Congress in November.

15% 🄲  Move the target — Agree to fund DHS and focus instead on denying funding to continue Trump’s undeclared war in Iran.

Here’s what you told us:

• Doug from Rice Lake:”Democratic leaders need to show some spine, and hold out.”

• “Dems won with Noem gone. ICE is far more civil now. TSA workers need to be paid now.”

• “Let’s not pay our senators, then maybe they would move faster.”

⏭️ This Week: ‘Deal or No Deal’ for WI schools?

The latest projection on the state’s budget surplus pegs it at almost $2.5 billion. It’s why some Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill to put more than $1 billion of it to work right away in higher general state aid to schools — something that would reduce the need for local referendums and higher property taxes. Evers is reportedly still negotiating a similar deal with the Legislature’s Republican leaders, both of whom are following Evers in not running for reelection. But everyone wants a deal right now. How about you?

Click the blue box (above) containing this week’s response options and you’ll be taken to a page on our website where you can press the specific option for your answer and leave more comments. 

If you get a pop-up window asking for your email address, go ahead and enter it even though you’re clearly already a subscriber. And please leave a comment, including first name and hometown. Or email me directly at pat@couriernewsroom.com. Thank you!

There’s a special emphasis in our “Do Something!” calendar of events: preparation for the third wave of “No Kings” marches taking place around the country next Saturday. 

🗓️ Monday [Mar 23]

No Kings, Know Your Rights: Protest Rights and Safety Practices (Virtual, 4-6 p.m.) A training led by the ACLU, overviewing the Constitutional right to peacefully protest and best practices when attending protests.

Indivisible-Brown County: Marshal Training for the March 28 No Kings Events (Green Bay, 6-8 p.m.) A training for those wanting to be marshals during the No Kings National Day of Action on March 28. Marshals play a key role in keeping large gatherings safe, organized, and welcoming.

🗓️ Thursday [Mar 26]

Fitchburg Progress: The Signs are Good! Let’s Make Some More! (Fitchburg, 4:15-7:30 p.m.) Make “No Kings” protest signs ahead of the National Day of Action on March 28. Materials will be provided.

🗓️ Wednesday [Mar 18]

Chippewa Valley Indivisible: Defend Democracy Rally  (Eau Claire, 3-4:30 p.m.)

A rally for democracy and against authoritarianism.

Have an event to add? Email State Organizing Coordinator, Abigail Deatrick, abigail@couriernewsroom.com with details (please send details at least one week before the event).

📱 Remember, you can stay up to date all day with all of our team’s work through our social media feeds, including Instagram and TikTok.

🏁 Thanks for reading our update.

Have a great week!