Gov. Walker: On UpFront with Mike Gousha-“These are the better times” we fought for in Wisconsin

Contact: Joe Fadness media@scottwalker.com [Madison, Wis.] – In case you missed it, Governor Scott Walker was on UpFront with Mike Gousha over the weekend, telling viewers of the major Wisconsin Sunday show that “We laid out a series of reforms that we said were tough and necessary but would lead to prosperity, would lead to better times. These are the better times.” The governor cited Wisconsin’s unemployment – the lowest since April of 2000 – as proof, along with its Top 10 status related to workforce, ACT scores, high school graduation rates, and health care access. You can watch the

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MON PM Update: JFC makes first budget changes; Burns announces Supreme Court bid

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The Joint Finance Committee today made its first changes to Gov. Scott Walker’s budget, nixing his plans to transfer the Judicial Commission to the state Supreme Court and eliminate the Judicial Council. But the committee put off action on his call to give judges a 2 percent raise in each of the next two years. The commission ov… 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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Voces de la Frontera: 30K+ march in Milwaukee to resist Trump and Sheriff Clarke

Contact: Sam Singleton-Freeman (414) 469-9206 sfreeman@vdlf.org MILWAUKEE, WI – On Monday, over 30,000 Wisconsinites went on strike, closed their businesses, and withdrew their children from school in solidarity with the nationwide May 1st Day without Immigrants to resist Trump’s attacks on immigrant communities, Black communities, Muslims, LGBTQ people, women, and working class people.Community members demanded Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker remove Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, block anti-sanctuary city legislation and support the return of driver’s licenses to immigrants. Protesters oppose Clarke because of his efforts to deputize his sheriffs to act as Immigration agents through the federal 287g program, and for deaths

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Wisconsin Justice Initiative: State’s “cocaine mom law” struck down by federal judge

Contact: Gretchen Schuldt (414) 331-0724 gretchen@wjiinc.org The state’s cocaine mom law is unconstitutionally vague and is unenforceable in the state, a federal court judge has ruled. The law allowed pregnant women to be locked up if they use drugs or alcohol. The law “affords neither fair warning as to the conduct it prohibits nor reasonably precise standards for its enforcement. The court will enjoin enforcement of the Act statewide,”  U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson wrote in his opinion, released Friday. Tamara Loertscher used drugs before she knew she was pregnant and admitted that fact to doctors. She declined inpatient

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Wisconsin Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Applauds unconstitutionality of punitive law

Washington, DC – The following is a statement from Kathy D. Hartke, MD, Chair of the Wisconsin Section of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): “Finally after 19 years, Wisconsin Children’s Code Act 292 has been found unconstitutional by a Federal Court, thanks to a brave woman, Tammy Loertscher with the assistance of National Advocates for Pregnant Women, the Perkins Coie law firm in Madison and several experts. “Hundreds of pregnant women have been subjected to punitive responses contrary to public health recommendations under this Act. Some have been jailed and denied their rights to an attorney when

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Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health: Statement on today’s “Cocaine Mom Law” court decision

Contact: Sara Finger (608) 516-3960 Madison, WI — Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health (WAWH) Executive Director, Sara Finger, released the following statement regarding today’s ruling by U.S. District Court Judge James Peterson that found 1997 Wisconsin Act 292, sometimes referred to as the “Cocaine Mom Law,” unconstitutional: “WAWH is excited and relieved by today’s decision to strike down this punitive law that permits the state to deprive pregnant women of basic rights and take action that is known to undermine maternal, fetal, and child health. We are especially proud of the brave plaintiff in this case, Tammy Loertscher, who was

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Democratic Party of Wisconsin: Is Sheriff David Clarke backing down from challenging Sen. Tammy Baldwin?

Contact: Brandon Weathersby (608) 260-2409 brandonw@wisdems.org MADISON – Last week, news reports surfaced naming Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke as a potential White House pick for a role with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The news comes after months of prolific spending on his behalf by the Sheriff Clarke for Senate committee, the official Draft Clarke super PAC. In late January, the Sheriff Clarke for Senate committee registered with the Federal Elections Commission and aggressively fundraised to convince the Milwaukee County Sheriff into running for U.S. Senate. In just its first two weeks of operation, the PAC  raised over

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Gov. Walker: Executive Residence 2017 summer public tours kick-off June 1

Contact: Tom Evenson (608) 266-2839 Madison – Tours of the Wisconsin Executive Residence and Executive Residence gardens will kick off next month, starting June 1. Tours this summer will be held every Thursday from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. beginning Thursday, June 1 and running through the end of August. “Scott and I are excited to open Wisconsin’s Executive Residence for another season of public tours,” First Lady Tonette Walker said. “We greatly enjoy sharing the beauty of the house and gardens with visitors and hope the citizens of our great state have the chance to visit this summer.” Tours

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Republican Party of Wisconsin: Madison liberals look to put one of their own on the State Supreme Court

Contact: Alec Zimmerman (608) 257-4765 [Madison, WI]— After being handed a massive defeat in 2016, Madison liberals are responding by running one of their own for the State Supreme Court.  The Republican Party of Wisconsin put out the following statement after the announcement that extreme liberal Tim Burns, a Madison trial attorney with a lack of judicial experience, would run for State Supreme Court: “Tim Burns is just another Madison liberal whose extreme views are out of line with Wisconsin values and don’t belong at the Supreme Court,” said Alec Zimmerman, spokesman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin. “Wisconsinites want

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JFC approves guv’s call to add $5.8 million in bonds for safe drinking water loan program

The JFC voted unanimously to approve the guv’s call to add $5.8 million in general obligation bonding authority for the safe drinking water loan program, which provide low-interest loans to municipalities for public drinking water systems. Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, sought to amend the program to allow more money to flow to Milwaukee, where she said 60 percent of the the state’s problem is. Bu… 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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Milwaukee Co. Exec. Abele: Kicks off Mental Health Month, encourages conversations about mental illness

Contact: Melissa Moore Baldauff (414) 278-4216 Melissa.Baldauff@MilwaukeeCountyWI.gov MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele today declared May as Mental Health Awareness Month and May 4th as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. The County’s Behavioral Health Division (BHD) will launch a month-long campaign designed to foster conversations about mental health care, reducing stigma, and breaking down barriers for individuals to seek support. “Mental health affects everyone; approximately 1 in 5 Americans experience a mental health issue – that’s about 180,000 people in Milwaukee County who are struggling with  mental illness,” said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele. “We want these individuals to know they are

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Sen. Erpenbach: Statement on the first day of executive session voting on Governor Walker’s budget in the Joint Committee on Finance

Contact: (608) 266-6670 “Wisconsin deserves a state budget that is fair and promotes opportunities in our communities. While the agenda is not full of big ticket budget items, we are voting on an item of significance in the Bluffview Sanitary District in the 27th Senate District. Without the Clean Water Hardship Fund the future of this community is in question. Governor Walker eliminates the program in his budget. Bluffview Sanitary District in Sauk County is depending on the Clean Water Fund Hardship program to bring its wastewater treatment facility into compliance with DNR regulations. We are hoping Republicans see the

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Voces de la Frontera: 30K+ march in Milwaukee to resist Trump and Sheriff Clarke

Contact: Sam Singleton-Freeman (414) 469-9206 sfreeman@vdlf.org MILWAUKEE, WI – On Monday, over 30,000 Wisconsinites went on strike, closed their businesses, and withdrew their children from school in solidarity with the nationwide May 1st Day without Immigrants to resist Trump’s attacks on immigrant communities, Black communities, Muslims, LGBTQ people, women, and working class

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Milwaukee Co. Exec. Abele: Kicks off Mental Health Month, encourages conversations about mental illness

Contact: Melissa Moore Baldauff (414) 278-4216 Melissa.Baldauff@MilwaukeeCountyWI.gov MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele today declared May as Mental Health Awareness Month and May 4th as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. The County’s Behavioral Health Division (BHD) will launch a month-long campaign designed to foster conversations about mental health care, reducing stigma, and

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