Senate approves session rules

Senate Republicans today voted along party lines to approve new rules for the chambers, including a provision banning anyone in the gallery from recording the proceedings. Republicans shot down five Dem proposals to add new rules, including one that would’ve

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Senate rejects pre-existing conditions bill

The state Senate Wednesday rejected a bill to provide new state protections for those with pre-existing conditions, which became a central issue in the fall campaigns. GOP Sens. Dave Craig, of Big Bend, and Chris Kapenga, of Delafield, joined Dems

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Senate and Assembly approve waiver bill

The Assembly and Senate approved along party lines requiring the Department of Health to receive permission from the Legislature before asking the federal government for a waiver or to change an existing one. The bill that cleared the Senate 18-15

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Senate sends Republican tax cut bill to Evers’ desk

The GOP tax cut plan is heading to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk after Senate Republicans voted to advance it over Dems’ objections tonight. The bill, which would increase the standard deduction on a sliding scale, passed the Assembly yesterday on a party-line vote. But Evers in a statement after the

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Assembly unanimously passes amended Black History Month resolution

The Assembly unanimously passed an amended version of a resolution honoring Black History Month after lawmakers clashed over competing versions earlier this afternoon. The differing resolutions were not originally brought up for a floor vote after some in the Republican caucus expressed disapproval of former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin

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GOP tax cut bill clears Assembly on party-line vote

A Republican tax cut plan is on its way to the Senate after it cleared the Assembly this afternoon 61-33. The party-line vote came after Gov. Tony Evers earlier today said he was “hopeful” that he could find common ground and compromise with Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, on a middle-class tax

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Lawmakers clash over competing Black History Month resolutions

The Assembly clashed over two competing version of resolutions honoring Black History Month shortly after gaveling in for its second floor session of the year. Neither of the differing resolutions were brought up for a floor vote after some in the Republican caucus expressed disapproval of former San Francisco 49ers

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Senate approves session rules

Senate Republicans today voted along party lines to approve new rules for the chambers, including a provision banning anyone in the gallery from recording the proceedings. Republicans shot down five Dem proposals to add new rules, including one that would’ve allowed the Senate to again consider an appointment after it’s

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Evers, Republicans lay down markers on Medicaid expansion debate

Tony Evers and GOP lawmakers today laid down markers on the upcoming fight over expanding Medicaid, with the new guv saying he made clear he plans to include the move in his upcoming budget. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, told reporters after the

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Vos adds seven positions to speaker’s office

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who has said he wanted to staff up with Dem Tony Evers taking over the East Wing, has added seven positions to his office. He did so by pulling in positions from the chief clerk and sergeant at arms’ offices. Vos has used the new positions

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Evers calls for ‘putting people first’ in inaugural address

Echoing a theme from his successful campaign, Tony Evers Monday called for “putting people first” after being sworn in as Wisconsin’s 46th governor. The outgoing state schools superintendent reminded the crowd in the Capitol of the themes he campaigned on last fall, including fully funding public education, making healthcare affordable

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Kaul calls for universal background checks in inaugural remarks

Dem Josh Kaul bemoaned the lame-duck laws, but called for implementing universal background checks after he was sworn in as attorney general this afternoon. The former federal prosecutor said in his inaugural remarks that while the laws took away power from the AG’s and guv’s offices, “the priorities of the

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Senate rejects pre-existing conditions bill

The state Senate Wednesday rejected a bill to provide new state protections for those with pre-existing conditions, which became a central issue in the fall campaigns. GOP Sens. Dave Craig, of Big Bend, and Chris Kapenga, of Delafield, joined Dems in shooting down the bill 16-17. Craig told WisPolitics.com afterward

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Senate and Assembly approve waiver bill

The Assembly and Senate approved along party lines requiring the Department of Health to receive permission from the Legislature before asking the federal government for a waiver or to change an existing one. The bill that cleared the Senate 18-15 and the Assembly 59-32 was pared back from an earlier

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