THU PM Update: Evers to name TDA’s Thompson DOT secretary

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov.-elect Tony Evers tomorrow will name Craig Thompson, head of the Transportation Development Association, his first DOT secretary, according to multiple sources. Evers’ transition declined comment. Thompson joined TDA, which has been advocating for more road funding, in 2007. He previously served as the Wisconsin Counties A… 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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Speaker Ryan: Congress passes historic, bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation

CONTACT  AshLee Strong 202-225-0600 WASHINGTON—House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) released this statement following the bipartisan passage of the revised FIRST STEP Act: “This is something I have believed in for a long time. As Americans, we are about lifting people up—there is no reason a person who wants to redeem themselves, work hard, and contribute to their community should be deprived of that opportunity. Once this legislation is signed by the president, that ethos will be further etched into law. These reforms to our criminal justice system will not only reduce recidivism and make communities safer, but they will help people into

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U.S. Rep. Sensenbrenner: Second Chance Reauthorization Act sent to President’s desk as part of bipartisan criminal justice reform package

Christopher Krepich, 202-225-5101 Washington, D.C.—Today, the House passed S. 756, the First Step Act. This bipartisan criminal justice reform package includes Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner’s (WI-05) reauthorization language of the Second Chance Act, which provides grants for the purpose of helping newly-released prisoners successfully reenter society. Rep. Sensenbrenner: “Republicans and Democrats coming together to pass criminal justice reform is a monumental victory for the American people, and I’m proud to have been a leader of this effort that has been years in the making. I’m also proud to note that this bill reauthorizes the Second Chance Act, which has been instrumental in healing communities by

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U.S. Rep. Gallagher: Votes in support of criminal justice reform

Contact: Madison Wiberg Madison.Wiberg@mail.house.gov Washington, D.C. – Today Congressman Mike Gallagher voted in support of the revised version of the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform package that focuses on reducing rampant recidivism among federal prisoners, reforming select sentencing laws, and increasing community safety. After the bill passed the House, Rep. Gallagher released the following statement: “At the core of the First Step Act is redemption – a fundamental principle of our justice system. The reality is, most inmates in our federal prison system will someday be released. By making sure they get the training and education they need to

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Sen. Stroebel: Concerned early voting lawsuit presents conflict for incoming attorney general

Contact: Brian Sikma (608) 492-7513 Madison, WI – Pointing out that the plaintiffs in Monday’s lawsuit against Wisconsin’s revised early voting law are represented by the law firm that recently employed the incoming state Attorney General, Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Cedarburg) released the following statement today: “The current legal fight over Wisconsin’s early voting law is rife with conflicts of interest for Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul (D). Affiliates of two of the plaintiff organizations aggressively worked to elect Kaul in November. One of the groups even credited a federal injunction against the state’s previous early voting law with helping them turn out the

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Neubauer campaign: Files over 5,500 signatures

CONTACT: Tyler Hendricks, 608-318-3065 press@judgeneubauer.com 2000 Needed To Qualify For Spring Ballot RACINE, WI – Judge Lisa Neubauer, Chief Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, filed over 5500 signatures today to qualify for the 2019 Spring Election for Wisconsin State Supreme Court. With two weeks remaining before the deadline, Judge Neubauer was the first to file. “This was a team effort,” said Judge Neubauer. “Volunteers from every corner of the state collected signatures in record time. Wisconsinites are sick of the partisan games and outside dark money infecting our judicial races, and are enthusiastically backing my candidacy for Supreme

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Wisconsin Partnership Program funding projects to reduce health inequities

The Wisconsin Partnership Program is awarding $750,000 to 15 community projects that aim to reduce health inequities.   As part of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, the grants are being awarded through the program’s Community Catalyst grant program. Each award is financing projects for up to two years.   “These awards enable the Wisconsin Partnership Program to support communities across Wisconsin in their innovative, grassroots solutions to local health challenges and disparities,” said Dr. Amy Kind, chair of the partnership’s Oversight and Advisory Committee.   A number of these projects are focused on mental health. They include:

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WisPolitics Midday: Dec. 20, 2018

In today’s WisPolitics Midday update: Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he expects to use the base budget and allow the Joint Finance Committee to work from there, rather than use Gov.-elect Tony Evers’ spending plan. The state population grows, but not by much, over the past year. … 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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Sen. Cowles, Rep. Kerkman: Audit examines SWIB performance and management

For More Information Contact: Senator Robert Cowles ~ 800.334.1465 Representative Samantha Kerkman ~ 888.529.0061 MADISON – Today, the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) released its biennial evaluation of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (report 18-19). SWIB invests assets for the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), the State Investment Fund, and five other funds. As of December 2017, SWIB managed $117.0 billion in assets for the State. In 2017, the WRS Core Fund and Variable Fund exceeded five-year benchmarks with average annual investment returns of 8.6 percent and 13.3 percent, respectively. However, the Core Fund’s investment return did not meet the long-term expected

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Ed Wall: The looming shadow of law-enforcement suicide

As secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, I had five officers commit suicide in three-and-a- half years. These events alarmed me and I dove deeper into those numbers and found that at that time, the department had lost 39 officers to suicide in less than 18 years. It was that sobering realization that drove me to start the DOC suicide awareness and intervention program with the help of very devoted staff who had suffered the effects of suicides in their lives.

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Milwaukee County Exec. Abele: Announces free Aira service at public facilities

MEDIA CONTACT: Karina Henderson 414.278.4216 (office) | karina.henderson@milwaukeecountywi.gov County partnership will make facilities more accessible by providing visual description service for people who are blind or low-vision MILWAUKEE, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 – Many Milwaukee County facilities are more accessible starting today, thanks to a first-of-its-kind partnership between the County and Aira. Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele announced on Thursday that Aira, a visual description service for people who are blind or low vision to explore new locations and complete day-to-day tasks, is now available free of charge in select County facilities. The partnership builds on the recent announcement from Milwaukee County’s General Mitchell

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THU PM Update: Evers to name TDA’s Thompson DOT secretary

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov.-elect Tony Evers tomorrow will name Craig Thompson, head of the Transportation Development Association, his first DOT secretary, according to multiple sources. Evers’ transition declined comment. Thompson joined TDA, which has been advocating for more road funding, in 2007. He previously served

Read More »

U.S. Rep. Sensenbrenner: Second Chance Reauthorization Act sent to President’s desk as part of bipartisan criminal justice reform package

Christopher Krepich, 202-225-5101 Washington, D.C.—Today, the House passed S. 756, the First Step Act. This bipartisan criminal justice reform package includes Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner’s (WI-05) reauthorization language of the Second Chance Act, which provides grants for the purpose of helping newly-released prisoners successfully reenter society. Rep. Sensenbrenner: “Republicans and Democrats coming together to pass

Read More »

U.S. Rep. Gallagher: Votes in support of criminal justice reform

Contact: Madison Wiberg Madison.Wiberg@mail.house.gov Washington, D.C. – Today Congressman Mike Gallagher voted in support of the revised version of the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform package that focuses on reducing rampant recidivism among federal prisoners, reforming select sentencing laws, and increasing community safety. After the bill passed the

Read More »

Sen. Stroebel: Concerned early voting lawsuit presents conflict for incoming attorney general

Contact: Brian Sikma (608) 492-7513 Madison, WI – Pointing out that the plaintiffs in Monday’s lawsuit against Wisconsin’s revised early voting law are represented by the law firm that recently employed the incoming state Attorney General, Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Cedarburg) released the following statement today: “The current legal fight over Wisconsin’s early

Read More »

Neubauer campaign: Files over 5,500 signatures

CONTACT: Tyler Hendricks, 608-318-3065 press@judgeneubauer.com 2000 Needed To Qualify For Spring Ballot RACINE, WI – Judge Lisa Neubauer, Chief Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, filed over 5500 signatures today to qualify for the 2019 Spring Election for Wisconsin State Supreme Court. With two weeks remaining before the deadline,

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WisPolitics Midday: Dec. 20, 2018

In today’s WisPolitics Midday update: Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he expects to use the base budget and allow the Joint Finance Committee to work from there, rather than use Gov.-elect Tony Evers’ spending plan. The state population grows, but not by much, over the past year. … Please

Read More »

Sen. Cowles, Rep. Kerkman: Audit examines SWIB performance and management

For More Information Contact: Senator Robert Cowles ~ 800.334.1465 Representative Samantha Kerkman ~ 888.529.0061 MADISON – Today, the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) released its biennial evaluation of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (report 18-19). SWIB invests assets for the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), the State Investment Fund, and five

Read More »

Ed Wall: The looming shadow of law-enforcement suicide

As secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, I had five officers commit suicide in three-and-a- half years. These events alarmed me and I dove deeper into those numbers and found that at that time, the department had lost 39 officers to suicide in less than 18 years. It was that sobering realization that drove me to start the DOC suicide awareness and intervention program with the help of very devoted staff who had suffered the effects of suicides in their lives.

Read More »

Milwaukee County Exec. Abele: Announces free Aira service at public facilities

MEDIA CONTACT: Karina Henderson 414.278.4216 (office) | karina.henderson@milwaukeecountywi.gov County partnership will make facilities more accessible by providing visual description service for people who are blind or low-vision MILWAUKEE, Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018 – Many Milwaukee County facilities are more accessible starting today, thanks to a first-of-its-kind partnership between the County and Aira. Milwaukee

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