WED PM Update: Evers says he’ll urge Walker to veto extraordinary session bills

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov.-elect Tony Evers today called the extraordinary session bills that cleared the Legislature a “hot mess” and an attempt to ignore the will of the 2.6 million Wisconsinites who voted in last month’s election. He said that includes a provision that would for nine months strip him of the power to appoint the head of the Wiscon… 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  

Read More »

Gov.-elect Evers, Lt. Gov.-elect Barnes: Announce Inauguration Partner and Date

Contact: EversPress@wisconsin.gov or 608-267-2560 Inauguration demonstrates state coming together, Evers’ commitment to our kids’ future MADISON – Today, Governor-elect Tony Evers and Lieutenant Governor-elect Mandela Barnes announced the date of their inauguration and gala as well as the nonprofit partner highlighting their commitment to improving the futures of Wisconsin children. The official inauguration ceremony will begin at 11am on Monday, January 7, 2019, and a celebratory gala will be held that evening. “Wisconsinites are ready to move past the endless political battles and chart a new path forward for our state,” said Governor-elect Evers. “Our inauguration will celebrate the diversity

Read More »

Rep. Sinicki: Statement on the ‘lame duck’ session

Contact: Rep. Sinicki 608.266.8588 MADISON– “The statewide elections on November 6th highlighted the clear will of the Wisconsin people. We voted to move away from Gov. Walker’s zero-sum politics toward progressive, honest solutions to challenges facing our state. The actions of Republican legislators during the lame duck session, however, prove their continued disregard for the voices of Wisconsin voters. Instead of listening, Republican legislators undermined our representative democracy in exchange for short-term political gain. “In short, legislative Republicans severely curtailed the authority of Governor-Elect Tony Evers and Attorney General-Elect Josh Kaul. The devil is certainly in the details, but Republicans’

Read More »

WisDOT: Open house meeting for stage 2 of Verona Road Project

An open house meeting will be held next Thursday, December 13 to discuss design and construction activities for Stage 2 of the Verona Road (US 18/151) Project in Fitchburg. When: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, December 13, 2018 No formal presentation is scheduled; stop by at your convenience. Where: Verona Road Project Field Office 6200 Nesbitt Road, Suite B, Fitchburg, WI Maps and exhibits of the Verona Road improvements will be on display. WisDOT representatives will be available at these meetings to discuss the project on an individual basis. We hope to see you there! Forward this email to family, friends and co-workers

Read More »

ABC for Health: Lame duck legislature seizes power to strip people of health coverage

Interview: Bobby Peterson: (608)261-6939 ext. 201 or Brynne McBride (608)261-6939 ext. 210 Madison, WI- In “Lame Duck” session, the Wisconsin Legislature seized Executive Branch power and approved two bills intended to strip some Wisconsinites of their health coverage. One bill codifies “work requirements” into the State’s BadgerCare Plus program, a measure that could exclude tens of thousands of low-income adults from their health coverage. Wisconsin’s own cost estimates show this plan will increase administrative and programmatic costs by the hundreds of millions of dollars at taxpayer expense. The second bill seeks to further thwart Executive Branch discretion to maintain Wisconsin’s involvement in the

Read More »

Milwaukee Aldermen and women: Joint statement on state legislature post-election session

From Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman Jóse G. Pérez, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, Alderman Terry L. Witkowski, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderman Mark A. Borkowski, Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, and Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd  The lame-duck session measures approved by the Republican-controlled state Legislature are aimed at keeping the Legislature in a position of power and hurting Milwaukee. Taxpayers are ill-served by these measures and should be outraged that they are being approved just weeks after Democrats swept every state-wide race in the November 6 fall general

Read More »

Bayfield Chamber and Visitors Bureau: Pikes Marina wins National Marina of the Year award

Contact Person: Karlee Dunlap, 715-779-3900, karlee@pikesbaymarina.com Pikes Bay Marina, 84190 Pikes Bay Road, Bayfield, WI 54814 PHOTO ATTACHED: Steve Linton, general manager of Pikes Bay Marina in Bayfield, Wisconsin, receives the prestigious National Marina of the Year Award. Pikes Bay Marina Wins “National Marina of the Year” Award Bayfield,WI— Pikes Bay Marina has won the prestigious “National Marina of the Year” award presented by Marina Dock Age (MDA) magazine at the DOCKS EXPO Conference in Nashville, TN, on December 5, 2018. MDA is the premier magazine in the marina industry and bestows the annual award on one marina with 250 slips

Read More »

U.S. Rep. Moore: Statement on Republican power grab

Washington, DC – In response to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s passage of sweeping lame-duck legislation restricting the powers of incoming Democratic Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement: “Voters sent Tony Evers and Josh Kaul to Madison with a clear mandate. Their election should have triggered a peaceful transition of power; instead, Wisconsin Republicans have disgraced the state in a midnight legislative session more befitting of a strong man dictatorship than the United States of America. “The legislators who engineered this coup retained the majority of the legislature, despite getting fewer overall votes than

Read More »

Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce: October economic trends

For further information contact Economic Research Director Bret Mayborne, 414.287.4122 October Economic Trends December 5, 2018 – Metro area economic indicators moved lower in October as 11 of 22 available monthly indicators tracked by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) improved from year-ago levels. October’s improvements rank below the 13 positives registered in September. “At present, the number of positive indicators in aggregate is at its lowest point since early 2012,” said Bret Mayborne, the MMAC’s economic research director. “Much of this overall weakness can be attributed to a weaker year-over-year employment trend across a number of major industry

Read More »

Waukesha County Department of Public Works: Public hearing and availability of environmental assessment

Contact: Ed Hinrichs EHinrichs@WaukeshaCounty.gov 262-548-7740   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, December 5, 2018 Calhoun Road to 124th Street in the City of Brookfield and Village of Elm Grove  (WAUKESHA, WI) – The Waukesha County Department of Public Works will host a public hearing for the North Avenue reconstruction study on Wednesday, January 9, at the Brookfield Central High School (16900 Gebhardt Road, Brookfield, WI) cafeteria. The open-house format hearing will go from 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm. Formal public testimony will begin at 6:00 p.m. Representatives from Waukesha County and the consultant team will be available to discuss the project and answer

Read More »

Milwaukee Ald. Johnson: Statement on Advocate Aurora Health wage increases to $15 per hour

I commend Advocate Aurora Health’s recent decision to increase the minimum wage for its employees to $15.00 per hour by 2021. Advocate Aurora Health now joins the many other private companies in the United States such as Amazon, Target, and Aetna Inc. who have decided to ensure that their employees earn a living wage. Advocate Aurora Health plans to increase wages to $13.00 per hour in mid-2019, $14.00 per hour in early 2020, and $15.00 by 2021. This strategy establishes a stable and well-charted plan in order to invest in the health provider’s most valuable resource: its employees. With so

Read More »

Protect Our Care: Wisconsin Republicans’ pre-existing conditions fraud

View this email in your browser FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2018 Contact: Gabrielle Brown, gbrown@protectourcare.org Legislature Passes Bill Keeping Wisconsin in Pre-Existing Conditions Lawsuit, Despite Voters’ Wishes Republicans Did Not Have Support to Even Pretend to Protect Pre-Existing Conditions as Walker Promised Washington, D.C. – After hours of closed door debate, Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate failed to muster enough support to for legislation that they falsely claimed would ensure protections for people with pre-existing conditions, despite their efforts to invalidate them in federal court. This bill comes after Republicans passed legislation that seeks to deny the duly elected incoming Democratic Governor and Attorney General from withdrawing participating

Read More »

Sen. Feyen: Statement on extraordinary session

For Immediate Release December 5th, 2018 Contact: 608-266-5300 Madison – State Senator Dan Feyen (R- Fond du Lac) released the following statement on today’s extraordinary session: “Since the release of the extraordinary session bills on Friday night, I have been working tirelessly with my policy staff, legislative service agencies, my Senate colleagues, and leadership to understand and pare down these bills to common-sense codification and technical fixes that don’t overstep the powers granted to the legislature. I can confidently say that the votes we took today are in good faith and do not usurp the role of Governor-Elect Evers or

Read More »

Sen. Bewley and Rep. Billings: Letter to Sec. Klett on seasonal work provision

Stephanie Klett Secretary, Department of Tourism 201 West Washington Avenue Madison, WI 53703 SKlett@travelwisconsin.com Dear Secretary Klett, We are writing about an issue of great importance to the tourism industry in Northern Wisconsin. As you may know, late extraordinary session legislation tonight includes a provision that would codify an extremely harmful rule change made by the Department of Workforce Development. Seasonal employers, especially in Wisconsin’s tourism industry, had long been able to rely on retaining experienced and talented seasonal workers thanks to the way our UI System was administered. However, the state’s Department of Workforce Development cut the number of

Read More »

Alliance for Health Insurers and America’s Health Insurance Plans: Senate Substitute Amendment to Assembly Bill 365

To: Wisconsin Legislators Date: December 4, 2018 From: Alliance for Health Insurers and America’s Health Insurance Plans Regarding: Senate Substitute Amendment (LRBs 0444/1) to Assembly Bill 365 The Alliance for Health Insurers (AHI) and America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) want to bring to your attention the following technical changes to LRB0444/1 to ensure that the bill only applies to those policies currently impacted under the Affordable Care Act. The first set of changes clarify the insurer accepts the group and issues the small group policy. Without these technical changes, we urge you to oppose LRB 0444/1. The definition of disability

Read More »

Gov.-elect Evers, Lt. Gov.-elect Barnes: Announce Inauguration Partner and Date

Contact: EversPress@wisconsin.gov or 608-267-2560 Inauguration demonstrates state coming together, Evers’ commitment to our kids’ future MADISON – Today, Governor-elect Tony Evers and Lieutenant Governor-elect Mandela Barnes announced the date of their inauguration and gala as well as the nonprofit partner highlighting their commitment to improving the futures of Wisconsin children.

Read More »

Rep. Sinicki: Statement on the ‘lame duck’ session

Contact: Rep. Sinicki 608.266.8588 MADISON– “The statewide elections on November 6th highlighted the clear will of the Wisconsin people. We voted to move away from Gov. Walker’s zero-sum politics toward progressive, honest solutions to challenges facing our state. The actions of Republican legislators during the lame duck session, however, prove

Read More »

WisDOT: Open house meeting for stage 2 of Verona Road Project

An open house meeting will be held next Thursday, December 13 to discuss design and construction activities for Stage 2 of the Verona Road (US 18/151) Project in Fitchburg. When: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, December 13, 2018 No formal presentation is scheduled; stop by at your convenience. Where: Verona Road Project Field

Read More »

Milwaukee Aldermen and women: Joint statement on state legislature post-election session

From Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Ashanti Hamilton, Alderman Michael J. Murphy, Alderman Jóse G. Pérez, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey, Alderman Terry L. Witkowski, Alderman Nik Kovac, Alderman Mark A. Borkowski, Alderman Cavalier Johnson, Alderman Robert J. Bauman, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Alderman Russell W. Stamper, II, and Alderwoman Nikiya Dodd  The lame-duck session

Read More »

U.S. Rep. Moore: Statement on Republican power grab

Washington, DC – In response to the Wisconsin State Legislature’s passage of sweeping lame-duck legislation restricting the powers of incoming Democratic Governor Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04) released the following statement: “Voters sent Tony Evers and Josh Kaul to Madison with a clear mandate. Their election should

Read More »

Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce: October economic trends

For further information contact Economic Research Director Bret Mayborne, 414.287.4122 October Economic Trends December 5, 2018 – Metro area economic indicators moved lower in October as 11 of 22 available monthly indicators tracked by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) improved from year-ago levels. October’s improvements rank below the

Read More »

Protect Our Care: Wisconsin Republicans’ pre-existing conditions fraud

View this email in your browser FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 5, 2018 Contact: Gabrielle Brown, gbrown@protectourcare.org Legislature Passes Bill Keeping Wisconsin in Pre-Existing Conditions Lawsuit, Despite Voters’ Wishes Republicans Did Not Have Support to Even Pretend to Protect Pre-Existing Conditions as Walker Promised Washington, D.C. – After hours of closed door debate, Republicans in the

Read More »

Sen. Feyen: Statement on extraordinary session

For Immediate Release December 5th, 2018 Contact: 608-266-5300 Madison – State Senator Dan Feyen (R- Fond du Lac) released the following statement on today’s extraordinary session: “Since the release of the extraordinary session bills on Friday night, I have been working tirelessly with my policy staff, legislative service agencies, my

Read More »

Sen. Bewley and Rep. Billings: Letter to Sec. Klett on seasonal work provision

Stephanie Klett Secretary, Department of Tourism 201 West Washington Avenue Madison, WI 53703 SKlett@travelwisconsin.com Dear Secretary Klett, We are writing about an issue of great importance to the tourism industry in Northern Wisconsin. As you may know, late extraordinary session legislation tonight includes a provision that would codify an extremely

Read More »

Alliance for Health Insurers and America’s Health Insurance Plans: Senate Substitute Amendment to Assembly Bill 365

To: Wisconsin Legislators Date: December 4, 2018 From: Alliance for Health Insurers and America’s Health Insurance Plans Regarding: Senate Substitute Amendment (LRBs 0444/1) to Assembly Bill 365 The Alliance for Health Insurers (AHI) and America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) want to bring to your attention the following technical changes to

Read More »