Assembly passes divisive resolution proclaiming Roe V. Wade anniversary as “Protect Life Day”

The Assembly passed a joint resolution that would proclaim tomorrow, the 47th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, to be “Protect Life Day.” But many Dems dismissed the resolution as “political game-playing.” “This is what’s going on across this country in the hopes of building a case strong enough to overturn Roe v. Wade,” said Rep. Christine Sinicki, D-Milwaukee. “Mr. Speaker, I don’t think any one of us want to go back to that time of horror where women were sometimes forced to perform their own abortions, forced to go to unqualified doctors to perform

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TUE PM Update: Assembly leaders outline competing agendas ahead of State of the State address

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Ahead of tomorrow’s State of the State, Assembly leaders laid out competing agendas they hope Gov. Tony Evers will address during his annual speech to lawmakers. Speaker Robin Vos told reporters today he hopes the guv will focus on issues that “bring us together and don’t continue to show people that government is broken.” “The… 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

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WILL asks state Supreme Court to vacate stays in voter list case

Already rebuffed by the state Supreme Court once, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty took a second crack Tuesday at getting the justices to intervene in a lawsuit seeking to force off the rolls thousands of voters who may have moved. The group today asked the state Supreme Court to vacate two stays the 4th District Court of Appeals issued in the case. One placed on hold an Ozaukee County judge’s order that the Elections Commission deactivate the registrations of some 200,000 voters who may have moved. The other stayed Judge Paul Malloy’s contempt order against the commission and three Dem members for not

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Gov. Evers: Signs six bipartisan bills

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today signed six bipartisan bills into law. The governor acted on the following bills:  Senate Bill 214, now 2020 Wisconsin Act 70: Makes comprehensive modifications to municipal ordinance enforcement and municipal court procedures to promote clarity, efficiency, and cost reduction.  Senate Bill 233, now 2020 Wisconsin Act 71: Authorizes the Department of Employee Trus… 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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Assembly approves mental health pilot program, among other bills

Assembly lawmakers today passed a bill that would establish a mental health pilot program for schools in Outagamie County. Dems criticized AB 644, saying a pilot program doesn’t go far enough to cover youth mental health concerns in the state. They introduced a bill that would’ve expanded the program statewide but it failed along party lines. “It does not matter where you live there is a shortage,” said Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison. “This is crumbs. And I will vote for the crumbs.” But the bill’s author Rep. Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna said it would be “incredibly irresponsible” to initially roll out

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Rep. Sargent: Announces candidacy for 16th Senate District of Wisconsin 

MADISON– Representative Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) released the following statement announcing her candidacy for Wisconsin’s 16th Senate District: “Over the past seven years, it has been my honor to represent and serve the people of the 48th Assembly District, as well as serving Dane County as a County Supervisor for two terms. When I first ran for office, I could have never imagined the successes and the challenges faced. Above all, my tenure in the Wisconsin State Assembly has given me the unparalleled opportunity to build relationships within our community, and to collaborate with my neighbors to make our state a

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Senate signs off on bills from Assembly task forces on suicide prevention, adoption

The Senate signed off on two of the seven bills from a package created out of the Speaker’s Task Force on Suicide Prevention. It also approved one of eight bills from the Speaker’s Task Force on Adoption. All three now head to the guv’s desk. The suicide bills include: *AB 528, which would require the Department of Public Instruction to establish a grant program for students who support peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs in public, private and tribal high schools. DPI may award each school up to $1,000 each year for up to three years when they establish a suicide prevention

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Senate approves homeless bill, Dems call for more action

The Senate unanimously approved a $1 million boost to grants supporting emergency homeless shelters as Dems pressed their GOP colleagues to do more. AB 119 is part of a package to address homelessness that cleared the Assembly overwhelmingly last year. But much of the eight-bill package has been hung up in the Senate over concerns from some Republicans about the price tag. Altogether, the bills would spend more than $7.5 million over the next two years, and AB 119 is the first piece of the package to head toward the guv’s desk. Dems repeatedly pressed their GOP colleagues during the

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Both houses approve new restrictions on PFAS-containing firefighting foams

A bill that would create a wide-ranging ban the use of firefighting foams containing a chemical that contaminates groundwater is on its way to the governor’s desk after passing both legislative houses today. The proposal would ban the use of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, except in emergency circumstances or for testing purposes when the facility has adequate cleanup materials. Both houses passed it today by voice vote. Still, Dems in the Assembly introduced an amendment that would’ve expanded PFAS protections from the chemicals beyond firefighting foams but it was rejected along party lines. Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette,

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Pence to visit Madison Jan. 28 for school choice event

Vice President Mike Pence will be at the Wisconsin Capitol Jan. 28 to address the Wisconsin School Choice Student Showcase, according to the White House. The event is organized by Hispanics for School Choice for National School Choice Week. The trip follows a rally Pence and President Trump did in Milwaukee last week.  Philip Shulman, a spokesman for the state Dem Party, slammed the upcoming visit, saying Pence and the Trump administration “have repeatedly attempted to slash funding for public education, threatened student loan forgiveness programs, and proposed massive budget cuts in teacher training programs. They care more about lining

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Assembly passes proposal to allow direct primary care agreements

The Assembly today passed bill that would allow Wisconsinites to contract directly with primary care physicians. But an amendment that removed protections against discrimination drew criticism on the Assembly floor. Rep. Joe Sanfelippo introduced the change today that eliminated lines of the bill which banned a health care provider from discrimination on the basis of age, gender or gender identity, citizenship status and color, among others. The New Berlin Republican said he heard from physicians late Friday who expressed concern that the nondiscrimination language would only target direct primary care physicians and no other doctors in the state. But Rep.

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Rep. Neubauer: Youth access to mental health care can’t wait

MADISON — Multiple bills and resolutions relating to health care were addressed on the Assembly floor in Session today, including 2019 AB 644, creating a pilot program for youth mental health care access in schools. Rep. Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) released the following statement: “Over my last two years in office, I have heard over and over from my constituents that we need to prioritize affordable, accessible, and comprehensive health care in all of its forms. Today, I was proud to continue to advocate for expanded access to mental health care in all of Wisconsin’s schools. “Too often, a mental health

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Gov. Evers: Appoints Lukas Steiner to serve as Crawford County district attorney

MADISON – Gov. Tony Evers today announced his appointment of Lukas Steiner to serve as Crawford County District Attorney. This appointment fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Tim Baxter on Jan. 3, 2020. Steiner will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term that ends in January 2021.  “Lukas Steiner cares deeply about southwest Wisconsin and knows the area well. He is well-liked and highly respected in the area,” said Gov. Evers. “I am confident he will be a great advocate for fair and honest criminal justice in Crawford County, and that he will serve the people well

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WILL asks state Supreme Court to vacate stays in voter list case

Already rebuffed by the state Supreme Court once, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty took a second crack Tuesday at getting the justices to intervene in a lawsuit seeking to force off the rolls thousands of voters who may have moved. The group today asked the state Supreme Court to vacate

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Gov. Evers: Signs six bipartisan bills

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today signed six bipartisan bills into law. The governor acted on the following bills:  Senate Bill 214, now 2020 Wisconsin Act 70: Makes comprehensive modifications to municipal ordinance enforcement and municipal court procedures to promote clarity, efficiency, and cost reduction.  Senate Bill 233, now 2020 Wisconsin Act

Read More »

Assembly approves mental health pilot program, among other bills

Assembly lawmakers today passed a bill that would establish a mental health pilot program for schools in Outagamie County. Dems criticized AB 644, saying a pilot program doesn’t go far enough to cover youth mental health concerns in the state. They introduced a bill that would’ve expanded the program statewide

Read More »

Senate approves homeless bill, Dems call for more action

The Senate unanimously approved a $1 million boost to grants supporting emergency homeless shelters as Dems pressed their GOP colleagues to do more. AB 119 is part of a package to address homelessness that cleared the Assembly overwhelmingly last year. But much of the eight-bill package has been hung up

Read More »

Pence to visit Madison Jan. 28 for school choice event

Vice President Mike Pence will be at the Wisconsin Capitol Jan. 28 to address the Wisconsin School Choice Student Showcase, according to the White House. The event is organized by Hispanics for School Choice for National School Choice Week. The trip follows a rally Pence and President Trump did in

Read More »

Assembly passes proposal to allow direct primary care agreements

The Assembly today passed bill that would allow Wisconsinites to contract directly with primary care physicians. But an amendment that removed protections against discrimination drew criticism on the Assembly floor. Rep. Joe Sanfelippo introduced the change today that eliminated lines of the bill which banned a health care provider from

Read More »

Rep. Neubauer: Youth access to mental health care can’t wait

MADISON — Multiple bills and resolutions relating to health care were addressed on the Assembly floor in Session today, including 2019 AB 644, creating a pilot program for youth mental health care access in schools. Rep. Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) released the following statement: “Over my last two years in office,

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