Assembly passes bills raising legal smoking age, requiring cursive writing lessons in school

The Assembly today passed a proposal to raise the legal age to buy nicotine and tobacco products from 18 to 21. The bill’s author Rep. John Spiros, R-Marshfield, said the bill was required for law enforcement officers to comply with a recent national law which did essentially the same thing. The Assembly also passed a bill that would require cursive writing lessons in schools. AB 459 would mandate all public and charter schools teach cursive with the goal of student proficiency by fifth grade. It passed the Senate Education Committee but hasn’t yet received a floor vote. They both passed

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THU PM Update: GOP tax cut package headed to Evers’ desk

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The state Assembly signed off on a $392.4 million package today that would cut income taxes, expand a property tax break for businesses and reduce state debt. In doing so, Republicans challenged Gov. Tony Evers to sign the package after he pledged during the 2018 campaign to reduce taxes for the middle class by 10 percent. Spea… 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  

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Wisconsin AFL-CIO: Endorses Jill Karofsky for Wisconsin Supreme Court

Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, released the following statement announcing the Wisconsin AFL-CIO endorsement of Judge Jill Karofsky for the Wisconsin Supreme Court general election on April 7, 2020. “The Wisconsin AFL-CIO is proud to endorse Judge Jill Karofsky for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Judge Karofsky will bring the values of fairness and independence to the court. She has vast experience fighting to protect the civil and constitutional rights of all people. Working people know that who sits on the Supreme Court impacts our workplace conditions, wage and safety laws, and rights as workers. Union members are looking

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Assembly unanimously passes series of food product labeling bills

The Assembly passed a series of bills that would restrict labeling on meat and dairy products. The bills, AB 515, 516 and 518, would ban producers of plant-based and lab-grown food products from using terminology in their marketing that alludes to actual meat or dairy products like “cheese” or “bacon.” They all passed by voice vote. Even if signed into law by the guv, 515 and 516, which would ban products from using common dairy labeling like “milk” and “cheese” unless the product is from an animal, wouldn’t take effect until at least 10 of 15 specified states enacted similar

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Budget veto override attempt fails in the Assembly along party lines

An override attempt of one of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget vetoes today failed in the Assembly along party lines with members of both parties accusing the other side of playing politics with students’ education. The provision within the budget Evers vetoed would’ve required the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to put aside $500,000 each budget year to award fabrication laboratory grants, a K-12 resource-sharing program meant to prepare students for manufacturing jobs. In his veto message, the guv said he rejected the measure because he didn’t support the Legislature limiting WEDC’s authority. He said the fab labs program “is a policy

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“Battleground Wisconsin Now” for Feb. 20

On the debut episode of “Battleground Wisconsin Now,” Edge Messaging LLC President Brian Fraley and Cap Times Opinion Editor Jessie Opoien discuss the state Legislature’s end-of-session rush, Tuesday’s primary results and the push to extend bar hours for the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

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Rep. Sargent: Honors hometown hero

MADISON – Representative Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) released the following statement congratulating Reverend Doctor Carmen Porco for receiving the Wisconsin State Assembly Hometown Hero award:  “Today it was my distinct honor to recognize Reverend Doctor Carmen Porco as the Hometown Hero from the 48th Assembly District. Carmen Porco is greatly deserving of the Hometown Hero award for his incredible dedication to addressing housing needs here in Wisconsin, and for his work within low-income communities. Rev. Porco has selflessly dedicated his life and work to fighting for just and equal opportunities, and has changed the lives of many.  Not only has he significantly

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Dane County, United Way & partners expand coalition to mentor at-risk youth following successful pilot program

Today, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and United Way of Dane County President and CEO Renee Moe joined community partners to announce the expansion of the Opportunity Youth Cross Sector Coalition, a program committed to mentoring justice involved youth and those at risk of justice involvement. By expanding intensive mentoring to more youth in our community who are at risk of making poor, sometimes dangerous choices, the Coalition hopes to preserve lifetimes of opportunity and prevent years of consequence based on a few bad decisions. “It is so important for our youth to have a mature voice in their ear

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Quinnipiac poll shows Trump leading in Wisconsin

New polling from Quinnipiac University released today had President Trump with leads of between 7 and 11 points on each of the top Dems vying for their party’s nomination to face him this fall. The Quinnipiac poll looked at Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, all three part of the so-called “blue wall” that crumbled in 2016 as Trump won each of the states. While Trump had significant leads on all six Dem contenders among registered voters in Wisconsin, he trailed all six in the Michigan and Pennsylvania polls. In Wisconsin, it was: Trump 50, Amy Klobuchar 39. Trump 51, Elizabeth Warren

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Sen. Carpenter: Republicans open the door to discrimination in healthcare

(MADISON)—Today, Senator Tim Carpenter issued the following statement regarding 2019 Wisconsin Assembly Bill 26: “I am extremely frustrated and offended by the changes that were made to Assembly Bill 26, as well as the method that the majority used to achieve them. Originally, AB 26 was for the purpose of expanding healthcare access and options, by allowing Direct Primary Care clinics to operate more freely in Wisconsin. This would allow patients and doctors to negotiate the terms of their services directly through a contract. “In their original bill, Representative Sanfelippo and Senator Chris Kapenga included bold language that would have

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Rep. Mcguire: Statement on passage of Assembly Bill 470

MADISON – The following is a statement from State Representative Tip McGuire on the Wisconsin State Senate’s passage of Assembly Bill 470, which Rep. McGuire co-sponsored along with Senator Jerry Petrowski and Reps. Ron Tusler and Paul Tittl: “I was pleased to see that last night the State Senate passed Assembly Bill 470, which creates 12 new circuit court branches in counties that are significantly over-burdened by their caseloads. It is critical that we give our judiciary the resources they need to effectively uphold the law and protect the rights of all Wisconsinites.” The Senate passed AB-470 unanimously, bringing its vote

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Rep. Steineke: Calls on Gov. Evers to sign bipartisan tax bill

MADISON – The Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate passed a bipartisan bill today, providing more tax relief for hard-working Wisconsin families. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) released the following statement regarding its passage: “As we’ve been supportive of time and again, today we passed a bill that will take surplus dollars and put them back where they belong: in our taxpayers’ pockets. At the end of the day, I trust that our taxpayers are the best stewards of their own money – not bureaucrats in Madison. With today’s vote, Wisconsin Republicans are once again proving that we are committed to

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Weekly GOP Radio Address

Note: If this post has anything to do with Evers, the Evers administration or lame-duck legislation and related lawsuits, please tag it as Evers Administration. Please delete this note before publishing.

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Larson campaign: Acquires four more union endorsements: AFSCME, UAW, SEIU, & MTEA

Contact: 414-979-9155 Milwaukee, WI – The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 32, representing 1.6M; International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW); Services Employees International Union Wisconsin State Council (SEIU Local 1), representing 8,000; and Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association representing 5,000 endorse Larson for County Executive after Larson’s primary win. Mike Pelzek, Vice-President of AFSCME Council 32 said, “At AFSCME, we know public service isn’t just a job, it’s a calling. The work our members do matters because we are making our community better. And that’s why we are proud to

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THU PM Update: GOP tax cut package headed to Evers’ desk

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The state Assembly signed off on a $392.4 million package today that would cut income taxes, expand a property tax break for businesses and reduce state debt. In doing so, Republicans challenged Gov. Tony Evers to sign the package after he pledged

Read More »

Wisconsin AFL-CIO: Endorses Jill Karofsky for Wisconsin Supreme Court

Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, released the following statement announcing the Wisconsin AFL-CIO endorsement of Judge Jill Karofsky for the Wisconsin Supreme Court general election on April 7, 2020. “The Wisconsin AFL-CIO is proud to endorse Judge Jill Karofsky for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Judge Karofsky will bring

Read More »

Assembly unanimously passes series of food product labeling bills

The Assembly passed a series of bills that would restrict labeling on meat and dairy products. The bills, AB 515, 516 and 518, would ban producers of plant-based and lab-grown food products from using terminology in their marketing that alludes to actual meat or dairy products like “cheese” or “bacon.”

Read More »

Budget veto override attempt fails in the Assembly along party lines

An override attempt of one of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget vetoes today failed in the Assembly along party lines with members of both parties accusing the other side of playing politics with students’ education. The provision within the budget Evers vetoed would’ve required the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to put

Read More »

“Battleground Wisconsin Now” for Feb. 20

On the debut episode of “Battleground Wisconsin Now,” Edge Messaging LLC President Brian Fraley and Cap Times Opinion Editor Jessie Opoien discuss the state Legislature’s end-of-session rush, Tuesday’s primary results and the push to extend bar hours for the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Read More »

Rep. Sargent: Honors hometown hero

MADISON – Representative Melissa Sargent (D-Madison) released the following statement congratulating Reverend Doctor Carmen Porco for receiving the Wisconsin State Assembly Hometown Hero award:  “Today it was my distinct honor to recognize Reverend Doctor Carmen Porco as the Hometown Hero from the 48th Assembly District. Carmen Porco is greatly deserving of

Read More »

Quinnipiac poll shows Trump leading in Wisconsin

New polling from Quinnipiac University released today had President Trump with leads of between 7 and 11 points on each of the top Dems vying for their party’s nomination to face him this fall. The Quinnipiac poll looked at Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, all three part of the so-called “blue

Read More »

Rep. Mcguire: Statement on passage of Assembly Bill 470

MADISON – The following is a statement from State Representative Tip McGuire on the Wisconsin State Senate’s passage of Assembly Bill 470, which Rep. McGuire co-sponsored along with Senator Jerry Petrowski and Reps. Ron Tusler and Paul Tittl: “I was pleased to see that last night the State Senate passed

Read More »

Rep. Steineke: Calls on Gov. Evers to sign bipartisan tax bill

MADISON – The Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate passed a bipartisan bill today, providing more tax relief for hard-working Wisconsin families. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) released the following statement regarding its passage: “As we’ve been supportive of time and again, today we passed a bill that will take surplus

Read More »

Weekly GOP Radio Address

Note: If this post has anything to do with Evers, the Evers administration or lame-duck legislation and related lawsuits, please tag it as Evers Administration. Please delete this note before publishing.

Read More »

Larson campaign: Acquires four more union endorsements: AFSCME, UAW, SEIU, & MTEA

Contact: 414-979-9155 Milwaukee, WI – The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 32, representing 1.6M; International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW); Services Employees International Union Wisconsin State Council (SEIU Local 1), representing 8,000; and Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association representing 5,000

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