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Assembly approves accommodations for disabled Democrat

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A contentious debate saw the state Assembly approve rules to accommodate a disabled lawmaker. Representative Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg), argued his case on the Assembly floor.

“Remember, I was just asking to use the damn speaker phones. Something the Senate is already doing, something we’re already doing during joint committees,” he said.

Anderson explained to his colleagues that he’s been in a wheelchair ever since a drunk driver slammed into his family’s car. The crash killed Anderson’s parents and younger brother and left him in a wheelchair as a result of a severed spinal cord.

In the end, Republican leadership removed language dealing with veto overrides from the a package, leaving the disability accommodations in place. “The changes to the committee process allowing him to phone in, allowing anybody to phone in that is certified with a disability, and the things on the floor that help us ensure that we don’t have lengthy delays and overnight sessions,” explained Majority Leader Jim Steinke (R-Kaukana).

The vote Thursday ended a months-long dispute, in which Anderson had retained a disability rights group to represent him in a potential lawsuit.

Evers declares Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Wisconsin

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Tribal procession at the Wisconsin Capitol (WRN photo)

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has signed an executive order declaring the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Wisconsin. The executive order was signed at Indian Community School in Franklin.

“Through this executive order, we recognize and appreciate our tribal nations and Indigenous people and their resilience, wisdom, and the contributions they make to our state,” Evers said “Native Americans in Wisconsin and throughout our country have suffered unjust treatment—often at the hands of our government—and today is about recognizing that Wisconsin would not be all that it is without Indigenous people.”

“Today, we seek to recognize and honor our state’s Indigenous communities while moving beyond a dated practice that perpetuates inaccurate teachings and honors genocide,” said Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes said. “The story of Wisconsin’s Indigenous people has long been one of resistance and resilience.  In the coming years, our administration will work to ensure that story evolves into one that includes respect and justice.”

 

Evers taps Missy Hughes to lead WEDC

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Governor Tony Evers has named his choice to lead the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. A statement from Evers’ office said Thursday that he’s appointing Missy Hughes as as Secretary and CEO of the state’s development agency.

Hughes has a background in agriculture. She’s been Chief Mission Officer and General Counsel for Organic Valley/CROPP cooperative since 2003.

Mark Hogan had led WEDC since 2015 and stepped down effective this week. Hughes won’t start until October 1. A provision passed as part of the lame-duck legislative session following Evers’ election prohibits him from immediately appointing this position.

Representative Jim Sensenbrenner won’t seek reelection

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Wisconsin’s longest serving member of Congress has announced he won’t seek reelection. Menominee Falls Republican Jim Sensenbrenner made the announcement on Wednesday. The 76-year-old was elected to the House in a 1979 special election.

Sensenbrenner currently sits on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Wisconsin’s Fifth Congressional District is heavily Republican, so the winner of the GOP primary will likely claim the seat.

Sensenbrenner’s announcement comes a week after another Wisconsin House Republican, Sean Duffy, said he’ll resign later this month.

American Lung Association sees need to increase age to buy tobacco and vaping products

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The American Lung Association is all-in, on a bill to raise the age to buy tobacco and vape products in Wisconsin. The bipartisan legislation would raise the age to 21, and the Lung Association’s Donna Wininsky said that would put it on an equal footing with alcohol. “These are both things that can alder brain chemicals and are addictive. And we would prefer to not have teenagers using them.”

Research shows that people are far less likely to start smoking once they’re 21. “It’s close to a 90 percent rate, that if someone hasn’t started using tobacco products by the time they turn 21, the chances are just very, very slim that they’re going to pick it up afterword.”

Wininsky is skeptical of claims by the vaping industry that its products are not meant for teenagers to use. “I don’t think an industry names and flavors products like ‘bubble gum’ and ‘cotton candy’ and ‘chocolate’ and all of the other flavors that both the tobacco and the vaping industries use, unless they are intentionally targeting kids.”

The legislation is being offered against the backdrop of growing public health concerns surrounding vaping, and vaping products concerning THC.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services said last week that 24 of the 27 people with confirmed lung injuries reported vaping oil with THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

While many users get sick, dealers of THC vape cartridges get rich. Police in Milwaukee in recent months made arrests of suspected dealers selling drugs that included THC cartridges. One trio of dealers was making $800,000 to $2 million a month selling THC cartridges, according to a criminal complaint cited by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.-

Long prison term for killer of Sandra Parks

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A man convicted in the death of a Milwaukee girl has gotten a lengthy prison term. Isaac Barnes, 27, one of two men charged in the shooting death of 13-year-old Sandra Parks, was sentenced  Friday to nearly 51 years in prison, and another 25 years of extended supervision. He had changed his initial plea to guilty.

Sandra was killed when a bullet entered her home last November. Her death gained national attention due to a Martin Luther King Day essay she wrote – about gun violence.

Evers tells business leaders state’s workforce will need to diversify

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What keeps Governor Tony Evers awake nights? In a word, workforce. The governor tells the state largest business group. “Just my observation, the state of Wisconsin has a lot of people that look like me and are about as old as me. And I can also guarantee you that with that background, we’re not going to have enough people.”

The governor said that’s the case, even if everyone in the pool of potential workers is trained and employed.

Evers told members of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce he’s convinced more people will come to Wisconsin. “But we also have to recognize that if we do that, the workforce might look a little different than it does now.”

Evers said that means diversity and inclusiveness are critical in the workplace. The governor spoke at WMC’s Policy Day event in Madison on Tuesday. He was not available for questions from reporters after his remarks.

Vos and Anderson continue dispute over accommodation

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A dispute between Speaker Robin Vos and a paralyzed Assembly Democrat remains unresolved. Vos sent a letter to Representative Jimmy Anderson on Thursday, in which he noted accommodations that have been made for Anderson, who uses a wheelchair, and said a videographer could be made available for committee meetings that Anderson may be unable to attend.

But Vos said he would not allow Anderson to phone in to committee meetings, and accused him of “political grandstanding.” Vos said Anderson had yet to make a formal request for the phone accommodation.

Anderson, in a series of tweets, called Vos’ accusation “offensive.” He said the Speaker has been aware of his accommodation requests since January and has ignored them.

Paul Ryan to join faculty at Notre Dame

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Former House Speaker Paul Ryan has a new job. He will be a professor and guest lecturer in political science and economics at the University of Notre Dame. Ryan will assume that position this fall.

The former Wisconsin congressman and current Janesville resident is expected to guest-lecture on the fundamentals of American government, the current state of political polarization, and Catholicism and economics.

Ryan’s two brothers, Stan and Tobin, earned bachelor’s degrees in economics from Notre Dame.

Marquette Poll shows lack of support for gas tax increase

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An increase in the state gasoline tax just can’t gain any traction, according to Marquette Law School Poll director Charles Franklin. “People still don’t want to raise the gas tax,” Franklin said Wednesday. The percentage of poll respondents who favor keeping the state tax on gas where it is has actually increased since the last poll in January, to 57 percent. Governor Tony Evers has proposed an increase of nearly 9 cents a gallon to fund state roads and highways.

The majority of those polled support Evers’ plans to legalize marijuana, increase state aid for special education, accept federal funds to expand Medicaid coverage and increase the state minimum wage.

Evers’ spokeswoman Melissa Baldauff issued a statement in response to the poll results. “The latest Marquette Law poll confirms what we already know — the governor has been listening to Wisconsinites and has proposed a budget that reflects the will of the people. We’re ready to work together to pass The People’s Budget so we can expand Medicaid, legalize medical marijuana, invest in K-12 education, improve water quality and public safety, and address our infrastructure needs. These aren’t Democratic values or Republican values, they are Wisconsin values, and a majority of Wisconsinites agree.”