Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley today ahead of a planned vote on upping the county’s sales tax warned a “no” vote is “a ‘yes’ to cutting the services and the programs that increase and maintain the quality of life.” The Milwaukee County

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The Joint Finance Committee today allowed Wisconsin to withdraw itself from a lawsuit against the federal government over the Trump administration’s reallocation of $8 million in National Guard funding for a southern border wall. JFC members wrapped their sub-3 minute session with

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Wisconsin will now take a phonics-based approach to literacy and help teachers implement the new learning model, under legislation Gov. Tony Evers signed today. AB 321 also will work in concert with $50 million that was set aside in the state budget

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — WisPolitics has tracked more than $56 million spent on this spring’s Supreme Court race — almost four times the previous national record — as liberals flipped control of the body for the first time in 15 years. And it’s likely the final

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, in early May repaid himself $400,000 of what he gave his campaigns in 2010 and 2016, despite insisting earlier this year he had no intentions of recouping money from old loans. Johnson took steps in recent months

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson today said he has a “strong aversion” to policy measures targeting his city in the state’s shared revenue agreement, adding he wished the issue had been dealt with when Dems had control of the Legislature. “That didn’t happen,

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Wisconsin women with breast cancer today urged support for a bill to cover additional screenings, saying while it might be too late for them, the change could save others’ lives. SB 121, introduced by Senate Health Committee Chair Rachael Cabral-Guevara, would require

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Milwaukee Common Council members today vowed to take legal action on state-imposed restrictions on the use of city funds before a vote approving a new 2 percent sales tax to address ongoing pension obligations. The 12-3 vote exceeded the two-thirds majority needed

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Wisconsin is projected to finish the 2023-25 biennium with a more than $4 billion surplus after Dem Gov. Tony Evers vetoed the bulk of a GOP income tax cut plan, according to new figures from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. That ending balance

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The Assembly late this afternoon was still debating a $98.7 billion budget that would pump more money into K-12 education, raises for state employees and transportation projects. Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, touted the budget as a “historic” investment and touted a $3.5

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Dems proposed a series of amendments this afternoon to the GOP budget seeking to restore Gov. Tony Evers’ proposals, including measures to subsidize child care and address gun violence. The body was still debating the massive two-year spending document late this afternoon.

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said he expects no changes to the state budget when the chamber takes it up tomorrow and cast doubt on Gov. Tony Evers’ vow to veto the entire document over a $32 million cut in state aid

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Public Service Commission Chairperson Rebecca Valcq today praised a $1.05 billion investment in broadband for the state, saying along with public and private dollars, the funding “will make it possible to achieve our goal of internet for all.” U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin,

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov. Tony Evers’ office is knocking a GOP plan to cut income taxes $3.5 billion over the next two years, saying Republicans are “doubling down on tax breaks for wealthy millionaires and billionaires instead of prioritizing relief for working families.” GOP members

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The Joint Finance Committee is set to meet tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. to finish up the state budget. The committee plans to take up the UW System, Budget Management and Compensation Reserves, Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority, Shared Revenue and Tax

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Public schools advocates ripped Gov. Tony Evers for signing a “reckless and irresponsible” bill that would boost state funding for school vouchers as part of a deal with GOP leaders on shared revenue and education funding. In addition to signing the voucher

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — UW System President Jay Rothman today told lawmakers “all options” are on the table when it comes to the state’s two-year campuses, including closures, if the system’s funding is cut. The remarks came after Assembly Speaker Robin Vos last week threatened to

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The Assembly State Affairs Committee today approved along party lines a bill to fundamentally change Wisconsin’s literacy program as Dems argued it takes tools away from teachers. Ahead of passing it 9-5, the committee amended the bill to soften a provision that

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The state Senate was on track to pass a shared revenue bill late this afternoon after several Dem members indicated they planned to vote for the bill. Dems Brad Pfaff, of Onalaska; Mark Spreitzer, of Beloit; and Bob Wirch, of Pleasant Prairie,