Evers to Propose $150 Million for Mental Health; Includes $55 Million for Student Mental Health
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 10, 2021
From WisPolitics.com …
Gov. Tony Evers today announced his budget will propose investing $150 million in mental health initiatives in addition to again seeking legislative approval to accept federal money to expand Medicaid.
The $150 million includes $55 million for student mental health and expanding a program designed to address child psychiatry shortages. Also, $40 million would go to boost access to outpatient mental health services, substance abuse treatment, and services for adolescents and children.
Evers said the pandemic has underscored the need for affordable, accessible mental health services.
“Mental and behavioral healthcare is healthcare. Period. From our kids to our farmers, to veterans and those working to overcome substance use disorders, mental health support must be a priority for the health, safety, and well-being of our state,” said Evers, who introduces his two-year spending plan Tuesday.
The proposed investments also include $25 million to address substance abuse, including opioids, with another $25 million to overhaul the state’s crisis intervention and emergency detention system. That includes funding for regional crisis centers.
Two years ago, Republicans rejected Evers’ call to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act. For this budget, the Department of Health Service built its proposal around accepting the federal money. The agency sought $597 million more to support the Medical Assistance program. But the administration noted in the fall rejecting the proposed expansion under Obamacare would add another $588 million in costs to the state.
In today’s announcement, the guv estimated the move would save Wisconsin $634 million over the biennium.
Wisconsin is one of a dozen states that hasn’t implemented the federal expansion.
See the release here.
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Kerr Leads in January Fundraising, Spending for DPI Race
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 9, 2021
From WisPolitics.com …
Former Brown Deer Superintendent Deb Kerr raised and spent more than her rivals for state schools superintendent over the first month of the year, finance reports show.
Assistant State Superintendent Sheila Briggs pulled in the second most money in the race to lead DPI, followed by Pecatonica Superintendent Jill Underly.
The primary is a week from today. Here are summaries of the fundraising activity listed on their pre-primary fundraising reports:
*Kerr raised $28,229 over the first month of the year, spent $58,510 and had $19,861 left in the bank. She listed $9,842 in obligations and $21,003 in loans.
She received $15,000 from Arthur Dantchik, a Pennsylvania trader who has a history of donating to pro-voucher candidates. She also spent $47,860 on a mailer and $2,857 on media billboards/outdoor advertising.
*Briggs raised $19,403, spent $33,251 and had $30,498 in the bank. She listed $1,206 in obligations and $2,500 in loans. Her donations included $2,000 from former Dem state Sen. Tim Cullen, and she spent $18,055 on online ads.
*Underly raised $17,960, spent $8,234 and had $30,253 cash on hand. She also listed $7,000 in loans. She listed a $2,500 donation from Charles Semko, of Munster, Ind., who wasn’t employed. Her campaign paid more than $7,500 to Nation Consulting to cover consultant fees, IT costs, a mailer and other expenses.
After the close of the reporting period, Underly reported an $18,000 contribution from WEAC PAC.
*Shandowlyon Hendricks-Williams, a former teacher and administrator at several public and private schools in Wisconsin, raised $12,402, spent $18,042 and had $2,203 in the bank. She listed $2,500 in loans. Her donations included $1,000 from Barbara Hendricks, a California retiree. Her biggest expense was $7,636 on campaign staff wages. One of the other biggest expenses was $2,500 to respond to an unsuccessful attempt to kick her off the ballot because she listed the title Dr. on her nomination papers.
*Troy Gunderson, the former West Salem superintendent, raised $11,750, spent $4,894 and had $20,161 in the bank. He made $4,150 in in-kind donations to his campaign.
*Fond du Lac teacher Joe Fenrick raised $3,107, spent $1,749 and listed $7,846 in the bank. He also listed $6,000 in personal loans.
*MPS Garland Elementary School Principal Steve Krull raised $1,086, spent $676 and had $2,188 in the bank.
The top two candidates in the primary advance to the April 6 general election.
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More on COVID Relief Bill, Governor’s Public Health Emergency Order
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 5, 2021
From WisPolitics.com …
GOP Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu says only a court “can stop a governor bent on ignoring the law” after Evers issued a new public health declaration and mask mandate shortly after the Assembly voted to overturn the previous one.
LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, were scheduled today to sign the joint resolution overturning the previous order, the last step before that action takes effect.
The Senate will also be on the floor late this morning to take up yet another revised version of the COVID-19 bill. The Assembly, which first passed the bill Jan. 7 and then amended it Jan. 26 after the Senate made changes, yesterday tweaked an amendment the Senate added Jan. 28.
The Senate amendment approved last week would only allow Evers to declare a public health emergency to receive federal funds under five laws approved to deal with COVID-19. It was added after Republicans realized overturning the guv’s public health declaration would disqualify Wisconsin families from receiving enhanced food stamp benefits. Last month, more than 200,000 households collected about $49 million.
The latest Assembly amendment also was written to make sure the state would qualify for funds from future federal action and to cut off the option of using powers in another section of state law to issue emergency orders. Neither provision was in the Senate version of the amendment.
“The People of Wisconsin can no longer be subjected to confusing, unilateral decrees without basis in statute,” LeMahieu said. “We must reinstate the rule of law, uphold separation of powers, and restore confidence in our system of government.”
Evers said in a video message yesterday he was putting the public’s health before politics and the “fight against this virus isn’t over.” He added he earlier promised to never play politics with Wisconsinites’ health, would trust science and would never stop doing “everything in my power to keep Wisconsinites healthy and safe.”
“We’re going to keep putting people first, we’re going to keep listening to the science, and we’re going to keep working to save lives so we can get through this pandemic together,” Evers said in the message.
Senate Republicans today are expected to sign off on the changes the Assembly made yesterday to the COVID bill. It would then head to the guv’s desk.
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Evers Issues New Public Health Order After Assembly Votes to Overturn Previous Order
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 4, 2021
From WisPolitics.com …
Gov. Tony Evers this afternoon quickly declared a new public health emergency shortly after the Assembly voted to overturn one he issued earlier this year.
The guv’s new order also includes a mask mandate similar to the ones he’s put in place since late summer.
Earlier this afternoon, the Assembly voted 52-42 to overturn the public health declaration Evers issued last month. With the vote finished, GOP legislative leaders need to sign the resolution before it takes effect. The signing is expected to happen tomorrow.
See the release here.
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GOP Again Changes Course on COVID-19 Bill and Overturning Mask Mandate
By Wisconsin School Administrators Alliance staff | February 4, 2021
From WisPolitics.com …
Republicans abruptly shifted tactics today on COVID-19 legislation and a resolution to overturn Gov. Tony Evers’ public health declaration.
Assembly Republicans, on a party-line 59-35 vote, again amended the COVID-19 bill, this time with a provision designed to ensure the state wouldn’t lose enhanced federal food stamp benefits by overturning Evers’ public health declaration. The amendment also was written to make sure the state would qualify for funds from future federal action, a provision that wasn’t in a Senate version of the amendment.
The Senate, which wasn’t expected back in until mid-February, will instead meet tomorrow in extraordinary session to approve the revised bill, which Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, called a “true consensus.”
The Assembly also had originally planned to vote on its own joint resolution to end Evers’ public health declaration. That would’ve required Senate approval. Instead, the Assembly plans to take up the resolution that cleared the Senate last week. If approved as expected, it would immediately end Evers’ order.
See the amendment here.
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