Assembly votes to end Miller Park tax

The Assembly today voted to ensure the sales tax created to pay for the Milwaukee Brewers stadium would end in 2020. The 0.1 percent sales tax on the five-county area — which includes Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha and Racine counties

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Assembly passes package addressing homelessness

The Assembly today approved a package of measures stemming from recommendations made last session by the Interagency Council on Homelessness. But the proposed funding for the measures, which comes out to roughly $3.8 million, can only be released at the

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Assembly approves 5G regulations

A bill that would set standards and fees for wireless providers when they seek to install 5G infrastructure was approved by voice vote in the Assembly today. The bill now heads to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk after the Senate voted

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Senate sends abortion package to Evers’ desk

A GOP bill to require care for those who survive an abortion is heading to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk after clearing a divided Senate this afternoon. It was one of four abortion-related measure that the body approved today, though Gov.

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State Senate passes step-therapy bill

The state Senate today approved a measure that would make the insurance appeals process easier. The proposal addresses the so-called “step therapy” process, a cost-saving method employed by insurance companies that makes patients try a number of drugs recommended by

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Remaining abortion-related bills pass Assembly

The remaining GOP-backed abortion-related bills passed the state Assembly this afternoon without any Democratic support. The three bills’ passage came after the chamber voted to approve legislation to require care for those who survive an abortion. All of the bills passed

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‘Born alive’ bill passes Assembly on 62-35 vote

A GOP bill to require care for those who survive an abortion is heading to the state Senate after clearing a divided Assembly this afternoon. The “born alive” bill passed the body on a 62-35 vote. GOP Rep. Chuck Wichgers, of Muskego, joined

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Senate confirms Wolfe as Elections administrator

The Senate today unanimously confirmed Meagan Wolfe as Elections Commission administrator, making her the agency’s first permanent leader since it was created in 2016. The 32-0 vote confirms Wolfe for a term through July 1 as well as a second

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Assembly, Senate in session today

The Assembly and Senate are each taking up a measure aiming to bolster crime victims’ rights during the chambers’ sessions today, the Legislature’s only floor period of the month. In addition to the proposed constitutional amendment, Marsy’s Law, the Assembly

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Assembly votes to end Miller Park tax

The Assembly today voted to ensure the sales tax created to pay for the Milwaukee Brewers stadium would end in 2020. The 0.1 percent sales tax on the five-county area — which includes Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, Waukesha and Racine counties — has been in place in 1996. Under the bill

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Assembly votes to expand minority teacher loan forgiveness

The Assembly approved by voice vote a bill that boosts a loan forgiveness program to incentivize more minorities to pursue a career in education. The bill, which boasted bipartisan support, would expand the program form Milwaukee to any school district in the state where at least 40 percent of the

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Assembly passes package addressing homelessness

The Assembly today approved a package of measures stemming from recommendations made last session by the Interagency Council on Homelessness. But the proposed funding for the measures, which comes out to roughly $3.8 million, can only be released at the discretion of the Joint Finance Committee. Assembly Majority Leader Jim

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Step therapy bill unanimously clears Assembly, heads to Evers’ desk

The Assembly today approved a bill that would address step therapy, a cost-saving method employed by insurance companies The legislation — introduced by Joint Finance Committee Co-chairs Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette — would address step therapy. That’s a cost-saving method employed by insurance companies;

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Assembly approves 5G regulations

A bill that would set standards and fees for wireless providers when they seek to install 5G infrastructure was approved by voice vote in the Assembly today. The bill now heads to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk after the Senate voted 25-5 to pass it earlier this month. But the measure

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Senate passes 5G bill after Carpenter drops objection

The Senate today approved a bill that would set standards and fees for wireless providers when they seek to install 5G infrastructure after Dem Sen. Tim Carpenter temporarily blocked a final vote on the measure. The Milwaukee Dem brought forward a number of amendments to the bill, ranging from a

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Senate sends abortion package to Evers’ desk

A GOP bill to require care for those who survive an abortion is heading to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk after clearing a divided Senate this afternoon. It was one of four abortion-related measure that the body approved today, though Gov. Tony Evers has said he will veto the package and

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State Senate passes step-therapy bill

The state Senate today approved a measure that would make the insurance appeals process easier. The proposal addresses the so-called “step therapy” process, a cost-saving method employed by insurance companies that makes patients try a number of drugs recommended by the insurer before “stepping” up to cover the cost of

Read More »

Remaining abortion-related bills pass Assembly

The remaining GOP-backed abortion-related bills passed the state Assembly this afternoon without any Democratic support. The three bills’ passage came after the chamber voted to approve legislation to require care for those who survive an abortion. All of the bills passed with almost complete Republican support, though GOP Rep. Chuck Wichgers,

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‘Born alive’ bill passes Assembly on 62-35 vote

A GOP bill to require care for those who survive an abortion is heading to the state Senate after clearing a divided Assembly this afternoon. The “born alive” bill passed the body on a 62-35 vote. GOP Rep. Chuck Wichgers, of Muskego, joined all Dems in opposing it. The bill would outline care

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Bill to overhaul state’s expungement process clears Assembly

A bipartisan bill to overhaul the state’s expungement process is heading to the state Senate after passing the Assembly this afternoon via voice vote. The legislation, from Reps. David Steffen and Evan Goyke and Sens. Alberta Darling and Fred Risser, would change who’s eligible for expungement and the timeline, but

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Senate approves changes to water pollution credits system

The Senate on Tuesday unanimously backed changes to the state’s water pollution credits system. The bill, which next goes to the Assembly, would create a central clearinghouse from which facilities and farmers could buy and sell water pollution credits. Now, those that want to buy and sell credits can do

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Senate, Assembly approve ‘Marsy’s Law’ amendment

The Senate and Assembly have signed off on a constitutional amendment that would add more rights for crime victims. The measure will now head to voters for a statewide referendum in 2020. Co-author Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said the amendment “sends a message to victims across the state of Wisconsin

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Senate confirms Wolfe as Elections administrator

The Senate today unanimously confirmed Meagan Wolfe as Elections Commission administrator, making her the agency’s first permanent leader since it was created in 2016. The 32-0 vote confirms Wolfe for a term through July 1 as well as a second that ends June 30, 2023. Wolfe was first appointed in

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Assembly, Senate in session today

The Assembly and Senate are each taking up a measure aiming to bolster crime victims’ rights during the chambers’ sessions today, the Legislature’s only floor period of the month. In addition to the proposed constitutional amendment, Marsy’s Law, the Assembly is also poised to take up four abortion-related bills. Those

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Fitzgerald: Appointment controversy imperils Evers cabinet picks

Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said Tuesday several of Tony Evers’ cabinet picks were in danger of being rejected by Senate Republicans following the guv’s decision to rescind appointments to the PSC, UW Regents and other bodies. Fitzgerald said some members of his caucus wanted to vote down the picks

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Assembly, Senate in session; State of the Tribes address today

Both the Assembly and Senate are in session today, the same day of the annual State of the Tribes address. Chairman Tehassi Hill of the Oneida Nation will deliver remarks to the Legislature this afternoon. Meanwhile, both chambers will convene for their only floor period of the month, where they’re

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