Lawmakers debate ‘constitutional carry’ bill

Democrats and school advocates in a public hearing Wednesday blasted a “constitutional carry” bill, saying repeal of the state’s school gun-free zone law would endanger students’ safety. But gun rights advocates and GOP backers defended the measure, arguing it simplifies

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GOP campus speech bill passes Assembly committee

A GOP-backed campus free speech bill passed the Assembly higher ed committee Tuesday, after a few heated debates and over Dem objections it would stifle the exchange of ideas at Wisconsin colleges. The bill advanced with a key amendment from

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Gronik hires adviser for potential guv bid

Milwaukee businessman Andy Gronik tells WisPolitics.com he’s hired Maura Tracy to serve as a senior adviser while he decides whether to run for guv. Tracy was campaign manager for Terri Bonoff’s unsuccessful bid for a Minnesota congressional seat last fall

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Kremer, Vos open to changes to campus speech bill

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Thursday the free speech bill he co-authored looks to solve the “crisis on campus” of protesters shutting down controversial speakers. Critics say the bill goes too far in protecting speakers with racist and hateful ideas,

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Duckworth, Baldwin rally state Dems; party chair election today

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth called on state Dem party activists at their state convention Friday to “unify behind a new vision for the future.” Duckworth, D-Ill., emphasized unity among all Americans in her speech, telling the crowd in the last address of the night that U.S. citizens “will never give

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Lawmakers debate ‘constitutional carry’ bill

Democrats and school advocates in a public hearing Wednesday blasted a “constitutional carry” bill, saying repeal of the state’s school gun-free zone law would endanger students’ safety. But gun rights advocates and GOP backers defended the measure, arguing it simplifies state law while protecting otherwise law-abiding gun owners from receiving

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GOP campus speech bill passes Assembly committee

A GOP-backed campus free speech bill passed the Assembly higher ed committee Tuesday, after a few heated debates and over Dem objections it would stifle the exchange of ideas at Wisconsin colleges. The bill advanced with a key amendment from bill co-author Rep. Jesse Kremer, R-Kewaskum, which sought to address

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Gronik hires adviser for potential guv bid

Milwaukee businessman Andy Gronik tells WisPolitics.com he’s hired Maura Tracy to serve as a senior adviser while he decides whether to run for guv. Tracy was campaign manager for Terri Bonoff’s unsuccessful bid for a Minnesota congressional seat last fall and previously worked as a field director for the Wisconsin

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Bill to eliminate personal property tax sees support at public hearing

A bill that would eliminate the state’s personal property tax starting next year was largely supported Wednesday in a public hearing, where backers touted it as a business-friendly measure that would remove unnecessary burdens. But Dems on the Senate committee worried the funds wouldn’t be completely backfilled by state aid,

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New UW-Madison public policy center to be named after Thompson

Wisconsin Republicans Tuesday announced plans for a center at UW-Madison named after former Gov. Tommy Thompson, whose tenure was highlighted at an all-day symposium at the Capitol. They said the center would foster research into public policy and bring speakers to System campuses from diverse viewpoints. Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester,

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‘UpFront’: Kind knocks Trump over sharing classified information

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse, says Congress needs assurances that President Trump will not again share classified information with people who aren’t supposed to have it. Appearing on “UpFront with Mike Gousha,” Kind discussed the investigations of Trump’s campaign and Russian interference in the U.S. election, and also Trump’s

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Clarke says he’s headed to DHS, Walker to pick replacement

Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke, who announced in a radio interview today he’s leaving his post to join the Trump administration, said he has several people in mind to replace him. A Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman did not confirm Clarke’s appointment. Clarke told conservative talk show host Vicki McKenna while

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Bill would require periodic reviews of administrative rules

Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke says his new bill aimed at setting up periodic reviews of administrative rules would help lawmakers avoid the “logistical nightmare” of conducting those reviews all at once. Steineke, R-Kaukauna, said Republicans have learned that trying to “review all 1,100 pages of administrative rules at one

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Follow our coverage of the 2017 state GOP convention

This post is part of our coverage of the 2017 state GOP convention in Wisconsin Dells. See more coverage here. Republican activists gathered this weekend at the Chula Vista resort in Wisconsin Dells for the 2017 state GOP convention. Gov. Scott Walker kicked things off yesterday with a fish fry

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Kremer, Vos open to changes to campus speech bill

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Thursday the free speech bill he co-authored looks to solve the “crisis on campus” of protesters shutting down controversial speakers. Critics say the bill goes too far in protecting speakers with racist and hateful ideas, laying out harsh punishments for students who violate policies that

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