“Justice, Justice, Shalt Thou Pursue.”
Deuteronomy 16:20
The Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations works on public policy at all levels of government. This includes a range of domestic public policy issues, in addition to our advocacy on behalf of Israel and our commitment to representing and safeguarding Jewish security concerns.
Our legislative agenda reflects the priorities of our Jewish community agencies, as well as the Jewish commitment to social justice. Jewish tradition emphasizes the responsibility of the community to provide for the most needy and vulnerable in ways that enable them to live independently and with dignity, and to move from poverty to economic self-sufficiency. Grounded in these values, current legislative priorities and activities in Wisconsin include the following:
• State budget. The state is currently facing a potential $1.1 billion budget shortfall. Legislators are debating options for addressing this deficit and determining which programs to cut.
The MJCCR is working with other members of the faith community to ask legislators to protect funding for vital health and human service programs and public schools, including sparing the following essential programs from additional reduction: Family Care and the Community Options Program (community-based, long-term-care services for seniors and individuals with disabilities); Senior Care Prescription Drug Assistance Program; Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy Program; and Food Pantry Assistance. These essential programs serve the most needy and vulnerable members of our community and are especially critical during the current economic downturn.
We urge you to contact your state senator and representative with your legislative priorities for the budget. Contact information for them is available through the legislative Hotline at 1-800-362-9472 or on the web at www.wisconsin.gov.
• Older adult services. The MJCCR has advocated for funding for programs and supportive services for older adults, including new legislation to help seniors with the high cost of prescription drugs. The SeniorCare Prescription Drug Assistance Program is a new program for low-income Wisconsin residents who are 65 years of age or older and meet the eligibility criteria. It will begin Sept. 2. Applications will be available later this year. Information is available on the Department of Health and Family Services web site at www.dhfs.state.wi.us or call their office at 608-266-1865.
• Mental health parity. The MJCCR is working with Jewish Family Services and the Wisconsin Jewish Conference to advocate for better coverage of mental health services, including new state legislation, SB 157, which will reduce financial barriers to treatment by creating parity in the treatment of physical and mental illnesses under private health insurance plans. SB 157 has been passed by the State Senate and is currently awaiting a vote in the Assembly Health Committee.
• Education. As a longtime supporter of quality public education, the MJCCR has most recently worked to obtain continued funding for Wisconsin’s Community Learning Centers (CLCs). CLCs have been a tremendously effective method of keeping our children active, learning and safe during after-school hours — hours when many children are unsupervised and risk for being involved in crime and substance abuse.
Our agency has seen first-hand the benefits of the CLCs and how they have made a positive difference in the lives of many children. Since 1998, the MJCCR has partnered with Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) to recruit and train volunteers from the Jewish community to serve as reading tutors. Approximately 90 Jewish community volunteers serve as weekly reading tutors in five MPS schools, three of which house CLCs — Fratney, Frederick Gaenslen and Benjamin Pierce schools.
• Gubernatorial election. We will be electing a new governor this year. The primary election is Sept. 10 and the general election is Nov. 5. The MJCCR, in collaboration with the Harry & Rose Samson Jewish Community Center, is planning a Gubernatorial Candidate Forum, scheduled for Sunday April 28, 10 a.m. to noon at the JCC. All constituent member agencies of the MJCCR will be invited to serve as co-sponsors. Watch The Chronicle for more information or contact the MJCCR at 414-390-5718; info@mjccr.org.
If you are interested in getting involved with these issues, consider participating in an MJCCR task force or joining our Action Alert Network. For more information, contact our office.
Barbara Beckert is assistant director of the Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations.
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