Evers calling on JFC members to oppose lame-duck legislation

Governor-elect Tony Evers is calling on the members of the the Joint Committee on Finance to oppose any extraordinary session legislation, saying the bills represent “unfettered attempts to override and ignore” what voters decided in the midterm election. In written testimony sent to the state’s powerful budget committee, Evers hit on many of his campaign promises, including fully funding public education, fixing infrastructure issues, and ensuring protections are in place for people with pre-existing conditions. “The election was not about Republican values or Democratic values — it was about our Wisconsin values of decency, kindness, and finding common ground,” Evers

Read More »

MON PM Update: Republicans defend lame-duck bills ahead of contentious hearing

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — GOP legislative leaders today insisted the bills they’re pushing through a lame-duck session are only to balance the powers between the executive and legislative branches of government and not some power grab as Dems have charged. Dems, meanwhile, continued to knock the bills with Dem Sen. Jon Erpenbach, of Middleton, slamming … 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 »

UW System: Seeks 3% annual increases in 2019-21 pay plan

Contact: Heather LaRoi, UW System 608-265-3195, hlaroi@uwsa.edu MADISON, Wis. – University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross will recommend the Board of Regents take decisive action to approve a pay plan that would provide UW System employees a three percent pay plan increase for each of the two fiscal years starting July 1. “As labor markets tighten, salaries rise, and inflation increases, reinvesting in UW faculty and staff with modest wage increases will ensure we are not falling behind and losing out on talent we need in Wisconsin,” Cross said. “Attraction, retention, and recognition of high-quality faculty and staff are

Read More »

Nygren argues GOP lawmakers have tried some provisions in bills before

JFC Co-chair John Nygren argued during today’s public hearing some of the changes included in the bills are things GOP lawmakers have tried before only to have Gov. Scott Walker veto them. That includes, for example, a provision that would require the Department of Veterans Affairs notifying the JFC when transferring funds from the appropriation for the state vets home or vets trust fund. Lawmakers also previously tried to get more legislative appointments to the Group Insurance Board only to see Walker veto the proposal. Nygren also pointed out that the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. was approved by the Legislature

Read More »

Erpenbach charges Vos doesn’t have ‘guts’ to testify on extraordinary session bills

Dem Sen. Jon Erpenbach today slamming Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, for authoring the bills, but not having the “guts” to testify on them before the Joint Finance Committee. “If you don’t have enough guts to show up and testify and defend this stuff, it shouldn’t be introduced in the first place then,” Erpenbach, D-Middleton, said at the beginning today’s public hearing. The hearing had a contentious start as Co-chair John Nygren, R-Marinette, brought the hearing to order and then chided members of the audience on committee rules as some chanted, “Respect our vote!” Nygren said members of the public will

Read More »

WisPolitics Midday: Dec. 3, 2018

On today’s Wispolitics Midday: Governor Elect Evers’ team is gearing up for a fight ahead of the lame duck session Brad Courtney temporarily re-elected to run the Wisconsin GOP … 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.

Read More »

Survival Coalition of Disability Organizations: Concerned about impacts of legislature’s Extraordinary Session bills on people with disabilities

Contacts: Beth Swedeen, (608) 266-1166; beth.swedeen@wisconsin.gov Lisa Pugh, (608) 469-9385; pugh@thearc.org Kristin Kerschensteiner, (608) 267-0217; kitk@drwi.org MADISON- The Survival Coalition of more than 30 disability organizations is concerned about potential consequences of two bills the Republican State Legislature is fast-tracking today. Specifically, AB1072 will create obstacles and increase the time it takes for the Department of Health Services to make changes and improvements in Medicaid and other programs that help people with disabilities, including Family Care, IRIS, Badgercare, MAPP, the children’s waiver program, Katie Beckett, intensive autism services for children and more. The bill would make the process to make

Read More »

Sen. Frostman: Lame duck GOP proposals an assault on democracy

Contact: Steve Peters, steve.peters@legis.wi.gov or 608-266-3512 Peaceful Transition of Power and Will of the People Thwarted I’ve seen this letter many times before, but with the recent passing of George H.W. Bush fresh in our collective conscience, its words and its sentiment hold additional significance. This note symbolizes many of its author’s most admirable qualities – humility, deference, the capacity for self-reflection, and the full embrace and understanding that the will of the people is what advances our political agenda and thus our collective success. His note also demonstrates one of the most unique and precious traditions of the United States: the

Read More »

Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters: Statement on lame duck bills

Contact: Ryan Billingham, Communications Director, 608-208-1129 (office), 608-213-6972 (mobile/text), or ryan@conservationvoters.org MADISON – On Nov. 6, Wisconsin rejected the destructive agenda and policies of the Walker Administration when the majority of voters elected Tony Evers governor and Josh Kaul attorney general. Rather than accept the will of the people, in a lame duck session beginning today, top Republicans will attempt to undermine Wisconsin’s democracy with a series of unprecedented and radical bills meant to sabotage the state’s duly elected new leaders. If passed, the bills will have dire consequences for Wisconsin’s environment – diminishing the roll of scientists and other experts

Read More »

DATCP: Application period opens for specialty crop block grants

Contacts: Rick Hummell, 608-224-5041 or Richard.hummell@wi.gov or Bill Cosh, Communications Director, 608-224-5020 or William2.Cosh@wi.gov MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is accepting applications for the 2019 Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program. Applications are due to DATCP by February 15, 2019. Grants are awarded to projects intended to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop industries through research, education or market development. Qualified projects are those meant to benefit the industry as a whole as opposed to benefiting one individual, farm or company. DATCP will use a competitive review process to select the most qualified projects and will

Read More »

DATCP: Petition period opens for 2020 Ag Enterprise Areas

Contacts: Donna Gilson, (608) 224-5130 or donna.gilson@wi.gov Bill Cosh, Communications Director (608) 224-5020. William2.Cosh@wisconsin.gov Please note:  Although the petition deadline is not until June 21, 2019, the petitions typically require months to prepare. MADISON – Communities interested in being designated as agricultural enterprise areas in 2020 can submit petitions until June 21, 2019, to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Agricultural enterprise areas, or AEAs, are blocks of land that are used primarily for farming and for businesses that serve the farming sector. They are created when at least five landowners and their local governments petition for an AEA

Read More »

Disability Rights Wis.: Extraordinary Session puts Wisconsinites with disabilities at risk

Contact: Barbara Beckert, 414-292-2724 or barbara.beckert@drwi.org Madison, WI- Disability Rights Wisconsin is deeply concerned by the Legislature’s rush to push forward bills released late Friday in the Extraordinary Session planned for today. The proposals give oversight of Wisconsin Medicaid waivers to the legislature, leaving state agencies potentially unable to carry out their core mission. This shift has the possibility to affect services that are critical to adults and families of children with disabilities, including Family Care, IRIS, mental health services, Children’s Long-Term Waiver and Katie Beckett. The rush to advance these dramatic changes without time for careful analysis and for

Read More »

WisDOT: Announces nearly $6.3 million to serve the transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities

Contact: Office of Public Affairs, (608) 266-3581 or exec.opa@dot.wi.gov The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has notified 60 agencies that they will receive 2019 awards totaling $6,255,353 in state and federal funds to enhance and support local transportation options for Wisconsin seniors and individuals with disabilities. The grants assist local public entities and private, non-profit agencies in rural and smaller urban areas and can be used for mobility management, operating assistance and vehicle purchases. The program will fund 80 percent of the cost for 68 vehicles to either replace existing vehicles or expand services. WisDOT holds active contracts with several vendors for minivans,

Read More »

Wis. Technology Council: 2019 Gov.’s Business Plan Contest open for entries

Contact: Tom Still or Julie Johnson at 608-442-7557 MADISON – The 16th annual Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest is accepting entries online for the 2019 competition until 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. The contest is designed to encourage entrepreneurs in the startup stage of tech-based businesses in Wisconsin. The contest links up-and-coming entrepreneurs with a statewide network of community resources, expert advice and mentoring, management talent and possible sources of capital. Over time, the contest has led to valuable public and media exposure for the top business plans and spurred economic growth in Wisconsin. In 2018, finalists shared in more

Read More »

Evers calling on JFC members to oppose lame-duck legislation

Governor-elect Tony Evers is calling on the members of the the Joint Committee on Finance to oppose any extraordinary session legislation, saying the bills represent “unfettered attempts to override and ignore” what voters decided in the midterm election. In written testimony sent to the state’s powerful budget committee, Evers hit

Read More »

UW System: Seeks 3% annual increases in 2019-21 pay plan

Contact: Heather LaRoi, UW System 608-265-3195, hlaroi@uwsa.edu MADISON, Wis. – University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross will recommend the Board of Regents take decisive action to approve a pay plan that would provide UW System employees a three percent pay plan increase for each of the two fiscal years

Read More »

WisPolitics Midday: Dec. 3, 2018

On today’s Wispolitics Midday: Governor Elect Evers’ team is gearing up for a fight ahead of the lame duck session Brad Courtney temporarily re-elected to run the Wisconsin GOP … Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial

Read More »

Survival Coalition of Disability Organizations: Concerned about impacts of legislature’s Extraordinary Session bills on people with disabilities

Contacts: Beth Swedeen, (608) 266-1166; beth.swedeen@wisconsin.gov Lisa Pugh, (608) 469-9385; pugh@thearc.org Kristin Kerschensteiner, (608) 267-0217; kitk@drwi.org MADISON- The Survival Coalition of more than 30 disability organizations is concerned about potential consequences of two bills the Republican State Legislature is fast-tracking today. Specifically, AB1072 will create obstacles and increase the time

Read More »

Sen. Frostman: Lame duck GOP proposals an assault on democracy

Contact: Steve Peters, steve.peters@legis.wi.gov or 608-266-3512 Peaceful Transition of Power and Will of the People Thwarted I’ve seen this letter many times before, but with the recent passing of George H.W. Bush fresh in our collective conscience, its words and its sentiment hold additional significance. This note symbolizes many of its author’s

Read More »

Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters: Statement on lame duck bills

Contact: Ryan Billingham, Communications Director, 608-208-1129 (office), 608-213-6972 (mobile/text), or ryan@conservationvoters.org MADISON – On Nov. 6, Wisconsin rejected the destructive agenda and policies of the Walker Administration when the majority of voters elected Tony Evers governor and Josh Kaul attorney general. Rather than accept the will of the people, in a

Read More »

DATCP: Application period opens for specialty crop block grants

Contacts: Rick Hummell, 608-224-5041 or Richard.hummell@wi.gov or Bill Cosh, Communications Director, 608-224-5020 or William2.Cosh@wi.gov MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is accepting applications for the 2019 Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG) program. Applications are due to DATCP by February 15, 2019. Grants are awarded to projects intended

Read More »

DATCP: Petition period opens for 2020 Ag Enterprise Areas

Contacts: Donna Gilson, (608) 224-5130 or donna.gilson@wi.gov Bill Cosh, Communications Director (608) 224-5020. William2.Cosh@wisconsin.gov Please note:  Although the petition deadline is not until June 21, 2019, the petitions typically require months to prepare. MADISON – Communities interested in being designated as agricultural enterprise areas in 2020 can submit petitions until June 21,

Read More »

Disability Rights Wis.: Extraordinary Session puts Wisconsinites with disabilities at risk

Contact: Barbara Beckert, 414-292-2724 or barbara.beckert@drwi.org Madison, WI- Disability Rights Wisconsin is deeply concerned by the Legislature’s rush to push forward bills released late Friday in the Extraordinary Session planned for today. The proposals give oversight of Wisconsin Medicaid waivers to the legislature, leaving state agencies potentially unable to carry

Read More »

WisDOT: Announces nearly $6.3 million to serve the transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities

Contact: Office of Public Affairs, (608) 266-3581 or exec.opa@dot.wi.gov The Wisconsin Department of Transportation has notified 60 agencies that they will receive 2019 awards totaling $6,255,353 in state and federal funds to enhance and support local transportation options for Wisconsin seniors and individuals with disabilities. The grants assist local public entities and

Read More »