MADISON, Wis – Today, Legislative Republicans gaveled in and out of Governor Evers’ special session to begin the process of allowing voters to overturn an abortion law passed in 1849,  by establishing binding referenda in Wisconsin. This is the eleventh out of twelve special sessions called by the governor, that has been gaveled in and gaveled out with no action taken by Republicans in the Legislature. In response, Representative Kalan Haywood (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement: “Reproductive rights are human rights, and abortion is healthcare. Wisconsin should not be a state in which women have diminished rights and are treated like

Last night the people of Milwaukee spoke, and the message was clear. Community members want to see the city defund the police in order to expand other city services. Markasa Tucker-Harris, Executive Director of the African American Roundtable said, “Over the last three years, hundreds and hundreds of residents have continued to demand that you defund the police. Will you continue this reckless behavior by walking us down the aisle of bankruptcy, or will you fund libraries, fund the people, and fund our needs?” This budget calls for the cuts for four libraries and the temporary closing of the Martin

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Joined by local law enforcement leaders in Northeast Wisconsin, Fond du Lac County District Attorney and law enforcement’s choice for Attorney General, Eric Toney called on Josh Kaul to release the number of DCI Agents and DOJ Prosecutors immediately.  Eric Toney released the following statement: “Our current Attorney General has left key DCI law enforcement positions unfilled up to nearly 25% and key criminal litigation prosecutor positions unfilled between 20% to 30% at our Department of Justice. I have called on Josh Kaul to let the public know just how much he has defunded the police at

MADISON, Wis. – Today, Senator Ron Johnson dismissed the violence perpetrated by insurrectionists on January 6th and tried to rewrite the history of that day.  Johnson claimed: “I saw that day the ‘armed insurrectionists’ staying within the rope lines in the rotunda.” The Reality:  Washington Post: “The physical toll on officers who defended the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack by a pro-Trump mob is becoming clearer, with reports by police officials and federal prosecutors indicating that about 140 officers were injured, the head of the Capitol Police officers’ union said.”  **Perhaps Johnson was thinking of the insurrectionists who stormed

Today, Wisconsin Republicans gaveled in and out of Governor Evers’ special session which would give Wisconsinites the ability to enact change via binding ballot referenda. Currently in Wisconsin, there is no process by which Wisconsinites can vote to reject existing state statues. Representative Tod Ohnstad (D-Kenosha) had the following statement: “It’s been made clear a majority of Wisconsinites support safe and legal abortion, gun-safety legislation, and marijuana legalization. The people of this state should have the right to take a stand at the ballot box. Every member of the Legislature is here because they promised to bring your voice to

MADISON, Wis. – In response to Ron Johnson once again dismissing the violence law enforcement faced on January 6th from armed insurrectionists, Eric Larsen, former Deputy Chief of Eau Claire Police, released the following statement: “Senator Ron Johnson is completely selling out our law enforcement officers and dismissing the violence they faced on January 6th from the armed insurrectionists. He can try to rewrite history all he wants, but the truth is we know his loyalty lies with those who tried to overthrow the government, not those in our law enforcement community.”

Today, the Brown County Taxpayers Association (“BCTA”) filed a three-count complaint in Eastern Wisconsin’s US Federal District Court against defendants including the President of the United States and the Secretary of the US Department of Education. In its filing, the BCTA asserts that President Biden’s One-Time Student Loan Debt Relief Plan (the “Plan”) violates the US Constitution’s separation of powers between Congress and the Executive branch. The complaint also claims the Plan breaches the 5th Amendment’s equal protection doctrine by expressly stating that its purpose is to advance “racial equity”. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (“WILL”) is representing the BCTA

WISCONSIN – Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin (PPAWI) issued the following statement today, in response to the Republicans’ failure to approve a pathway for voters to repeal Wisconsin’s harmful and unpopular 1849 criminal abortion ban.  Statement from Tanya Atkinson, president of Planned Parenthood Advocates of WI  “Today Republican members of the Legislature demonstrated just how determined they are to control people’s personal decisions and block access to essential health care when they denied voters’ the power to overturn Wisconsin’s 173 year old criminal abortion ban. Republicans have refused to overturn the 1849 abortion ban and today went one step further by

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), led 15 of their colleagues in commenting on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposed rule prohibiting discrimination in health care under Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. In their letter, the Senators applauded the Biden Administration for restoring and expanding key nondiscrimination protections after the Trump Administration dismantled protections for LGBTQIA+ patients, women, people whose primary language is not English, and others, and the Senators urged HHS to further strengthen protections for people with disabilities, trans people, and those seeking care for pregnancy and

WEDC, UW-Madison Division of Extension will collaborate to assist rural start-ups MADISON, Wis — Gov. Tony Evers today announced a $1 million initiative led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) Division of Extension and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to provide much-needed resources, support, and technical assistance to rural entrepreneurs across the state. Through the initiative announced by Gov. Evers today, UW-Madison Division of Extension will work closely with WEDC and other partners across the state to develop the initiative to provide training, technical assistance, and legal and financial advice to rural entrepreneurs in need of support to start a business or bolster their existing business.  “The success of our rural communities is vital

Grant Requested For Stewardship Project In Town Of Dunkirk DUNKIRK, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that Groundswell Conservancy has applied for a 50% matching grant from the Urban Green Space subprogram of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. The grant will assist with the purchase of 1.64 acres of land in the town of Dunkirk in Dane County. Groundswell Conservancy will provide the matching funds to the grant award. Groundswell Conservancy plans to acquire the approximately 1.64 acres, then donate it to the town of Dunkirk to expand Lyons Park along the Yahara River. Along with the

MADISON – Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) – the combined state chamber and manufacturers’ association – announced nine companies as recipients of the Wisconsin Business Friend of the Environment Award. For over three decades, WMC has presented this award to companies who have demonstrated environmental leadership.“Wisconsin’s economy depends on industry leaders who go above and beyond to use sustainable and environmentally friendly business practices,” said WMC Director of Environmental & Energy Policy Craig Summerfield. “WMC is proud to recognize these companies who prioritize environmental protection as they grow their businesses and build Wisconsin’s future.”This year’s award winners represent companies in each

Special Session on Constitutional Amendment to Establish Binding Citizen Referenda Process Gaveled Out Immediately MADISON – Today, Republican leadership in the Wisconsin State Legislature gaveled in and immediately out of a special session to discuss creating a pathway for voters to enact statewide changes via binding referenda in Wisconsin. This is the eleventh special session, of twelve called by Governor Evers, that has been gaveled in and gaveled out without any legislative action taken. Representative Katrina Shankland (D- Stevens Point) released the following statement in response: “The people of Wisconsin deserve to have their voices heard and trust that their legislators