From WisPolitics … — Former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman countered a state regulator’s contention he had selfish motives in reviewing the 2020 election, arguing the “reality is more nuanced.” In making his argument, Gableman is hoping to avoid a harsher penalty than the three-year suspension of his law license

Subscribers: Please give us feedback on our budget coverage and get free entry into a WisPolitics event of your choice through June 30. Take the short survey here. From WisPolitics … — Dem voters in two separate suits have asked the state Supreme Court to overturn Wisconsin’s congressional map and

From WisPolitics … — An Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing today was interrupted when Chair Ron Tusler, R-Harrison, paused the discussion over someone seeking to testify while wearing a hat with profanity insulting President Donald Trump. The committee recessed around 1 p.m. during discussion about the first bill on the agenda.

From WisPolitics … — Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu told WisPolitics in a statement today that GOP leaders have asked to meet with Dem Gov. Tony Evers by the end of next week to keep budget deliberations on schedule. He added there’s agreement in the Legislature on a tax cut

From WisPolitics … — Dem Attorney General Josh Kaul joined his 14th lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration today, accusing Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of “dismantling” the Department of Health and Human Services.  The lawsuit, filed by 19 states, seeks an order forcing Kennedy to halt further cuts of

From WisPolitics … — Washington County Exec Josh Schoemann, who has a “summer kickoff cookout” scheduled Sunday, has registered his campaign committee with the state to run for governor next year. WisPolitics first reported earlier this week on Schoemann’s kickoff event, which was promoted as a “historic day in Washington

From WisPolitics … — A court-ordered investigation failed to definitively identify who was responsible for the leak of a draft order signaling the justices would hear a lawsuit seeking a declaration the Wisconsin Constitution protects the right to an abortion. On her final day as chief justice, Annette Ziegler released

From WisPolitics … — The former Madison clerk failed to perform her work duties when local officials missed 193 absentee ballots from the November election and her office didn’t report the issue to the state until after the official count was complete, according to a city investigation. Still, the report

From WisPolitics … — The lawyer handling the discipline case against Michael Gableman argued a three-year suspension of the former justice’s law license was justified because Gableman “certainly knew better” than to violate numerous conduct standards while reviewing the 2020 election. In a report filed with the referee overseeing the

From WisPolitics … — The Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules deadlocked today on a package of proposed standards for election observers, a move that could clear the way for the rules to take effect later this year. Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Kevin Petersen, R-Waupaca, joined the four committee

From WisPolitics … — DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld insisted today the Evers administration is not hiring based on race or gender, arguing the DEI efforts outlined in a recent audit reflect the agency’s efforts to retain and attract employees.  Republicans on the Joint Legislative Audit Committee knocked Blumenfeld over the

From WisPolitics … — Gov. Tony Evers said today while he’s open to negotiating a tax cut deal with GOP legislative leaders, any agreement would have to be part of the state budget — not standalone legislation.  Evers said reaching a deal would be “tough” because of his demand it

From WisPolitics … — Rep. Adam Neylon today criticized the Wisconsin Elections Commission for not engaging with lawmakers more on a proposed rule laying out standards for election observers, calling it “insulting.” Appearing before the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules, GOP Commissioner Don Millis testified in support of

Subscribers: Tomorrow’s AM Update and News Summary will be the final products of the week. All products will resume Monday. Thank you for subscribing! From WisPolitics … — GOP legislative leaders, who have pledged to pass a tax cut before taking up the budget, have held off introducing a plan

From WisPolitics … — The state GOP announced to members today that it’s launching a postmortem on the 2025 state Supreme Court race that conservative Brad Schimel lost by 10 points as the party prepares for next year’s contest. Since liberal Susan Crawford’s victory April 1, some have questioned the

From WisPolitics … — The state GOP has for the first time set a code of conduct to allow the removal of local party officials, members of the executive committee or staff for actions such as sexually, verbally or physically harassing fellow Republicans. The new bylaws laying out the process

From WisPolitics … — Madison’s city clerk has resigned after being put on leave a month ago amid a state probe into why her office failed to count 193 absentee ballots cast in the November election. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway didn’t provide a reason for Maribeth Witzel-Behl’s resignation in a short

From WisPolitics … — Outgoing state Dem Chair Ben Wikler told WisPolitics he’s interested in running for public office some day, but has no immediate political plans as he decides what’s next in his career. “I think it really matters who serves in public office,” Wikler said in a phone

From WisPolitics … — The Natural Resources Board voted today to let the agency start a new rulemaking effort to establish PFAS groundwater standards.  The action comes after a previous groundwater rule stalled in the GOP-led Legislature. The Department of Natural Resources paused work on the rule after it was

From WisPolitics … — Assembly Republicans today unveiled a new version of a heavily lobbied transmission bill opposed by some conservatives, adding provisions addressing farmland preservation and touting nuclear energy to win over previous GOP holdouts. Lawmakers dubbed the new bill the “Wisconsin Energy Reform Act” and said the previous