WED PM Update: GOP leaders slam Evers over ‘Nixonesque’ recording of meeting on COVID-19 rules

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The Legislature’s top two Republicans today accused Gov. Tony Evers of secretly taping a May meeting with them, calling it “Nixonesque.” A spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said the Rochester Republican’s office received an open records request seeking any copies of recordings with the guv. After responding it had none… 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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U.S. Sen. Baldwin: After request, Department of Labor Inspector General to conduct audit of OSHA’s actions during COVID-19 pandemic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), today applauded the Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Inspector General’s decision to review the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) actions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. DOL has decreased their investigation and enforcement activity during the pandemic, including issuing only one coronavirus-specific citation to date, and has failed to issue an OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to create enforceable safety standards

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U.S. Rep. Steil: Bill to enforce U.S. sanctions on Iran endorsed by the Republican Study Committee as part of comprehensive national security strategy

JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN—The Republican Study Committee (RSC) has endorsed Bryan Steil’s bill, H.R. 6015, the Stop Evasion of Iran Sanctions Act, as part of RSC’s National Security Strategy: Strengthening America and Countering Global Threats. Steil has been a member of the RSC since 2019 and is a member of the RSC National Security and Foreign Affairs Task Force. “The United States will not allow Iran to avoid our sanctions and develop a nuclear weapon. My bill enforces sanctions on Iran and on countries that evade our sanctions to financially support the regime. Our National Security Strategy targets Iran’s malign actions and includes

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LFB: Tax collections again drop in May compared to ‘19, but not as steep as April decline

Wisconsin tax collections in May dropped again compared to the same period a year before due to the fiscal impact of COVID-19, but significantly less than what the state saw in April, according to a new memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. The $66 million dip in receipts was largely driven by a drop in sales tax collections compared to a year ago. Still, LFB Director Bob Lang wrote in a memo 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.

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U.S. Sen. Johnson: Continues push for delist Gray Wolf amendment

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) introduced a bipartisan amendment Wednesday that would delist the gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes region, including Wisconsin, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The amendment would restore the gray wolf to the status determined to be appropriate by Department of Interior wildlife experts in 2011, and allow the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop a wolf population management program. “Gray wolf listing decisions should come from wildlife experts. While Congress has failed to act, many northern Wisconsinites’ problems with wolves have only gotten worse. This critical amendment would allow wolf management plans

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WMC: Expresses opposition to Marathon County COVID-19 ordinance

MADISON – Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) – the combined state chamber, manufacturers’ association and safety council – urged opposition to a newly proposed ordinance in Marathon County that would give the local health department broad and overreaching authority over local businesses and individuals. The Marathon County Board of Supervisors executive committee is expected to meet this coming Thursday to discuss the ordinance. In advance of the meeting, WMC Executive Vice President of Government Relations Scott Manley released the following statement urging County Supervisors to oppose the proposal: “Marathon County’s proposed COVID-19 ordinance is fundamentally flawed, unfair and should be rejected

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Dept. of Justice: AG Kaul joins coalition of 50 states in filing 3rd complaint in ongoing antitrust price-fixing investigation into generic drug industry

Complaint Names 26 Corporate Defendants in Conspiracy to Fix Prices and Allocate Markets MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Kaul joined a coalition of 50 states led in filing the third lawsuit stemming from the ongoing antitrust investigation into a widespread conspiracy by generic drug manufacturers to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and unreasonably restrain trade for generic drugs sold across the United States. This new complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, focuses on 80 topical generic drugs that account for billions of dollars of sales in the United States and names 26 corporate Defendants. The

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AG Kaul: Leads 22-State coalition urging EPA to protect drinking water from toxic “forever” chemicals

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul is leading a 22-state coalition today in filing comments to the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) supporting the agency’s plan to regulate  perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), more commonly known as PFAS or “forever” chemicals, under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. While supportive of regulating PFOS and PFOA, the states also asked EPA to propose final drinking water standards for those specific chemicals and other PFAS that reflect current science and protect human health, as quickly as possible. “The Wisconsin Department of Justice is helping to lead this call for more effective

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U.S. Sen. Baldwin: After request, Department of Labor Inspector General to conduct audit of OSHA’s actions during COVID-19 pandemic

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Bob Casey (D-PA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), today applauded the Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Inspector General’s decision to review

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U.S. Rep. Steil: Bill to enforce U.S. sanctions on Iran endorsed by the Republican Study Committee as part of comprehensive national security strategy

JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN—The Republican Study Committee (RSC) has endorsed Bryan Steil’s bill, H.R. 6015, the Stop Evasion of Iran Sanctions Act, as part of RSC’s National Security Strategy: Strengthening America and Countering Global Threats. Steil has been a member of the RSC since 2019 and is a member of the RSC National

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U.S. Sen. Johnson: Continues push for delist Gray Wolf amendment

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) introduced a bipartisan amendment Wednesday that would delist the gray wolf in the Western Great Lakes region, including Wisconsin, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The amendment would restore the gray wolf to the status determined to be appropriate by Department of Interior wildlife experts in

Read More »

WMC: Expresses opposition to Marathon County COVID-19 ordinance

MADISON – Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) – the combined state chamber, manufacturers’ association and safety council – urged opposition to a newly proposed ordinance in Marathon County that would give the local health department broad and overreaching authority over local businesses and individuals. The Marathon County Board of Supervisors executive

Read More »

Dept. of Justice: AG Kaul joins coalition of 50 states in filing 3rd complaint in ongoing antitrust price-fixing investigation into generic drug industry

Complaint Names 26 Corporate Defendants in Conspiracy to Fix Prices and Allocate Markets MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Kaul joined a coalition of 50 states led in filing the third lawsuit stemming from the ongoing antitrust investigation into a widespread conspiracy by generic drug manufacturers to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition,

Read More »

AG Kaul: Leads 22-State coalition urging EPA to protect drinking water from toxic “forever” chemicals

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul is leading a 22-state coalition today in filing comments to the U.S. Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) supporting the agency’s plan to regulate  perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), more commonly known as PFAS or “forever” chemicals, under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. While

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