THU PM Update: Ryan dismisses reports that he’ll retire next year

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — House Speaker Paul Ryan says he’s not leaving Congress anytime soon amid multiple media reports this week the Janesville Republican will step aside next year. That includes a Politico Magazine report today that says Ryan’s planning to retire after the 2018 elections. The report cited interviews with three dozen lawmakers, aides,… 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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Sen. Marklein: Appointed to legislature’s Blue Ribbon Commission on school funding reform

CONTACT: Sen. Howard Marklein, 608-266-0703 MADISON, WI – State Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) participated in the first public hearing for the legislature’s Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding Reform today. Marklein was appointed to this new Commission which will study the school funding formulae and make recommendations for reforms in the coming months. “I volunteered to be a member of the Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding Reform because I know how important the school funding process is to the schools in the 17th Senate District and around the state. As a former auditor and now a legislator, I

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Cap Times talk with Kathy Cramer

UW-Madison political scientist Kathy Cramer was years ahead of her time in examining rural political consciousness in America. Between 2007 and 2012, she traveled in rural Wisconsin to listen to diner and coffee-shop conversations to understand how residents there view the political world. The resulting book, “The Politics of Resentment” published in early 2016, was a prescient look at how that worldview would affect 2016’s momentous election. Please join us for a special edition of Cap Times Talks featuring Cramer interviewed by our political reporter, Jessie Opoien, at the High Noon Saloon on Tuesday, Jan. 16. They’ll talk about Wisconsin’s

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Commission taking a ‘blank slate’ approach to overhauling the state’s school funding formula

Co-chairs of a commission tasked with overhauling the state’s school funding formula say they’re taking a “blank slate” approach to the job. Commission heads Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, and Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, told reporters this morning they’ll make recommendations based on wherever “the evidence leads us.” “Do I have a vision of where we’re headed?” Olsen asked. “Honestly, no. I … 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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Speaker Vos: Issues statement on speculation of Speaker Ryan’s retirement

Contact: Speaker Robin Vos (608) 266-3387 Rep.Vos@legis.wi.gov Madison, Wisconsin — Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) issued the following statement concerning reports that House Speaker Paul Ryan is considering retirement. “I couldn’t be more proud of the work that my congressman and friend has done for the First Congressional District, Wisconsin and the United States of America. Paul has been an effective Speaker building consensus within the House on major reforms like health care and tax cuts while also maintaining his strong Wisconsin roots. “As a leader of the conservative movement, his work is far from over and I’m confident his

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New polling memo shows Nicholson has an edge in GOP U.S. Senate primary

Kevin Nicholson’s campaign today released a polling memo suggesting he has an early edge in the GOP U.S. Senate primary. The poll was conducted Dec. 6-7 following some $2.3 million in TV ads from pro-Nicholson groups that began in early October. A check of FEC filings did not turn up any independent expenditures backing Nicholson rival state Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield. The memo says Nicholson … 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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Mayor Soglin: Issues statement on FCC’s decision to repeal net neutrality rules

Contact: Nicole Stevens 608-266-4611 Eliminating “Net Neutrality” gives more economic power to the internet providers, particularly the two biggest telcos, AT&T and Verizon, and the two largest cable companies, Comcast and Charter (Spectrum). They can more easily create “fast lanes” for big, established content providers like Netflix, Amazon, Google and Facebook, who can pay more to have their info streams run faster and smoother. And while providers are not allowed to “throttle,” or slow down, smaller, non-paying upstart companies, the FCC has given up its legal powers to stop them if they do. It’s the “honor” system. The FCC will

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Bryce campaign: Even Speaker Ryan doesn’t think he can beat Bryce

Contact: David Keith 323-400-8853 david@randybryceforcongress.com Racine, Wisconsin — After a year of defending and enabling the worst abuses of Donald Trump and pushing a massive tax giveaway for corporations and the wealthy, it appears that even Paul Ryan has realized that he can’t beat a US Army veteran, cancer survivor, and iron worker who will put the priorities of hard working Americans first. “We knew Paul Ryan was too afraid to stand up to Donald Trump, but now it appears that he’s too afraid to face the voters of his own district as well,” said Randy Bryce. “Ryan must be

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Sen. Erpenbach: Prison safety and population increases need legislative attention

Contact: Sen. Erpenbach 608-266-6670 or 888-549-0027 sen.erpenbach@legis.wi.gov In 2018, the Wisconsin prison population will be as high as it has ever been. This overcrowding is a serious safety concern not only for our front line correctional officers and sergeants but also for inmates and our support staff of teachers, maintenance, administrators, etc. Coupled with an ongoing staffing shortage following normal retirements and Act 10 retirements, it is the perfect storm for serious situations in our institutions. Assaults on staff by inmates, inmate to inmate assaults, and in Lincoln Hills an eruption of difficult and dangerous situations with staff and inmates raise red

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Rep. Sargent: Republican bill second-guesses, restricts local governments

Contact: Britt Cudaback 308-440-2939 britt.cudaback@legis.wi.gov Madison, Wisconsin — Today the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means held a public hearing on Assembly Bill (AB) 361, a bill restricting local governments raising money for local road and transportation-related projects through vehicle registration fees. AB 361 would not just affect future attempts to impose wheel taxes, but would also apply retroactively to more than twenty-five local governments with existing wheel taxes in place. “The Legislature has no business second-guessing local governments who are rightfully elected by and answer to voters in their communities,” said State Representative Melissa Sargent (D-Madison), ranking Assembly Democratic

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Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association: Calls on Congress to honor their commitment to Wisconsin families

Contact: Stephanie Harrison 608-277-7477 Community Health Centers in Wisconsin and around the country have organized four Congressional call-in days to hold Members of Congress to their commitment to provide long-term funding for Community Health Centers and the Children’s Health Insurance Program as part of the December 22 Continuing Resolution. Funding for both programs expired on September 30, 2017. “Community Health Centers have been waiting more than two months for Congress to provide long-term funding,” said Stephanie Harrison, CEO of the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association. “Health Centers and CHIP both have strong bi-partisan support – but support without Congressional action is not

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Gov. Walker: Announces $1.475 million in funding awarded to minority business organizations

Contact: Tom Evenson (608) 266-2839 Madison, Wisconsin — Governor Scott Walker announced today that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has awarded $1.475 million in grants to four organizations to provide assistance to minority-owned businesses throughout the state. “Wisconsin’s minority chambers of commerce play a vital role in ensuring that minority-owned businesses have the capital and resources they need to thrive,” Governor Walker said. “As we continue to develop our workforce and grow the economy, the vital role minority-owned businesses play in the overall success of Wisconsin cannot be stressed enough.” The WEDC funding is being awarded to the African American

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THU PM Update: Ryan dismisses reports that he’ll retire next year

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — House Speaker Paul Ryan says he’s not leaving Congress anytime soon amid multiple media reports this week the Janesville Republican will step aside next year. That includes a Politico Magazine report today that says Ryan’s planning to retire after the 2018 elections.

Read More »

Cap Times talk with Kathy Cramer

UW-Madison political scientist Kathy Cramer was years ahead of her time in examining rural political consciousness in America. Between 2007 and 2012, she traveled in rural Wisconsin to listen to diner and coffee-shop conversations to understand how residents there view the political world. The resulting book, “The Politics of Resentment”

Read More »

Speaker Vos: Issues statement on speculation of Speaker Ryan’s retirement

Contact: Speaker Robin Vos (608) 266-3387 Rep.Vos@legis.wi.gov Madison, Wisconsin — Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) issued the following statement concerning reports that House Speaker Paul Ryan is considering retirement. “I couldn’t be more proud of the work that my congressman and friend has done for the First Congressional District, Wisconsin

Read More »

Bryce campaign: Even Speaker Ryan doesn’t think he can beat Bryce

Contact: David Keith 323-400-8853 david@randybryceforcongress.com Racine, Wisconsin — After a year of defending and enabling the worst abuses of Donald Trump and pushing a massive tax giveaway for corporations and the wealthy, it appears that even Paul Ryan has realized that he can’t beat a US Army veteran, cancer survivor,

Read More »

Rep. Sargent: Republican bill second-guesses, restricts local governments

Contact: Britt Cudaback 308-440-2939 britt.cudaback@legis.wi.gov Madison, Wisconsin — Today the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means held a public hearing on Assembly Bill (AB) 361, a bill restricting local governments raising money for local road and transportation-related projects through vehicle registration fees. AB 361 would not just affect future attempts

Read More »

Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association: Calls on Congress to honor their commitment to Wisconsin families

Contact: Stephanie Harrison 608-277-7477 Community Health Centers in Wisconsin and around the country have organized four Congressional call-in days to hold Members of Congress to their commitment to provide long-term funding for Community Health Centers and the Children’s Health Insurance Program as part of the December 22 Continuing Resolution. Funding for both

Read More »

Gov. Walker: Announces $1.475 million in funding awarded to minority business organizations

Contact: Tom Evenson (608) 266-2839 Madison, Wisconsin — Governor Scott Walker announced today that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has awarded $1.475 million in grants to four organizations to provide assistance to minority-owned businesses throughout the state. “Wisconsin’s minority chambers of commerce play a vital role in ensuring that minority-owned

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