GOP lawmakers release UW merit aid bill

High-achieving Wisconsin students would get $5,000 scholarships each year to attend UW System schools under a new bill two GOP lawmakers laid out today. The bill, which has UW System President Ray Cross’ support, would pay for those scholarships by

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John Shiely: Reforming government means reforming government programs

The state can save at least $60 million in the next 2-year budget by simply changing the way it pays for state employee health benefits. Those savings grow by at $22 million more in general purpose revenue if repeal or delay of an ObamaCare tax does not occur. Unfortunately those savings are at risk of being left behind by the Legislature.

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Dominique Paul Noth: When corporate and police misdeeds go viral

For decades both businesses and law enforcement agencies have felt legally protected in their behavior toward customers and citizens, but the law is changing beneath their feet. The power of a video to go viral, or one Facebook customer’s unhappiness to spread, or millions of voices to chime in on Twitter– all are creating havoc at airports, stores, squad patrols, media outlets, complaints departments, sports events and, of course, almost every event the Trump administration concocts.

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WED AM Update: Senate, Assembly in session; reaction to Comey firing

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers Advertisement The Madison Club From WisPolitics.com … — The Senate plans to take up a child labor permits bill today, while the Assembly’s considering a bill that would allow delivery robots to travel on sidewalks. The Assembly’s also looking to take up a bill that passed

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TUE PM Update: JFC plans to reject Walker’s self-insurance proposal, votes to bring back WEDC loan program

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov. Scott Walker and DOA Secretary Scott Neitzel today knocked the Joint Finance Committee’s plans to reject the administration’s moves to self-insure state workers. Walker tweeted about the JFC co-chairs’ comments that they expect the committee will reject the contracts his administration

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Senate committee passes Vukmir, Sanfelippo crime bills

Six of eight bills in a GOP Victim Prevention Package passed the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee today, over concerns from Dem members. The bills, from Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield, and Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-New Berlin, are part of a package that looks to up some minimum sentences and

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LFB releases analysis of Kooyenga transpo and tax plan

Some Wisconsinites would end up paying more in income taxes under Kooyenga’s plan compared to current law, according to a new analysis by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Those paying more would fluctuate over the next dozen years as the state moved toward a 3.95 percent flat tax and eliminated some

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JFC co-chairs applaud Kooyenga for offering transpo plan

The JFC co-chairs also applauded Rep. Dale Kooyenga, R-Brookfield, for putting forward a transportation plan, and Nygren said he was disappointed in the guv’s response. Over the weekend, Walker knocked the proposal as a gas tax hike. It would lower the excise tax, add the state sales tax to fuel

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GOP lawmakers release UW merit aid bill

High-achieving Wisconsin students would get $5,000 scholarships each year to attend UW System schools under a new bill two GOP lawmakers laid out today. The bill, which has UW System President Ray Cross’ support, would pay for those scholarships by selling off the remaining lands held by the state’s oldest

Read More »

JFC plans to reject self-insurance contracts, DOA defends plan

Gov. Scott Walker and DOA Secretary Scott Neitzel today knocked the Joint Finance Committee’s plans to reject the administration’s moves to self-insure state workers. Walker tweeted about the JFC co-chairs’ comments that they expect the committee will reject the contracts his administration reached as part of the self-insurance plan. “Wrong

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John Shiely: Reforming government means reforming government programs

The state can save at least $60 million in the next 2-year budget by simply changing the way it pays for state employee health benefits. Those savings grow by at $22 million more in general purpose revenue if repeal or delay of an ObamaCare tax does not occur. Unfortunately those savings are at risk of being left behind by the Legislature.

Read More »

Dominique Paul Noth: When corporate and police misdeeds go viral

For decades both businesses and law enforcement agencies have felt legally protected in their behavior toward customers and citizens, but the law is changing beneath their feet. The power of a video to go viral, or one Facebook customer’s unhappiness to spread, or millions of voices to chime in on Twitter– all are creating havoc at airports, stores, squad patrols, media outlets, complaints departments, sports events and, of course, almost every event the Trump administration concocts.

Read More »