Visit WisPolitics-State Affairs for premium content,
keyword notifications, bill tracking and more
Wisconsin voters have net-positive views of the way President Biden and Gov. Tony Evers are doing their jobs even as they lack confidence in how government is working, a new Marquette University Law School poll finds. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Ron
GOP lawmakers slammed Gov. Tony Evers for vetoing six GOP bills seeking to overhaul Wisconsin election laws. One of those sought to ban local clerks from filling in missing information on absentee ballot envelopes. Legislative leaders were mum on whether
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is strongly recommending school districts use newly updated COVID-19 recommendations for the 2021-22 school year. Still, when asked why the DPI stopped short of trying to mandate masks in schools, state Superintendent Jill Underly
A Republican lawmaker said the UW System must “follow the law” if it wants to impose new COVID-related mandates on campus. The Republican-controlled Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules recently voted to require the UW System to promulgate rules
On this week’s episode of “Rewind,” WisPolitics.com’s JR Ross and CBS 58 capitol reporter Emilee Fannon discuss renewed mask requirements at the state Capitol, a committee’s move seeking to require legislative oversight of UW System campuses’ COVID-19 policies, the U.S. Senate race and what Wisconsin expects to receive from the federal infrastructure bill.
Groups spent $18 million to lobby the Capitol during the first six months of the year, a slight uptick from the last time a budget was before lawmakers, according to a WisPolitics.com check of lobbying reports. Though interest groups spent
Americans are split on increasing the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, according to a new national Marquette University Law School Poll. Some Dems have pushed the idea of expanding the court beyond the current configuration of nine
Mayor Tom Barrett says Milwaukee “remains interested in being a national political convention site.” But he added the process of bidding to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention would require buy-in from a number of parties. The national party has
The special counsel for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’ election probe said his mission is to give voters confidence in elections, adding he will largely focus on three areas related to last November’s election. Michael Gableman, the conservative former Wisconsin Supreme
Marquette University Law School pollster Charles Franklin has a challenge as Wisconsin prepares for another election cycle. “How do you get people to talk to you that don’t want to talk to you?” Franklin said to WisPolitics.com, noting polling problems
In this week’s Democratic radio address, Gov. Tony Evers highlighted a $130 million investment in workforce initiatives aimed at boosting the state’s economic recovery. Meanwhile, in this week’s GOP radio address, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, discussed Republican lawmakers’ recent attempt to override Evers’ veto of a bill to cut off extra federal unemployment benefits.
Higher shipping costs and longer delays are expected to spike through the end of the year as Wisconsin’s lack of intermodal systems and labor shortages hamper state companies, experts said. “No one expects any kind of relief until well into
Dane County health officials are urging everyone ages 2 and older to return to wearing masks in certain indoor settings, following new CDC guidance. This change comes as the delta variant of COVID-19 is driving a resurgence in cases both
Assembly Republicans plan to attempt an override of Gov. Tony Evers’ veto of legislation seeking to cut off enhanced federal unemployment benefits when the chamber convenes today. Meanwhile, Evers wants lawmakers to approve $550 million for K-12 and higher ed
Milwaukee Ald. Chantia Lewis said she joined the race for U.S. Senate because she has seen what decisions at the federal level can mean for people at the local level. As a local official, she said, “We are the ones
Vaccinated UW System students can win one of 70 scholarships valued at $7,000 each if their university reaches a 70 percent COVID-19 vaccination threshold by Oct. 15. UW-Madison students are not included in the incentive program. The one-time $500,000 incentive
On this week’s episode, WisPolitics.com’s JR Ross and guest host Jessica VanEgeren discuss Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes joining the Dem primary for U.S. Senate, the latest in the state Department of Justice’s clergy abuse investigation, Wisconsin’s likely share of a $26 billion settlement with opioid manufacturers and the Milwaukee Bucks clinching the NBA championship title.
The state Dem Party had a nearly 6-to-1 advantage for cash on hand over the Republican Party of Wisconsin at the end of June, according to a WisPolitics.com review of state and federal campaign finance reports. Of the nearly $6.8
Senate GOP leaders have taken the unusual step of referring to its organization committee two of Gov. Tony Evers’ appointments to the Natural Resources Board, raising the prospect they could be bottled up indefinitely. Evers made the appointments to the
Dem AG Josh Kaul said he will run on his record as a prosecutor in his bid for reelection in 2022. Kaul already has two declared Republican opponents — UW-Madison law professor Ryan Owens, and Fond du Lac County District
Wisconsin voters have net-positive views of the way President Biden and Gov. Tony Evers are doing their jobs even as they lack confidence in how government is working, a new Marquette University Law School poll finds. Meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson’s favorable rating took a dip from October. The poll,
GOP lawmakers slammed Gov. Tony Evers for vetoing six GOP bills seeking to overhaul Wisconsin election laws. One of those sought to ban local clerks from filling in missing information on absentee ballot envelopes. Legislative leaders were mum on whether they would try to override the vetoes. Senate Majority Leader
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is strongly recommending school districts use newly updated COVID-19 recommendations for the 2021-22 school year. Still, when asked why the DPI stopped short of trying to mandate masks in schools, state Superintendent Jill Underly said she hopes school districts “follow the science” but believes
A Republican lawmaker said the UW System must “follow the law” if it wants to impose new COVID-related mandates on campus. The Republican-controlled Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules recently voted to require the UW System to promulgate rules for policies on campus. State Rep. Adam Neylon, R-Pewaukee, who
On this week’s episode of “Rewind,” WisPolitics.com’s JR Ross and CBS 58 capitol reporter Emilee Fannon discuss renewed mask requirements at the state Capitol, a committee’s move seeking to require legislative oversight of UW System campuses’ COVID-19 policies, the U.S. Senate race and what Wisconsin expects to receive from the federal infrastructure bill.
Groups spent $18 million to lobby the Capitol during the first six months of the year, a slight uptick from the last time a budget was before lawmakers, according to a WisPolitics.com check of lobbying reports. Though interest groups spent $132,651 more during the first part of 2021, they put
Americans are split on increasing the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, according to a new national Marquette University Law School Poll. Some Dems have pushed the idea of expanding the court beyond the current configuration of nine justices after Republicans shortly before the November election confirmed Donald
Mayor Tom Barrett says Milwaukee “remains interested in being a national political convention site.” But he added the process of bidding to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention would require buy-in from a number of parties. The national party has sent letters to more than 20 cities inviting them to
The special counsel for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’ election probe said his mission is to give voters confidence in elections, adding he will largely focus on three areas related to last November’s election. Michael Gableman, the conservative former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice heading up the investigation for Vos, said he
Marquette University Law School pollster Charles Franklin has a challenge as Wisconsin prepares for another election cycle. “How do you get people to talk to you that don’t want to talk to you?” Franklin said to WisPolitics.com, noting polling problems during the 2020 cycle. The polling failures of 2016 forced
In this week’s Democratic radio address, Gov. Tony Evers highlighted a $130 million investment in workforce initiatives aimed at boosting the state’s economic recovery. Meanwhile, in this week’s GOP radio address, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, discussed Republican lawmakers’ recent attempt to override Evers’ veto of a bill to cut off extra federal unemployment benefits.
Higher shipping costs and longer delays are expected to spike through the end of the year as Wisconsin’s lack of intermodal systems and labor shortages hamper state companies, experts said. “No one expects any kind of relief until well into 2022 — maybe as long as it goes into the
Dane County health officials are urging everyone ages 2 and older to return to wearing masks in certain indoor settings, following new CDC guidance. This change comes as the delta variant of COVID-19 is driving a resurgence in cases both in Wisconsin and around the country. The state’s seven-day average
Assembly Republicans plan to attempt an override of Gov. Tony Evers’ veto of legislation seeking to cut off enhanced federal unemployment benefits when the chamber convenes today. Meanwhile, Evers wants lawmakers to approve $550 million for K-12 and higher ed while they’re in the Capitol, calling a special session to
Milwaukee Ald. Chantia Lewis said she joined the race for U.S. Senate because she has seen what decisions at the federal level can mean for people at the local level. As a local official, she said, “We are the ones who deal with the everyday quality of life of people.”
Vaccinated UW System students can win one of 70 scholarships valued at $7,000 each if their university reaches a 70 percent COVID-19 vaccination threshold by Oct. 15. UW-Madison students are not included in the incentive program. The one-time $500,000 incentive program will confirm a campus is at least 70 percent
On this week’s episode, WisPolitics.com’s JR Ross and guest host Jessica VanEgeren discuss Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes joining the Dem primary for U.S. Senate, the latest in the state Department of Justice’s clergy abuse investigation, Wisconsin’s likely share of a $26 billion settlement with opioid manufacturers and the Milwaukee Bucks clinching the NBA championship title.
The state Dem Party had a nearly 6-to-1 advantage for cash on hand over the Republican Party of Wisconsin at the end of June, according to a WisPolitics.com review of state and federal campaign finance reports. Of the nearly $6.8 million the Dem Party reported, $4.7 million was in its
Senate GOP leaders have taken the unusual step of referring to its organization committee two of Gov. Tony Evers’ appointments to the Natural Resources Board, raising the prospect they could be bottled up indefinitely. Evers made the appointments to the board in late April just before the terms of two
Dem AG Josh Kaul said he will run on his record as a prosecutor in his bid for reelection in 2022. Kaul already has two declared Republican opponents — UW-Madison law professor Ryan Owens, and Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney. Kaul knocked Owens in an appearance Sunday