Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Despite warnings that 60 percent of Wisconsin municipalities are short of necessary poll workers for April 7, the Elections Commission today couldn’t agree on possible guidance for a federal judge on whether the election should be delayed. Ahead of today’s meeting, staff

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Having already declared Gov. Tony Evers’ first proposal too expensive, Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said today he hopes to have the Senate meet virtually “in the next couple of weeks” to take up legislation addressing COVID-19. Meanwhile, Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Madison Dems quickly expressed an interest in running for Sen. Fred Risser’s Senate seat after the 92-year-old announced he won’t seek reelection after more than six decades in the Legislature. But Rep. Chris Taylor, who had been considered a top candidate to

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The state Capitol will close to the public starting at 8 a.m. tomorrow as part of the Evers administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Administration said the building will reopen to the public if the Legislature or Wisconsin Supreme

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov. Tony Evers today announced a sweeping stay-at-home order that limits personal contact between Wisconsinites but allows essential businesses to remain open over the next month. Evers’ order, which begins at 8 a.m. tomorrow, lists a host of businesses — from grocery

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — GOP legislative leaders today knocked Gov. Tony Evers for creating “mass amounts of confusion” as details of his “safer at home” order were held until tomorrow. Evers told reporters on Friday he wasn’t considering an order to shelter in place, but “will

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — ACLU of Wisconsin Executive Director Chris Ott today told WisPolitics.com the positive case of COVID-19 at Waupun Correctional Institution “really shows the urgency of the situation.” The ACLU and others have been calling for the release of some prisoners to guard against

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — State and national Dems today said their federal lawsuit seeking to make it easier to vote absentee in the spring election was an effort to prevent the disenfranchisement of voters due to the coronavirus pandemic. But the state GOP accused Dems of

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — To help workers impacted by the growing coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Tony Evers today called on lawmakers to immediately repeal a one-week delay in collecting unemployment benefits — something Republicans approved nearly a decade ago. Evers also ordered bars and restaurants to be

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Having already ordered K-12 schools closed, Gov. Tony Evers took another step in the fight against the spread of coronavirus today as he ordered a ban on gatherings of 50 people or more. That order, which kicks in at midnight, exempts infrastructure

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov. Tony Evers today declared a public health emergency to deal with the growing outbreak of coronavirus. Without hours of Evers’ late morning announcement, state and Dane County officials announced two more Wisconsinites had tested positive. They were the seventh and eighth

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The Evers administration today urged state employees to stay home if they feel ill to help contain the possible spread of the coronavirus. The virus prompted a cascade of response across the country, including at UW-Madison, which suspended in-person classes after spring

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says he sees no need to bring back the full Legislature to address any state funding needs to deal with the coronavirus as Wisconsin’s third confirmed case was announced today. Vos, R-Rochester, said if any additional funds are

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Both state Supreme Court campaigns are getting ready to go up on TV, according to multiple sources. Dane County Judge Jill Karofsky is set to go up on broadcast TV this week with sources pegging the buy at around $835,000 through the

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — A good chunk of Michael Bloomberg’s Wisconsin backers are likely to move toward Joe Biden, according to recent Marquette University Law School polling. And Bernie Sanders has an edge on Biden for those who were supporting Elizabeth Warren. But it’s a more

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The stage is still set for the remaining Dem presidential contenders to target Wisconsin’s April 7 primary in their march to the national convention. Still, Dem operatives say it may take some more time to see if the state will play a

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher and Mark Pocan expressed optimism on legislation addressing infrastructure and prescription drug pricing. Speaking at a WisPolitics.com event in Washington, Gallagher said President Trump’s “divisive” impeachment and the looming 2020 election presented hurdles to productive legislative work. Still,

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Wisconsin Elections Commissioner Ann Jacobs says she plans to direct elections officials to develop contingency plans to respond to “pandemic issues” if she is selected to lead the agency in June. Under state statute, control of the panel rotates between parties every

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Bernie Sanders jumped out to a double-digit lead among Dem primary voters in the latest Marquette University Law School Poll. Meanwhile, the presidential race in Wisconsin continued to be tight. The latest poll found 29 percent of those who plan to vote

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The White House today nominated Brett Ludwig, a bankruptcy judge in Milwaukee, to fill a longtime vacancy on the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Ludwig, who was appointed to the bankruptcy court for the Eastern District in 2017, is a Marshfield native. He