Elections Commission agrees to send absentee ballot applications to most registered voters

The Wisconsin Elections Commission on Wednesday unanimously backed a proposal to send roughly 2.7 million voters an absentee ballot application. Staffers anticipate just 1 percent of recipients will respond to the mailing, which will cost around $2.3 million. But staff said the anticipated response rate was a “crude estimate” based on experience with past mailings. The mailing was one of three proposals for spending money allocated by a federal coronavirus relief package first considered at a meeting last week. But a vote was pushed back to Wednesday’s meeting after GOP Chair Dean Knudson recommended a number of changes. The final

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State GOP scales back plans for in-person convention

The state GOP is paring back plans for the in-person convention planned for July in Green Bay, going to a two-day format rather than the typical three. Having already pushed back the convention two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the party is now dropping the usual Sunday morning portion of the event. The prayer breakfast that’s usually part of the Sunday events is being moved to Saturday, Ju… 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

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WED PM Update: Republicans grill Frostman over unemployment insurance problems

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — DWD Secretary Caleb Frostman today pushed back on criticism that his agency should’ve more quickly expanded call center hours for those applying for unemployment, telling a Senate committee it previously didn’t have the staff needed for a more robust operation. Frostman also told the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Ref… 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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Wisdems: DPW statement on 100,000 coronavirus deaths

(WISCONSIN) — Today, the United States recorded its 100,000 Coronavirus-related death. Democratic Party of Wisconsin Spokesperson Philip Shulman released the following statement: “We have hit an inconsolable bench mark in the COVID-19 pandemic — 100,000 of our family members, friends, and neighbors have perished from this deadly disease. What makes this all the more painful is that it didn’t have to be this way. But here we are because Donald Trump didn’t take this crisis seriously from the outset. Even when he did start facing the reality of this crisis, he botched every necessary step to contain the virus. From

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Thirteen candidates running for Wisconsin DNC slots

Thirteen candidates have filed to run at next month’s virtual state convention for Wisconsin’s four slots on the Democratic National Committee. The four candidates include the incumbents: Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley, D-Mason; Khary Penebaker, a businessman who ran for the 5th CD in 2016; Martha Love, a former state chair; and Andrew Werthmann, an Eau Claire alderman. The other candidates are: Micah Ariel-Rohr, Gregory Geboski, Peter German, Brandon Kuhl, Essie Lenchne, Christine McDonough, Richard McGowan, Timothy Nunan, Charlie Ryan and Luis Varela. The party plans to conduct the election for four-year terms through an online ballot. Typically, the top

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Sen. Ringhand: Senate hearing highlights Republican roadblocks to unemployment

Today, the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform showed that legislation enacted by Republicans during the Walker administration has made it more difficult for hard working Wisconsinites to receive the Unemployment Insurance benefits that they have earned. “Lowering protections for Wisconsin workers was a theme of the Walker administration. The Republican legislature’s effort to make it more difficult for laid-off workers to navigate the Unemployment system has really been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.” When Scott Walker lost, the Republicans quickly convened a lame-duck session to limit Governor Evers’ power, including a prohibition preventing him from loosening Unemployment Insurance

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Sen. Smith: GOP unemployment blame game blows up in their faces

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…. 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. McGuire: Statement on Gov. Evers’ “Routes to Recovery” grants for local governments

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…. 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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U.S. Rep. Steil: Introduces the Stop Coronavirus Scams Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Bryan Steil is working to protect seniors from criminal scammers preying upon our emotions during the coronavirus crisis. Steil introduced H.R. 7002, the Stop Coronavirus Scams Act. Steil’s bill enhances penalties on criminals who knowingly traffic counterfeit drugs, mislabeled masks, and other false products during the coronavirus crisis. “During these challenging times, people must rely on accurate, official sources. However, criminal scammers are preying upon our vulnerabilities and capitalizing on the coronavirus crisis. I am working to hold these criminals accountable and fight back. My bill enhances penalties on scammers who aim to do our community harm. As we move

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AG Kaul: Files lawsuit challenging Trump administration’s reckless rollback of national clean car standards

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul and a multistate coalition today filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s disastrous final rule rolling back the national Clean Car Standards. The previous standards required appropriate and feasible improvements in fuel economy and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and light trucks. Since their introduction in 2010, these standards have saved consumers money, reduced harmful emissions, and helped protect the health of our communities. The Trump Administration’s Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles (SAFE) rule stops this progress in its tracks, hurting the economy and public health at a time when the country can least afford it. In

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Gov. Evers: Announces $200 Million “Routes to Recovery: Local Government Aid Grants” program

Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-7443 MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced the launch of the “Routes to Recovery: Local Government Aid Grants” program, a $200 million effort aimed at helping local leaders address some of their most urgent and unique COVID-19 recovery needs. Administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA), Routes to Recovery Grants will be allocated to every Wisconsin county, city, village, town and federally recognized tribe. The effort is funded by $200 million in federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act dollars and will be administered by the DOA. Of the $200 million, $10 million will be allocated to

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State GOP scales back plans for in-person convention

The state GOP is paring back plans for the in-person convention planned for July in Green Bay, going to a two-day format rather than the typical three. Having already pushed back the convention two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the party is now dropping the usual Sunday morning portion

Read More »

Wisdems: DPW statement on 100,000 coronavirus deaths

(WISCONSIN) — Today, the United States recorded its 100,000 Coronavirus-related death. Democratic Party of Wisconsin Spokesperson Philip Shulman released the following statement: “We have hit an inconsolable bench mark in the COVID-19 pandemic — 100,000 of our family members, friends, and neighbors have perished from this deadly disease. What makes

Read More »

Thirteen candidates running for Wisconsin DNC slots

Thirteen candidates have filed to run at next month’s virtual state convention for Wisconsin’s four slots on the Democratic National Committee. The four candidates include the incumbents: Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley, D-Mason; Khary Penebaker, a businessman who ran for the 5th CD in 2016; Martha Love, a former state

Read More »

Sen. Ringhand: Senate hearing highlights Republican roadblocks to unemployment

Today, the Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform showed that legislation enacted by Republicans during the Walker administration has made it more difficult for hard working Wisconsinites to receive the Unemployment Insurance benefits that they have earned. “Lowering protections for Wisconsin workers was a theme of the Walker administration.

Read More »

Sen. Smith: GOP unemployment blame game blows up in their faces

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…. Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free

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U.S. Rep. Steil: Introduces the Stop Coronavirus Scams Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Bryan Steil is working to protect seniors from criminal scammers preying upon our emotions during the coronavirus crisis. Steil introduced H.R. 7002, the Stop Coronavirus Scams Act. Steil’s bill enhances penalties on criminals who knowingly traffic counterfeit drugs, mislabeled masks, and other false products during the coronavirus crisis. “During these

Read More »

AG Kaul: Files lawsuit challenging Trump administration’s reckless rollback of national clean car standards

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul and a multistate coalition today filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s disastrous final rule rolling back the national Clean Car Standards. The previous standards required appropriate and feasible improvements in fuel economy and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and light trucks. Since their

Read More »

Gov. Evers: Announces $200 Million “Routes to Recovery: Local Government Aid Grants” program

Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-7443 MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced the launch of the “Routes to Recovery: Local Government Aid Grants” program, a $200 million effort aimed at helping local leaders address some of their most urgent and unique COVID-19 recovery needs. Administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA), Routes

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