TUE PM Update: Gronik eyeing 2018 guv bid; Walker releases $803 million capital budget proposal

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Andy Gronik, a businessman who created a 501(c)(4) to advance ideas to address problems facing Wisconsin, tells WisPolitics.com he’s looking “very closely” at running for guv next year. In a December WisPolitics.com interview, Gronik said he couldn’t rule out a run for public office, including guv. Since then, he said he’s begun… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options. Username or E-mail Password * Remember Me     Forgot Password

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Sen. Kapenga: Statement on WisDOT audit hearing

Contact: Senator Chris Kapenga, (608) 266-9174 Madison – State Senator Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) released the following statement after the Joint Legislative Audit Committee heard testimony regarding the audit of the State Highway Program within the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. “Today’s hearing revealed that we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of the problems at the DOT.  We must further investigate practices at DOT ranging from how they select projects for construction to ensuring they have a competitive bidding process. We should not begin discussing revenue increases until the DOT can prove it can be more transparent and accountable to the taxpayers

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Board of Commissioners of Public Lands: Approves $8.7 million for community projects

Contact: Jonathan Barry, (608) 266-8369 MADISON – The Board of Commissioners of Public Lands (BCPL) today approved slightly more than $8.7 million in State Trust Fund Loans to support seven community projects in Wisconsin. The BCPL approved the following loans: School Section Lake Management District, Waukesha County / Purchase land / $150,000 Village of Summit, Waukesha County / Construct municipal offices building / $6,000,000 City of Two Rivers, Manitowoc County / Refinance WRS unfunded pension liability / $400,000 City of Two Rivers, Manitowoc County / Refinance electric system revenue bonds / $352,000 Town of Winchester, Vilas County / Finance building plans / $80,000

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Sen. Darling: Milwaukee crime solutions start at home

Contact: Senator Alberta Darling, 1-608-266-5830 MADISON – Milwaukee is one of four American cities whose murder rates are back at 1990’s levels.  According to The Wall Street Journal, 17 people were murdered in Milwaukee this year – compared to nine at the same point in 2016. Senator Alberta Darling says despite Mayor Barrett’s claims, her legislation to deal with habitual criminals won’t automatically fix the crime problem in the city and Milwaukee officials need to enforce the laws already on the books. “I worked with Mayor Barrett and Chief Flynn to target a very small sliver of the problem,” Darling said, “They both

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Rep. Hintz: Gov. Walker’s failed leadership undermining Wisconsin’s prosperity

Contact: Rep. Gordon Hintz, 1-888-534-0054 Increasing Transportation Debt Setting State Further Behind MADISON – Governor Walker’s inability to effectively govern on transportation infrastructure funding is now causing problems for the state’s crumbling building infrastructure. For the fourth straight budget, Governor Walker has failed to address Wisconsin’s transportation funding crisis, choosing to instead rely on increased borrowing and delaying scheduled highway projects, despite the state’s sorry status of having the third worst roads in the country.  Under Governor Walker, debt service as a percent of transportation revenue has nearly doubled, and Wisconsin now spends over 20 cents of every dollar of transportation revenues

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Sen. Carpenter: Audit Committee hearing regarding DOT Highway Program

Contact: State Senator Tim Carpenter, (608) 266-8535 Madison – Today State Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement after attending the State Audit Committee hearing regarding the audit of the Department of Transportation’s State Highway Program. “What is clear from the hearing today is that the budget for the Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation needs to be pulled from the general state budget and considered separately.  There are too many important issues raised that need extra scrutiny and deliberation by the Legislature.  This can’t be done in four months with the state budget due by June 30th.  For a start, Assembly Republican leadership have

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UW System: President Cross statement on governor’s 2017-19 Capital Budget recommendations

Contact: 608-263-1700 universityrelations@uwsa.edu “We appreciate the funding the Governor provided in his budget which will allow us to make general repairs across the UW System, as well as update the technology our students are using in the classroom. We carefully developed a reasonable capital budget plan to perform a limited amount of work each year at a steady pace.  The longer we delay these critical repairs, the more it ultimately costs students and taxpayers in the end. We hope to work with the Governor and legislature in the months ahead to help ensure we have adequate and refurbished teaching and

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Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs: Projects at WI Veterans Home at King, cemeteries included in Capital Budget

Contact: Carla Vigue, (608) 266-0517 Carla.Vigue@dva.wisconsin.gov MADISON — Governor Scott Walker’s 2017-19 Capital Budget released today recommends investing about $18 million in Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) infrastructure, including at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King (WVH-King), the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (SWVMC) in Union Grove and the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (CWVMC) in King. “Since being appointed Secretary by Governor Walker earlier this month, I have spent much of my time assessing the operations and facilities at our Wisconsin Veterans Homes, particularly at King,” WDVA Secretary Daniel J. Zimmerman said. “We are committed to providing the best possible care

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Wisconsin Farm Bureau: Supports National Day of Action to encourage immigration reform 

Contact: Karen Gefvert, 608.828.5713 MADISON – The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation supports the New American Economy’s (NAE) National Day of Action and immigration reform campaign. The campaign kicks off today with the launch of the Map of Impact that includes updated immigration statistics by state and congressional district and is available at newamericaneconomy.org/locations. This campaign highlights the power of immigrants in communities across the country and shows the need for immigration reform. Immigrants play a crucial role in the U.S. agriculture industry providing labor for various types of farms. A 2015 study by the Partnership for a New American Economy found that

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Gov. Walker: Visits Waupaca High School, highlights historic investments in K-12 education

Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839 Madison – Governor Scott Walker traveled to Waupaca today to visit Waupaca High School. There, he highlighted the significant K-12 investments included in his Executive Budget proposal, including $649 million in new state aids for all of Wisconsin’s K-12 schools and an increase in per pupil categorical aid by $509.2 million. Governor Walker’s budget proposal also lifts total K-12 investment to $11.5 billion over two years, an all-time high. “Over the past six years, we’ve implemented reforms to restore fiscal order in Wisconsin,” Governor Walker said. “We call these savings the Reform Dividend, and the Waupaca School District,

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Sen. Kapenga: Statement on WisDOT audit hearing

Contact: Senator Chris Kapenga, (608) 266-9174 Madison – State Senator Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) released the following statement after the Joint Legislative Audit Committee heard testimony regarding the audit of the State Highway Program within the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. “Today’s hearing revealed that we haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of

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Sen. Darling: Milwaukee crime solutions start at home

Contact: Senator Alberta Darling, 1-608-266-5830 MADISON – Milwaukee is one of four American cities whose murder rates are back at 1990’s levels.  According to The Wall Street Journal, 17 people were murdered in Milwaukee this year – compared to nine at the same point in 2016. Senator Alberta Darling says despite Mayor

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Rep. Hintz: Gov. Walker’s failed leadership undermining Wisconsin’s prosperity

Contact: Rep. Gordon Hintz, 1-888-534-0054 Increasing Transportation Debt Setting State Further Behind MADISON – Governor Walker’s inability to effectively govern on transportation infrastructure funding is now causing problems for the state’s crumbling building infrastructure. For the fourth straight budget, Governor Walker has failed to address Wisconsin’s transportation funding crisis, choosing to instead

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Sen. Carpenter: Audit Committee hearing regarding DOT Highway Program

Contact: State Senator Tim Carpenter, (608) 266-8535 Madison – Today State Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement after attending the State Audit Committee hearing regarding the audit of the Department of Transportation’s State Highway Program. “What is clear from the hearing today is that the budget for the Wisconsin’s

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Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs: Projects at WI Veterans Home at King, cemeteries included in Capital Budget

Contact: Carla Vigue, (608) 266-0517 Carla.Vigue@dva.wisconsin.gov MADISON — Governor Scott Walker’s 2017-19 Capital Budget released today recommends investing about $18 million in Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) infrastructure, including at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King (WVH-King), the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery (SWVMC) in Union Grove and the Central Wisconsin Veterans

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