Assembly committee passes bill prohibiting state from covering abortions for its employees

The Assembly Committee on Health today voted along party lines to back a bill prohibiting the state from covering abortions for its employees, with some exceptions. Dems voted against the bill, calling it part of a broader “war on women” and saying it inserts legislators into decisions that should be kept between a woman and her doctor. Republicans said taxpayers shouldn’t pay for a medical proced… 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

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Walker says Trump caught Canada’s attention with NAFTA withdrawal threat

Gov. Scott Walker said today that President Trump has “really gotten Canada’s attention” on a crisis facing some Wisconsin dairy farmers, partly due to his threats to pull out of the NAFTA trade agreement. Dozens of Wisconsin farmers have struggled in recent weeks to find a buyer for their milk after a Canadian pricing policy change caused a company to cut those farmers’ contracts starting Monday…. 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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Split Senate committee OK’s new REINS Act

A split Senate committee today signed off on a revised REINS Act, while an Assembly committee now plans to take up the new version next week. The Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection voted 3-2 to add provisions supported by Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester. Those provisions include allowing lawma… 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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Assembly bill requiring DPI to submit ESSA plan to leggies won’t see a Senate companion

A bill that would block DPI from submitting a plan to comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act without legislative review passed the Assembly Education Committee on a party-line vote today. But the Senate Education Committee chair said he’s not planning on introducing a companion bill, essentially killing the measure. Before its passage in the Assembly committee, members debated the meri… 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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WED PM Update: Walker says Trump caught Canada’s attention with NAFTA withdrawal threat

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov. Scott Walker said today that President Trump has “really gotten Canada’s attention” on a crisis facing some Wisconsin dairy farmers, partly due to his threats to pull out of the NAFTA trade agreement. Dozens of Wisconsin farmers have struggled in recent weeks to find a buyer for their milk after a Canadian pricing policy ch… 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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Treasurer Adamczyk: Voters Overwhelmingly Oppose Wheel Tax when Asked

MADISON… Today, Wisconsin State Treasurer Matt Adamczyk released the following statement in reaction to Representative Michael Schraa’s legislation to require wheel taxes be approved by voter referendum: “I applaud Rep. Michael Schraa’s legislative fix to require wheel taxes to be approved by referendum. I fully support the legislation he released today. For many years in Wisconsin, the only way a local government entity could raise money was via referendum. Unfortunately, many local elected officials are using the state law regarding wheel taxes to avoid the support of the people. For example, the Milwaukee County Board passed a wheel tax of

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Rep. Schraa: Wheel Tax Referendum Bill

  Contact:  Rep. Michael Schraa (608) 267-7990                                                                                                                  (Madison, WI) Representative Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh) is concerned about local transportation funding as well as citizen involvement in the decision-making process. A bill requiring a voter approval for county and local wheel taxes was circulated for co-sponsorship today. Wisconsin is still recovering from the Doyle era Transportation Fund raids. The Republican majority has repaid the Transportation Fund and protected the fund with a Constitutional Amendment. Even so, the lost opportunity cost is still being felt by taxpayers and road users. “It’s just like the roof on your house or the

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Gov. Walker: Building Commission Approves Projects

Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839 Madison – Today, the State of Wisconsin Building Commission approved several key projects across the state including, but not limited to: Infrastructure maintenance and repairs for the Department of Military Affairs; Construction of the Williams Fieldhouse Addition, Phase II at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville; Renovation of Rodli Hall at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls to accommodate a Student Success Center; Construct the Southeast Recreational Facility Replacement at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Maintenance and repair projects at several University of Wisconsin System campuses; and Various maintenance and repair projects around the state. “The State Building Commission

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U.S. Sen. Johnson: Statement on Rollback of Heavy-handed Broadband Regulations

Contact: Ben Voelkel Paige Alwood WASHINGTON– Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and member of the Senate Commerce Committee, released the following statement Wednesday regarding the rollback of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) reclassification of broadband as a public utility: “Today, the FCC is taking an important step to roll back harmful Obama-era regulations that stifle innovation and delay broadband deployment in Wisconsin and throughout America. I believe the Internet will remain free and open without heavy-handed regulations—as it did under the Clinton and Bush administrations. But if public advocacy groups and

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Speaker Ryan: On FCC Announcement to Restore Internet Freedom

CONTACT AshLee Strong, Doug Andres 202-225-0600 WASHINGTON—House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) issued the following statement on Federal Communications Commission Chairman (FCC) Ajit Pai’s announcement to roll back net neutrality regulations: “The internet is evidence of the unparalleled heights that a true free market can reach. But those heights have been threatened by federal regulations that set a dangerous precedent by focusing on controlling the internet rather than protecting consumers. Chairman Pai’s announcement that the FCC will roll back these regulations is welcome news. Congress is committed to working with the Trump administration to enact policies that protect consumers and ensure

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Split Senate committee OK’s new REINS Act

A split Senate committee today signed off on a revised REINS Act, while an Assembly committee now plans to take up the new version next week. The Senate Committee on Government Operations, Technology and Consumer Protection voted 3-2 to add provisions supported by Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, and

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Treasurer Adamczyk: Voters Overwhelmingly Oppose Wheel Tax when Asked

MADISON… Today, Wisconsin State Treasurer Matt Adamczyk released the following statement in reaction to Representative Michael Schraa’s legislation to require wheel taxes be approved by voter referendum: “I applaud Rep. Michael Schraa’s legislative fix to require wheel taxes to be approved by referendum. I fully support the legislation he released

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Rep. Schraa: Wheel Tax Referendum Bill

  Contact:  Rep. Michael Schraa (608) 267-7990                                                                                                                  (Madison, WI) Representative Michael Schraa (R-Oshkosh) is concerned about local transportation funding as well as citizen involvement in the decision-making process. A bill requiring a voter approval for county and local wheel taxes was circulated for co-sponsorship today. Wisconsin is

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Gov. Walker: Building Commission Approves Projects

Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839 Madison – Today, the State of Wisconsin Building Commission approved several key projects across the state including, but not limited to: Infrastructure maintenance and repairs for the Department of Military Affairs; Construction of the Williams Fieldhouse Addition, Phase II at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville; Renovation

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U.S. Sen. Johnson: Statement on Rollback of Heavy-handed Broadband Regulations

Contact: Ben Voelkel Paige Alwood WASHINGTON– Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and member of the Senate Commerce Committee, released the following statement Wednesday regarding the rollback of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) reclassification of broadband as a public utility: “Today, the

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Speaker Ryan: On FCC Announcement to Restore Internet Freedom

CONTACT AshLee Strong, Doug Andres 202-225-0600 WASHINGTON—House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) issued the following statement on Federal Communications Commission Chairman (FCC) Ajit Pai’s announcement to roll back net neutrality regulations: “The internet is evidence of the unparalleled heights that a true free market can reach. But those heights have been

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