Jan. 13, 2022 – The Badger Institute today commended Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) for introducing flat tax legislation that will produce long-term economic growth and opportunity. The Badger Institute and the Tax Foundation recently jointly released Tax Reform Options to Improve Wisconsin’s Competitiveness, an explanation of why moving to a single rate for individual income tax payers would benefit all Wisconsinites. The state’s top rate of 7.65% is now the highest individual income tax rate of any state, save one, between New York and California. As a memo Friday from LeMahieu and Rep. Rob Brooks (R-Saukville), pointed out, citing the

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) reminds Wisconsin farmers to apply for commercial nitrogen optimization research grants through January 31, 2023. These grants aim to enhance the understanding of and refine new methods that optimize commercial nitrogen applied to agricultural fields. Eligible applicants must be an agricultural producer, agree to collaborate with the University of Wisconsin System (UW) on their project, and voluntarily conduct commercial nitrogen optimization field studies for a minimum of two years. For a full list of requirements, visit DATCP’s website. Interested producers should contact Jerry Clark at jerome.clark@wisc.edu or (715) 726-7955 prior to

MILWAUKEE (January 13, 2023) – Milwaukee Public Schools will look for feedback from all city of Milwaukee families, residents, and community partners as part of the district’s 2023 – 2028 strategic planning process. On Tuesday, January 17, 2023, the school district will distribute surveys to MPS students, families, and staff, along with residents of the city of Milwaukee. Some survey participants will have the opportunity to participate in focus groups later in the year. The information collected will help MPS identify priorities and performance targets over the next five years.  “MPS already offers the most robust network of academic and career readiness

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the City of Crandon is an applicant for funding through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP) to address deficiencies in its public drinking water system. This project includes the replacement of water mains along East Glen Street, South Park Street and Polk Street in the City of Crandon to improve system hydraulics and reduce the risk of water main breaks. Activities related to this project are minor actions under Chapter NR 150, Wis. Admin. Code, for which no environmental analysis is required; however, following the Safe Drinking Water Loan

MADISON – Jason Mugnaini has been hired by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation as its executive director of governmental relations. Mugnaini has over a decade of legislative experience, most recently as chief of staff to State Senator Robert Cowles, serving Shawano, Outagamie, Waupaca and Brown counties. Jason has a track record of legislative success on agricultural, rural and water issues, as well as experience in government oversight and accountability, having served as clerk of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee for several years.  “I’m excited for the opportunity to join Wisconsin Farm Bureau and be a part of such a great

WASHINGTON – On Friday, U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson and Rick Scott issued the following statements after the release of a study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) at their request. The GAO Study reveals that the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) mismanagement of the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program allowed ineligible individuals to obtain employer sponsored health coverage. As the largest employer-sponsored health insurance program in the country, the FEHB Program covers more than eight million federal employees, retirees and family members at annual cost of more than $59 billion. According to GAO, OPM cannot identify or estimate how many

MILWAUKEE – Longtime labor leader Bruce Colburn is retiring after more than 50 years fighting for workers’ rights at the local, state, and national level. County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson and Supervisors Peter Burgelis, Ryan Clancy, Felesia A. Martin, Shawn Rolland, Steven Shea, Anthony Staskunas, Liz Sumner, Kathleen Vincent, and Sheldon A. Wasserman released the following statement: “Bruce Colburn has had a legendary career advancing the needs of working people not just in Milwaukee and Wisconsin, but across the entire nation. Working with the Service Employees International Union, he was instrumental in fighting for fair wages, life-saving healthcare, and humane

MADISON, Wis. — Mere days after the start of the 2023 session of the state legislature, Republican leaders are already busy trying to rig the system to benefit their wealthy backers and special interests.  Instead of working with Governor Evers on his proposal to deliver tax savings for the middle class and local families, GOP leaders today unveiled a scheme that would provide little or no benefit for working people while delivering a windfall for the wealthiest. Republican Senate Leader Devin LeMahieu this week introduced a tax plan similar to what expert economists say would benefit only a small percentage of the state

[Madison, WI] The Wisconsin County Highway Association (WCHA), an organization representing Wisconsin’s 72 County Highway and Public Works Departments that manage and maintain the state’s 19,700-mile County Trunk Highway System and the 11,800 miles of State Trunk Highway and Interstate Systems, has appointed Patrick Vander Sanden as their new Executive Director. Patrick joins WCHA after most recently serving as a Statewide Local Program Officer at WisDOT. “We are pleased to welcome Patrick to WCHA as Executive Director,” said Roland Hawk, Wood County Highway Commissioner and WCHA President. “His knowledge of transportation issues, state government processes and organization will help further

Madison- Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) and Representative Rob Brooks (R-Saukville) circulated LRB-1049 this morning.  LRB-1049 would phase in a 3.25% flat tax in Wisconsin by tax year 2026. “Since 2011 Legislative Republicans have reduced the tax burden on Wisconsinites by a cumulative $22 billion.    Despite these bold reforms, our state government is still taxing its citizens too much.  We are beginning this new session facing a projected record $7 billion dollar surplus.  This proposal will fundamentally transform Wisconsin’s individual income tax and keep more money in the pockets of hardworking Wisconsinites.” Currently, Wisconsin’s four tax brackets range from 3.54%

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting Free Fishing Weekend Jan. 21-22 to share the fun and excitement of winter fishing. No fishing license or trout and salmon stamps are required. Anglers can fish state waters where there is an open season. All other fishing regulations apply, such as limits on the number and size of fish you can keep and any seasons when you must release certain fish species. As a reminder, anglers cannot fish spring trout ponds during the Winter Free Fishing Weekend. Please review the trout regulations and 2022-2023 Hook and Line regulations for more information. If you plan to keep your catch,

MADISON – The ACLU of Wisconsin issued the following statement regarding the 6-4 vote by the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to reverse Wisconsin’s ban on conversion therapy. Dr. Melinda Brennan, executive director of the ACLU of Wisconsin, said the following:  “The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules’ vote to reverse Wisconsin’s ban on conversion therapy underscores, yet again, just how willing some of our elected officials are to put LGBTQ+ youth in harm’s way for political gain.  Conversion therapy is widely discredited as a counterproductive and cruel practice that subjects people to immense physical, emotional, and psychological harm. It is