Democrats at the Wisconsin Capitol want the government to provide economic security for people from the day they are born until well after they retire.
State Senator Melissa Agard yesterday introduced what Democrats are calling the BEST plan. It would have Wisconsin pay for baby bonds, mandate a 15 dollar-an-hour minimum wage, establish new state-backed retirement options, make some pensions un-taxable, and try to lessen the cost of prescription drugs. Agard says people need to know that their government is working for them. The plan is, however, mostly an election year proposal. There is no way the Republican-controlled legislature will approve it.
The top Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly say their forethought means Wisconsin will see its opioid settlement money faster.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu yesterday said they passed a law in the spring that will direct Wisconsin’s 400-million-dollars in opioid settlement money to local governments and frontline agencies. The state’s settlement money is supposed to be spent on treatment and dealing with the opioid crisis. Vos and LeMahieu said yesterday the local communities across the state will benefit from their planning.
