WED PM Update: Sources say guv floats new idea to break transpo impasse; Vos says Assembly GOP still looking at Senate proposal

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Looking to break the budget impasse, Gov. Scott Walker has floated the possibility of nixing his income tax cuts and instead directing that money to transportation projects, according to multiple GOP sources. The sources said the motivation behind the suggestion is twofold. One, by paying cash for some projects with general purp… 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

Read More »

Dept. of Administration: Gov. Walker’s cabinet to hold roundtable discussions with local government officials, emergency managers in Southeastern Wisconsin

Contact: Steven Michels (608) 266-7362 Madison, Wisconsin – Following Governor Scott Walker’s State of Emergency declaration for Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties, members of his cabinet will hold roundtable discussions with local government officials and emergency managers from the area on Thursday. Representatives from the Department of Administration (DOA), Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Department of Health Services (DHS), Department of Military Affairs (DMA), Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Department of Transportation (DOT), Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI), Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM), and Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) will take this opportunity to hear the immediate and long-term

Read More »

KINGFISHmke.com: The National Campaign for Lead Free Water issues letter to Milwaukee Health Dept. questioning opposition to lead awareness resolution

Contact: Paul Schwartz 202-279-0438 Washington D.C. – The National Campaign For Lead Free Water released a letter today outlining its concerns regarding an opposition letter issued by the Milwaukee Health Department it sent to Milwaukee Alderman Tony Zielinski, who recently introduced a resolution calling for more transparency and public awareness regarding lead in water in Milwaukee. “Treating the lead in water crisis in Milwaukee as if the people’s health really matters should be at the center of the Milwaukee Health Department’s mission,” said Paul Schwartz, Campaign for Lead Safe Water, “Half steps towards transparency and lack of a robust public

Read More »

American Dairy Coalition: Bipartisan H-2A amendment allows for use across all of agriculture

Contact: Laurie Fischer 920-366-1880 info@americandairycoalitioninc.com The American Dairy Coalition applauds Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and the House Committee on Appropriations for approving the Fiscal Year 2018 Homeland Security Appropriations Act with a critical program that will allow for permanent dairy, livestock and agriculture workers to utilize the existing H-2A VisaProgram.  “Today, large segments of American agriculture face a critical lack of workers, a problem made worse by the fact that the H-2A program is not working for all of agriculture. H-2A must be made more workable for farmers, and my amendment clarifies that all of agriculture may use H-2A so it operates effectively as our

Read More »

Ryan has biggest warchest among Wis. delegation, Kind ranks second

House Speaker Paul Ryan has a far bigger warchest than his fellow Wisconsin House members, with U.S. Rep. Ron Kind a distant second. Ryan reported his re-election campaign had $3.4 million in receipts between April 1 and June 30, $1.7 million in disbursements and $11.15 million cash on hand, according to his report posted at the FEC site. Ryan for Congress is one piece of the speaker’s fundraising operation, which is dubbed Team Ryan. Kind, D-La Crosse, reported $235,226 raised, $106,725 in expenses and $2.6 million cash on hand. The rest of the delegation reported: *U.S. Rep. Pocan, D-Town of

Read More »

Speaker Ryan: Discusses House accomplishments on Wisconsin Radio

Contact: Ian Martorana Washington, D.C. – This morning, Congressman Ryan joined WTAQ’s Jerry Bader, WTMJ’s Jeff Wagner, and WBEL’s Stan Milam to discuss the House’s focus on doing work for members’ constituents. Excerpts of these interviews follow: “The House has been active: We’ve passed two big down payments on the military; we’ve passed Kate’s Law; we had a huge down payment on border security.” *** “We passed a lot of veteran’s bills this year already, but the one we passed and is now in law is the [VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act]. If you remember, because of a congressional investigation, we uncovered these waiting lists .

Read More »

Gov. Walker: Signs Senate Bill 293 into law

Contact: Tom Evenson (608) 266-2839 Madison, Wisconsin – Governor Scott Walker signed Senate Bill 293 into law today at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. Senate Bill 293 – makes several technical changes to the state’s voucher programs. It streamlines, simplifies, and clarifies statutory language regulating program administration, pupil eligibility, school responsibilities, and reporting requirements. Authored by Senator Luther Olsen (R-Ripon), Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), Representative Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay), and Representative Jason Fields (D-Glendale), the bill passed the Senate with a vote of 28-5 and was concurred by the Assembly with a vote of 67-30. It is Act 36.

Read More »

Vietnam Veterans of America: Calls on House to pass Forever GI bill and Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act

Contact: Mokie Porter 301-585-4000, ext. 146 mporter@vva.org Washington, D.C. – “Today, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs voted to improve and unanimously pass both the Forever GI Bill and the Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act. The House Veterans Affairs Committee has demonstrated that solid, bipartisan work is possible in Washington. Now it’s up to the full House to vote on and pass these important bills before they go home in August,” said John Rowan, President of Vietnam Veterans of America. “We applaud Rep. Mike Coffman (R-C-6th) for taking the lead and working with Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-TX-16th) and Rep. González-Colón (R-MP) to

Read More »

Congressional Progressive Caucus: Responds to DHS appropriations bill

Contact(s): Sayanna Molina (Grijalva) Ron Boehmer (Pocan) Washington, D.C. –Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) released the following statement after the House Appropriations Committee voted to approve the FY 2018 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill yesterday. The bill includes a $1.6 billion border wall fund, increased funding for additional border patrol agents, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, and immigration detention beds. “Republicans continue to cater to President Trump’s massive deportation scheme with their latest Homeland Security Appropriations bill that bloats DHS’ funds to more than $44 billion for Fiscal Year 2018. This bill dramatically increases funding for

Read More »

WED PM Update: Sources say guv floats new idea to break transpo impasse; Vos says Assembly GOP still looking at Senate proposal

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Looking to break the budget impasse, Gov. Scott Walker has floated the possibility of nixing his income tax cuts and instead directing that money to transportation projects, according to multiple GOP sources. The sources said the motivation behind the suggestion is twofold.

Read More »

Dept. of Administration: Gov. Walker’s cabinet to hold roundtable discussions with local government officials, emergency managers in Southeastern Wisconsin

Contact: Steven Michels (608) 266-7362 Madison, Wisconsin – Following Governor Scott Walker’s State of Emergency declaration for Kenosha, Racine and Walworth counties, members of his cabinet will hold roundtable discussions with local government officials and emergency managers from the area on Thursday. Representatives from the Department of Administration (DOA), Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer

Read More »

KINGFISHmke.com: The National Campaign for Lead Free Water issues letter to Milwaukee Health Dept. questioning opposition to lead awareness resolution

Contact: Paul Schwartz 202-279-0438 Washington D.C. – The National Campaign For Lead Free Water released a letter today outlining its concerns regarding an opposition letter issued by the Milwaukee Health Department it sent to Milwaukee Alderman Tony Zielinski, who recently introduced a resolution calling for more transparency and public awareness

Read More »

American Dairy Coalition: Bipartisan H-2A amendment allows for use across all of agriculture

Contact: Laurie Fischer 920-366-1880 info@americandairycoalitioninc.com The American Dairy Coalition applauds Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and the House Committee on Appropriations for approving the Fiscal Year 2018 Homeland Security Appropriations Act with a critical program that will allow for permanent dairy, livestock and agriculture workers to utilize the existing H-2A VisaProgram.  “Today, large segments of American

Read More »

Speaker Ryan: Discusses House accomplishments on Wisconsin Radio

Contact: Ian Martorana Washington, D.C. – This morning, Congressman Ryan joined WTAQ’s Jerry Bader, WTMJ’s Jeff Wagner, and WBEL’s Stan Milam to discuss the House’s focus on doing work for members’ constituents. Excerpts of these interviews follow: “The House has been active: We’ve passed two big down payments on the military; we’ve passed Kate’s

Read More »

Gov. Walker: Signs Senate Bill 293 into law

Contact: Tom Evenson (608) 266-2839 Madison, Wisconsin – Governor Scott Walker signed Senate Bill 293 into law today at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. Senate Bill 293 – makes several technical changes to the state’s voucher programs. It streamlines, simplifies, and clarifies statutory language regulating program administration, pupil eligibility, school responsibilities,

Read More »

Vietnam Veterans of America: Calls on House to pass Forever GI bill and Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act

Contact: Mokie Porter 301-585-4000, ext. 146 mporter@vva.org Washington, D.C. – “Today, the House Committee on Veterans Affairs voted to improve and unanimously pass both the Forever GI Bill and the Veteran Urgent Access to Mental Healthcare Act. The House Veterans Affairs Committee has demonstrated that solid, bipartisan work is possible in Washington. Now it’s

Read More »

Congressional Progressive Caucus: Responds to DHS appropriations bill

Contact(s): Sayanna Molina (Grijalva) Ron Boehmer (Pocan) Washington, D.C. –Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) released the following statement after the House Appropriations Committee voted to approve the FY 2018 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill yesterday. The bill includes a $1.6 billion border wall fund, increased funding for

Read More »