Dem Party presses Trump on ‘Buy America’ efforts

The state Dem party in an ad yesterday urged President Donald Trump to prioritize Wisconsin workers, following his signing of an executive order on American-made goods yesterday. Trump signed the order after a speech at Kenosha-based manufacturer Snap-on Inc. that he said is aimed at boosting the federal government’s use of American made goods and ensuring companies hire American workers. But Wis… 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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WED PM Update: Former Sen. Lassa to lobby for Sentry Insurance; Stockbridge-Munsee suing state, Ho-Chunk

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, today ripped Sentry’s decision to hire former Dem Sen. Julie Lassa to lobby for the insurance firm, calling it tone deaf. He expressed hope the company will realize “it was a bad move and reverse their decision.” “It might be the single dumbest hire I’ve seen in my 20-plus years… 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.

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Sentry: Expands government affairs team

Contact: Randy Winter, 715-346-7104, randy.winter@sentry.com Erik Mrotek, 715-346-8288, erik.mrotek@sentry.com Former state lawmaker Julie Lassa joins Sentry Stevens Point, WI — Stevens Point native and former state lawmaker Julie Lassa has joined Sentry Insurance’s government relations team. Lassa will represent Sentry, working with lawmakers and regulators in Midwestern states. “We are delighted to have someone as talented as Julie—and who has done so much for the people and the business community of central Wisconsin—join our Government Affairs team,” said Pete McPartland, Sentry chairman, president, and CEO. “She is home-grown talent who has served the people of central Wisconsin well for 18

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ACLU asks federal judge to halt ‘excessive’ use of solitary confinement

The ACLU today asked a federal judge to halt the state’s “excessive” use of solitary confinement, pepper spray and physical restraints at the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prisons in northern Wisconsin. The motion for a preliminary judgment seeks to limit the use of all three to “rare and temporary responses to prevent imminent and serious physical harm to persons.” A Department of Correctio… 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.

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Dems make another push for amendment on Citizens United

Dem lawmakers are once again looking to ask state voters if they’d support a constitutional amendment to limit spending in elections. The bill, from Rep. Lisa Subeck and Sen. Dave Hansen, would put an advisory referendum on the November 2018 ballot asking if voters would be in favor of overturning the 2010 Citizens United, which Dems say opened the door to unprecedented levels of money influencing… 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.

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Baldwin says she’s ‘hopeful’ Trump will join her on Buy America efforts

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin said today she’s looking to President Trump to pressure Congress to back her Buy America legislation, following a comment he made in support of her efforts yesterday. “Now that President Trump has expressed his support for my Buy America reform, I’m hopeful he will join me in pushing Majority Leader [Mitch] McConnell and Speaker [Paul] Ryan on legislative action,” said Bal… 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.

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DHS releases draft of Medicaid waiver request

The Department of Health Services says its efforts to drug test some Medicaid enrollees would help the state “identify members with unmet substance abuse disorder treatment needs” and get them help. DHS today released the draft of the waiver request it’ll send to the Trump administration, which the agency hopes will sign off on several changes the state wants to make to its Medicaid program. DHS … 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.

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Stockbridge-Munsee sues state, Ho-Chunk over expansion of gaming facility

The Stockbridge-Munsee Community is suing the state and the Ho-Chunk Nation over the growth of a gaming facility in central Wisconsin that the lawsuit says violates tribal compacts. But the state Department of Administration says the facility’s expansion is allowed under terms the Doyle administration reached with the Ho-Chunk in 2003. And the Ho-Chunk say the Stockbridge-Munsee “has spread false … 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.

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Dems slam bill prohibiting GIB from providing aboritions

A bill that would prohibit the Group Insurance Board from providing abortions for public employees or contracting to do so “corrects a practice” Wisconsinites don’t agree with, according to its GOP authors. The legislation faced a strong backlash from Dems, who argued it eliminates physicians’ role in deciding when an abortion is “medically necessary” and instead substitutes politicians’ judgment…. 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.

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Fitzgerald slams Sentry’s decision to hire Lassa as lobbyist

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, today ripped Sentry’s decision to hire former Dem Sen. Julie Lassa to lobby for the insurance firm, calling it tone deaf. He expressed hope the company will realize “it was a bad move and reverse their decision.” “It might be the single dumbest hire I’ve seen in my 20-plus years in the Legislature,” Fitzgerald told WisPolitics.com in a phone inter… 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.

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UW-Madison economist finds manufacturing and ag credit has created jobs

A new study from a UW-Madison economist estimates the state’s manufacturing and ag tax credit led to an increase of nearly 21,000 manufacturing jobs by September 2016. The study from Noah Williams, a UW-Madison economics professor who advised the presidential campaigns of Gov. Scott Walker and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, looked at the effects of the tax credit since it took effect in 2013. Dems argue t… 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.

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Dem Party presses Trump on ‘Buy America’ efforts

The state Dem party in an ad yesterday urged President Donald Trump to prioritize Wisconsin workers, following his signing of an executive order on American-made goods yesterday. Trump signed the order after a speech at Kenosha-based manufacturer Snap-on Inc. that he said is aimed at boosting the federal government’s use

Read More »

Sentry: Expands government affairs team

Contact: Randy Winter, 715-346-7104, randy.winter@sentry.com Erik Mrotek, 715-346-8288, erik.mrotek@sentry.com Former state lawmaker Julie Lassa joins Sentry Stevens Point, WI — Stevens Point native and former state lawmaker Julie Lassa has joined Sentry Insurance’s government relations team. Lassa will represent Sentry, working with lawmakers and regulators in Midwestern states. “We are

Read More »

Dems make another push for amendment on Citizens United

Dem lawmakers are once again looking to ask state voters if they’d support a constitutional amendment to limit spending in elections. The bill, from Rep. Lisa Subeck and Sen. Dave Hansen, would put an advisory referendum on the November 2018 ballot asking if voters would be in favor of overturning

Read More »

DHS releases draft of Medicaid waiver request

The Department of Health Services says its efforts to drug test some Medicaid enrollees would help the state “identify members with unmet substance abuse disorder treatment needs” and get them help. DHS today released the draft of the waiver request it’ll send to the Trump administration, which the agency hopes

Read More »

Stockbridge-Munsee sues state, Ho-Chunk over expansion of gaming facility

The Stockbridge-Munsee Community is suing the state and the Ho-Chunk Nation over the growth of a gaming facility in central Wisconsin that the lawsuit says violates tribal compacts. But the state Department of Administration says the facility’s expansion is allowed under terms the Doyle administration reached with the Ho-Chunk in

Read More »

Dems slam bill prohibiting GIB from providing aboritions

A bill that would prohibit the Group Insurance Board from providing abortions for public employees or contracting to do so “corrects a practice” Wisconsinites don’t agree with, according to its GOP authors. The legislation faced a strong backlash from Dems, who argued it eliminates physicians’ role in deciding when an

Read More »

Fitzgerald slams Sentry’s decision to hire Lassa as lobbyist

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, today ripped Sentry’s decision to hire former Dem Sen. Julie Lassa to lobby for the insurance firm, calling it tone deaf. He expressed hope the company will realize “it was a bad move and reverse their decision.” “It might be the single dumbest hire

Read More »