https://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/220818GOPAddress.mp3 Hi. I’m State Senator Joan Ballweg. Last session I was appointed chair of the Speaker’s Task Force on Suicide Prevention, which was created to study and make policy recommendations to reverse the increasing rates of suicide in Wisconsin. Ten pieces of legislation were introduced to target and assist at-risk populations in a bipartisan effort. One important concern that emerged through this work is that we need consistent data regarding the circumstances of these deaths. From county to county, there is variability in the certification and classification of deaths. In order to better inform preventative measures, it is helpful to

https://www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/220818DemAddress.m4a Hi, this is Senator Melissa Agard with this week’s Democratic radio address. “If you’re not willing to help, the least you can do is get out of the way.” It’s what came to mind earlier this week when the Republican members of the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee made it clear they were going to object to the Department of Health Services updated proposal to invest the $31 million Wisconsin was awarded from the National Prescription Opiate Litigation (NPOL) settlement funds. The proposal was based on recommendations from members of the public, advocates, health providers, first responders, and other stakeholders.

MADISON, Wis. – A University of Wisconsin System education is affordable for most students, including in comparison to national averages, peers, and other Midwestern universities. But low- to moderate-income students are less likely to enroll, suggesting the overall cost of a bachelor’s degree is becoming increasingly out of reach for that segment of students. Those are the key findings of an affordability review conducted by the UW System’s Office of Policy Analysis and Research for President Jay Rothman. Even incoming underrepresented minority and first-generation students are more likely to come from higher-earning families, the review found. The findings underscore the

MILWAUKEE, WI – County Executive David Crowley has been appointed by National Association of Counties (NACo) President Denise Winfrey as Vice-Chair of NaCo’s Large Urban County Caucus (LUCC). Comprised of county executives, NaCo governing board members, and other senior elected officials, LUCC members focus on both challenges and solutions for large urban areas, engage in peer-to-peer information exchanges, and inform national policy discussions. “It is an honor to be named Vice-Chair of the Large Urban County Caucus by President Winfrey. Milwaukee County isn’t alone in facing challenges to best serving our residents’ needs, counties like ours all over the country have unique

REEN BAY, WI — Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) today announced the birth of his second child, Rose Louise Gallagher. “Anne and I are overjoyed to share that we are now a family of four. Rose Louise Gallagher joined the world last night, weighing 8lbs 13oz. Both she and her mom are healthy, and Grace couldn’t be more excited to be a big sister.” Rep. Gallagher will take a short leave of absence to spend time with his family.

FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Time and time again, Tony Evers and Josh Kaul have advocated for soft on crime polices that harm the people of Wisconsin. Just last week, the Evers Administration appointed convicted felon, Aundray Evans, to the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Commission despite the fact that he is awaiting trial on five felony and misdemeanor charges.  Eric Toney, Fond du Lac County District Attorney and law enforcement’s choice for Attorney General, today released the following statement in response to the Evers Administration’s decision to let a convicted felon onto the commission:    “Tony Evers has failed the people of our

Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, continued his Working For Wisconsin tour yesterday morning in Superior. The tour, which has previously had stops in Racine, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison, Cambridge, La Crosse, and Eau Claire, has engaged with voters across the state about important issues affecting Wisconsinites. During a meet and greet with supporters in Superior,  Mandela spoke with a group of more than 50 community members about his plan to provide support to local businesses and the needs of the city. Highlights from the Working for Wisconsin stop in Superior:  NBC6: Wisconsin U.S. Senate race makes trip to Northwoods  Barnes

[Madison, WI] – While Wisconsin suffers from a labor shortage, the plight of business owners and workers has only gotten worse under Tony Evers. For months, Evers’ state licensing agency has forced workers, including frontline health care workers like nurses and respiratory therapists who protect public health, into a bureaucratic black hole as they await the licenses they need to do their jobs. According to a new report by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “The agency could not say how many people are currently awaiting licenses in the state. But the situation is drawing fire from critics of Gov. Tony Evers, whose administration was slammed in

The majority of the Wisconsin National Guard’s Service Member Support Division (SMSD) relocated to a new location earlier this year, ultimately making it easier to collaborate in an effort to provide Wisconsin’s service members, veterans, Department of Defense civilians, and families access to comprehensive services and resources based on their needs. The SMSD is composed of a variety of programs and objectives. These include Soldier and family readiness, Yellow Ribbon reintegration, sexual assault prevention and response, and warrior resilience and fitness. The Wisconsin National Guard’s most important asset is people. The Service Member Support Division strives to support Soldiers and

Madison, WI – This week, the Wisconsin State Legislature’s Republican controlled Joint Finance Committee objected to a plan to use the first tranche of Wisconsin’s $31 million in National Prescription Opiate Litigation settlement funds to combat the state’s opioid epidemic. This objection has delayed the release of the funds to support communities impacted by the opioid epidemic. After the delay, Senator Pfaff (D-Onalaska) released the following statement:  “Too many families in western Wisconsin have been dealing firsthand with the impacts of the opioid epidemic. Wisconsin’s families and communities cannot afford for Republicans to continue to play political games with funding to

MADISON, Wis. – President Joe Biden signed into law the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which is the single largest investment the federal government has made to address climate issues in American history. The $369 billion package of climate and energy programs puts us on the path, both in Wisconsin and beyond, to build more resilient landscapes for current and future generations. The Act ensures that local communities will be at the forefront of these climate solutions by directing funds toward climate-smart agriculture, coastal habitat restoration, and land conservation. This affirms the crucial role that agricultural producers and landowners play in

MADISON, Wis. — Tim Michels is wildly out of step with most Wisconsinites on abortion — even Republicans. The latest Marquette poll revealed that not only do 65% of Wisconsinites believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, but also 79% of Republicans agree that abortion should be legal in cases of rape or incest. Michels recently described Wisconsin’s 1849 ban on abortion that doesn’t include exceptions for rape or incest as “an exact mirror” of his position, making him significantly more radical than the rest of his party on reproductive freedom. Michels’ view of abortion is as extreme as it gets.