
Dave Zweifel: Legislative idleness is the devil’s workshop
All too many of these full-timers have nothing better to do than dream up schemes to fuel the flames of discord.
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All too many of these full-timers have nothing better to do than dream up schemes to fuel the flames of discord.

The laws meant to give workers the freedom to organize together are not working. Corporate lobbyists have used their money and influence to weaken our rights.

If history is any kind of guide, this moment—with its eerily similar injuries and usurpations and disgruntled youth drained of national loyalty by rulers deaf to the voice of justice—does not signal an end fast approaching but rather a new beginning about to commence.

Forty years ago this week, I made my first trip to Washington.

A federal proposal, the Most Favored Nation pricing model, threatens to destabilize our health care system and stall innovation.

The Durbin-Marshall credit card mandate would force banks to offer alternative payments on credit cards. This change would allow big-box retailers like Walmart and Home Depot to pick and choose which network to use when processing transactions, while small businesses would be stuck dealing with the consequences.

As pro sports draft picks get younger, an important question remains: can an 18-year-old’s physical skills match their emotional and mental maturity?

In a move that thrilled some and angered others, the IRS recently announced it will no longer hang a threat over the heads of faith leaders and churches for engaging in political advocacy. The net result is that pastors and church leaders can step up to the pulpit and politically pontificate as they wish.

At the last hour, an all-too-often-used playbook by naysayers was brought out to stymie a project that the city has long studied and which has broad public support.

Of the 80-plus species of plants and animals documented using the Cahill Park cattail marsh, several include rare wetland-dependent birds.

Evers and Democrats got much of what they asked and legislative Republicans scored some victories, as well. With a little outside prodding, what emerged from the Capitol is a budget that should serve Wisconsin well.

At 1:30 a.m., while most of Wisconsin was asleep, Governor Evers quietly vetoed a project that would’ve protected Brillion families from devastating floods. It wasn’t about policy, it was about politics. … The backlash from Brillion residents and the local press forced his hand. Now, his administration is scrambling to rewrite the story, pretending they supported the project all along. But we have the receipts.

Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region are well-positioned to shape a new, emerging fusion energy industry. It’s a rare chance — like the birth of Silicon Valley — to create an industry with potential for massive growth.

Trust is everything. Rebuilding it is a sacred duty. So it is stunning to see the allegations aimed at former Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl.

Following initial progress, staffing vacancies are again rising in Wisconsin prisons. Improving training, safety and workplace culture would help retain officers, some say.

One City Schools embrace innovation and are a model of best practices in education from around the world. Yes, it is obviously a “whatever it takes” approach to ensure kids learn. But the approaches included in the curriculum have proven track records of success.

The debate in Waukesha will occur everywhere.

While all the public’s attention has been focused on the congressional machinations over the budget, with a few brief distractions like bunker-buster bombs being dropped on Iran, the administration is busy quietly dismantling programs that had positioned America for the future.

Amid financial problems, staff layoffs, board leadership questioned.

Leaders in Madison and Washington diverge on tax policy, Medicaid, partisanship.

All too many of these full-timers have nothing better to do than dream up schemes to fuel the flames of discord.

The laws meant to give workers the freedom to organize together are not working. Corporate lobbyists have used their money and influence to weaken our rights.

If history is any kind of guide, this moment—with its eerily similar injuries and usurpations and disgruntled youth drained of national loyalty by rulers deaf to the voice of justice—does not signal an end fast approaching but rather a new beginning about to commence.

Forty years ago this week, I made my first trip to Washington.

A federal proposal, the Most Favored Nation pricing model, threatens to destabilize our health care system and stall innovation.

The Durbin-Marshall credit card mandate would force banks to offer alternative payments on credit cards. This change would allow big-box retailers like Walmart and Home Depot to pick and choose which network to use when processing transactions, while small businesses would be stuck dealing with the consequences.

As pro sports draft picks get younger, an important question remains: can an 18-year-old’s physical skills match their emotional and mental maturity?

In a move that thrilled some and angered others, the IRS recently announced it will no longer hang a threat over the heads of faith leaders and churches for engaging in political advocacy. The net result is that pastors and church leaders can step up to the pulpit and politically pontificate as they wish.

At the last hour, an all-too-often-used playbook by naysayers was brought out to stymie a project that the city has long studied and which has broad public support.

Of the 80-plus species of plants and animals documented using the Cahill Park cattail marsh, several include rare wetland-dependent birds.

Evers and Democrats got much of what they asked and legislative Republicans scored some victories, as well. With a little outside prodding, what emerged from the Capitol is a budget that should serve Wisconsin well.

At 1:30 a.m., while most of Wisconsin was asleep, Governor Evers quietly vetoed a project that would’ve protected Brillion families from devastating floods. It wasn’t about policy, it was about politics. … The backlash from Brillion residents and the local press forced his hand. Now, his administration is scrambling to rewrite the story, pretending they supported the project all along. But we have the receipts.

Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region are well-positioned to shape a new, emerging fusion energy industry. It’s a rare chance — like the birth of Silicon Valley — to create an industry with potential for massive growth.

Trust is everything. Rebuilding it is a sacred duty. So it is stunning to see the allegations aimed at former Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl.

Following initial progress, staffing vacancies are again rising in Wisconsin prisons. Improving training, safety and workplace culture would help retain officers, some say.

One City Schools embrace innovation and are a model of best practices in education from around the world. Yes, it is obviously a “whatever it takes” approach to ensure kids learn. But the approaches included in the curriculum have proven track records of success.

The debate in Waukesha will occur everywhere.

While all the public’s attention has been focused on the congressional machinations over the budget, with a few brief distractions like bunker-buster bombs being dropped on Iran, the administration is busy quietly dismantling programs that had positioned America for the future.

Amid financial problems, staff layoffs, board leadership questioned.

Leaders in Madison and Washington diverge on tax policy, Medicaid, partisanship.