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State Democrats introduce ‘red flag law’ bill, already face stiff opposition from Republicans

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State Democrats gathered at the capital on the anniversary of a mass shooting near Madison to push for gun control policies.

Governor Tony Evers says the bill will enact what’s called Extreme Risk Protection Orders, or so called ‘red flag laws’.

“In a state where nearly three of four gun deaths are suicide, having an ERPO process could be an important tool in helping us address firearm related suicides in Wisconsin.”

Evers says those ideas have broad support in the public, but not with elected Republicans. “Each and every day officials choose ideologies and false dichotomies over doing what’s right, that’s a choice that has consequences.”

In a joint statement in response, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald are calling it a non starter. “It’s widely known that we believe this legislation poses threats to due process and the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.”

Vos and Fitzgerald pointed instead to the 100 million dollars they passed in the budget that improves school safety, and say that they’re committed to improving mental health programs to prevent gun violence.

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald announces run for Congress

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State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald told WISN’s Jay Weber on Tuesday morning that he is running to fill Republican Jim Sensenbrenner’s seat in Congress. 

“I’ve been kind of watching and waiting for Congressman Sensenbrenner to see when he would actually think retirement was a good option for him. So as soon as I heard the news, I reached out to my wife and family members and supporters, and it didn’t take long for me to say I’m in this, 100 percent.”

Fitzgerald says he’s got the chops to make an impact in Washington DC. 

“I’ve driven a lot of conservative policies over the last 25 years, 12 years as Majority Leader. And I’d love the opportunity to be able to go out to Washington and hopefully make that same kind of impact.”

The announcement makes Fitzgerald the first to officially announce a run for Sensenbrenner’s seat. A number of other Republicans have floated their names as possibly making a run in the 5th District.

National Guard says Hardwood Range remains closed to hunters, hikers

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The National Guard’s Hardwood Range training area will not be open to hunters and hikers this fall.

Captain Joe Trovato says that change is due to recent policy shifts in the Department of Defense. “What the Air Force considers a hazard has greatly expanded over the past decade or so, just due to the types of munitions that they do use.”

Trovato says that’s because of the possible danger that someone will get hurt on the munitions that they drop during training. “It’s a low percentage probability certainly, however keeping with Air Force regulation, we certainly don’t want to expose anyone to any risk, even if it’s remote.”

Trovato says they’re sorry that they can’t allow that access, but that the safety of the general public and citizens is a top priority of the National Guard.

Vukmir is a ‘no’ on running for Sensenbrenner’s house seat

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Former state Senator Leah Vukmir will not run for the U.S. House.

Vukmir lost a race for U.S. Senate to Democrat Tammy Baldwin last year, and has since taken a job with the National Taxpayers Union. In a statement, she said that’s allowed her to “enjoy some personal freedom.”

She’s the third Republican to pass on a bid for the 5th District seat being vacated by Jim Sensenbrenner.

WisPolitics has reported that state Senator Chris Kapenga plans to enter the race. Other Republicans considering it include Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Matt Walker, son of former Governor Scott Walker.

State Patrol reminds drivers to stop for school bus red lights

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School is back in session, and the State Patrol is reminding you to stop when you see a school bus with its red lights on.

You might think that’s a no brainer, but D O T Spokesman Rob Miller says a lot of people just either don’t seem to care about stopping for buses, or are in too much of a hurry to wait.

“Last year in Wisconsin there were over 1000 traffic convictions for failure to stop for a school bus.”

Drivers must stop for stopped buses at all times, unless there’s a median or curb between them and the bus. Miller says failing to stop is not only dangerous to kids, it’s also pricey. 

“The citation for that totals 326 dollars, and also carries the potential of four demerit points against the person’s license.”

You can also get a ticket even if officers aren’t around, because bus drivers can report you to the police to follow up on a violation.

Bipartisan lawmaker group seeks to increase funding for UW-System MIA recovery program

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The UW System’s Missing In Action Recovery and Identification program could be getting a boost from lawmakers.

State Senator Mark Miller is part of a group that wants to help secure more state funding to bring home lost and missing soldiers. “Most of us recognize the significance of bringing back out missing members of the military. This legislation will provide additional resources to help make that happen.”

State Senator Dale Koyenga says it’s a mirror to efforts being made by the Defense Department.

“Wisconsin will be the only state in that country that has a designated funding source and statutory language to help out the University of Wisconsin to support these efforts.”

MIA-RIP team leader Charles Konsitzke says they’re working to help identify and bring home Wisconsin’s 15-hundred M I A soldiers. 

“With this bill it is time for the state of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin to lead this great nation to recover, repatriate and identify our lost service members.”

The bill would increase funding for the program by 180-thousand dollars a year and make Wisconsin the only state to have it’s own fully dedicated M I A recovery program. 

Battle over legal settlements continues between JFC, AG

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The dispute of who’s going to handle Wisconsin’s lawsuits continues.

The Joint Finance Committee was supposed to meet on Wednesday to go over some settlements with Attorney General Josh Kaul, but that meeting was cancelled by Republicans who say Kaul still isn’t giving them enough information to work with. Committee co-chair John Nygren says he wants to know exactly what sort of funding the state is going to be getting out of these settlements. 

“Our ultimate goal here, everybody’s goal, should be to protect the taxpayer. But we need more information than what we have been given.”

Kaul apparently sent over abstracts on the settlements to describe what they’re about, something Nygren says isn’t enough.

“Making an educated decision without all the information is irresponsible, so we’re going to again ask for it, and hope that he can get it to us so we can meet on the settlements.”

Kaul says he won’t turn over that information until the JFC signs a non disclosure agreement. He says that if JFC wants to have the authority to handle settlements, they need to take on the responsibility to maintain confidentiality.

New farm bills aimed at supporting struggling farms introduced at Capitol

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Three new farm bills aimed at helping struggling Wisconsin farmers were announced at the Capitol on Tuesday.

One of the bills would create a permanent position at the UW-Extension to help farmers with estate planning. Baraboo assemblyman Dave Considine says that’s critical in keeping family farms running. 

“Just a few years ago, my family had what we called our ‘farm talk’, or our succession planning meeting. I also hear about succession planning in almost every farm I tour.”

Another bill will offer funds to get entirely new farmers out into Wisconsin’s fields. Beloit Assemblyman Mark Spreitzer says the average age of a Wisconsin farmer is past 50, and is only getting older.

“To continue Wisconsin’s strong tradition of farmers that feed our state and beyond, we must recruit and retain the next generation of beginning farmers.”

The last of the three bills would offer matching grants to small farms looking to diversify their crops. Milton Assemblyman Don Vruwink says the wide variety of farm operations in his district shows that Wisconsin ag isn’t just beans, corn and cows. 

“People who grow mushrooms, I have a cherry orchard, a blueberry farm, a raspberry farm, a lot of different diversity. And that’s what this bill is designed to do, is to help these people continue to expand or continue these operations.”

All three bills already have support from both Republicans and Democrats.

AAA says more Wisconsinites are dying in red light crashes

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Triple-A says more people are dying in crashes at intersections than in years past, and that’s likely because more people are running red lights.

Spokesman Nick Jarmuz says people need to remember their traffic safety rules and that you’re supposed to slow down for a yellow. 

“Misinterpreting what a yellow means, and just try to go ahead even when they could stop before the light turns red.”

Many communities in Wisconsin have turned to red light cameras to try and deter red light running, but Jarmuz says AAA is wary about using them as a purely revenue generating system.

“Certainly in places where there is a strong public education campaign, there is more of a deterrent effect.”

Twenty two people died in red light crashes in Wisconsin last year, a 150 percent increase over the long term average. 

 

JFC and AG Kaul reach agreement on settlement scuffle

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A stalemate between GOP leaders and the state attorney general’s office might be over.

Joint Finance Committee co chairs Alberta Darling and John Nygren announced on Thursday that they will be signing confidentiality agreements in order to take part in settlements being negotiated by Attorney General Josh Kaul.

Kaul says he needs those agreements in order to read in members of the Committee so they can approve the settlements, as required by one of the lame duck laws. Republicans still say Kaul is trying to undermine that law.