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,

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Backers of the shared revenue agreement Dem Gov. Tony Evers struck with Republican legislative leaders were still lobbying GOP senators late this afternoon to get behind the legislation on the eve of a planned floor vote. Senate GOP leaders hadn’t yet released

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Sen. Chris Larson today warned state aid increases for private school choice vouchers in a bipartisan education agreement could be higher than expected. Meanwhile, co-author and Joint Finance Committee Vice Chair Duey Stroebel at today’s Senate Education Committee said there will be

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu expressed confidence today he can get his caucus behind allowing Milwaukee County and the city to impose new sales taxes to address their pension obligations without going to referendum. The Oostburg Republican late last week said he

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Assembly Speaker Robin Vos today suggested dropping Milwaukee-related provisions from the shared revenue bill if an agreement isn’t reached this week as the standoff over pumping more state aid into local governments threatened to grind budget deliberations to a halt. As Vos

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Dem AG Josh Kaul today alongside former GOP opponent Eric Toney warned less investment in state crime labs could mean longer delays. Kaul at a Risser Justice Center press conference stood next to the Wisconsin DAs Association president, who challenged Kaul for

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The DNR says it will need more staff and money to implement provisions in a GOP bill to combat PFAS. That includes one directing the Department of Natural Resources to create a municipal grant program to help municipalities and non-municipal entities that

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov. Tony Evers said today his preference is for lawmakers to send him a shared revenue bill that would allow locally elected officials from Milwaukee to vote on proposed sales tax increases rather than sending the issue to voters via referendum. But

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — WEDC would have to find $4 million in its existing appropriations to cover efforts to attract and retain talent, under a motion the Joint Finance Committee approved along party lines. The GOP motion, approved 12-4, would require half of that money to

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The Legislative Audit Bureau found DHS failed during the pandemic to execute appropriate agreements on ventilators it loaned providers and didn’t properly track the equipment. The LAB found six ventilators — worth a combined $122,300 — were missing as of January and

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — A co-author of a GOP shared revenue proposal today at a hearing encouraged compromise on the bill, while Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson called for lawmakers to eliminate provisions restricting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, last week declared “we

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Sen. Dan Knodl, chair of the Senate’s Shared Revenue, Elections and Consumer Protection Committee, tells WisPolitics he’s keeping an open mind on whether to require Milwaukee County and the city to get voter permission to impose new sales taxes. The Germantown Republican

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said today his caucus will likely drop a requirement that Milwaukee County and the city approve a new sales tax via referendum as part of the GOP shared revenue bill. That prompted Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Assembly Republicans late this afternoon released changes to the shared revenue bill that would set a new floor for the boost in state aid to local governments — though the city of Milwaukee wouldn’t benefit — and declared the Senate can take

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — State Rep. Tony Kurtz told WisPolitics GOP leaders continued to negotiate with Dem Gov. Tony Evers, including whether to keep a provision that would require Milwaukee County and the city to approve new sales taxes via referendum. Kurtz, R-Wonewoc, and an architect

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The state’s fiscal picture through mid-2025 took a slight hit today as the Legislative Fiscal Bureau projected Wisconsin will take in $755.1 million less than what the agency had projected four months ago. Still, the LFB also noted the drop in revenues

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — An Assembly committee today OK’d along party lines a GOP-authored shared revenue bill, even as Republicans noted the legislation will be revised before it hits the floor next week. That prompted Dem members of the Local Government Committee to question why members