THU PM Update: State sues Purdue Pharma over opioid epidemic; JFC boosts tech college funding by $25M

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Flanked by lawmakers, law enforcement officials and advocates, AG Josh Kaul and Gov. Tony Evers announced the state has today filed a lawsuit alleging subsidiaries of Purdue Pharma fueled the opioid epidemic by employing “deceptive” marketing and sales techniques. Wisconsin is one of five states — along with Iowa, Kansas, Mary… 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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JFC adds money to workforce development

The state would pump $12.5 million more into workforce development than what Gov. Tony Evers proposed under a motion the Joint Finance Committee approved today. While more than what the guv floated, it’s short of the additional $15 million that he urged lawmakers to invest after seeing revised revenue numbers. The motion, approved 11-4 along party lines, includes putting an additional $6 million o… 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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Rep. Kitchens: Joint Finance Committee approves Kitchens’ Washington Island motion

Contact: Rep. Joel Kitchens (608) 266-5350 MADISON, Wis. – The Joint Committee on Finance approved a budget motion today submitted by Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, that will defray a portion of the costs Washington Island incurred during a natural disaster event in 2018. Kitchens’ budget motion specifically requests that the state provide the island with $2 million from the Wisconsin Disaster Fund to help cover part of the $4.1 million in expenses that resulted from ice shoves critically damaging the only submarine cable that supplies electricity to the island community. The budget motion also requires a cost share of

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Gov. Evers: Seeks applicants for Marquette County district attorney

Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-7443   MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers announced today that he is seeking applications for appointment as Marquette County District Attorney. The new appointee will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of District Attorney Chad Hendee, effective July 31, 2019. The new appointee will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term that ends January 2021. To apply, please email a completed application form and supporting materials togovDAapp@wisconsin.gov. Applications must be submitted by May 31, 2019. The District Attorney application form is available on the “Apply to Serve” page of the governor’s website:www.evers.wi.gov. For questions about the appointments process, please contact

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Wisconsin Technical College System: President’s statement on Joint Finance action

CONTACT: Conor Smyth, Wisconsin Technical College System conor.smyth@wtcsystem.edu or 608.266.2991 “The historic investment in the Wisconsin Technical College System of $25 million over the biennium approved by the Joint Committee on Finance today represents a powerful statement of support for Wisconsin’s technical college students and the employers anxious to hire them,” said System President Dr. Morna K. Foy. “I have appreciated working with Senator Darling and Representative Nygren, as well as with the other members of Joint Finance, on a topic of great importance to communities across the state.” “This investment will pay immediate dividends not only for our students, but also

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Weekly Democratic radio address: Democrats support Governor Evers clean drinking water initiatives

Contact: Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) 608-266-2500 MADISON, WI – Senator LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) offered the Democratic weekly radio address on Joint Finance Republicans’ refusal to take meaningful action on ensuring residents in communities across the state have access to clean drinking water. The audio file of this week’s address can be found here: https://sen32-shilling.cms.legis.wisconsin.gov/media/1264/senator-latonya-johnson-democraticweekly-radio-address.mp3 A written transcript of the address is below: “Hello, this is State Senator LaTonya Johnson. “This week, Republicans on the budget writing Joint Finance Committee continued to dismantle the People’s Budget by blocking investments to ensure every Wisconsinite has access to clean drinking water. “Every Wisconsinite

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Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce: Immigration reform key to solving Wisconsin, U.S. workforce shortages

Click here to view this release on our website. MADISON – President Donald Trump unveiled a plan to reform U.S. immigration policy on Thursday, which would include making changes to how immigrant visas are granted. Under the President’s proposal, more priority would be given to immigrants who have the skills needed to fill open positions in key industries. Following the announcement, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) President & CEO Kurt Bauer released the following statement: “We applaud President Trump for taking a critical first step in reforming our immigration system, while also proposing a solution to the prolonged workforce shortage we

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Sens. Bewley and Hansen: It’s about time – Purdue and the Sackler family will be held accountable for the death and destruction they’ve caused Wisconsin families thanks to AG Kaul and Governor Evers

Contact: Sen. Hansen 608-266-5670 Sen. Bewley 608- 266-3510 (Madison)—Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) and Senator Janet Bewley (D-Mason) praised Attorney General Kaul and Governor Evers for their decision to file lawsuits against Purdue Pharma L.P., Purdue Pharma Inc., and Richard S. Sackler to hold them accountable for the damage that their products and practices have done to Wisconsin families and communities.   “For several years Senator Bewley and I tried to get then-Attorney General Brad Schimel and former Governor Walker to file a lawsuit to force Purdue and the Sackler family to pay for the death and destruction they caused so

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U.S. Sen. Johnson: Introduces bill to make log trucking safer

Contact: Ben Voelkel WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) introduced the Safe Routes Act of 2019 Thursday, legislation that would allow logging trucks that meet state requirements to drive up to 150 air miles on federal highways. Logging trucks are currently limited to travelling on state highways and local roads which, unlike interstate highways, cross through multiple potential points of conflict, including intersections, crosswalks and driveways. “Forestry is a top industry for a number of Wisconsin counties. Yet certain logging trucks are unable to use federal highways to travel even short distances from forest sites to processing or storage facilities. This bill

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One Wisconsin Now: Double dose of disappointment for student loan borrowers from Joint Committee on Finance

MEDIA CONTACT Mike Browne, Deputy Director mike@OneWisconsinNow.org (608) 444-3483 Republicans Missed Opportunity to Help Current Borrowers and Take on Root Causes on $1.5 Trillion Crisis MADISON, Wis. — The People’s Budget introduced by Gov. Tony Evers included measures to help Wisconsinites caught in the $1.5 trillion student loan debt crisis. Unfortunately for the one million-plus student loan borrowers in Wisconsin and tens of thousands of college students the Republican majority on the Joint Committee on Finance refused the opportunity to provide help today. The committee failed to approve proposals to start the process of helping state borrowers to refinance their loans, just

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Rep. Plumer announces evening listening session

Contact: Rep. Jon Plumer 608-266-3404 Madison… Today, Rep. Jon Plumer (R-Lodi) announced a budget listening session in Cambria on Thursday, May 23rd. This listening session is intended for citizens to share their thoughts and concerns regarding the 2019-2021 Biennial Budget. Time and location below: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Cambria Village Office 111 W. Edgewater St. Cambria, WI 53923

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Dane County Exec. Parisi: Dane County makes history by purchasing 160 acres of property for Pheasant Branch Conservancy

Contact:  Ariana Vruwink (608) 267-8823 Is the Largest Conservation Preservation Investment the County Has Ever Made for a Property Acquisition; Will Prevent Flow of 2.6 Million Gallons of Rainwater Each Year into Lake Mendota Today, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi joined County Board and Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy representatives to announce that Dane County will acquire approximately 160 acres of property in the Town of Springfield to become a part of Pheasant Branch Conservancy. Costing nearly $10 million dollars, this is the largest conservation preservation investment for a property acquisition in the county’s history. Restoration of the property will help

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Rep. Allen: General transportation aid reform proposal repositions Wisconsin to better control spending

Contact: Rep. Scott Allen                                                                                        (608) 266-8580  Rep. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha) today proposed a budget motion which would repeal the current formulas for distributing state general transportation aid to counties and municipalities.  The proposal applies the idea of block grants to transportation spending.   “We’ve seen tremendous success with block grants at the federal level because it introduces market factors like competition into government spending,” said Rep. Allen.  “The current general transportation aid formula has not been modified in decades, and it has led to the sloppy distribution of road dollars.” The proposal will allow the Department of Transportation to establish

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Joint Finance Committee Democrats: Republicans continue to dismantle the “People’s Budget”

Contact: Sen. Jon Erpenbach (608) 266-6670 Sen. LaTonya Johnson (608) 266-2500 Rep. Chris Taylor (608) 266-5342 Rep. Evan Goyke (608) 266-0645 MADISON – Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee continue to dismantle the People’s Budget and block serious discussions on issues that Wisconsinites care about. Governor Evers proposed a budget that makes critical investments in our communities, and Republicans are defying the will of the people throughout this budget process. Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee offered the following comments regarding today’s executive session: “As we take up portions of the budget today that relate to health care, it is another

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JFC adds money to workforce development

The state would pump $12.5 million more into workforce development than what Gov. Tony Evers proposed under a motion the Joint Finance Committee approved today. While more than what the guv floated, it’s short of the additional $15 million that he urged lawmakers to invest after seeing revised revenue numbers.

Read More »

Gov. Evers: Seeks applicants for Marquette County district attorney

Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-7443   MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers announced today that he is seeking applications for appointment as Marquette County District Attorney. The new appointee will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of District Attorney Chad Hendee, effective July 31, 2019. The new appointee will serve for the remainder of the unexpired

Read More »

Wisconsin Technical College System: President’s statement on Joint Finance action

CONTACT: Conor Smyth, Wisconsin Technical College System conor.smyth@wtcsystem.edu or 608.266.2991 “The historic investment in the Wisconsin Technical College System of $25 million over the biennium approved by the Joint Committee on Finance today represents a powerful statement of support for Wisconsin’s technical college students and the employers anxious to hire them,” said

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Sens. Bewley and Hansen: It’s about time – Purdue and the Sackler family will be held accountable for the death and destruction they’ve caused Wisconsin families thanks to AG Kaul and Governor Evers

Contact: Sen. Hansen 608-266-5670 Sen. Bewley 608- 266-3510 (Madison)—Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) and Senator Janet Bewley (D-Mason) praised Attorney General Kaul and Governor Evers for their decision to file lawsuits against Purdue Pharma L.P., Purdue Pharma Inc., and Richard S. Sackler to hold them accountable for the damage that their

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U.S. Sen. Johnson: Introduces bill to make log trucking safer

Contact: Ben Voelkel WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) introduced the Safe Routes Act of 2019 Thursday, legislation that would allow logging trucks that meet state requirements to drive up to 150 air miles on federal highways. Logging trucks are currently limited to travelling on state highways and local roads which, unlike

Read More »

One Wisconsin Now: Double dose of disappointment for student loan borrowers from Joint Committee on Finance

MEDIA CONTACT Mike Browne, Deputy Director mike@OneWisconsinNow.org (608) 444-3483 Republicans Missed Opportunity to Help Current Borrowers and Take on Root Causes on $1.5 Trillion Crisis MADISON, Wis. — The People’s Budget introduced by Gov. Tony Evers included measures to help Wisconsinites caught in the $1.5 trillion student loan debt crisis. Unfortunately for

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Rep. Plumer announces evening listening session

Contact: Rep. Jon Plumer 608-266-3404 Madison… Today, Rep. Jon Plumer (R-Lodi) announced a budget listening session in Cambria on Thursday, May 23rd. This listening session is intended for citizens to share their thoughts and concerns regarding the 2019-2021 Biennial Budget. Time and location below: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Cambria Village Office

Read More »

Dane County Exec. Parisi: Dane County makes history by purchasing 160 acres of property for Pheasant Branch Conservancy

Contact:  Ariana Vruwink (608) 267-8823 Is the Largest Conservation Preservation Investment the County Has Ever Made for a Property Acquisition; Will Prevent Flow of 2.6 Million Gallons of Rainwater Each Year into Lake Mendota Today, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi joined County Board and Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy representatives to

Read More »

Rep. Allen: General transportation aid reform proposal repositions Wisconsin to better control spending

Contact: Rep. Scott Allen                                                                                        (608) 266-8580  Rep. Scott Allen (R-Waukesha) today proposed a budget motion which would repeal the current formulas for distributing state general transportation aid to counties and municipalities.  The proposal applies the idea of block grants to transportation spending.   “We’ve seen tremendous success with block grants

Read More »