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,

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