WisPolitics News Archives

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Elections commissioners blame social media posts, Sanders campaign for 17-year-olds illegally voting

Wednesday, Mar 15, 2017

Elections Commission Chairman Mark Thomsen Tuesday blamed Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign for the spike in 17-year-olds voting illegally in the April 2016 primaries. But he later softened his criticism during Tuesday’s commission meeting after agency staff said it didn’t fully investigate whether it was social media posts from Sanders or others that contributed to the issue.

Dozens of 17-year-olds voted illegally in 2016 presidential primaries

Monday, Mar 13, 2017

The state saw at least 60 cases of 17-year-olds voting illegally during the 2016 spring primaries, according to a report the Elections Commission will submit to the Legislature. Elections Commission spokesman Reid Magney said that was a significant increase from prior elections.

‘UpFront’: Racine Mayor Dickert says possible 97% cut to Great Lakes restoration funding would be devastating

Monday, Mar 13, 2017

Racine Mayor John Dickert says a possible 97 percent cut to Great Lakes restoration funding would be devastating to the lakes and the communities that depend upon them.

Rewind: Kind passes on guv bid, Walker’s budget, ACA replacement

Friday, Mar 10, 2017

On this week’s episode, WisPolitics.com’s JR Ross and WisconsinEye’s Steve Walters discuss U.S. Rep. Ron Kind’s decision not to run for governor, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau’s analysis of Gov. Scott Walker’s budget and several bills that cleared the Legislature this week.

Assembly passes project labor agreements bill, treasurer elimination amendment

Friday, Mar 10, 2017

A bill that would ban local governments from requiring that companies bidding on public projects enter into project labor agreements is heading to Gov. Scott Walker after a 64-35 party-line vote in the Assembly Thursday. The Assembly also signed off 68-31 on a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the state treasurer’s office, putting the question before voters in an April 2018 referendum.

Wis. congressional Republicans not fully on board with health care bill

Wednesday, Mar 8, 2017

Republican members of the state congressional delegation aren’t fully backing the House GOP health care bill, though U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy predicted skeptics will “get on board and be supportive.’’

Fiscal Bureau details impact of Walker’s budget plan

Wednesday, Mar 8, 2017

The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau’s analysis of the guv’s budget is adding details on the impact of the two-year plan in advance of legislative work to revise it. For example, yesterday’s analysis shows the budget would cut off the domestic

‘UpFront’: Johnson says Sessions right to recuse himself from Russia investigation

Monday, Mar 6, 2017

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says he’s “highly concerned” about Russia and its interference in the election, but wants to let congressional committees handle the investigation at this time. Johnson appeared Sunday on “UpFront with Mike Gousha,” produced in partnership with

Pence: Trump ‘best friend Wisconsin businesses will ever have’

Friday, Mar 3, 2017

JANESVILLE — Vice President Mike Pence today promised the Trump administration will grow the economy “faster than ever before,” calling the president “the best friend Wisconsin businesses will ever have.” Pence spoke in Janesville today following a listening session with

‘Rewind’ covers 2016 campaign spending, ‘right to try’ legislation and more

Friday, Mar 3, 2017

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Assembly to take up experimental treatment bill

Thursday, Mar 2, 2017

A bill that would help those with terminal illnesses access treatments that haven’t received FDA approval will be taken up Tuesday, under calendars OK’d by the Assembly Committee on Rules. The Assembly Committee on Health signed off on the “right to

Evers, Holtz differ on Act 10, Walker’s budget at WisPolitics.com forum

Tuesday, Feb 28, 2017

Candidates for state superintendent at a WisPolitics.com forum in Milwaukee disagreed about Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to make a proposed boost in per-pupil school aid contingent on compliance with Act 10. Walker’s plan would increase per-pupil aid by $200 the

Grothman on ‘UpFront’: Trump should take the lead on federal budget

Monday, Feb 27, 2017

U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Glenbeulah, says he wants to see President Trump take the lead on the federal budget in his address to Congress Tuesday night. Grothman was a guest Sunday on “UpFront with Mike Gousha,” produced in partnership with

‘Rewind’ analyses DPI race, Walker’s capital budget

Friday, Feb 24, 2017

WisconsinEye Senior Producer Steve Walters and WisPolitics.com Editor JR Ross look back at the week in politics in Wisconsin.

‘Rewind Milwaukee’: Court shields Milwaukee Co. ICE detainee records

Friday, Feb 24, 2017

Walker urges CPAC attendees to ‘keep moving forward’ amid protests

Friday, Feb 24, 2017

Gov. Scott Walker urged attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference near Washington, D.C., to keep pressing forward with reforms in the face of protests. The Republican guv and chair of the RGA Thursday recounted the protests surrounding Act 10

Walker appoints Lon Roberts to PSC, Jay Risch will be new DFI secretary

Thursday, Feb 23, 2017

Gov. Scott Walker today announced DFI Secretary Lon Roberts will replace Phil Montgomery on the PSC after the former GOP state lawmaker’s term ends next month. Walker also announced Department of Financial Institutions Deputy Secretary Jay Risch will replace Roberts

Evers chalks up primary victory to his focus on kids, not ‘weird politics’

Wednesday, Feb 22, 2017

State Superintendent Tony Evers says his primary victory can be chalked up to his focus on the state’s public school kids — and not on the “kind of weird politics and policies” that plagued his challengers in the days leading up

‘UpFront’: Baldwin calls for investigation into Trump team Russia contacts

Monday, Feb 20, 2017

U. S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin says many “unanswered questions” remain about contacts between Russia and President Trump, his campaign, his transition team, and his administration. The Madison Democrat is calling for an independent investigation to “get to the bottom of

‘Rewind’ analyzes Walker’s budget, 2018 U.S. Senate race, DPI primary

Friday, Feb 17, 2017

Elections commissioners blame social media posts, Sanders campaign for 17-year-olds illegally voting

Wednesday, Mar 15, 2017

Dozens of 17-year-olds voted illegally in 2016 presidential primaries

Monday, Mar 13, 2017

‘UpFront’: Racine Mayor Dickert says possible 97% cut to Great Lakes restoration funding would be devastating

Monday, Mar 13, 2017

Racine Mayor John Dickert says a possible 97 percent cut to Great Lakes restoration funding would be devastating to the lakes and the communities that depend upon them.