Assembly passes PLA bill

A bill that would ban local governments from requiring that companies bidding on public projects enter into project labor agreements is heading to Gov. Scott Walker after a 64-35 party-line vote in the Assembly. Dems slammed the bill, saying it

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Two GOP lawmakers want inspector general at DOT

Two GOP legislators want the Department of Transportation to be overseen by an inspector general after a critical audit of the agency released six weeks ago. The legislation, from Sen. David Craig and Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, would require the state

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Assembly approves amendment eliminating state treasurer office

The Assembly also signed off 68-31 on a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the state treasurer’s office, putting the question before voters in an April 2018 referendum. Six Dems crossed party lines to support the amendment: Minority Leader Peter Barca, Reps. Gordon Hintz, Eric Genrich, Amanda Stuck, Don Vruwink and

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Assembly passes PLA bill

A bill that would ban local governments from requiring that companies bidding on public projects enter into project labor agreements is heading to Gov. Scott Walker after a 64-35 party-line vote in the Assembly. Dems slammed the bill, saying it would hurt the middle class and reduce the quality of

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JFC Dems say Republicans met privately with ETF on self-insurance

Dem members of the Joint Finance Committee accused their GOP counterparts of improperly receiving a briefing on the guv’s self-insurance plan for state employees. But Co-chairs Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and John Nygren, R-Marinette, said they did nothing wrong by meeting yesterday with the Department of Employee Trust Funds and

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Building Commission signs off on Walker’s 2017-19 capital budget

The state Building Commission today signed off on Walker’s 2017-19 capital budget proposal. Walker’s proposal recommended $803 million in building projects, including $75 million for a Southeast Wisconsin Law Enforcement Facility and more than $85 million in renovations at UW-Milwaukee. The commission today unanimously approved most of Walker’s recommendations. The

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Mandela Barnes to seek state Dem party no. 3 position

Former state Rep. Mandela Barnes, who decided against a run for state Dem chair, tells WisPolitics.com he has decided to seek the party’s No. 3 position. Current 2nd Vice-chair Jeff Christensen announced on his Facebook page today that he won’t seek re-election to the post he’s held since 2013, writing

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Two GOP lawmakers want inspector general at DOT

Two GOP legislators want the Department of Transportation to be overseen by an inspector general after a critical audit of the agency released six weeks ago. The legislation, from Sen. David Craig and Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, would require the state auditor to appoint a Legislative Audit Bureau inspector general who

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Voters approve $1.35 billion in building borrowing last year, study says

Voters in public school districts last year approved $1.35 billion in borrowing for building, the highest in at least 20 years, according to a Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance report released today. The heightened borrowing for new construction projects, which previously peaked at $1.04 billion in 1996, also coincides with the greater

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