The state Senate voted 29-4 Tuesday to enshrine in the Wisconsin Constitution additional rights for crime victims such as being treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, sensitivity and fairness in criminal proceedings and to have “reasonable protections” from the accused during
The state Senate voted 22-11 to confirm Dave Ross as Transportation secretary with Dems using the vote to knock the guv’s approach to transportation. Gov. Scott Walker refused to consider a gas tax hike or registration fee increase to fund
The Assembly passed the GOP sulfide mining bill on a 53-38 vote Thursday with a key amendment to win over among some holdout Senate Republicans. Bill co-author Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, told WisPolitics.com earlier this week he was one vote
The GOP sulfide mining bill is expected to see at least one amendment when it’s taken up on the Assembly floor later today. Bill managers say the changes are expected to shore up Republican Senate support for the bill following
The Assembly this afternoon OK’d a bill that would prohibit the Group Insurance Board from providing abortions for public employees or contracting to do. The bill, which cleared the chamber on a 61-35 party-line vote, passed over Dem objections that
The Assembly kicked off its floor session this afternoon with a moment of silence to honor Rep. Bob Gannon, R-West Bend, who passed away last month. The chamber then took up resolutions honoring former Department of Health Services Secretary and
The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would allow utilities to provide homeowners financial assistance to replace service lines containing lead. The bill also would allow the utilities to increase rates to cover the cost of the program. GOP Sen. Rob
The state Senate kicked off today’s floor period by approving 31 appointments, including JFC Co-chair Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and former GOP state Rep. Rob Kreibich, of New Richmond, to the Wisconsin 529 College Savings Program Board for terms through
State Rep. Bob Gannon passed away last night, according to Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke. Gannon was 58. Steineke said Gannon, R-West Bend, died from natural causes. “I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and
Fresh off his election as Assembly minority leader, Rep. Gordon Hintz challenged his fellow Dems Tuesday to “recommit to the effort necessary to change the direction of Wisconsin.” Hintz, D-Oshkosh, was elected to the post after Dems pushed out Rep.
State Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa has decided against challenging Rep. Dianne Hesselbein for Assembly assistant minority leader. Zamarripa, D-Milwaukee, declined comment to WisPolitics.com on why she decided to drop her bid for the Assembly Dems’ No. 2 leadership post. The caucus
The state Senate put the final touches Friday on a nearly $76 billion state budget that would pump an additional $649 million into K-12 education over the next two years after a handful of holdout GOP senators received assurances from
Sen. Chris Kapenga said he and two fellow GOP holdouts on the budget are now a yes after striking a deal with Gov. Scott Walker on vetoes that he said made the spending plan more acceptable. Kapenga, R-Delafield; Sen. Steve
Republicans this afternoon were working on a package of veto assurances to win the final votes needed in the state Senate to send the budget to the guv’s desk. Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, and one of three GOP senators who
Senate Republicans have rejected two amendments from Democrats so far as debate on the biennial budget continues. JFC Co-chair Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, kicked off the debate by saying it was “one of the best budgets” she’s worked on, ticking
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald tells WisPolitics.com that he’s “got the votes” to pass the biennial budget. The Senate is back in session after a three-hour recess, as GOP leaders negotiated with Senate hold-outs to try to get enough votes
Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, said today taxpayers are “being held hostage” by Republicans’ delay in passing a budget. The Senate gaveled in today to vote on the budget, though Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said he still
The state Senate gaveled in briefly this morning for its session on the biennial budget and is now in recess until 11:30 a.m. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said this week he didn’t have the required 17 votes from his
Before the final gavel, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos paid compliments to outgoing Minority Leader Peter Barca, calling him “someone who has worked to make this institution better.” “You did your side proud,” said Vos, R-Rochester. “They will never know all
The Assembly this afternoon approved the amended Foxconn bill on a 64-31 vote, sending it to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk. Four Dems broke ranks to support the $3 billion incentive package for the Taiwanese tech company, while two Republicans voted
The state Senate voted 29-4 Tuesday to enshrine in the Wisconsin Constitution additional rights for crime victims such as being treated with dignity, respect, courtesy, sensitivity and fairness in criminal proceedings and to have “reasonable protections” from the accused during proceedings. Backers argued it would ensure victims have rights that
The state Senate voted 22-11 to confirm Dave Ross as Transportation secretary with Dems using the vote to knock the guv’s approach to transportation. Gov. Scott Walker refused to consider a gas tax hike or registration fee increase to fund roads in the 2017-19 budget, and Dems complained that stance
The Assembly passed the GOP sulfide mining bill on a 53-38 vote Thursday with a key amendment to win over among some holdout Senate Republicans. Bill co-author Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, told WisPolitics.com earlier this week he was one vote short in the Senate. But fellow co-author Rep. Rob Hutton
The GOP sulfide mining bill is expected to see at least one amendment when it’s taken up on the Assembly floor later today. Bill managers say the changes are expected to shore up Republican Senate support for the bill following co-author Sen. Tom Tiffany telling WisPolitics.com earlier this week he
The Assembly this afternoon OK’d a bill that would prohibit the Group Insurance Board from providing abortions for public employees or contracting to do. The bill, which cleared the chamber on a 61-35 party-line vote, passed over Dem objections that the legislation was anti-women and would limit access to women’s
The Assembly kicked off its floor session this afternoon with a moment of silence to honor Rep. Bob Gannon, R-West Bend, who passed away last month. The chamber then took up resolutions honoring former Department of Health Services Secretary and state Rep. Kitty Rhoades, who died in June of last
The Senate unanimously approved legislation that would allow utilities to provide homeowners financial assistance to replace service lines containing lead. The bill also would allow the utilities to increase rates to cover the cost of the program. GOP Sen. Rob Cowles, who co-authored the bill, said lead in drinking water
The state Senate kicked off today’s floor period by approving 31 appointments, including JFC Co-chair Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and former GOP state Rep. Rob Kreibich, of New Richmond, to the Wisconsin 529 College Savings Program Board for terms through 2021. All of the appointments but one were unanimous, though
State Rep. Bob Gannon passed away last night, according to Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke. Gannon was 58. Steineke said Gannon, R-West Bend, died from natural causes. “I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and colleague, Representative Bob Gannon,” Steineke said. “During his time in
Fresh off his election as Assembly minority leader, Rep. Gordon Hintz challenged his fellow Dems Tuesday to “recommit to the effort necessary to change the direction of Wisconsin.” Hintz, D-Oshkosh, was elected to the post after Dems pushed out Rep. Peter Barca, who will step down on Sept. 30. Hintz
State Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa has decided against challenging Rep. Dianne Hesselbein for Assembly assistant minority leader. Zamarripa, D-Milwaukee, declined comment to WisPolitics.com on why she decided to drop her bid for the Assembly Dems’ No. 2 leadership post. The caucus was meeting Tuesday afternoon to elect a new minority leader
The state Senate put the final touches Friday on a nearly $76 billion state budget that would pump an additional $649 million into K-12 education over the next two years after a handful of holdout GOP senators received assurances from the guv’s office on a package of vetoes. The budget,
Sen. Chris Kapenga said he and two fellow GOP holdouts on the budget are now a yes after striking a deal with Gov. Scott Walker on vetoes that he said made the spending plan more acceptable. Kapenga, R-Delafield; Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater; and Sen. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, issued a list
Republicans this afternoon were working on a package of veto assurances to win the final votes needed in the state Senate to send the budget to the guv’s desk. Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, and one of three GOP senators who issued a list of demands this week to win their
Senate Republicans have rejected two amendments from Democrats so far as debate on the biennial budget continues. JFC Co-chair Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, kicked off the debate by saying it was “one of the best budgets” she’s worked on, ticking off a range of provisions that include: the $639 million
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald tells WisPolitics.com that he’s “got the votes” to pass the biennial budget. The Senate is back in session after a three-hour recess, as GOP leaders negotiated with Senate hold-outs to try to get enough votes for the budget. Fitzgerald said in a brief interview that
Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, said today taxpayers are “being held hostage” by Republicans’ delay in passing a budget. The Senate gaveled in today to vote on the budget, though Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said he still didn’t have the required 17 GOP votes to pass the
The state Senate gaveled in briefly this morning for its session on the biennial budget and is now in recess until 11:30 a.m. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said this week he didn’t have the required 17 votes from his party to pass the budget. He told reporters today he
Before the final gavel, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos paid compliments to outgoing Minority Leader Peter Barca, calling him “someone who has worked to make this institution better.” “You did your side proud,” said Vos, R-Rochester. “They will never know all of the things you got for them.” Barca, D-Kenosha, responded that
The Assembly this afternoon approved the amended Foxconn bill on a 64-31 vote, sending it to Gov. Scott Walker’s desk. Four Dems broke ranks to support the $3 billion incentive package for the Taiwanese tech company, while two Republicans voted against it. The Senate passed it on Tuesday after adopting