Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov. Tony Evers today called Republicans’ proposed state investment in K-12 education “paltry” and said vetoing the entire document is on the table unless they add more money. Evers’ call came days after the federal government warned the K-12 package the GOP-controlled

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Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Wisconsin will have to maintain its current funding commitment to K-12 schools to ensure districts qualify for the full $1.5 billion in federal money that’s part of the latest COVID-19 package, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. And the Legislature won’t know

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Republican legislative leaders today quickly adjourned a special session Gov. Tony Evers called to expand Medicaid. Evers and minority Dems slammed the GOP move. In the Assembly, Rep. Mike Kuglitsch, R-New Berlin, and Assistant Majority Leader Kevin Petersen, R-Waupaca, convened and gaveled

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — State Sen. Steve Nass today ripped the idea of ending the tuition freeze for the UW System that’s been in place for the past eight years, telling his GOP colleagues the university doesn’t need more money. Nass, R-Whitewater, wrote to Republican lawmakers

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — DOA Secretary Joel Brennan today raised concerns with Joint Finance Committee co-chairs over efforts to cut vacant state jobs, arguing unfilled positions were meant to save money at the outset of the pandemic and never meant to be permanent reductions. Brennan wrote

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The GOP-controlled Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules along party lines shot down a DWD emergency rule suspending a work search requirement for people seeking unemployment benefits. Dems slammed the 6-4 vote as adding complications to the UI process when the

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov. Tony Evers says he’ll use $100 million in coming federal COVID stimulus money to cover a first round of broadband expansion grants through the PSC. Along with announcing the federal money, Evers also called on the Legislature to approve his $200

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Using federal money from the latest COVID-19 stimulus package to expand broadband would require a higher level of service for the projects than putting state money toward the build-out, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. That means using federal money to expand

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The Joint Finance Committee voted unanimously to create a new $10 million fund for the state’s veterans homes to help them cover the costs of a future natural disaster or public emergency. In doing so, Republicans on the committee knocked Gov. Tony

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov. Tony Evers says his priorities for coming federal COVID-19 stimulus money remain the same even though the state is now in line to receive $700 million less than expected. Still, he said a key piece is knowing whether the $2.5 billion

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Wisconsin will get $700 million less from the latest round of COVID-19 stimulus funds than originally expected. In addition, the $2.5 billion now coming will be split into two payments a year apart. The drop in money the state will now receive

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Four members of Wisconsin’s House delegation are requesting nearly $150 million in earmarks since both national party caucuses agreed to bring back community project funding. Republicans banned earmarks a decade ago after retaking control of the House with some criticizing the process

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee today kicked off its work on Tony Evers’ budget by gutting the guv’s proposal, pulling more than 380 provisions and amending the document to current law spending levels as they build their own version. Dropping Evers’ plan

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — UW System Regent Edmund Manydeeds told WisPolitics.com he’s considering a run for board president this June. Manydeeds, an appointee of Dem Gov. Tony Evers, said he hasn’t yet fully decided whether to put his name in the race but that he’s “thinking

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Vice President Kamala Harris in Milwaukee today pitched the administration’s proposed $2 trillion infrastructure package as an opportunity to invest in America and create jobs. Addressing a roundtable at UW-Milwaukee this afternoon, Harris said the federal government’s investment in innovation, research and

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Four GOP legislative leaders today invited Gov. Tony Evers to meet as soon as possible to share his plans for $3.2 billion in federal funding from the latest COVID-19 stimulus plan. Evers said last week the Joint Finance Committee will “know where

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — A Dane County judge today voided two contracts GOP legislative leaders signed that put taxpayers on the hook for more than $1 million in legal fees, ruling lawmakers don’t have the authority to retain private counsel for a redistricting suit that hasn’t

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill to require Holocaust education be included in all public and private school curriculums. Evers signed SB 69, creating Wisconsin Act 30, alongside Jewish community advocates and state lawmakers from both sides of the aisle today. The

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Dem AG Josh Kaul announced a review of clergy sexual abuse that will focus initially on five Catholic dioceses around the state. During a Capitol news conference, Kaul urged anyone with information about sexual abuse at other places of religious worship to