Roggensack re-elected as Supreme Court chief justice

Pat Roggensack was re-elected to a second term as state Supreme Court chief justice today, following a 2015 constitutional amendment that lets justices choose who fills the top post. Before the amendment, that spot went automatically to the longest serving

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Fourth candidate emerges for open DNC seat

A fourth candidate has emerged for Wisconsin’s open DNC seat. Adam Brabender, who ran unsuccessfully for the Dane County Board last year, ticked off a list of issues that he said inspired him to run for a spot on the

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Neylon presses ahead with REINS Act

The Assembly author of what backers call the REINS Act said the decision by the Joint Finance Committee to pull the guv’s version of the regulation overhaul from the budget isn’t a setback because he prefers the standalone bill anyway.

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Roggensack re-elected as Supreme Court chief justice

Pat Roggensack was re-elected to a second term as state Supreme Court chief justice today, following a 2015 constitutional amendment that lets justices choose who fills the top post. Before the amendment, that spot went automatically to the longest serving member of the court. Currently, that’s Justice Shirley Abrahamson, who

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DHS to pay nearly $7 million to feds for FoodShare data errors

The state Department of Health Services will pay nearly $7 million to the federal government to settle allegations that it violated federal law by misreporting data on its food stamp program in past years. DHS spokeswoman Julie Lund said the agency reached the settlement “in response to processes put in

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Republicans unveil bills to help address homelessness

A group of Assembly Republicans today outlined a package aimed at giving resources to homeless people and helping prevent the issue in the future. The GOP lawmakers said today they want to help the more than 26,000 people in Wisconsin who experienced homelessness last year, with almost 2,000 of them

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Vukmir, Sanfelippo highlight bills to address violent crime

The authors of a package of bills to address violent crime highlighted the killing of a Milwaukee building inspector during a carjacking attempt last month in pressing for support of their legislation. Five suspects, who range in age from 16-21, were arrested in the case. Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-New Berlin,

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Fourth candidate emerges for open DNC seat

A fourth candidate has emerged for Wisconsin’s open DNC seat. Adam Brabender, who ran unsuccessfully for the Dane County Board last year, ticked off a list of issues that he said inspired him to run for a spot on the DNC. That includes adding dental coverage to Medicaid, addressing student

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League of Wisconsin Municipalities warns members over self-insurance plan

The League of Wisconsin Municipalities is warning its members over Walker’s proposal to self-insure those in the state employee health insurance program, saying it puts “the future of your health benefits in question.” That’s because 368 local government employers choose to participate in the state’s current program, and there’s a

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Vukmir, Hutton introduce bill to completely repeal prevailing wage

Two GOP lawmakers are circulating a bill to completely repeal prevailing wage, days after a provision in Walker’s budget doing just that was eliminated by JFC. The bill, from Sen. Leah Vukmir and Rep. Rob Hutton, also prevents local governments from enacting their own prevailing wage requirements, and extends a

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Neylon presses ahead with REINS Act

The Assembly author of what backers call the REINS Act said the decision by the Joint Finance Committee to pull the guv’s version of the regulation overhaul from the budget isn’t a setback because he prefers the standalone bill anyway. Still, Rep. Adam Neylon, R-Waukesha, said there are no assurances

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Bipartisan bill aims to connect veterans to farming opportunities

A new bipartisan bill that looks to connect veterans with farming opportunities would open up new workforce possibilities for servicemen and women, according to the bill’s authors. Dem Rep. Evan Goyke, along with Republican co-authors Sen. Patrick Testin and Rep. Ed Brooks, told reporters this afternoon the legislation harnesses the

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Ryan raises $2.9 million for personal campaign committee

House Speaker Paul Ryan’s personal campaign committee raised $564,662 from individuals and committees in the first three months of the year, and he reported almost $9.4 million cash on hand at the end of March, according to his filing with the FEC. When including transfers from other committees, Ryan, R-Janesville,

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Milwaukee attorney Peter Peckarsky running for open DNC seat

Peter Peckarsky, a Milwaukee attorney who ran unsuccessfully to chair the national Dem Party, is now running for Wisconsin’s open seat on the DNC. Meanwhile, Dane County Chair Michael Basford has decided against running for the spot. Peckarsky dropped out of the balloting after the first round and endorsed Keith

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Senate amendment to rural broadband bill faces difficulty in Assembly

An amendment the Senate added to a rural broadband bill that would ban providers from collecting their customers’ information without permission appears to be in trouble in the Assembly. Chair Mike Kuglitsch, R-New Berlin, said his Energy and Utilities Committee will exec the Assembly version of the broadband bill next

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