OSHKOSH – U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) is announcing that he has accepted all three Wisconsin television invitations to debate his opponent, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. The three debates from the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, WISN-12 Milwaukee, and TMJ-4 Milwaukee will all take place in October. “We look forward to these opportunities to share with Wisconsin voters the truth about Lt. Gov. Barnes’ desire to defund the police, abolish ICE, raise taxes and crush Wisconsin’s economy with the Green New Deal. He’s been hiding from the public for too long and he needs to answer for these extreme positions.” – Ben Voelkel,

MADISON, WI (September 16, 2022) — Last month, President Biden announced a plan to cancel billions of dollars of student debt for as many as 43 million people nationwide. The decision sparked some controversy and many competing claims about the student loan market. How does the market for student loans really work? Why has debt escalated to the point that we need to provide relief? Was the debt cancellation program structured effectively? What is the debt situation for UW–Madison graduates? What policies should we consider to keep higher education more affordable? On the next UW Now Livestream, leading UW-Madison experts will discuss

MADISON, Wis. – Ron Johnson continues to try to outrun his long history of supporting federal abortion bans, including legislation that makes no exceptions for rape and incest. Now, in a new interview, Ron Johnson is claiming: “If you said something in the past, you better defend it. Or you better have a pretty reasonable explanation of why your position has shifted other than just for political expediency.”  “Ron Johnson will say anything to stay in power so he can continue trying to take away Wisconsintes’ freedom to make their own medical decisions, cut Social Security and Medicare funding, and carve out massive

MADISON — Today, Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes announced he will accept TMJ4’s invitation to debate Ron Johnson, and challenges Johnson to join a forum hosted by the Wisconsin Farmers Union and Main Street Alliance.  Mandela Barnes for Wisconsin campaign manager Kory Kozloski made the following statement:  “Ron Johnson has spent over a decade in Washington selling out working families and calling to put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block. Mandela looks forward to holding him accountable for his record of putting himself and his wealthy donors first on the debate stage in Milwaukee, and then in his own backyard

Madison, WI —NextGen America, the largest youth voter organization in the country, is celebrating National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) by collecting pledges to vote from students at Madison Area Technical College campus on Tuesday, September 20. The set-up will include a 360 photo booth for students to celebrate and commemorate the day. The event is part of NextGen’s national efforts to register thousands of young voters on NVRD through in-person events, calls and texts, and digital activations.  In Wisconsin, NextGen will pledge young voters on five college campuses in total for NVRD, including Marquette University, UW-Milwaukee, and UW-Oshkosh.  This NVRD,

Madison, WI – This week the Wisconsin State Public Defender and District Attorneys released their 2023-2025 fiscal requests, which include increases from previous year’s funding levels. In response, State Bar of Wisconsin President Margaret Hickey released this statement: “Wisconsin’s Judicial System is at a critical point, one exacerbated by the effects of the pandemic on caseloads and the challenges of recruiting and keeping experienced staff in today’s tight labor market. The State Bar of Wisconsin supports funding for prosecutors and public defenders that is adequate to ensure the ethical, effective representation of both the public and defendants in criminal cases.

MADISON – Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) – the combined state chamber of commerce and manufacturers’ association – presented Sen. Mary Felzkowski with a Working for Wisconsin Award. Sen. Felzkowski was honored for her work during the most recent legislative session. The Working for Wisconsin Award recognizes legislators who supported specific pro-growth policies and earned a high rating on WMC’s biennial legislative scorecard. “Wisconsin is fortunate to have so many legislative leaders who consistently vote to improve our state’s business climate,” said WMC President & CEO Kurt R. Bauer. “When legislators actively work to improve our state’s tax, regulatory and legal

Sister Bay, WI (September 19, 2022) – Local activist group Northern Door Activism has invited three pro-choice candidates and a local area expert, Dr. Kristin Lyerly OB-GYN, to participate in a panel discussion on the current state of women’s reproductive rights and abortion care access in Wisconsin. This event follows a successful women’s reproductive rights march hosted by the group in July, which attracted around 250 local demonstrators and garnered support from over 30 local businesses. As the upcoming midterm election approaches, the organizers are eager to bring a discussion to the community surrounding the important issue of protecting women’s

Madison – State Representative Sara Rodriguez (D-Brookfield) issued the following statement on Hispanic Heritage Month: “Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to learn about and celebrate the long and storied history of Latinos in Wisconsin. This is a special time of the year for my family—my husband and children are proud Latino Wisconsinites. This month reaffirms that diversity is one of our greatest strengths, as we celebrate and honor the legacy and contributions of Latinos in our state who are an integral part of Wisconsin’s culture and character. “Please join me in celebrating the countless contributions, culture, and achievements that

The Federal Highway Administration has approved Wisconsin’s plan to expand its electric vehicle charging stations under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) initiative. The approval means that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) can now receive federal funding to implement the Wisconsin Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan. “As we work to implement the state’s first-ever Clean Energy Plan, upgrading Wisconsin’s electric vehicle infrastructure is one of the most important steps forward we can take to move towards a cleaner, more sustainable future,” Gov. Evers said. “This plan approval and the federal funds Wisconsin will receive as a result will help bolster our

MADISON – Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) – the combined state chamber of commerce and manufacturers’ association – presented Rep. Joel Kitchens with a Working for Wisconsin Award. Rep. Kitchens was honored for his work during the most recent legislative session. The Working for Wisconsin Award recognizes legislators who supported specific pro-growth policies and earned a high rating on WMC’s biennial legislative scorecard. “Wisconsin is fortunate to have so many legislative leaders who consistently vote to improve our state’s business climate,” said WMC President & CEO Kurt R. Bauer. “When legislators actively work to improve our state’s tax, regulatory and legal