Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Less than 24 hours after Tony Evers declared he had directed Josh Kaul to “withdraw” from a lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act, his office walked back the comments, insisting the guv didn’t direct the attorney general to take any action. In

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — GOP legislative leaders say they’re perplexed about Gov. Tony Evers’ planned call in his State of the State address for lawmakers to work on “fixing” the economy. In excerpts released ahead of the 7 p.m. address, Evers planned to there’s “more to

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Assembly Republicans today unveiled their version of a middle-class tax cut, to be paid for out of an expected $588 million surplus. But a spokeswoman for Gov. Tony Evers said the plan “falls short” of what he proposed because it would use

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Planned Parenthood is suing to overturn parts of a 2012 law that restricted women’s access to medication-induced abortions. The suit also seeks to overturn a provision in state law that only lets doctors perform an abortion. The suit, filed in federal court

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov. Tony Evers says his first budget will likely include a “first step” toward legalizing medical marijuana. The governor addressed board members of the Wisconsin Technology Council today at the Madison office of Exact Sciences. He was introduced by Exact Sciences CEO

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Wisconsin youth prisons are still relying on pepper spray and are keeping inmates in solitary confinement for weeks at a time, according to a report filed today by a court-ordered monitor. The new report shows that the staff at Lincoln Hills and

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Assembly Republicans delivered a 11-point letter to Gov. Tony Evers in a “show of bipartisanship” outlining areas where they can find common ground. Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, stressed trying to find consensus early in the legislative process pledging to “try at least

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who has said he wanted to staff up with Dem Tony Evers taking over the East Wing, has added seven positions to his office. He did so by pulling in positions from the chief clerk and sergeant at

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — State Rep. Peter Barca, who is in line to lead the Department of Revenue under Gov. Tony Evers, has resigned his seat in the Assembly. Barca, D-Kenosha, took the oath of office yesterday and then promptly turned in his resignation letter. His

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — With the first executive order of his governorship, Dem Tony Evers called on state agencies to take “steps necessary” to curb discrimination and harassment based on factors such as age, race, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, religion, veteran status

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Twice as many Assembly Dems are currently slated to share Capitol offices in the upcoming session even though Republicans have one less member than in 2017-18. Incoming Dem Reps. Jodi Emerson, of Eau Claire, and Staush Gruszynski, of Green Bay, will be

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov.-elect Tony Evers declared today, “I have no intent to break the law,” pushing back on a media report that he might ignore some provisions of the lame-duck session bills Republicans passed last month The bills, signed without partial veto by GOP

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov.-elect Tony Evers, who said during the campaign he wanted to reduce the state’s prison population, will put “building blocks” in his budget to work toward that goal. But he told WisPolitics.com it’s unlikely his budget will include a target for reducing

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov.-elect Tony Evers tomorrow will name Craig Thompson, head of the Transportation Development Association, his first DOT secretary, according to multiple sources. Evers’ transition declined comment. Thompson joined TDA, which has been advocating for more road funding, in 2007. He previously served

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov-elect Tony Evers, responding to criticism today that his first four cabinet picks are from Milwaukee, said future announcements will allay concerns he is ignoring rural Wisconsin. “I happen to be in Milwaukee, and these four happen to be from Milwaukee,” Evers

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz says the deal the outgoing Walker administration gave Kimberly-Clark to keep open a plant is the latest example of chasing “companies with cash payments” rather than creating a long-term strategy for the paper industry. The Oshkosh Dem,

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Kimberly-Clark could receive up to 30 percent of a potential $28 million incentive package during the first year of its newly announced agreement with the state’s jobs agency to keep open a company plant in the Fox Valley. Gov. Scott Walker last

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov. Scott Walker says he wants the new deal with Kimberly-Clark — one of the last actions he’ll take in the waning days of his administration — to be his legacy. The guv today joined Kimberly-Clark officials and state lawmakers to announce

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling fears the Legislature will be left out of any incentive package the outgoing Walker administration negotiates to keep open a Kimberly-Clark plant, saying WEDC’s poor track record puts taxpayers at risk without some layer of oversight. “The

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Gov. Scott Walker says the lame-duck legislation doesn’t amount to “a fundamental shift in powers” away from incoming Dems Tony Evers and Josh Kaul. Criticizing the “huge misinformation out there” about the bills, the guv told reporters at a stop in Pewaukee