Visit WisPolitics-State Affairs for premium content,
keyword notifications, bill tracking and more
Subscriber products moved to State Affairs-WisPolitics
As of July 17, 2025, all WisPolitics subscriber products have moved to the State Affairs-WisPolitics platform. Archived subscriber products from before this date are available below or search here.
If you are an existing Silver, Gold or Platinum subscriber, you can log on to the State Affairs-WisPolitics site using the email address to which your WisPolitics subscriber emails are sent, no password required. If you would like to subscribe, reach out to schmies@wispolitics.com.
Subscribers unable to access the archives below can contact schmies@wispolitics.com to request access.
The Elections Commission expects turnout tomorrow to be between 13 percent and 18 percent, based on recent spring elections that featured a contested DPI race, but no challenger to a sitting Supreme Court justice. Not counting presidential primaries that have
Rep. Dale Kooyenga says he’s taking the next couple of weeks to hammer out specifics of an Assembly GOP transportation plan that could “sail through” the Legislature. Kooyenga told WisPolitics.com he’s spoken to a wide range of stakeholders from the
The Joint Finance Committee co-chairs said today lawmakers haven’t yet decided whether they’ll work off agencies’ base budgets or instead make changes to Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal, as they’ve done in the past. Walker, meanwhile, called on lawmakers to
Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The Joint Finance Committee co-chairs said today lawmakers haven’t yet decided whether they’ll work off agencies’ base budgets or instead make changes to Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal, as they’ve done in
Dem Mark Bakken, a Madison businessman who co-founded Nordic Consulting and then left to launch the venture capital firm HealthX Ventures, has decided against a bid for guv, according to a source with knowledge of his decision. Bakken’s name surfaced
Three Milwaukee Dems introduced a bill today that would limit the number of days a person with a serious mental illness could be placed solitary confinement. The bill, authored by Sen. LaTonya Johnson and Reps. David Crowley and David Bowen,
A Senate committee today on a 3-2 party-line vote OK’d resolutions requesting a constitutional convention on a balanced budget amendment. The GOP members of the Committee on Financial Services, Constitution and Federalism also tweaked a bill that would govern how
The Whitnall school board in a letter to district families last night said it has contacted the Milwaukee County District Attorney about former superintendent Lowell Holtz’s possible “misuse of district resources.” But Holtz’s state superintendent campaign accused the district of
Solutions for Wisconsin, the super PAC supporting Nicholson, announced today Illinois businessman and GOP mega donor Dick Uihlein has ponied up $2 million for the group in an effort to get the former Marine into the race. The group released
Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said today his Senate GOP caucus doesn’t have the votes right now to pass a gas tax hike and downplayed the suggestion lawmakers could override a pledged veto by Gov. Scott Walker. Speaker Robin Vos, however,
Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said today his Senate GOP caucus doesn’t have the votes right now to pass a gas tax hike and downplayed the suggestion lawmakers could override a pledged veto
A bill that would require that an inmate’s death in the custody of a correctional officer receives an independent investigation would increase transparency in the state’s jails, three Milwaukee Dems said today. The bill, from Sens. Chris Larson, Fred Risser,
Nicole Schneider, who’s weighing a bid for the U.S. Senate, says Dem Tammy Baldwin is “part of the problem” with career politicians who are “all talk and no action.” Schneider, the daughter-in-law of former Schneider Trucking exec Don Schneider, did
Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Former Dem state Sen. Tim Cullen announced today he will not run for guv in 2018, saying the chase for contributions to fuel a bid would be “demeaning.” Cullen, of Janesville, opened
Nicole Schneider, the research officer with Green Bay Area Catholic Education and daughter-in-law of the former Schneider Trucking head, is considering a bid for the U.S. Senate, according to two GOP sources with knowledge of her discussions. Schneider did not
Republican backers of a federal balanced budget amendment said today it’s needed to help address the nation’s historically high debt levels. But critics said the move is unnecessary and could limit spending during times of financial emergency or war. Sen.
A Senate committee voted 3-2 along party lines on a bill today that would roll back Department of Natural Resources oversight of high-capacity wells. The vote was done by paper ballot, rather than by holding an in-person executive session, meaning
Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — DOA Secretary Scott Neitzel today defended the guv’s call to move state employees to a self-insurance model as Joint Finance Committee members raised concerns the projected savings will not materialize. Neitzel, who
Dan Kohl, the nephew of former U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, is considering a bid against GOP U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman next year, according to a source with knowledge of the talks. Kohl has been working for J Street, which bills
Dem state Rep. Cory Mason said today he plans to run for Racine mayor in a special election, saying it would give him a better opportunity to affect change in his hometown. Mayor John Dickert announced today he is resigning
The Elections Commission expects turnout tomorrow to be between 13 percent and 18 percent, based on recent spring elections that featured a contested DPI race, but no challenger to a sitting Supreme Court justice. Not counting presidential primaries that have been held on the April general election, turnout for statewide
Rep. Dale Kooyenga says he’s taking the next couple of weeks to hammer out specifics of an Assembly GOP transportation plan that could “sail through” the Legislature. Kooyenga told WisPolitics.com he’s spoken to a wide range of stakeholders from the timber industry to local governments on possible improvements to the
The Joint Finance Committee co-chairs said today lawmakers haven’t yet decided whether they’ll work off agencies’ base budgets or instead make changes to Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal, as they’ve done in the past. Walker, meanwhile, called on lawmakers to work from his K-12 education budget rather than scrapping the
Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The Joint Finance Committee co-chairs said today lawmakers haven’t yet decided whether they’ll work off agencies’ base budgets or instead make changes to Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal, as they’ve done in the past. Walker, meanwhile, called on lawmakers to work from
Dem Mark Bakken, a Madison businessman who co-founded Nordic Consulting and then left to launch the venture capital firm HealthX Ventures, has decided against a bid for guv, according to a source with knowledge of his decision. Bakken’s name surfaced earlier this year as a potential candidate. But he joins
Three Milwaukee Dems introduced a bill today that would limit the number of days a person with a serious mental illness could be placed solitary confinement. The bill, authored by Sen. LaTonya Johnson and Reps. David Crowley and David Bowen, would keep inmates with serious mental illnesses from solitary confinement
A Senate committee today on a 3-2 party-line vote OK’d resolutions requesting a constitutional convention on a balanced budget amendment. The GOP members of the Committee on Financial Services, Constitution and Federalism also tweaked a bill that would govern how a Wisconsin delegation would operate for the proposed convention. One
The Whitnall school board in a letter to district families last night said it has contacted the Milwaukee County District Attorney about former superintendent Lowell Holtz’s possible “misuse of district resources.” But Holtz’s state superintendent campaign accused the district of hypocrisy and “using district resources to a political end.” The
Solutions for Wisconsin, the super PAC supporting Nicholson, announced today Illinois businessman and GOP mega donor Dick Uihlein has ponied up $2 million for the group in an effort to get the former Marine into the race. The group released a statement with Uihlein saying he wanted to avoid “a
Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said today his Senate GOP caucus doesn’t have the votes right now to pass a gas tax hike and downplayed the suggestion lawmakers could override a pledged veto by Gov. Scott Walker. Speaker Robin Vos, however, said all options remain on the table for his caucus
Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said today his Senate GOP caucus doesn’t have the votes right now to pass a gas tax hike and downplayed the suggestion lawmakers could override a pledged veto by Gov. Scott Walker. Speaker Robin Vos, however, said all
A bill that would require that an inmate’s death in the custody of a correctional officer receives an independent investigation would increase transparency in the state’s jails, three Milwaukee Dems said today. The bill, from Sens. Chris Larson, Fred Risser, Reps. David Crowley and David Bowen, would extend a 2014
Nicole Schneider, who’s weighing a bid for the U.S. Senate, says Dem Tammy Baldwin is “part of the problem” with career politicians who are “all talk and no action.” Schneider, the daughter-in-law of former Schneider Trucking exec Don Schneider, did not directly address in an email talk that she is
Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Former Dem state Sen. Tim Cullen announced today he will not run for guv in 2018, saying the chase for contributions to fuel a bid would be “demeaning.” Cullen, of Janesville, opened a bank account earlier this month to begin accepting donations
Nicole Schneider, the research officer with Green Bay Area Catholic Education and daughter-in-law of the former Schneider Trucking head, is considering a bid for the U.S. Senate, according to two GOP sources with knowledge of her discussions. Schneider did not return an email sent to her GRACE address. Her profile
Republican backers of a federal balanced budget amendment said today it’s needed to help address the nation’s historically high debt levels. But critics said the move is unnecessary and could limit spending during times of financial emergency or war. Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, has been one of the national leaders
A Senate committee voted 3-2 along party lines on a bill today that would roll back Department of Natural Resources oversight of high-capacity wells. The vote was done by paper ballot, rather than by holding an in-person executive session, meaning no discussion was held prior to the vote. The bill
Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — DOA Secretary Scott Neitzel today defended the guv’s call to move state employees to a self-insurance model as Joint Finance Committee members raised concerns the projected savings will not materialize. Neitzel, who was first to testify before the committee as three days
Dan Kohl, the nephew of former U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, is considering a bid against GOP U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman next year, according to a source with knowledge of the talks. Kohl has been working for J Street, which bills itself as The Political Home for Pro-Israel, Pro-Peace Americans, in
Dem state Rep. Cory Mason said today he plans to run for Racine mayor in a special election, saying it would give him a better opportunity to affect change in his hometown. Mayor John Dickert announced today he is resigning this summer to become president of the Great Lakes and