TUE PM Update: Confidentiality agreement leads to JFC dispute over lawsuit settlement talks

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The GOP co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee accused Dem AG Josh Kaul of seeking to undermine a lame-duck session law that requires legislative approval to settle a lawsuit by demanding lawmakers sign confidentiality agreements before sharing details on the action. Kaul, meanwhile, told the committee today failing to sign t… 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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Gov. Evers: Announces federal disaster declaration for July storms

Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-7443 MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) major disaster declaration for 17 Wisconsin counties and two tribes affected by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in July. The declaration comes after the governor last week formally requested a federal disaster declaration for affected areas. The counties named in the declaration are Barron, Clark, Forest, La Crosse, Langlade, Menominee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Polk, Portage, Rusk, Shawano, Vernon, Waupaca and Wood. The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin were also included. Marinette County was included

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WisDems: Hires regional organizing director for 7th CD

Contact: Courtney Beyer, courtneyb@wisdems.org MADISON — Following news that Rep. Sean Duffy will be leaving Congress, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin is excited to announce the hire of a North Central Regional Organizing Director whose region will cover a large swath of the 7th congressional district. The individual in this position will be tasked with harnessing and organizing grassroots energy in north-central Wisconsin ahead of the anticipated special election for WI-07 and the 2020 general election. “Democrats are fighting for every square inch of Wisconsin—rural, suburban, and urban alike,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Ben Wikler. “With the addition

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Gov. Evers: Seeks applicants for Washburn County district attorney

Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-7443 MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced that he is seeking applications for appointment as Washburn County District Attorney. The new appointee will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Washburn County District Attorney, Angeline Winton, whose resignation was effective August 19, 2019. The new appointee will serve out the remainder of the unexpired term that ends January 2021. To apply, please email a completed application form and supporting materials to govDAapp@wisconsin.gov. Applications must be submitted by September 9, 2019. The District Attorney application form is available on the “Apply to Serve” page of the

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Tommy Thompson: Statement on the passing of Daniel Berkos

“With the passing of Daniel “Danny” Berkos we lost a friend whose impact extended across countless communities. Even though Danny was from Illinois, our shared appreciation for Juneau County served as the foundation for our early law partnership. I always believed his strong sense of community drove him to relentlessly fight for those he represented both in and out of the courtroom—a genuine commitment to help that I and countless others experienced. Danny’s indelible sense of fairness is why I appointed him to the State Public Defenders Board in 1987, a challenge he readily-accepted resulting in stronger representation for the

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Rep. Hintz: Serious Flaws in Republican lame duck laws on display in Joint Finance Committee

Contact: Aaron Collins, 608-266-2254 MADISON – Today, Republicans on the Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) entered into an unprecedented closed session and subsequently refused to take action to allow Attorney General Josh Kaul to move forward with an undisclosed settlement agreement on behalf of the state of Wisconsin. Today’s meeting was the direct result of December’s lame duck Extraordinary Session and 2017 Wisconsin Act 369, which changed state law to require the Attorney General to have all settlement agreements approved by JFC. Assembly Democratic Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) released the following statement: “Today, we witnessed the real life consequences of

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Sen. Darling, Rep. Nygren: Finance co-chairs react to AG Kaul’s move to force legislators into confidentiality agreements

Contact: Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), 1-608-266-5830 Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette), 1-608-266-2343 (Madison, WI) – Attorney General Josh Kaul is refusing to brief members of the Legislature on a potential legal settlement unless they sign confidentiality agreements. Finance Committee Co-Chairs Nygren and Darling issued the following statement reacting to Kaul’s move. “Attorney General Josh Kaul has gone from refusing to follow state law to now actively undermining it. It is unnecessary to require legislators to sign a confidentiality agreement when they have agreed to keep information confidential in closed session. “The Attorney General requested that lawmakers meet in closed session today. We pulled

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Confidentiality agreement at heart of JFC dispute over lawsuit agreement

Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee today rejected Dem Josh Kaul’s request for explicit authority to move forward in settling an undisclosed lawsuit despite the AG’s warning that the state faces a Friday deadline to take action. In the first example of Kaul seeking legislative approval to settle a suit under lame-duck session laws, a dispute erupted over proposed confidentiality agreements … 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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Gov. Evers: Directs DNR to address PFAS contamination in drinking, ground and surface waters

MADISON – Gov. Tony Evers today announced he is directing the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to take additional efforts to address perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, in drinking, ground and surface waters.“I am committed to protecting our state’s natural resources and ensuring every Wisconsinite has access to clean drinking water,” said Gov. Evers. “In the Year of Clean Drinking Water, I’m proud that my cabinet is working with communities, citizens, and businesses to address PFAS contamination across our state.” PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals used for decades in numerous products including non-stick cookware,

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JFC grinds to halt as Kaul takes proposed settlement to committee

Dem members of the Joint Finance Committee today ripped into their GOP counterparts as the body ground to a halt during a rare — if not unprecedented — closed-door session to discuss a settlement AG Josh Kaul reached in a lawsuit. Republicans in the December lame-duck session voted to require the AG to seek approval of the Legislature when reaching settlements, and Tuesday’s hearing appeared to … 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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Gov. Evers: Announces federal disaster declaration for July storms

Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-7443 MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) major disaster declaration for 17 Wisconsin counties and two tribes affected by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in July. The declaration comes after the governor last week formally requested a federal disaster declaration

Read More »

WisDems: Hires regional organizing director for 7th CD

Contact: Courtney Beyer, courtneyb@wisdems.org MADISON — Following news that Rep. Sean Duffy will be leaving Congress, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin is excited to announce the hire of a North Central Regional Organizing Director whose region will cover a large swath of the 7th congressional district. The individual in this

Read More »

Gov. Evers: Seeks applicants for Washburn County district attorney

Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-7443 MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced that he is seeking applications for appointment as Washburn County District Attorney. The new appointee will fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Washburn County District Attorney, Angeline Winton, whose resignation was effective August 19, 2019. The new

Read More »

Tommy Thompson: Statement on the passing of Daniel Berkos

“With the passing of Daniel “Danny” Berkos we lost a friend whose impact extended across countless communities. Even though Danny was from Illinois, our shared appreciation for Juneau County served as the foundation for our early law partnership. I always believed his strong sense of community drove him to relentlessly

Read More »

Sen. Darling, Rep. Nygren: Finance co-chairs react to AG Kaul’s move to force legislators into confidentiality agreements

Contact: Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), 1-608-266-5830 Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette), 1-608-266-2343 (Madison, WI) – Attorney General Josh Kaul is refusing to brief members of the Legislature on a potential legal settlement unless they sign confidentiality agreements. Finance Committee Co-Chairs Nygren and Darling issued the following statement reacting to Kaul’s move. “Attorney General

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