Quotes of the Week
This court has no constitutional authority to override the legislature’s choice and appropriate the money to DPI instead.
– Justice Rebecca Bradley on the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision which overturned Gov. Tony Evers’ partial veto in a package of reading instruction bills and ruled it was appropriate for the Joint Finance Committee to not release $50 million toward the effort.
Twelve lawmakers should not be able to obstruct resources that were already approved by the full Legislature and the governor to help get our kids up to speed and ensure they have the skills they need to be successful. It is unconscionable that the Wisconsin Supreme Court is allowing the Legislature’s indefinite obstruction to go unchecked.
– Gov. Tony Evers on the ruling. He urged funds be transferred to DPI before FY25 ends and the $50 million lapses to the general fund.
I am concerned about the lack of funding, and frankly, the way that this has set the stage for a very bizarre budget … creates the risk of these things never getting funded, because we’ve seen a budget process that has broken down in so many ways.
– Rep. Tip McGuire, D-Kenosha, on the new GOP anti-veto tactic of not including funding in bills.
For all those people here today saying they can’t vote for the bill because it’s not funded, well, I’m looking forward to your yes vote on the bill that does fund this program.
– Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, during an Assembly floor session, arguing Democrats would have the opportunity to vote for funding on bills later.
Political Stock Report
-A collection of insider opinion-
(June 14-27, 2025)
Rising
Bryan Steil: Republicans in general score a win when the state Supreme Court rejects requests to redraw the state’s congressional map. Still, insiders see the Janesville Republican as perhaps the biggest beneficiary.
Devin Remiker: Ben Wikler’s former right-hand man was the favorite heading into the race for a new state Dem chair — in part because of Wikler’s enthusiastic endorsement. Now that he’s secured the job, insiders are watching to see if Remiker can continue the party’s record fundraising run and wondering how he’ll grow into the job as its messenger.
Mixed
Wisconsin Supreme Court: Don’t expect some conservatives to stop calling the liberal majority a bunch of partisan hacks. But a string of decisions over the last two weeks doesn’t neatly fit into that narrative that this court is focused more on political outcomes than the law.
Devin LeMahieu: You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in the Capitol who sees how Republicans put together a budget conservative enough to get 17 GOP votes in the Senate AND wins Dem Gov. Tony Evers’ signature. That has left two options: Go for a conservative budget that goes nowhere, or get a deal that includes the guv delivering enough Dem votes to put the bill over the Senate line.
Tony Evers: With lawmakers trying to finish off the budget by next week, the Capitol may finally get an answer to one of the biggest questions insiders have been asking all year: Will the guv run again? A look at the latest Marquette University Law School Poll has good and bad for Evers on that front, though insiders generally believe he’s still in a strong position to seek a third term if he wants to.
Falling
Brian Schimming: The coup — if there ever was one — appears to at least be on pause. The damage, insiders say, is not.
UW nurses: The effect of Scott Walker’s Act 10 on nurses at UW Health is “no mystery,” according to conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn. And the hospital — an authority under state law — isn’t required to collectively bargain with the nurses it employs. Today’s 7-0 ruling — authored by Walker’s former legal counsel — brings to a close the nurses’ push to be recognized as a union for collective bargaining purposes
Joint Finance Committee delays start time for final budget push
The Joint Finance Committee had yet to begin meeting for planned votes on the state budget today after originally noticing an executive session to start at 10 a.m.
The committee has already delayed the start four times, with the latest announcement that it would convene at 5 p.m.
A spokesperson for Dem Gov. Tony Evers said late this afternoon that a deal hadn’t been reached with GOP lawmakers on key budget areas but conversations were ongoing.
WisPolitics platinum subscribers will receive an advisory once the committee convenes. They will also receive an advisory once the committee finishes its work.
Otherwise, budget coverage is available exclusively to WisPolitics subscribers on the State Affairs/Wisconsin platform.
Click here to find desktop instructions or get the app to follow the Joint Finance Committee’s progress on the budget. Hit “Budget” in the horizontal navigation bar.
Vos recall committees finally file reports — then amend others after WisPolitics inquiry
Two of the committees that sought unsuccessfully to recall Assembly Speaker Robin Vos filed campaign finance reports in June, months after they were due.
And both then amended multiple reports to add nearly $28,000 in legal expenses after a WisPolitics reporter inquired why the committee had yet to detail any costs related to an ongoing appeal of an Elections Commission decision rejecting signatures collected in the effort.
Matt Snorek, a Burlington man who was involved in the effort, told WisPolitics this week he hadn’t been involved in the filings and referred a reporter to Conrad Reynolds, an organizer of the effort. He didn’t respond to messages seeking comment.
It is the latest sign of disorganization among recall organizers, who Vos called “stupid,” “whack jobs” and “morons” during a March 2024 WisPolitics luncheon.
Recall Vos — which launched the first effort — and the Racine Recall Committee — which led the second — initially filed reports in late August that had been due July 15. But neither filed anything else until this month.
Recall Vos then filed its January 2025 report on June 13 — five months overdue — and its September 2024 report on Sunday — nearly nine months late.
The Racine Recall Committee also filed its January 2025 on June 13. It then filed its September 2024 report Sunday, and it amended both reports Wednesday after WisPolitics began inquiring about the group’s activities. It also filed a July 2025 report on Wednesday, even though it isn’t due until July 15.
The amended and new filings show New Berlin attorney Kevin Scott, who’s representing the recall committee in its appeal, made a $3,034 in-kind donation to the Racine Recall Committee on Sept. 23 — the final day of the September 2024 reporting — for legal services. He also made a similar $540 in-kind donation to the committee on Dec. 31 — also the final day of that reporting period. And he made a third in-kind contribution of $1,320 on May 16.
The Recall Vos committee also amended its July 2024 report to add a $3,990 in-kind donation from Scott for legal services.
The Racine Recall Committee sued in Dane County Circuit Court in July after the Elections Commission ruled 4-2 it had collected signatures outside the allowed window. After a Dane County judge ruled against the committee, the committee filed an appeal and asked the state Supreme Court to hear the case directly. After the justices rebuffed that request, the case was briefed with the 4th District Court of Appeals, which has yet to rule.
The committee also amended its July 2024 report to add an in-kind donation of $18,985 from AVII in Arkansas. The address listed for the group on the report is the same as the Arkansas Voter Integrity Initiative, which is headed by Reynolds, one of the Vos recall organizers.
The committee reports don’t list any payments to former conservative Justice Michael Gableman, who appeared at an Elections Commission hearing in April 2024 to represent the first committee that sought unsuccessfully to recall Vos.
Altogether, the committees have reported $1.4 million in expenses.
The Ethics Commission said it typically sends notices to committees that have failed to file reports to remind them they may be subject to penalties for continued failure to comply.
Agency administrative rules call for a written warning after 30 days. The rules then call for settlement offers that ramp up until a report is more than 120 days late. The agency can then offer a settlement of $500, the maximum penalty.
The commission didn’t respond to questions specifically about the recall committees.
All the new filings have “termination” stamped across the top, and the committees reported nothing in the bank as of their most recent reports.
Former GOP Sen. Schultz talks ‘normalization of hateful rhetoric and violence’ in politics
Former GOP state Sen. Dale Schultz tells WisPolitics’ “Capitol Chats” podcast he’s seen a “turn towards the normalization of hateful rhetoric and violence” in recent years.
Schultz, of Richland Center, served 32 years in the Legislature, including a stint as Senate majority leader. He represented the 17th SD in western Wisconsin, later working with a Dem senator, Tim Cullen of Janesville, to push for redistricting.
“ I put the responsibility squarely on the shoulders of the leaders of the political process,” Schultz said. “And you know, one of the reasons that people don’t want to have anything to do with politics, like so many young people, is this sort of attitude that they see going on. And they’re saying, ‘If that’s democracy, count me out. I just have no interest in this.’ And that’s too bad because we need everybody’s thoughtful contemplation of our problems if we’re going to make progress in the future.”
Schultz spoke with WisPolitics to discuss political violence and rhetoric following the shootings of two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses this month.
He knocked Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, for his proposal following the shootings to ban members of the public from carrying arms in the Capitol while still allowing lawmakers to conceal carry.
“There is no security system that’s perfect, but adding layer upon layer of security for the privileged lawmakers while doing nothing for their constituents, you know, I just think makes no sense, is wrongheaded and leads us in the wrong direction,” Schultz said.
Schultz said he wasn’t directly threatened while in office, “but there have been certainly a lot of tense situations.”
He pointed to protests outside his house during Act 10, before he said how he would vote on the legislation. Schultz was the only Senate Republican to vote against the bill, which upended collective bargaining for most public employees in the state.
“When I had the protestors out in front of my house that March, early March, my reaction was to go out, tell them, I get it. It’s a First Amendment right, they have every right to be there,” Schultz said. “My main concern was their safety. And so I sprinkled salt on the sidewalk to make sure that no one slipped or fell or got hurt, and told them they had my permission to go on my porch and get more salt if they needed it and that my door was always open to listen to them.”
He said doing things like that helps “build bridges.”
“And it just seems we need a little more of that. And … when you’re able to get by that initial flashpoint, it allows for a thoughtful discourse that can lead to real solutions,” Schultz added.
Listen to the full “Capitol Chats” interview here.
Political TV
(Check local listings for times in your area)
“UpFront” is a statewide commercial TV news magazine show airing Sundays around the state. This week’s show, hosted by GERRON JORDAN and MATT SMITH, features Sen. LaTONYA JOHNSON, D-Milwaukee, Senate Majority Leader DEVIN LeMAHIEU, R-Oostburg, Assembly Speaker ROBIN VOS, R-Rochester, Gov. TONY EVERS, Marquette Law School Poll Director CHARLES FRANKLIN and WisPolitics Editor JR ROSS.
*See more about the program here.
*Also see a recap of the show online each Monday at WisPolitics.
“Rewind,” a weekly show from WisconsinEye and WisPolitics, airs at 8 p.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m. on Sundays in addition to being available online. On this week’s episode, WisPolitics’ JR ROSS and Wisconsin Public Radio Capitol Reporter ANYA VAN WAGTENDONK discuss the last-minute budget push, the state Supreme Court’s decisions regarding the governor’s veto powers and congressional redistricting, results of the latest Marquette University Law School Poll and more.
*Watch the show here.
This week’s episode of WisPolitics’ “Capitol Chats” features former Republican state Sen. DALE SCHULTZ on political violence and rhetoric and possible solutions following the shootings of Minnesota lawmakers.
*Listen to the podcast here.
“The Insiders” is a weekly WisOpinion.com web show featuring former Democratic Senate Majority Leader CHUCK CHVALA and former Republican Assembly Speaker SCOTT JENSEN. This week, Chvala and Jensen discuss when–and if–the state budget will cross the finish line and whether Republicans can win any Dem votes.
*Watch the video or listen to the show here.
“In Focus: Wisconsin” airs Sundays at 9:30 a.m. on Spectrum News 1 on channel 1. This week’s program with host RYAN BURK focuses on child care funding with Sen. KELDA ROYS, D-Madison, child care provider CORRINE HENDRICKSON and UW-Madison Associate Prof. ALEJANDRA ROS PILARZ.
PBS Wisconsin’s “Here and Now” airs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays. This week’s program with anchor FREDERICA FREYBERG features Wisconsin Public Radio Capitol reporter ANYA VAN WAGTENDONK on the state budget process and University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy Director Dr. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM on changes to federal recommendations for vaccines.
“For the Record” airs Sundays at 10:30 a.m. on Madison’s WISC-TV. This week’s program with host WILL KENNEALLY features constitutional expert HOWARD SCHWEBER on recent state and national Supreme Court rulings, Marquette Law School Poll Director CHARLES FRANKLIN on the latest poll numbers, and political analyst BRANDON SCHOLZ recaps the latest in state budget discussions.
Week Ahead
Tuesday: The Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Veteran and Military Affairs holds a public hearing on bills related PFAS contamination.
– 11 a.m.: 411 South, state Capitol
Names in the News
Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent BRENDA CASSELLIUS will headline a Sept. 24 Milwaukee Press Club-WisPolitics Newsmaker Luncheon. Cassellius will take questions from a panel of journalists and audience members. Register here.
Attend a Milwaukee Press Club-WisPolitics Newsmaker Luncheon with Milwaukee Archbishop JEFFREY SCOTT GROB on Oct. 2. Grob will take questions from a media panel and the audience. Register here.
CATHERINE GILJOHANN has been appointed as the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s general counsel. Giljohann’s previous roles include working at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as staff detailee to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and as deputy associate director for regulatory policy at the White House Council of Environmental Quality.
The Wisconsin District Attorneys Association has named Fond du Lac County DA ERIC TONEY as District Attorney of the Year. Toney, a former candidate for attorney general, was nominated by Fond du Lac Chief of Police AARON GOLDSTEIN.
School Choice Wisconsin President NICHOLAS KELLY will leave his position to serve as president/principal of Catholic Central High School in Burlington starting July 14. Kelly has led School Choice Wisconsin since 2021.
Outgoing Wisconsin Hospital Association President and CEO ERIC BORGERDING celebrated his retirement last week at the Madison Club. Attendees included former Govs. TOMMY THOMPSON and JIM DOYLE, U.S. Rep. MARK POCAN, D-Town of Vermont, and Joint Finance Committee co-chairs Sen. HOWARD MARKLEIN, R-Spring Green, and Rep. MARK BORN, R-Beaver Dam.
Endorsements: The following is a list of recent endorsements, based on emails received by WisPolitics.com:
3rd CD
REBECCA COOKE: U.S. Sen. BERNIE SANDERS, D-Vt., state Sen. BRAD PFAFF, D-Onalaska.
2nd District Court of Appeals
ANTHONY LoCOCO: Former Supreme Court Justice DANIEL KELLY, Judge MARIA LAZAR, various judges, sheriffs and lawmakers. See the full list here.
Supreme CourtCHRIS TAYLOR: 100 current and retired judges. See the names here.
Lobbyist Watch
Twenty-four changes were made to the lobbying registry in the past 10 days.
Follow this link for the complete list.
