Madison – Rep. Scott Krug (R-Rome) and Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) have authored a bill to provide assistance in the purchase of the Verso paper mill in Wisconsin Rapids. “I think we’ve figured this out,” Rep. Krug announced in unveiling the proposal. “There is already a building. There is equipment, there is expertise, and there is a proven need for product. There is everything needed except for a portion of the money, and this bill would close that gap.” The Verso mill was the largest employer in Wisconsin Rapids until June 2020 when the mill was closed. Its owner, Verso Corporation,

MILWAUKEE – In recognition of the ongoing epidemic of violence and homicides especially among young people in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin, State Rep. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement: “Yesterday morning, the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance formally began executive sessions to reshape Governor Tony Evers’ biennial budget. Now that we’ve entered the unofficial beginning of ‘budget season,’ I am once again calling for expanded and enhanced violence prevention and violence interruption funding – not only at the state level, but at the county, municipal & school district level in Milwaukee & across Wisconsin. The past year has witnessed

Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) Friday announced legislation to expand on the success of the universal free lunch approach recently extended by the USDA, and bring long-term relief to millions of food-insecure families. The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021 would permanently provide free breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack to all school children regardless of income, eliminate school meal debt, and strengthen local economies by incentivizing local food procurement.   “I remember the challenges of keeping my three kids fed, but I felt reassured knowing that when they were in school, they would receive nutritious meals,” said Rep. Moore. “Every student should have

La Crosse, WI – Today, Rep. Ron Kind is highlighting key funding priorities for fiscal year 2022. Each year, Congress considers several appropriations measures which provide funding for government operations and other activities. The appropriations cycle starts with the President’s budget proposal, and appropriations measures are typically debated and voted on through the spring and summer.   “We must continue to lay a foundation for growth by making smart investments that keep our economy growing and guarantee we out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build our global competitors,” said Rep. Ron Kind. “I’m proud to support investments that will not only create the jobs of the future

(MADISON) — Yesterday afternoon, Ron Johnson did another embarrassingly bad — and seriously dangerous — interview with Vicki McKenna on WIBA. On the show, he parroted Tucker Carlson’s misleading vaccine language from the evening before — a segment that was widely criticized for spreading cherry-picked numbers designed to stoke fear rather than spread real information.   In each of the claims, Ron Johnson and Tucker Carlson compare twist and manipulate numbers to scare people from getting highly-effective vaccines that will save lives and allow Wisconsin to fully reopen and bounce back.   “From stalling the American Rescue Plan to taking to the

Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), Co-chairman of the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR), announced today that he will move to suspend Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Emergency Rule 2106, a rule that waives work search requirements for individuals collecting unemployment insurance benefits.  The waiver of the work search requirements started last year in response to Covid-19.  Currently, Emergency Rule 2106 would not expire until July 10, 2021.        “The Department of Workforce Development has the power to end the emergency rule early on its own authority.  Unfortunately, Governor Evers and his administration is ignoring the critical shortage

“Here is my bottom line: our state’s economic recovery cannot wait, and Wisconsinites cannot afford for you to play politics.” (MADISON) — Yesterday, Gov. Tony Evers responded to a letter from Republican leadership asking for a meeting on how he plans to spend the American Rescue Plan funding. Robin Vos and Devin LaMahieu have no plans to meet with the governor in good faith – they’ve already begun completely gutting the governor’s Badger Bounceback budget, and they continue to play political games with Wisconsin’s pandemic recovery.   In his response to Republican leadership, Gov. Evers criticized Republicans for slowing down the state’s recovery with their political

MANITOWOC – The Bay at North Ridge Health and Rehabilitation Center welcomed State Rep. Paul Tittl (R-Manitowoc) Friday, who visited the facility to thank nurses and staff for their hard work during the COVID-19 crisis, and to celebrate the caring hearts and servant spirits of all area nurses during National Nurses Week. Following a tour of the facility, Rep. Tittl presented a framed letter to the staff at The Bay at North Ridge Health and Rehabilitation Center in honor of their work developing and maintaining a COVID-19 unit at the facility. The facility recently closed this unit because of the

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said this after the release of the April jobs report on Friday. “The economy was roaring back to life before Joe Biden became president.  The biggest problem businesses face now is finding people willing to turn down government subsidies and go back to work.  Biden’s reckless, out-of-control spending and his proposed tax increases will hamper the economy, spark inflation, and hurt American workers, businesses and families. He should stop mortgaging our children’s future, get government out of the way, and let people start living productive lives.” 

MADISON – Recommendations put forth by the bipartisan Speaker’s Task Force on Racial Disparities Subcommittee on Law Enforcement Policies and Procedures have been approved by a Senate committee, and are now available for scheduling on the Senate floor. The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety adopted two amendments that were the direct result of the work and recommendations of the task force during an executive session yesterday. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna), Co-Chair of the task force, put out the following statement regarding the forward momentum of the group’s recommendations: “I am incredibly grateful to Senator Wanggaard and the

Democratic members on the Senate Committee on Universities and Technical Colleges issued this statement objecting to passage of the so-called ‘committee report’ entitled “A Wisconsin Roadmap to Success in Higher Education for the Twenty-First Century.”   “This ‘report’ was crafted without the input of committee members and does not reflect any collaborative work done between committee members or the public. Most egregiously, our shared values of accessible and affordable higher education throughout our state are directly threatened by this report’s self-declared recommendations. The report elevates the very un-Wisconsin idea of consolidating programs and shuttering UW campuses around the state, limiting