April 2019

Wisconsin Policy Forum report focuses on unemployment fund

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

The Wisconsin Policy Forum says the state is “clearly better prepared” for a recession that it was in 2007. A new report focused on the state’s unemployment fund shows the state’s unemployment fund balance hit $1.74 billion at the end of last year. That marks the highest it’s been since 2010, when the fund bottomed out with a negative value of about $1.36 billion. Still, the fund’s 2… 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

WisPolitics Midday: April 30, 2019

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

In today’s WisPolitics Midday update: The WI Supreme Court rules that daughter of shooting victim can’t sue the website where gun was purchased. Polls are open in special election in the 64th assembly district. Gov Evers signs legislation regarding the use of the term “retardation” in administrative rules.

Rep. Kolste: Co-authors legislation to strengthen immunization standards

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

Gov. Evers and DHS Secretary-designee Palm: Announce community-specific data for DHS budget proposal

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2019 Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-7443 MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers and Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm launched all 72 county-specific data for investments in Gov. Evers’ DHS budget proposal. The documents demonstrate what $1.6 billion in new federal money could mean to communities across Wisconsin. “My budget proposal draws down $1.6 billion in new federal funding into Wisconsin so we can improve healthcare in communities across the state,” said Gov. Tony Evers. “But we can’t make this investment without expanding the Medicaid program to draw down this historic investment.” Medicaid expansion is the lever that

One Wisconsin Now: Republicans delaying state budget action until after fundraiser hosted by Washington D.C. lobbying firm

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

MEDIA CONTACT Mike Browne, Deputy Director mike@OneWisconsinNow.org (608) 444-3483 Delaying Deliberations Until After Special Interest Shakedown a Clear Sign of GOP Budget Priorities MADISON, Wis. — Legislative Republicans are delaying the start of their state budget deliberations until at least May 9, according to the office of Republican Joint Committee on Finance co-chair Alberta Darling, as reported by the state news service WisPolitics. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Analiese Eicher noted the delay gives top Republicans, including Senate and Assembly leaders Scott Fitzgerald and Robin Vos and the co-chairs of the powerful Joint Committee on Finance, the chance to shake down special

ACLU-Wisconsin: Challenges Wisconsin’s Unconstitutional Parole System

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

CONTACT: Cass Bowers, ACLU of Wisconsin, 414-272-4032 x 217, media@aclu-wi.org People should not spend life in prison for crimes committed as children MILWAUKEE – Today the ACLU of Wisconsin and attorneys Issa Kohler-Hausmann and Avery Gilbert, with pro-bono assistance from Wisconsin law firms Quarles & Brady LLP, and Foley & Lardner LLP filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court in Madison seeking to halt unconstitutional refusals to release parole-eligible people sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes they committed while they were children. The United States Supreme Court has held that states must give most juveniles sentenced to life in prison a chance to earn

Sen. Feyen: Proposal to reduce government waste signed into law

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

Governor Evers signs Agriculture Land Tax Notification legislation into law Contact: Emelia Rohl 608-266-5300 MADISON– Today Governor Evers signed Senate Bill 13, legislation on the Agriculture Land Tax Notification, into law. Senator Dan Feyen (R – Fond du Lac) authored this bill for a constituent from the Town of Calumet who brought her concern about local government waste to his attention. This Agriculture Land Tax Notification legislation will help local governments save money by reducing unnecessary notifications for agricultural land assessments. Annually the Department of Revenue assesses the value of an acre of agricultural land. Under this bill, municipalities would

Gov. Evers: Signs first bill into law during public ceremony

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-7443 MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today signed the first bill of his administration into law during a public ceremony at the State Capitol rotunda. At the public event, the governor signed Senate Bill 19, which makes official changes in Wisconsin’s administrative terminology for those with intellectual disabilities. “Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness, dignity, empathy, and respect every day and that includes the laws and codes that govern our state,” said Gov. Evers. “Signing Senate Bill 19 today is an important step in the right direction, but it is also a reminder that we have much

TUE News Summary: Evers signs first bill, appoints three regents; Vos supports gas tax increase, other transpo boosts

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers STORY TOPICS – White house – State government – Federal government – Local government – Agribusiness – Courts – Culture – Demographics – Economy – Education – Environment – Health care – Iowa – Labor – Law and order – Military – Public health and safety – Tourism – Editorials – Columns TOP STORIES Evers signs first bill as Wisconsin governor Wisconsi… 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.

Dave Zweifel: Scott Walker’s refusal to grant pardons failed people, like Eric Pizer, who deserved a second chance

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

Deserving people need a second chance. Unfortunately, Walker, a self-proclaimed devout Christian, didn’t believe in that.

Tom Tiffany and Duey Stroebel: Wisconsin’s hidden debt

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

Despite being well-intentioned upon enactment in 1989, the stewardship program primarily allows the state to purchase land it cannot otherwise afford, through borrowing, pushing costs onto future generations.

Sen. Fitzgerald: Governor Evers signs Fitzgerald-Jagler bill to replace r-word in administrative code

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

Contact: Alec Zimmerman (608) 266-5660 [Madison, WI] — Today, Governor Tony Evers signed a bill into law that would remove the use of the phrase “mental retardation” and all of its derivatives from state administrative code. The bill, authored by Rep. John Jagler and Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, replaces the R-word with the phrase “intellectual disability.” “I’m glad that the governor has decided to sign this bill. This term has no place in Wisconsin’s administrative code and our bill offers a permanent fix to this problem,” said Senator Fitzgerald. “I want to thank my Assembly colleague, Rep. Jagler, for his work on this,

Milwaukee Ald. Bielinski: Calls for rejection of “dark money” and other forms of corporate, special-interest spending in aldermanic race

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

Contact: Justin Bielinski T: (414) 209-4160 E: justin@bielinski4mke.com MILWAUKEE – In order to take a firm stand against the corrupting influence of money in politics, 8th District Aldermanic candidate Justin Bielinski announced today that he will not solicit nor will he accept any form of support from the following groups (and challenges his opponents to do the same): Corporate Lobbyists Corporate PACs Fossil Fuel, Pharmaceutical, and Tobacco Executives Independent Expenditure Committees Bielinski released the following statement: “Politicians should be accountable to the people, not wealthy special interests. When candidates receive money from these groups, even in the absence of corrupt

One Wisconsin Now: Republicans delaying state budget action until after fundraiser hosted by Washington D.C. lobbying firm

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

Milwaukee Ald. Bielinski: Calls for rejection of “dark money” and other forms of corporate, special-interest spending in aldermanic race

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

Kelly Ruh: Trump rocked the Resch Center in triumphant return to Green Bay

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019

John Nichols: Bernie Sanders’ trolling of Trump is a smart strategy for winning Wisconsin

Tuesday, Apr 30, 2019