Knudson to resign from Elections Commission

Former GOP state Rep. Dean Knudson Wednesday announced his resignation from the Elections Commission once a replacement is in place. Knudson, appointed to the commission by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, said during a late afternoon meeting it has become clear to him that he’s no longer effective in his role as a Republican on the body. He moved — and the commission approved — putting off selecting a new chair until a replacement is selected. Knudson said he wasn’t interested in the role. “It’s been made clear to me from the highest level of the Republican Party of Wisconsin that

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WED PM Update: Voelkel drops out of LG race; Kaul says Republicans have failed to protect Wisconsinites from gun violence

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Republican Ben Voelkel today announced he’s dropping out of the crowded field for lieutenant governor, saying he “had the right message and a strong start, but it wasn’t enough in such a wide-open field.” His decision leaves eight candidates in the GOP field for lieutenant governor. Voelkel, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Ron Johns… 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

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U.S. Sen. Johnson: Joins Sen. Rubio, colleagues in bill to protect cadets, midshipmen from being punished for not receiving COVID-19 vaccine

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and nine of their Republican colleagues in introducing the Defending Freedom of Conscience for Cadets and Midshipmen Act. The legislation would protect cadets and midshipmen at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy from being punished for their choice to not receive the COVID-19 vaccine. USAFA recently announced that unvaccinated seniors would not be commissioned. Cadets and midshipmen who do not commission could be forced to repay tuition, room, and board expenses

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Voelkel drops lt. guv bid

Republican Ben Voelkel is dropping out of the crowded field for lieutenant governor, saying he “had the right message and a strong start, but it wasn’t enough in such a wide-open field.” His decision announced Wednesday leaves eight candidates in the GOP field for lieutenant governor. Voelkel, a former aide to U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, raised $116,019 last year and had $70,080 in the bank to end 2021. That put him behind only state Sens. Roger Roth, R-Appleton, and Pat Testin, R-Stevens Point, for cash on hand earlier this year. But Voelkel failed to advance past the first round of

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Protasiewicz announces Supreme Court bid

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz announced her bid for the state Supreme Court in 2023. Prior to joining the bench, Protasiewicz spent 26 years as an assistant DA for Milwaukee County. “I’ve got simple Wisconsin values,” she said Wednesday. “If you break the law, you should be held accountable. If you work hard and play by the rules, the government should leave you alone. And if your rights are violated, you should get a fair shot to demand justice.” Protasiewicz is the third candidate to express an interest in running for the court in 2023, when conservative Justice

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Thomas More Society: Investigation of burgeoning scandal now focuses on illegal ballot drop boxes

(May 25, 2022 – Madison, Wisconsin) Voters in Wisconsin’s five largest cities filed lawsuits over the use of illegal unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes in elections. Thomas More Society attorneys submitted the complaints on May 25, 2022, on behalf of voters in the cities of Green Bay, Kenosha, Madison, Milwaukee, and Racine. Wisconsin election law precludes the use of unmanned absentee ballot drop boxes for voting, and yet each of these cities implemented them, despite their illegality, explained Thomas More Society Special Counsel Erick Kaardal. “In 2020, the cities of Milwaukee, Madison, Racine, Kenosha, and Green Bay made an agreement with

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Sen. Darling: Sexual assault tracking database up and running

Madison – Sexual assault survivors will now have access to information regarding the status of their sexual assault kit thanks to a bipartisan bill authored by Senator Alberta Darling. On Wednesday, the Attorney General announced Track-Kit, a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system that was launched is up and running. “Wisconsin will now have a database for health care professionals, law enforcement, state crime laboratory personnel, and prosecutors to update information on the location and status of a sexual assault kit,” Darling said, “It’s disappointing the authors of the bills weren’t invited, but the most important thing is that the system

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WisDems: Ahead of WEC vote, Tim Michels moves further to the right on election conspiracies

MADISON, Wis. – Days after the Republican Party of Wisconsin failed to come together to endorse a candidate for governor, Tim Michels is being pulled further to the right on the fabricated problem of election integrity. Michels, who earlier said he wanted to fire the members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC), the bipartisan group charged with overseeing Wisconsin’s elections, now has reversed his position and says he wants to dissolve the commission completely. Michels’ reversal came ahead of the WEC vote tonight. This latest flip puts Michels in line with the radical positions of Rebecca Kleefisch, Kevin Nicholson, and Tim Ramthun who all want to get rid of

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Martin campaign: Statement on Ben Voelkel for Lt Governor

RACINE, WIS—Today, Will Martin released the following statement after hearing of Ben Voelke’s decision to end his campaign for Lt. Governor of Wisconsin. “Ben entered this race putting his heart and soul in it. I have great respect for him and will continue to going forward. His voice will be missed in this primary, but I expect we’ll continue to hear from him for years to come.”

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Gov. Evers: Releases video message responding to mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, in addition to a statement shared last night, today released a video message to Wisconsinites regarding the tragic mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas at Robb Elementary School. The governor’s video message is available here and without captions here. Fellow Wisconsinites, Yesterday, our state and nation watched in horror as yet another nightmare came true for the parents, families, and loved ones of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. 19 kids. Two teachers. Yesterday, Uvalde joined a tragic and despicably long list of communities that have been shattered by gun violence—in Buffalo, Laguna Woods,

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Voelkel campaign: Exiting lieutenant governor race

Contact: press@benforwisconsin.com BROOKFIELD – Lieutenant governor candidate Ben Voelkel, a former longtime senior aide to Senator Ron Johnson, issued the following statement Wednesday: “I’m so grateful for the support I’ve received and the friends I’ve made throughout this campaign, but unfortunately now is not my time. I will not be continuing in the race. We had the right message and a strong start, but it wasn’t enough in such a wide-open field. I will continue working to elect Republicans this fall, and am confident Senator Johnson and our nominees for governor and other statewide offices will prevail this fall.”  

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U.S. Sen. Johnson: School safety legislation blocked by Senate Democrats

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor about his legislation, the Luke and Alex School Safety Act, and asked for unanimous consent for its passage.   The bill would codify into law a clearinghouse of information for the best school safety practices. The clearinghouse, available at SchoolSafety.gov, informs parents, teachers and school officials of the best practices for improving school security and publishes information on available grant programs and federal resources. It is named after Luke Hoyer and Alex Schachter, two students killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School attack on February 14, 2018 in Parkland,

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Godlewski Campaign: Statement on Texas school shooting tragedy

MADISON – Following the tragic news in Texas yesterday of a school shooting that took the lives of 19 children and two adults, State Treasurer and candidate for U.S. Senate Sarah Godlewski released the following statement: “The horrific news out of Texas is every parent’s worst nightmare. My heart breaks for the children, their families, teachers, and the entire Uvalde community in the wake of yet another preventable tragedy.  Many of us will never understand the grief of a parent who has lost a child to gun violence. But in a country where we allow this to happen over and over and over

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Dept. of Natural Resources: 2022 elk quota set, hunters can still apply for tag till May 31

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds Wisconsin residents that the chance to draw a 2022 elk hunting license ends on May 31. Wisconsinites can enter for their chance at the state’s only once-in-a-lifetime hunt while contributing crucial funding for elk conservation. Hunters can visit their Go Wild account or a license agent to submit their application. The fee is $10, and the results will be available in mid-June. The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved a quota of eight bull elk in the northern elk management zone for the 2022 season during their May board meeting. This year, the DNR will

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U.S. Reps. Steil, McCaul, Ellzey, Ross: Introduce bill to make key technology industries eligible for streamlined permitting process

WASHINGTON, DC— Representative Bryan Steil (WI-01) and Representatives Michael McCaul (TX-10), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), and Deborah Ross (NC-02) introduced legislation that will speed up permitting for key technology industries, including semiconductors, to encourage companies to produce products in the United States. Currently, the permitting process often takes longer than other countries. This bill does not alter U.S. environmental regulations, but works to increase the speed and transparency of the permitting process. “If we’ve learned anything from the supply chain shortages in the last few months, much less the last two years, it’s that we need to encourage production of goods in the United States,” said Steil.

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Knudson to resign from Elections Commission

Former GOP state Rep. Dean Knudson Wednesday announced his resignation from the Elections Commission once a replacement is in place. Knudson, appointed to the commission by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, said during a late afternoon meeting it has become clear to him that he’s no longer effective in his role

Read More »

U.S. Sen. Johnson: Joins Sen. Rubio, colleagues in bill to protect cadets, midshipmen from being punished for not receiving COVID-19 vaccine

WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and nine of their Republican colleagues in introducing the Defending Freedom of Conscience for Cadets and Midshipmen Act. The legislation would protect cadets and midshipmen at the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), U.S. Naval Academy, U.S.

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Voelkel drops lt. guv bid

Republican Ben Voelkel is dropping out of the crowded field for lieutenant governor, saying he “had the right message and a strong start, but it wasn’t enough in such a wide-open field.” His decision announced Wednesday leaves eight candidates in the GOP field for lieutenant governor. Voelkel, a former aide

Read More »

Protasiewicz announces Supreme Court bid

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz announced her bid for the state Supreme Court in 2023. Prior to joining the bench, Protasiewicz spent 26 years as an assistant DA for Milwaukee County. “I’ve got simple Wisconsin values,” she said Wednesday. “If you break the law, you should be held

Read More »

Sen. Darling: Sexual assault tracking database up and running

Madison – Sexual assault survivors will now have access to information regarding the status of their sexual assault kit thanks to a bipartisan bill authored by Senator Alberta Darling. On Wednesday, the Attorney General announced Track-Kit, a statewide sexual assault kit tracking system that was launched is up and running. “Wisconsin

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Martin campaign: Statement on Ben Voelkel for Lt Governor

RACINE, WIS—Today, Will Martin released the following statement after hearing of Ben Voelke’s decision to end his campaign for Lt. Governor of Wisconsin. “Ben entered this race putting his heart and soul in it. I have great respect for him and will continue to going forward. His voice will be

Read More »

Voelkel campaign: Exiting lieutenant governor race

Contact: press@benforwisconsin.com BROOKFIELD – Lieutenant governor candidate Ben Voelkel, a former longtime senior aide to Senator Ron Johnson, issued the following statement Wednesday: “I’m so grateful for the support I’ve received and the friends I’ve made throughout this campaign, but unfortunately now is not my time. I will not be

Read More »

U.S. Sen. Johnson: School safety legislation blocked by Senate Democrats

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor about his legislation, the Luke and Alex School Safety Act, and asked for unanimous consent for its passage.   The bill would codify into law a clearinghouse of information for the best school safety practices. The clearinghouse, available at SchoolSafety.gov,

Read More »

Godlewski Campaign: Statement on Texas school shooting tragedy

MADISON – Following the tragic news in Texas yesterday of a school shooting that took the lives of 19 children and two adults, State Treasurer and candidate for U.S. Senate Sarah Godlewski released the following statement: “The horrific news out of Texas is every parent’s worst nightmare. My heart breaks for the children,

Read More »

U.S. Reps. Steil, McCaul, Ellzey, Ross: Introduce bill to make key technology industries eligible for streamlined permitting process

WASHINGTON, DC— Representative Bryan Steil (WI-01) and Representatives Michael McCaul (TX-10), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), and Deborah Ross (NC-02) introduced legislation that will speed up permitting for key technology industries, including semiconductors, to encourage companies to produce products in the United States. Currently, the permitting process often takes longer than other countries. This bill does

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