TUE PM Update: Fitzgerald revives push to create alcohol czar

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said he is taking another run at creating an alcohol czar, claiming enforcement of current rules by the Department of Revenue has fallen apart. Earlier talks this session about an Office of Alcohol Beverages Enforcement faded amid opposition from various groups. An earlier version also pro… 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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Rep. Loudenbeck: Loudenbeck Bill passes JFC, heads to Assembly floor Thursday

Contact: Rep. Amy Loudenbeck Rep.Loudenbeck@legis.wi.gov (608) 266-9967 Madison – Today, a bill authored by state Rep. Amy Loudenbeck (R-Clinton) at the request of Governor Scott Walker passed the Joint Committee on Finance with a unanimous vote. Assembly Bill 872 (AB 872) will expand the existing Career and Technical Education (CTE) Incentive Grant to include a specialized Public Safety Certification Incentive Grant program for high school students. In October of 2017, Governor Walker launched his Rural Agenda focusing on comprehensively addressing the concerns of rural communities, including an initiative to reward high schools and students for successful completion of EMT or

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Voces de la Frontera: Senate Democrats must not cave to GOP’s taking immigrant youth as hostages

Contact: Sam Singleton-Freeman, 414-469-9206, sfreeman@vdlf.org Democrats must resist Trump’s attempts to use the DACA crisis he created to take the immigration system back to the Jim Crow era MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – The Senate is debating protections for 1.8 million immigrant young people left vulnerable to deportation by President Trump’s cruel decision to end DACA. Republicans have proposed vari… 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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AFP-Wisconsin: Says ‘nyet’ to liquor tsar proposal

CONTACT: Eric Bott, EBott@afphq.org Plot Was Scrapped Last Year Due to Public Outrage from Grassroots Activists MADISON, WI – Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin today called on lawmakers to reject a proposal to create a massive new bureaucracy with unchecked powers to regulate distilleries, microbreweries and wineries, taverns, grocers, and others in the Badger State.  According to documents obtained by the MacIver Institute News Service and published in an explosive report today, the proposed Office of Alcohol Beverages Enforcement, commonly known as the “Liquor Tsar,” would be appointed to a term longer than that of the Governor, serve without any accountability to a cabinet

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Rep. Anderson: Republicans lower Walmart’s property taxes, raise yours

Contact: Logan Vidal 608-266-8570 Local governments and taxpayers will continue to pay for tax loophole MADISON – Today, Assembly Republicans voted against closing the ‘Dark Store’ loophole. Based on a Supreme Court decision in 2008, big box retailers are allowed to base their tax assessments on their value as a vacant store rather than a store in operation. This so-called ‘Dark Store’ loophole saves corporate retailers millions of dollars and shifts the burden of those savings to homeowners and other businesses. “I am disappointed, but not at all surprised that Assembly Republicans sided with big box retailers over their local

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U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development: Awards nearly $240,000 to promote jobs, self-sufficiency for public housing residents in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE – In an effort to help low-income residents become self-sufficient, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded nearly $240,000 today to S.E.T. Ministry, Inc. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is part of a national endeavor issued to public housing authorities, public housing resident associations, Native American tribes, and non-profit organizations across the nation to hire or retain service coordinators to help them find jobs, educational opportunities, and achieve economic and housing independence. The funding, provided through HUD’s Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency – Service Coordinators Program (ROSS-SC) helps grantees hire or retain “service coordinators” who work directly

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Sen. Erpenbach: Statement on rural economic development

Contact: Senator Jon Erpenbach 608-266-6670 Sen. Erpenbach on AB 912/SB 769 rural economic development funds for WEDC “Our rural communities are in economic crisis. By defunding the Historic Tax Credit in every budget and then giving $4.5 billion to a Taiwanese company Governor Walker and Legislative Republicans have created a scenario where just 18% of our economic development money is targeted to rural communities under their leadership. Foxconn gets hundreds of millions for roads, but poor funding for rural roads has made it hard to attract businesses. Foxconn gets a high power transmission line to meet their technology needs, while

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U.S. Rep. Kind: Calls for solution to IV shortage in Wisconsin

Contact: Amanda Sherman Phone: 202-225-5506 Amanda.Sherman@mail.house.gov Wisconsin is facing an IV saline bag shortage in the midst of a flu outbreak  La Crosse, WI – Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind called on the Administration to find a solution to the shortage of IV saline bags that is affecting hospitals and patients throughout western and central Wisconsin. This comes as Wisconsin hospitals are dealing with a severe and widespread flu outbreak. “Patients and healthcare providers in western and central Wisconsin should never be worried about the availability of something as critical as an IV bag,” said Rep. Ron Kind. “In this bad flu season, I

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End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin: Domestic violence advocates appalled by President Trump’s support for abusers, dismayed by his budget priorities

CONTACT: Chase Tarrier, Public Policy Coordinator, End Domestic Abuse WI chaset@endabusewi.org, 608.237.3985 Madison — Coming on the heels of unambiguous statements of support for multiple domestic batterers, Wisconsin advocates for victims of domestic violence are voicing strong opposition to President Trump’s newly introduced 2019 budget proposal that includes dramatic cuts to critical services for victims like the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). Programs such as the LSC, the single largest provider of legal aid for low income Americans, exist to serve struggling families, disabled citizens and other vulnerable individuals like survivors of violence. “President Trump’s recent statements unequivocally supporting domestic abusers in

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Rep. Vos: Statement on the State of the Tribes Address

Speaker Robin Vos: (608) 266-3387 Madison…Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) released the following statement after the 14th annual State of the Tribes address in the Wisconsin State Assembly. “I would like to thank Gary Besaw of the Menominee Tribe and the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council for participating in the annual State of the Tribes address in the Wisconsin State Assembly. It’s important that we continue to keep the lines of communication open between our governments and work together on shared priorities.”

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Reps. Bowen and Kleefisch: Kleefisch-Bowen bill lays foundation for youth corrections overhaul

Contact: Rep. David Bowen, 608-266-7671 Rep. Joel Kleefisch, 608-266-8551 MADISON – This morning, a bipartisan coalition of legislators announced Assembly legislation that would close Lincoln Hills by 2020, instead opening county-run secure residential care centers for less serious youth offenders while keeping Serious Juvenile Offenders (SJOs) under the supervision of the state Department of Corrections (DOC). “Today’s announcement is the culmination of over a year of discussions with legislators on both sides of the aisle, judges, system stakeholders and advocates as I have made the reform of our youth corrections system a key focus of my work as a legislator,”

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Citizen Action of Wisconsin: Endorses Tim Burns for state Supreme Court

Contact: Robert Kraig (414) 322-5324 robert.kraig@citizenactionwi.org Burns a breath of fresh air in corrupt Supreme Court election process Milwaukee: Today Citizen Action of Wisconsin, a statewide progressive social justice group with members across Wisconsin, is announcing its endorsement of Tim Burns for State Supreme Court in the primary election on February 20. The Citizen Action board of directors is making the endorsement after an extensive process that included a candidate forum, intensive candidate interviews, and input from Citizen Action Organizing Co-op leaders throughout Wisconsin. Citizen Action’s Organizing Co-ops are member-owned democratically elected chapters throughout Wisconsin. What impresses Citizen Action leaders

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One Wisconsin Now: Right wing hits panic button as their spending on Michael Screnock skyrockets

MEDIA CONTACT: Mike Browne, Deputy Director mike@OneWisconsinNow.org (608) 444-3483 Republican Party of Wisconsin and Right-Wing Cabal At Nearly $670,000 in Spending With a Week to Go Before Primary Election MADISON, Wis. — State Republicans and their allies have pushed the panic button on the race for the state Supreme Court, already forking out nearly $670,000 for the benefit of the campaign of Michael Screnock before the February 20 primary election. Spending by right wing special interests like the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and the Republican Party of Wisconsin to elect high court judges is not new. But, One Wisconsin Now

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TUE PM Update: Fitzgerald revives push to create alcohol czar

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said he is taking another run at creating an alcohol czar, claiming enforcement of current rules by the Department of Revenue has fallen apart. Earlier talks this session about an Office of Alcohol Beverages Enforcement faded amid

Read More »

AFP-Wisconsin: Says ‘nyet’ to liquor tsar proposal

CONTACT: Eric Bott, EBott@afphq.org Plot Was Scrapped Last Year Due to Public Outrage from Grassroots Activists MADISON, WI – Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin today called on lawmakers to reject a proposal to create a massive new bureaucracy with unchecked powers to regulate distilleries, microbreweries and wineries, taverns, grocers, and others in the

Read More »

U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development: Awards nearly $240,000 to promote jobs, self-sufficiency for public housing residents in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE – In an effort to help low-income residents become self-sufficient, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded nearly $240,000 today to S.E.T. Ministry, Inc. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is part of a national endeavor issued to public housing authorities, public housing resident associations, Native American tribes,

Read More »

Sen. Erpenbach: Statement on rural economic development

Contact: Senator Jon Erpenbach 608-266-6670 Sen. Erpenbach on AB 912/SB 769 rural economic development funds for WEDC “Our rural communities are in economic crisis. By defunding the Historic Tax Credit in every budget and then giving $4.5 billion to a Taiwanese company Governor Walker and Legislative Republicans have created a

Read More »

U.S. Rep. Kind: Calls for solution to IV shortage in Wisconsin

Contact: Amanda Sherman Phone: 202-225-5506 Amanda.Sherman@mail.house.gov Wisconsin is facing an IV saline bag shortage in the midst of a flu outbreak  La Crosse, WI – Today, U.S. Rep. Ron Kind called on the Administration to find a solution to the shortage of IV saline bags that is affecting hospitals and patients throughout

Read More »

End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin: Domestic violence advocates appalled by President Trump’s support for abusers, dismayed by his budget priorities

CONTACT: Chase Tarrier, Public Policy Coordinator, End Domestic Abuse WI chaset@endabusewi.org, 608.237.3985 Madison — Coming on the heels of unambiguous statements of support for multiple domestic batterers, Wisconsin advocates for victims of domestic violence are voicing strong opposition to President Trump’s newly introduced 2019 budget proposal that includes dramatic cuts to

Read More »

Rep. Vos: Statement on the State of the Tribes Address

Speaker Robin Vos: (608) 266-3387 Madison…Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) released the following statement after the 14th annual State of the Tribes address in the Wisconsin State Assembly. “I would like to thank Gary Besaw of the Menominee Tribe and the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council for participating in the annual State

Read More »

Reps. Bowen and Kleefisch: Kleefisch-Bowen bill lays foundation for youth corrections overhaul

Contact: Rep. David Bowen, 608-266-7671 Rep. Joel Kleefisch, 608-266-8551 MADISON – This morning, a bipartisan coalition of legislators announced Assembly legislation that would close Lincoln Hills by 2020, instead opening county-run secure residential care centers for less serious youth offenders while keeping Serious Juvenile Offenders (SJOs) under the supervision of

Read More »

Citizen Action of Wisconsin: Endorses Tim Burns for state Supreme Court

Contact: Robert Kraig (414) 322-5324 robert.kraig@citizenactionwi.org Burns a breath of fresh air in corrupt Supreme Court election process Milwaukee: Today Citizen Action of Wisconsin, a statewide progressive social justice group with members across Wisconsin, is announcing its endorsement of Tim Burns for State Supreme Court in the primary election on

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