THU PM Update: Panelists anticipate little impact from final presidential debate tonight

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — With only about 3 percent of voters undecided, a bipartisan panel agreed tonight’s presidential debate will do little to change the outcome of the election. “It would have to be a breakout moment by either candidate to really persuade people,” said RNC committeeman Tom Schreibel during a WisPolitics.com online panel discussion…. 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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Sen. Carpenter: Statement on Legislative Republicans’ decision to boycott Legislative Session

(MADISON)—Today, Senator Tim Carpenter issued the following statement regarding the avoidance of responsibility displayed by legislative Republicans: “Wisconsin Republican state legislators have been boycotting legislative session since April. “Republicans in our state legislature have pulled a ‘no show’ in a desperate, last-ditch effort to grind the people’s business to a halt. “Of the 24 days that Republicans had scheduled for the Senate to be in session in 2020, they have only decided to meet 3 times. In order to address the pandemic, they held one extraordinary session on April 15th. “However, there is nothing stopping the legislature from treating the

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Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission: Announces three finalists for Milwaukee chief of police

Milwaukee, WI – The Board of Commissioners of the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission (FPC) announced today the top three finalists for the position of Police Chief for the Milwaukee Police Department. They are Malik Aziz, Chris Davis and Hoyt Mahaley. Malik Aziz – Dallas Police Major was born and raised in Dallas and is currently the National Chair and Executive Director of the National Black Police Association and an instructor in Criminal Justice Police Leadership at DeSales University. Chris Davis – Deputy Chief for the Portland Police Bureau and former Assistant Chief of operations, where he led three precincts,

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U.S. Dept. of Agriculture: Trump administration invests $33 million in rural electric infrastructure in Wisconsin

STEVENS POINT, Wis., Oct., 22, 2020 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wisconsin Rural Development State Director Frank Frassetto announced that USDA is investing an additional $3.1 billion to build or improve rural electric infrastructure in 25 states and he highlighted a record level of funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 to upgrade infrastructure. “Rural electric cooperatives and utilities are increasing their internal communications capabilities to improve the reliability and efficiency of the electric grid. This added communications capacity helps cooperatives and their partners expand broadband coverage as they leverage these USDA smart grid investments,” Frassetto said. “Under the leadership of President Trump

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U.S. Rep. Gallagher: Introduces bill to close lobbying loopholes for Chinese companies

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) today announced they will introduce the Chinese Communist Party Influence Transparency Act, which would close loopholes that allow lobbyists for Chinese companies to avoid registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The bill comes after Rep. Gallagher and Sen. Cotton wrote to Attorney General Bill Barr last month expressing concerns about these loopholes and whether individuals lobbying on behalf of certain Chinese companies should be required to register under FARA. Click HERE for bill text. “Even nominally private Chinese firms are not like normal companies. All Chinese firms, and especially those significant

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Biden campaign: Reps. Billings, Pfaff, local business leaders discuss what’s at stake for La Crosse economy

Yesterday, State Representative Jill Billings held a “What’s at Stake” press conference with State Senate candidate Brad Pfaff, Jen Barney, owner of Meringue Bakery and Cafe, and Neil Kamrowski, Directing Business Representative of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District Lodge 66. The participants discussed the stakes of the election for Wisconsin small businesses, … 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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County Supervisor Haas: Commends Life Scout Zeno Wilson for restoring Wilson Park gazebo

MILWAUKEE – Zeno Wilson, a Life Scout with Boy Scout Troop 208 in Milwaukee, and resident of the 14th District, recently completed a restoration of the Wilson Park Gazebo as part of his Eagle Scout project. Supervisor Jason Haas commended Zeno for his efforts in a statement released Thursday.   “I’d like to congratulate Zeno for planning and completing an Eagle Scout project that embodies the ingenuity and community spirit characteristic of all Eagle Scouts,” said Supervisor Haas. “Zeno’s project provides a quality of life improvement for the residents of the 14th District and Milwaukee County who spend time enjoying Wilson

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WHEDA: Door County announced as pilot community for Affordable Workforce Housing Initiative, supplemental financing tools

STURGEON BAY, WI – Door County has been selected as one of three pilot communities in Wisconsin as part of WHEDA’s (Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority) new Rural Affordable Workforce Housing Initiative. In an effort by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority to address the state’s shortage of rural affordable workforce housing is moving forward with the selection of three pilot communities and new financing tools for homebuyers and developers in rural areas. After gaining approvals from WHEDA’s board, the rural affordable workforce housing pilot attracted strong interest from communities throughout the state. WHEDA CEO Joaquín Altoro said

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American Bridge 21st Century: Launches new ad slamming Trump for health care repeal in a pandemic

Today, American Bridge 21st Century launched a new digital ad highlighting Donald Trump’s comments on the Affordable Care Act to Leslie Stahl in an upcoming 60 Minutes interview. When asked about the upcoming Supreme Court case that may potentially overturn the Affordable Care Act in the middle of a pandemic, stripping millions of Americans of their insurance and ending protections for preexisting… 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: Statement on Donald Trump visit to Waukesha

(WISCONSIN) — In response to President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Waukesha, Wisconsin, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Tommy Kubitschek released the following statement: “For four years, Wisconsinites have watched Trump abandon the Badger state’s economy, and attack the 2.4 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions. Now, Trump visiting Wisconsin will only remind voters of his failed leadership and response to COVID-19, which is tearing through Wisconsin. But over one million Wisconsinites have already cast their ballots, making it clear that they are ready for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to take the White House and begin building a future that provides working families across

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Dept. of Revenue: Collections, first quarter FY2021

General Purpose Revenue (GPR) Collections Amounts in Thousands ($), rounded     Collections to Date Revenue Source FY20 FY21 % change       Individual Income      1,850,826      1,785,950 -3.5%       General Sales & Use      1,015,138      1,024,447 0.9%       Corporate          360,087          550,678 52.7%       Excise Taxes          134,274          129,170 -3.8%       Other            15,084            23,676 57.0%       Total GPR      3,375,409      3,513,920 4.1% This report includes general purpose revenue (GPR) taxes collected by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and does not include taxes collected by the Office of

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U.S. Sen. Baldwin: Tells U.S. AG Barr to stop efforts to gut the Affordable Care Act in court

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, along with 19 Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to rescind its support of the Supreme Court lawsuit that seeks to invalidate the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In the letter, the Senators highlight how health insurance protections for millions of Americans are at stake in light of the ongoing lawsuit against the ACA and the current Supreme Court nomination fight, and the ways in which health insurers could discriminate against millions more people who contract COVID-19 if protections in the ACA

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U.S. Sens. Johnson, Grassley: Will interview former Hunter Biden business associate, request documents from other individuals, including James and Hunter Biden

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, will convene an informal interview Friday with Tony Bobulinski, a former Hunter Biden business associate.  In response to an October 21, 2020, request from the Chairmen, today Mr. Bobulinski provided the Committees with documents regarding his business arrangements with Hunter Biden and others.  The Chairmen also sent similar requests for information to Hunter Biden, James Biden, James Gilliar and Rob Walker.  To date, Mr. Bobulinski is the only individual who has produced responsive documents

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Sen. Cowles: Congratulates James Golembeski of the Bay Area Workforce Development Board on retirement

GREEN BAY– Senator Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) released the following statement after the Bay Area Workforce Development Board announced the appointment of a new Executive Director to replace James (Jim) Golembeski, who will be retiring at the end of this year: “I want to take a moment to congratulate Jim on his retirement, and thank him for his nearly three decades of service with the Bay Area Workforce Development Board. I have no doubt in my mind that our region’s economy would look markedly different if it weren’t for Jim’s steady hand on the pulse of Northeast Wisconsin’s workforce. His

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Dept. of Natural Resources: Environmental review for Iron River Sanitary District Two project

MADISON, Wis. – The Iron River Sanitary District Two is an applicant for funding through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP) to address deficiencies in their public drinking water system. The project will consist of replacing existing watermains and water services within the U.S. Highway 2 from Lea Street to Front Street. Activities related to this project are minor actions under Chapter NR 150, Wis. Admin. Code, for which no environmental analysis is required. However, in accordance with the SDWLP federal requirement 40 C.F.R. §35.3580, an environmental review must be conducted before funding this project. The SDWLP has determined that

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Sen. Carpenter: Statement on Legislative Republicans’ decision to boycott Legislative Session

(MADISON)—Today, Senator Tim Carpenter issued the following statement regarding the avoidance of responsibility displayed by legislative Republicans: “Wisconsin Republican state legislators have been boycotting legislative session since April. “Republicans in our state legislature have pulled a ‘no show’ in a desperate, last-ditch effort to grind the people’s business to a

Read More »

Biden campaign: Reps. Billings, Pfaff, local business leaders discuss what’s at stake for La Crosse economy

Yesterday, State Representative Jill Billings held a “What’s at Stake” press conference with State Senate candidate Brad Pfaff, Jen Barney, owner of Meringue Bakery and Cafe, and Neil Kamrowski, Directing Business Representative of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District Lodge 66. The participants discussed the stakes of the

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WisDems: Statement on Donald Trump visit to Waukesha

(WISCONSIN) — In response to President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Waukesha, Wisconsin, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Tommy Kubitschek released the following statement: “For four years, Wisconsinites have watched Trump abandon the Badger state’s economy, and attack the 2.4 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions. Now, Trump visiting Wisconsin will only remind voters

Read More »

Dept. of Revenue: Collections, first quarter FY2021

General Purpose Revenue (GPR) Collections Amounts in Thousands ($), rounded     Collections to Date Revenue Source FY20 FY21 % change       Individual Income      1,850,826      1,785,950 -3.5%       General Sales & Use      1,015,138      1,024,447 0.9%       Corporate          360,087          550,678 52.7%  

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U.S. Sens. Johnson, Grassley: Will interview former Hunter Biden business associate, request documents from other individuals, including James and Hunter Biden

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, will convene an informal interview Friday with Tony Bobulinski, a former Hunter Biden business associate.  In response to an October 21, 2020, request from

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