17331BiennialBudget-Testimony

Contact: Melissa Mulliken Campaign Manager, Jill Karofsky for Judge 608/206-1818 Attorneys Surveyed by Dane County Bar Association Regarding Qualifications of Candidates Running for Judge Attorney Jill Karofsky, a candidate for Dane County Judge, was rated more highly than her opponent in every category, and across all respondent groups, in the

CONTACT: Casey Langan, Communications Director 608.266.2300 or DORCommunications@wisconsin.gov MADISON – Today, Department of Revenue Secretary Richard Chandler appeared before the Joint Committee on Finance to discuss Governor Walker’s 2017-19 Biennial Budget. Secretary Chandler issued the following statement: Governor Walker’s budget is working and winning for Wisconsin by lowering taxes and

Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839 Madison – Governor Scott Walker released his Weekly Radio Address today titled “HARIBO a Great Fit in Wisconsin.” Hi, Scott Walker here. HARIBO just announced that they will open their first North American manufacturing facility right here in Wisconsin. The company’s $242 million investment is

Contact: Rep. Katrina Shankland, 608.267.9649 MADISON – Today Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point) gave the Democratic Weekly Radio Address on the Wisconsin budget and the upcoming Joint Finance hearings: “We need a budget that creates opportunities for everyone to succeed. We need to invest in our shared success: affordable health care,

Contact: Patricia Mayers, (608) 266-5599 patricia.mayers@dot.wi.gov Most Wisconsin voters already have some form of ID required to vote in Tuesday’s spring election. The most common forms of IDs are a Wisconsin driver license or ID. The Wisconsin Elections Commission website explains other acceptable IDs. There is no separate “voter ID.” Voters looking to get their first

Contact: 608.241.9789 wistax@wistax.org New WISTAX Report Highlights Taxes Consumers Don’t Notice MADISON—As Wisconsin’s weather starts to warm, thoughts turn to summer vacation. However, few residents realize they pay hundreds of dollars per person each year in “hidden” taxes, many tied to those vacations. “Uncovering “Hidden” Taxes,” a new report from the

Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839 Madison – The Department of Administration released the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) today showing Wisconsin ended the 2016 fiscal year with a positive General Fund budgetary balance of $331 million. Since Governor Walker took office, Wisconsin has ended every year with a budgetary surplus. The most

Contact: Anne Pankratz, 608-216-5637 apankratz2@wisc.edu Madison, Wis. — Across Wisconsin, opportunities to live a long, healthy life are not shared equally by all. Many of Wisconsin’s health outcomes lag behind national averages, and the state is home to some of the most extreme health disparities in the nation. To address these issues,

Contact: Keri O’Keefe, 6082619597 keri.okeefe@wisconsinhistory.org Madison Children’s Museum, Wisconsin Historical Museum, and Wisconsin Veterans Museum provide creative engagement for people with dementia and their care partners Madison, Wis – Madison Children’s Museum, the Wisconsin Historical Museum, and the Wisconsin Veterans Museum are part of a network of museums across the state of Wisconsin and

Contact: Brian Rothgery, Public Information Manager 414-278-4230 or brian.rothgery@milwaukeecountywi.gov Funds would pay for more deputies and legal costs  MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County will ask the state legislature for $50 million in funding in the 2017-19 Wisconsin state budget to hire new sheriff’s deputies, plus unspecified funds to cover the county’s

The Madison chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) will host “Secrets for Success in Science Journalism,” designed to offer journalists, science communicators, and students tips for producing accessible, accurate, and intriguing science stories. The full-day conference will be held Friday, April 21, 2017, on the UW-Madison campus, 2195

Contact: Phil Dougherty, (608) 255-8761 (Madison) – Members of the Wisconsin Association of Health Plans have jointly committed to combating opioid abuse and addiction in Wisconsin.  While individual member health plans have already implemented strategies to address the opioid epidemic in the state, effective April 1, Wisconsin’s community-based health plans are collaborating

Contact: 608-266-0455 KENOSHA – Earlier this morning in a taped interview with “CBS This Morning”, House Speaker Paul Ryan said he doesn’t want to work with Democrats to get health care legislation passed and ‘the worst thing’ would be for President Trump to work with Democrats to find a way to

Contact: Rep. John Nygren, (888) 534-0089   Madison – On Thursday, State Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette), Assembly Co-Chair of the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee, released the following statement regarding the Wisconsin Health Plans’ commitment to cover treatment for individuals suffering from addiction: “Today, the Wisconsin Association of Health Plans distributed a

Contact: Rep. Crowley, 608.266.5580 MADISON, WI – State Representative David Crowley (D-Milwaukee), Chair of the Milwaukee Legislative Caucus, issued the following statement today, following the unveiling of a bill to reform the use of solitary confinement with inmates with severe mental illnesses. “The United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners

walesforjudge@gmail.com The Wales Campaign’s rally against bullying is cancelled today due to weather. Plans to hold a rally outside the Milwaukee County War Memorial had to be changed because of rain.

Contact: Brandon Weathersby, brandonw@wisdems.org MADISON – After months of rumors, Kevin Nicholson is making his candidacy for the U.S. Senate real by accepting help from a Texas PAC funded by an Illinois billionaire. First breaking in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel today, billionaire, GOP “mega-donor” Richard Uihlein announced a $2 million donation