Interviews Archives

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Evers demands Republicans tell him ‘the damn plan’ as they reject his budget proposals

Wednesday, Mar 8, 2023

The Dem guv at Tuesday’s WisPolitics.com Madison Club luncheon said there is a tenor of compromise in the Capitol right now, but Republicans still don’t agree with him on what to do with the state’s projected surplus of $7.1 billion through the fiscal year that ends June 30. Evers expressed frustration at GOP leaders for repeatedly saying it isn’t enough money to do everything he asked for in his budget.

Born: Republicans likely won’t include Evers’ local sales tax proposal in their budget

Wednesday, Mar 1, 2023

Joint Finance Committee Co-chair Rep. Mark Born at a WisPolitics.com luncheon said Republicans likely won’t include in their budget Gov. Tony Evers’ proposal to allow local governments to implement their own sales tax increases.

8th SD candidates differ on taxes, abortion

Monday, Feb 13, 2023

Republican 8th SD candidates Reps. Dan Knodl and Janel Brandtjen support flat tax proposals while fellow Republican Thiensville Village President Van Mobley wants to eliminate income taxes altogether. There’s even more space between candidates on abortion laws. Knodl supports exceptions

Schimming aims to boost fundraising as state GOP chair

Tuesday, Dec 27, 2022

The new state GOP chair said the first weeks of his term have been focused on several things. But perhaps nothing is more important than improving the party’s fundraising.

Agard encouraging Dems to boost outreach in GOP districts

Monday, Dec 26, 2022

Melissa Agard says there’s a simple key for Senate Dems to begin to climb out of the minority: show up.

Interview: Neubauer says Dem attendance during session days crucial to upholding Evers’ vetoes

Tuesday, Dec 20, 2022

Assembly Dem Leader Greta Neubauer has three goals for the upcoming session: promoting a visionary and inclusive policy agenda, continuing to find opportunities to work across the aisle and upholding Gov. Tony Evers’ vetoes. Part of accomplishing goal No. 3

Milwaukee leaders Crowley, Johnson optimistic about relationship with Legislature

Friday, Dec 16, 2022

Milwaukee leaders at a WisPolitics.com luncheon expressed optimism about their future relationship with the Legislature and finding common ground on funding for public safety, courts, and other local government duties.

Steil says House under GOP control will end proxy voting, focus on reduced spending

Thursday, Dec 8, 2022

U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil says likely future House Speaker Kevin McCarthy will definitely end proxy voting “on day one.” The Janesville Republican at a WisPolitics.com DC luncheon this week said McCarthy, R-Calif., will also likely get rid of virtual participation almost altogether.

Panelists point to mistakes that led to losses for Barnes, Michels

Sunday, Nov 13, 2022

The losing statewide campaigns in the Nov. 8 election each made key mistakes that led to incumbents Tony Evers and Ron Johnson winning reelection, according to a panel of journalists and political strategists. Dem consultant Sachin Chheda at a WisPolitics.com

Panelists say Dems addressing additional issues after largely focusing on abortion

Friday, Nov 4, 2022

Panelists at a WisPolitics.com virtual luncheon Thursday said while Republicans have been focusing on inflation, crime and taxes, Democrats have until recently been largely focused on abortion. WISN-TV “UpFront” host Matt Smith said Democrats in the past few weeks have

Panelists says claims Latinos shifting to GOP overblown

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2022

Panelists at a Milwaukee luncheon said claims Latino voters are shifting to favor the Republican Party are overblown, while noting the community is not a monolith.

Panelists say GOP has good shot at supermajority in Senate, tougher path in Assembly

Wednesday, Oct 19, 2022

GOP and Dem insiders agree Republicans pining for a supermajority have a mostly clear path in the Senate, but winning 66 Assembly seats is a much bigger lift. Panelists at a WisPolitics.com luncheon at the Madison Club Tuesday said picking

Evers talks shared revenue, abortion during Milwaukee luncheon

Tuesday, Oct 11, 2022

Gov. Tony Evers today said increasing shared revenue, especially for Milwaukee, will be his top priority. He also said he won’t sign an abortion bill with rape and incest exceptions if he wins reelection. The Dem guv at a Rotary

Panelists discuss challenges COVID, mistrust pose in running elections

Thursday, Sep 15, 2022

Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe during a WisPolitics.com luncheon Tuesday said the biggest challenge for the agency in recent years has been combating misinformation. “There’s so much bad information that floats around election administration, and so for us as

59th AD primary candidate Egle running to represent the ‘common-sense middle class’ in Assembly

Monday, Aug 8, 2022

Vinny Egle is a small business owner running in the GOP primary for the Wisconsin Assembly’s 59th district. He faces Ty Bodden, chairman of the Republican Party of Calumet County and former Village of Stockbridge Trustee, in a race that

Candidates in the 23rd SD GOP primary disagree on abortion and decertification issues

Monday, Aug 8, 2022

Three candidates are vying for the 23rd Senate District seat in a GOP primary race that will virtually decide who will represent the district. Sandra Scholz of Chippewa Falls is a retired registered nurse turned home renovator with no experience

Wanggaard clashes with 21st SD primary challenger Stone on decertifying presidential election results

Thursday, Aug 4, 2022

Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, will face Jay Stone in a GOP primary that will all but formally decide who will represent the Senate’s 21st district. Wanggaard, 70, is a former member of the Racine Police Department. He has held the

Incumbent August, challenger Williams differ on 2020 election decertificiation in 32nd AD primary

Thursday, Aug 4, 2022

Tyler August, 39, who has held the 32nd Assembly District’s seat for 12 years, faces a GOP primary challenger in Bart Williams, 57, a consultant and former member of the New Berlin school board. Williams looks to unseat August, a

Two candidates vying to unseat LeMahieu in 9th SD GOP primary

Thursday, Aug 4, 2022

GOP primary candidates vying to unseat Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu differ with the incumbent on whether to rescind Wisconsin’s electoral votes for President Biden and how to use the state’s massive budget surplus. LeMahieu, 49, faces two challengers in

Brooks, 60th AD primary opponent Krieg share different takes on abortion ban exceptions

Friday, Jul 29, 2022

Rep. Rob Brooks and challenger Samuel Krieg differ on exemptions to Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban and how to address record-high gas prices. Krieg plans to unseat Brooks, who served as assistant majority leder in 2017 and has represented the 60th

Evers demands Republicans tell him ‘the damn plan’ as they reject his budget proposals

Wednesday, Mar 8, 2023

Born: Republicans likely won’t include Evers’ local sales tax proposal in their budget

Wednesday, Mar 1, 2023

8th SD candidates differ on taxes, abortion

Monday, Feb 13, 2023

Schimming aims to boost fundraising as state GOP chair

Tuesday, Dec 27, 2022

The new state GOP chair said the first weeks of his term have been focused on several things. But perhaps nothing is more important than improving the party’s fundraising.

Agard encouraging Dems to boost outreach in GOP districts

Monday, Dec 26, 2022

Melissa Agard says there’s a simple key for Senate Dems to begin to climb out of the minority: show up.

Interview: Neubauer says Dem attendance during session days crucial to upholding Evers’ vetoes

Tuesday, Dec 20, 2022

Milwaukee leaders Crowley, Johnson optimistic about relationship with Legislature

Friday, Dec 16, 2022

Steil says House under GOP control will end proxy voting, focus on reduced spending

Thursday, Dec 8, 2022

Panelists point to mistakes that led to losses for Barnes, Michels

Sunday, Nov 13, 2022

Panelists say Dems addressing additional issues after largely focusing on abortion

Friday, Nov 4, 2022

Panelists says claims Latinos shifting to GOP overblown

Wednesday, Oct 26, 2022

Panelists at a Milwaukee luncheon said claims Latino voters are shifting to favor the Republican Party are overblown, while noting the community is not a monolith.