FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 19, 2012
Contact: Lynn Becker or Dawn Schueller Phone: (202) 224-5653
Washington D.C. – The federal government today released $26,292,906 in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to Wisconsin, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl announced. The funding is part of more than $863 million released nationwide by the Administration. Senator Kohl has been a long time supporter of LIHEAP. This month, Kohl sent a letter, along with his colleagues, to the President urging him to maintain funding levels for this vital program.
“January and February in Wisconsin are often filled with snow, ice and cold. It is a miserable time of year for fixed-income senior citizens and low-income workers without the funds to provide their families with heat,” Kohl said. “This federal funding gives low income households the ability to pay their hearing bills and stay warm during the cold and bitter winters.”
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, LIHEAP assists low-income households, including families with children and seniors, with their home energy needs such as heating in the winter, cooling in the summer, and insulating their homes to make them more energy-efficient and to reduce their energy costs.
To find out more information about LIHEAP, residents can call 1-866-HEATWISC (432-8947)
Madison–Today Governor Walker authorized the Secretary of the Department of Health Services (DHS), Dennis Smith, to request a federal extension on Wisconsin’s SeniorCare waiver. The current waiver is slated to expire on December 31, 2012.
“Today’s action is a continuation of my ongoing support for SeniorCare,” said Governor Walker. “I voted for the creation of SeniorCare while a member of the Legislature and preserved the state portion of the funding for it in the budget I signed into law earlier this year. The federal government needs to take action so our state can continue to cost-effectively provide prescription drug coverage to our seniors.”
SeniorCare is a prescription drug assistance program for Wisconsin residents who are 65 years of age or older who meet the eligibility criteria. With a $30 annual enrollment fee, copayments ranging from $5 to $15, and no gaps in coverage, SeniorCare provides more comprehensive and less expensive coverage than Medicare Part D.
SeniorCare also saves taxpayers money. According to the Department of Health Services (DHS), in 2010 the average annual federal cost per SeniorCare member was $509. This is less than half of the $1,484 the federal government spent in the same year to subsidize each individual enrolled in the Medicaid Part D program.
U.S. Senator Herb Kohl’s State Director, JoAnne Anton, will be in Waukesha on Monday, Dec. 5th to meet with constituents from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Waukesha County Administration Center, 515 W. Moreland Blvd., in Room 155. Please enter through the courthouse lobby and proceed left to Administration Center. No appointment is necessary.
“If you are having a problem with a federal program or agency, or have an opinion on an issue before Congress, please let me know by meeting with my Regional Representative, JoAnne Anton,” Kohl said.
Ms. Anton may also be contacted at Kohl’s regional office at 310 W. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 950, in Milwaukee, WI 53203. Her telephone number is (414) 297-4451 and email address is joanne_anton@kohl.senate.gov.
WHAT: Senator Kohl’s State Director to Hold Office Hours in Waukesha
WHEN: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5th
WHERE: Waukesha County Administration Center Room 155, 515 W. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha, WI
All types of nonprofit agencies from across Dane County are looking for assistance through this special collection of holiday-related volunteer and donation opportunities.
You can make a difference in the life of a child, family, older adult, organization or individual in Dane County during the holiday season. CWAG is asking for the following items to distribute to seniors and for our office:
Clothing and Personal Items
Lotion, shampoo, shower gel; winter socks, snuggies, scarves, hats, gloves, mittens, University of Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers clothing Food
Holiday food items such as candy, cookies, chocolates, nuts, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit baskets/fruit, cheese, soup mixes, stollen, kringle, ginger bread Holiday Decorations
Wrapping paper, cards, gift bags; stockings, ornaments Holiday Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to help with organizing gifts. Program-Office-Agency Needs
Coffee (Starbucks, Steep & Brew); liquid soap, paper towels; set of knives; digital camera; artwork, office plants; gift card to Office Max Toys and Holiday Gifts
Wii games, CDs, DVDs; crossword puzzles, Suduko books, adult fiction and children’s books; throw blankets; gift cards, grocery cards, gas cards
If you can donate, please call us at (608)224-0606 or stop by, we have a donation box in our front lobby – 2850 Dairy Dr. Suite 100, Madison, WI
A public protest to Stop Unlimited Recall Election Fundraising organized by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
Normally individuals can give no more than $10,000 to a candidate for statewide office like governor, $1,000 to a state senate candidate and $500 to a state assembly candidate. But a quirk in Wisconsin law lifts those limits for a period of time for targets of recall elections.
The loophole in the law that allows unlimited recall election fundraising makes no sense. Longstanding Wisconsin election laws restrict the size of campaign donations to limit special interest influence over our government and prevent political corruption. Those purposes are no less important in recall elections than they are in regular elections.
The law allowing unlimited fundraising during recall petition drives can and should be changed. Legislation introduced as Assembly Bill 296 would make that change.
Wisconsin low-income elders face financial challenges that threaten their already fragile economic stability and the health of their communities. They are pressured by everincreasing expenses — housing, health care, fuel and utilities. Yet, their fixed incomes are eroded by weaknesses within the economy, Social Security payments that are by themselves inadequate, underfunded public support programs, and asset limits that prevent those receiving public supports from saving for their retirements. Read the full report here
Amazing Numbers – the Benefits Checkup Center at CWAG has found over $2.4 million in benefits for people in the state of Wisconsin this year alone. Benefits people didn’t know they were eligible for! Way to go guys! If you think you might be missing out on benefits call (608) 221-6111.
The peolpe at the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare asked us to share information about local social security meetings happening around Wisconsin tomorrow, October 27, 2011. Here is the information on the meeting in Superior, WI.
There are also many Noon meetings tomorrow around the state:
Please contact Loni Schultz at (608)785-1527 or lonimarie126@hotmail.com with any questions.
Appleton – 607 W. Northland Ave
Green Bay – 1561 Dousman St
Greenfield – 8455 W. Layton Ave
Janesville – 222 N. Academy St
Madison – 722 Williamson St
Milwaukee – 310 W. Wisconsin Ave
Portage – 1 N. Main Street
Superior – See Flyer
Wisconsin Rapids – 2213 8th Street South
On Saturday, October 22, 2011, Allan “Ed” Thompson, age 66, of Tomah, Wisconsin, passed away at his home surrounded by his family. Ed was born on Christmas Day, 1944 to Allan and Julia (Dutton) Thompson in Elroy, Wisconsin.
“To know him was to love him . . . People loved to be around Ed . . . he was fun to be with . . . he was entertaining and he just loved and cared about people.”
– Tommy Thompson, older brother of Ed.
Almost seven months to the date, the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, honored Ed Thompson with the CWAG Humanitarian of the Year Award, at CWAG’s 34th Annual State Convention, which took place in Madison.
Ed was most deserving of the Humanitarian of the Year award in light of his dedication and commitment to his community and family, for being a respected elected official, for embracing the Democratic Process and running for Governor and equally important, for speaking up for those who were in need and for putting the common good of society, above himself.
CWAG and its members were very fortunate to have Ed accept the award in person and when he accepted the award, he spoke with such grace, eloquence and heartfelt emotions about life, family and the need for world peace, that there was not a dry eye in the entire audience of delegates and guests.
In all of my years of knowing Ed, he gave one of the most truly compassionate, heart felt speeches that emotionally impacted everyone who was in the convention hall that day, and we will never forget the words he spoke and the tears we all shared, when he said; “thank you and god bless.”
In special recognition of this wonderful human being and the father of two boys and two girls, Ann Marie (Thompson) Greene, Kristin Beth (Thompson) Ashford, Allan Edward Thompson III and Joshua Paul Thompson; we want to share Ed Thompson’s remarks that he made that day in honor of him and his family.
With heartfelt thoughts for Ed . . . we will all truly miss him.
CWAG has 2 open positions we are looking to fill. If interested please submit your information to HR@cwag.org DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AND PROGRAM SERVICES /ATTORNEY The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG), a non-profit, statewide grassroots membership organization providing advocacy, education and leadership development for senior citizens, is looking for a full time DIRECTOR/ATTORNEY to [...]
Wisconsin Needs Better Care New Campaign Aims to Focus Health Reform Implementation on Improving, Coordinating Care for Vulnerable Older Patients in Wisconsin Madison, WI – To ensure health reform works for those with the most at stake, the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Group is heading up the Wisconsin’s Campaign for Better Care, a multi-year initiative [...]
U.S. Senator Herb Kohl’s State Director, JoAnne Anton, will be in Waukesha on Monday, Dec. 5th to meet with constituents from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Waukesha County Administration Center, 515 W. Moreland Blvd., in Room 155. Please enter through the courthouse lobby and proceed left to Administration Center. No appointment is necessary.
The Wisconsin Elder Economic Security Initiative™
On Saturday, October 22, 2011, Allan “Ed” Thompson, age 66, of Tomah, Wisconsin, passed away at his home surrounded by his family. Ed was born on Christmas Day, 1944 to Allan and Julia (Dutton) Thompson in Elroy, Wisconsin.
