Senate approves banning state employee health plans from covering abortion in most cases

The state Senate voted 18-14 along party lines to ban the state from offering its employees health plans that cover abortion except in cases of rape, incest or the life of the mother. The Senate voted on the bill without debate, and the legislation now heads to the guv’s desk. If Gov. Scott Walker signs the bill, the Group Insurance Board will be prohibited from entering into any contract for a health insurance plan covering state employees that includes abortion other than for the three exceptions.

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Senate approves guv’s reinsurance plan

The Senate voted 23-9 Tuesday to approve the guv’s plan to create a reinsurance program for those Wisconsinites who purchase their health care through the federal individual marketplace. The vote clears the way for the bill to head to the Assembly, which also planned to take it up as part of Tuesday’s calendar. The bill would direct the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance to file a waiver request with the federal government to create the reinsurance program beginning Jan. 1. The program would then cover 50 percent to 80 percent of claims between $50,000 and $250,000 for those on

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Senate approves boost to historic rehabilitation tax credit

The state’s historic rehabilitation credit would be boosted to $3.5 million per project starting July 1, instead of $500,000, under legislation the Senate approved Tuesday 29-3. The state program, which is a supplement to the federal credit, can equal up to 20 percent of expenses to rehabilitate certified historic structures. The Legislature tried in the budget to raise the cap on the credit per project to $5 million from $350,000. But the guv vetoed it down to $500,000, and that change is scheduled to take effect July 1. That would decrease state revenues by $72.4 million in 2018-19. Upping the

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TUE PM Update: Assembly, Senate Republicans at odds over sales tax holiday in child tax credit plan

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Assembly and Senate Republicans today continued their standoff over Gov. Scott Walker’s child tax credit, with the co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee saying they won’t meet without a deal. Co-chair Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, said there is not enough support in the Senate GOP caucus to sign off on the sales tax holiday… 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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Senate approves forfeiture bill 22-10

The state would have to obtain a conviction before police could keep and then sell property taken from those accused of a crime under legislation the Senate approved 22-10. The bill, which now goes to the Assembly, also would require a court to find the property seized is proportional to the crime committed. Now, law enforcement can seize property through a forfeiture proceeding that can impact anything that was directly or indirectly derived from or used for the commission of a crime.

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Senate approves nine of the guv’s welfare bills

The state Senate today signed off along party lines on all but one of the guv’s welfare bills, clearing the way for the nine pieces of legislation to head to his desk. The package, backed by Republicans, includes: *SSAB 1, which would up the work requirement for FoodShare to 30 hours from the current requirement of 20 hours. *SSAB 2, which would require expand work requirements for food stamps that now apply only to able-bodied adults to those have school-aged dependents. *SSAB 3, which would create asset limits for food stamps, W-2 or Wisconsin Shares. *SSAB 4, which would add

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Dept. of Veterans Affairs: Wisconsin Veterans Home at King Celebrates Grand Re-Opening of Veterans Cafe

Contact: WDVA Office of Public Affairs Carla Vigue, Director at (608) 266-0517 Carla.Vigue@dva.wisconsin.gov KING – Following months of gathering input, planning and construction, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary Daniel J. Zimmerman, along with members, volunteers, and staff at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King celebrated the grand reopening of its café with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today. The innovative design for the gathering place centered on the preferences from the more than 600-member community at the top-rated facility. New amenities include an expanded menu with many new made-to-order options like burgers, pizzas and appetizers, a salad bar, new flooring,

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WISPIRG, Wisconsin Catholic Conference: Rent-to-Own Carve-Outs Good for Predatory Lenders, Bad for Wisconsinites

CONTACT: Peter Skopec, WISPIRG peter@wispirg.org • (847) 687-7229 Kim Wadas, Wisconsin Catholic Conference kim@wisconsincatholic.org • (608) 234-0175 Advocates Urge Rejection of AB759; Would Exempt Rent-to-Own from Consumer Protections MADISON – A bill moving through the state legislature would eliminate crucial consumer protections and transparency requirements for rent-to-own (RTO) customers by exempting the entire RTO industry from the Wisconsin Consumer Act. Consumer attorneys and advocates, faith constituencies, and groups representing low-income clients vehemently oppose these carve-outs that will encourage predatory RTO lenders to operate in the state. Rent-to-own agreements require customers to make weekly or monthly payments in order to immediately take home merchandise such as

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Sen. Craig: Craig’s Zero-Based Budgeting Bill Passes Senate

Contact: State Sen. David Craig, (608) 266-5400 Bill Now Heads to the Governor’s Desk for Signature Madison, WI — Today, the Wisconsin State Senate passed a bill authored by David Craig (R-Town of Vernon) to reinstate the base budget review process. This requires state agencies to submit a report of every dollar and program they administer for review by the legislature. This law was originally enacted in 2002 and repealed in 2009. Senator Craig released the follow statement on the bill: “With final passage in the Senate, the bill now goes to the Governor for signature. This law will restore

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Dept. of Natural Resources: Recent rainfall, flooding may contaminate wells

CONTACT: Liesa Lehmann, DNR private water section chief, 608-267-7649, liesa.lehmannkerler@wisconsin.gov; Marty Nessman, DNR private water supply field supervisor, 608-267-2449, martin.nessman@wisconsin.gov Well owners encouraged to be vigilant MADISON — Recent heavy rainfall, mixed with warming temperatures, snow melt and lingering frozen ground can create conditions that may affect private wells and drinking water across central and southern Wisconsin. “Our recent rain, mixed precipitation and local flooding throughout the state is a reminder that changing spring weather can lead to well contamination,” said Liesa Lehmann, Department of Natural Resources Private Water Section chief. “At this time of year we encourage well owners

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WisDOJ: New Testing Results of Previously Unsubmitted Sexual Assault Kit Leads to Arrest for a 2008 Assault

FOX CROSSING, Wis. – Today, Attorney General Brad Schimel announced the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) filed its first prosecution, as the result of the Wisconsin Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (WiSAKI). WiSAKI is a statewide effort to address the decades-old accumulation of previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits that were in the possession of local law enforcement agencies and hospitals. DOJ filed a criminal complaint in Winnebago County, charging Aaron J. Heiden with two felony counts in the sexual assault of a woman in 2008.  Mr. Heiden, age 29, of Eau Claire, was charged with one count of Second Degree Sexual

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Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty: Testifies on Civil Forfeiture Reform

Collin Roth | WILL Research Fellow collin@will-law.org | 414-727-7418 Bill safeguards civil liberties, increases transparency February 20, 2018 – Milwaukee, WI – Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) Research Fellow Collin Roth testified Tuesday on AB 122/SB 61, a bill to reform Wisconsin’s civil forfeiture laws, in the Assembly Committee on State Affairs. Civil forfeiture is a practice whereby a law enforcement agency can seize, litigate, and retain certain assets, like cash or a car, without a criminal conviction. The practice of civil forfeiture has earned increased scrutiny as a result of attention to abuses and concerns about civil liberties. WILL issued a policy brief on

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Gronik campaign: #GroWis: It’s time for a 21st-century jobs plan true to Wisconsin

Contact: Brandon Weathersby, 414-364-6729 brandon@andygronik.com Gubernatorial Candidate Andy Gronik Champions Pragmatic, Innovative Ideas To Create Good-Pay Jobs Statewide MILWAUKEE – Today, Democratic gubernatorial primary candidate, Andy Gronik, released his vision for statewide economic development: GroWis. The GroWis plan focuses state economic development on the industry segments that are core strengths of our state in order to transform our entire economy for the 21st century. “Government isn’t listening to the people of our state. In the last seven years, households across the state have heard promises of job creation, only to watch an incompetent executive and a broken political system leave those promises unfulfilled,” said

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iAmerica Action: Launches Ad Campaign to Hold Trump and Speaker Ryan Accountable for Dreamers

Press Contact: Nicky Vogt at nicole@npstrategygroup.com MADISON —  Following President Trump and the Republican leadership’s decision to kill any bipartisan deals to protect Dreamers in the Senate, iAmerica Action launched a six figure ad buy in 27 house districts to hold Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (WI-01) and his Republican colleagues accountable for their failure to protect Dreamers and thei… 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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March 7: WisPolitics DC breakfast with U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher and the Millennial Action Project

Green Bay-area Congressman Mike Gallagher joins Millennial Action Project President Steven Olikara, a Wisconsin native and UW-Madison graduate, to talk about top generational issues in the 2018 election year. See more on MAP: http://www.millennialaction.org/congressional-future-caucus/ Date: Wednesday, March 7. Time: Breakfast and check-in start at 8:30 a.m., with program going from 9 to 10 a.m. Location: AT&T Forum, 5th floor (near Union Station) 601 New Jersey Avenue NW Washington, DC 20001 https://attdcforum.com/ Cost: $25 PRE-PAYMENT REQUIRED. Click here to register and pay the $25 fee (put “March 7 DC event” in the “Invoice Number / Event Name” section): https://www.wispolitics.com/make-payments/ Partners: Wisconsin

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Senate approves guv’s reinsurance plan

The Senate voted 23-9 Tuesday to approve the guv’s plan to create a reinsurance program for those Wisconsinites who purchase their health care through the federal individual marketplace. The vote clears the way for the bill to head to the Assembly, which also planned to take it up as part

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Senate approves boost to historic rehabilitation tax credit

The state’s historic rehabilitation credit would be boosted to $3.5 million per project starting July 1, instead of $500,000, under legislation the Senate approved Tuesday 29-3. The state program, which is a supplement to the federal credit, can equal up to 20 percent of expenses to rehabilitate certified historic structures.

Read More »

Senate approves forfeiture bill 22-10

The state would have to obtain a conviction before police could keep and then sell property taken from those accused of a crime under legislation the Senate approved 22-10. The bill, which now goes to the Assembly, also would require a court to find the property seized is proportional to

Read More »

Senate approves nine of the guv’s welfare bills

The state Senate today signed off along party lines on all but one of the guv’s welfare bills, clearing the way for the nine pieces of legislation to head to his desk. The package, backed by Republicans, includes: *SSAB 1, which would up the work requirement for FoodShare to 30

Read More »

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: Wisconsin Veterans Home at King Celebrates Grand Re-Opening of Veterans Cafe

Contact: WDVA Office of Public Affairs Carla Vigue, Director at (608) 266-0517 Carla.Vigue@dva.wisconsin.gov KING – Following months of gathering input, planning and construction, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary Daniel J. Zimmerman, along with members, volunteers, and staff at the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King celebrated the grand reopening

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WISPIRG, Wisconsin Catholic Conference: Rent-to-Own Carve-Outs Good for Predatory Lenders, Bad for Wisconsinites

CONTACT: Peter Skopec, WISPIRG peter@wispirg.org • (847) 687-7229 Kim Wadas, Wisconsin Catholic Conference kim@wisconsincatholic.org • (608) 234-0175 Advocates Urge Rejection of AB759; Would Exempt Rent-to-Own from Consumer Protections MADISON – A bill moving through the state legislature would eliminate crucial consumer protections and transparency requirements for rent-to-own (RTO) customers by exempting the entire RTO industry

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Sen. Craig: Craig’s Zero-Based Budgeting Bill Passes Senate

Contact: State Sen. David Craig, (608) 266-5400 Bill Now Heads to the Governor’s Desk for Signature Madison, WI — Today, the Wisconsin State Senate passed a bill authored by David Craig (R-Town of Vernon) to reinstate the base budget review process. This requires state agencies to submit a report of

Read More »

Dept. of Natural Resources: Recent rainfall, flooding may contaminate wells

CONTACT: Liesa Lehmann, DNR private water section chief, 608-267-7649, liesa.lehmannkerler@wisconsin.gov; Marty Nessman, DNR private water supply field supervisor, 608-267-2449, martin.nessman@wisconsin.gov Well owners encouraged to be vigilant MADISON — Recent heavy rainfall, mixed with warming temperatures, snow melt and lingering frozen ground can create conditions that may affect private wells and

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Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty: Testifies on Civil Forfeiture Reform

Collin Roth | WILL Research Fellow collin@will-law.org | 414-727-7418 Bill safeguards civil liberties, increases transparency February 20, 2018 – Milwaukee, WI – Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) Research Fellow Collin Roth testified Tuesday on AB 122/SB 61, a bill to reform Wisconsin’s civil forfeiture laws, in the Assembly Committee on State Affairs. Civil forfeiture is

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Gronik campaign: #GroWis: It’s time for a 21st-century jobs plan true to Wisconsin

Contact: Brandon Weathersby, 414-364-6729 brandon@andygronik.com Gubernatorial Candidate Andy Gronik Champions Pragmatic, Innovative Ideas To Create Good-Pay Jobs Statewide MILWAUKEE – Today, Democratic gubernatorial primary candidate, Andy Gronik, released his vision for statewide economic development: GroWis. The GroWis plan focuses state economic development on the industry segments that are core strengths of our state in

Read More »

March 7: WisPolitics DC breakfast with U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher and the Millennial Action Project

Green Bay-area Congressman Mike Gallagher joins Millennial Action Project President Steven Olikara, a Wisconsin native and UW-Madison graduate, to talk about top generational issues in the 2018 election year. See more on MAP: http://www.millennialaction.org/congressional-future-caucus/ Date: Wednesday, March 7. Time: Breakfast and check-in start at 8:30 a.m., with program going from

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