Wisconsin Capitol (WRN photo)

Several Wisconsin counties could see new prosecutors added to their District Attorney’s office.

A proposal from state Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) and other Republicans would add about 54 new assistant district attorney positions in 40 counties by mid-2019. The Assembly will consider the plan during its final session day on Thursday, as an amendment to an existing bill.

“This is about real justice for crime victims around the state,” the Marinette Republican said during a Capitol news conference on Wednesday. “Swift and certain justice is an important tool…for keeping our citizens safe.”

The push to add new prosecutors comes after a 2014 study highlighted staffing shortages in offices across the state. The current plan focuses mainly on rural areas or those with smaller populations, which means many of the state’s larger counties would not see additional staff added.

Democratic state Representative Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) argued the measures falls short because it fails to address shortages in public defenders and judges. “You can’t add prosecutors without adding judges to hear the cases that they’re going to charge,” he pointed out. “We can’t just add positions on one side of the courtroom without addressing the effects that does on the entire system as a whole.”

Nygren said addressing all of those needs will take time. “Government is incremental,” he said. “As more resources are available in the future, I would continue to believe that this would be a focus for us.”

Madison high school students call for action on gun control legislation. (Photo: Andrew Beckett)

Assembly Democrats unsuccessfully pushed for a vote Tuesday on legislation that would have required background checks on all gun purchases in Wisconsin.

The effort got bogged down in a nearly four-hour procedural debate, after Republicans amended the bill to remove the background check language – adding provisions dealing with straw purchases of firearms and creating grants for school safety officers.

Madison Democrat Lisa Subeck was critical of the move, calling it a “bait and switch.”

Democrats accused the GOP of trying to avoid a vote on background checks, which they noted are widely supported by the public. However, Republican Kathy Bernier of Lake Hallie argued it was more about how they were trying to pass the bill though. “This deplorable blockhead believes in background checks,” she said during debate on the Assembly floor, while taking issue with the effort to call the bill for a vote without going through the committee process.

The amended legislation eventually passed on a bipartisan 71-24 vote.

The debate came just hours after dozens of high school students from Madison attended a press conference at the Capitol to call for legislative action on gun control. Sophomore Lydia Hester pointed to the active shooter drills she’s had to go through kindergarten. “This is not something that a five-year-old should have to think about,” she said. “Kids are dying for your right to own a gun – is your gun really worth hundreds of lives?”

The teens joined Democratic lawmakers in calling for votes on stalled bills that would require background checks, bar people convicted of domestic violence from having a gun, and ban the sale or manufacture of bump stocks.

A state Senate committee is scheduled to hold a hearing today on a bill that would toughen enforcement of the state’s liquor laws.

The proposal from Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) would create a new state office to enforce liquor laws. It would also allow the Kohler American Resort to more easily market and sell brandy it distills.

The measure is similar to one that was discussed last summer during state budget negotiations, which was ultimately dropped amid push back from the beer industry. The idea in its current has so far received a rather tepid response from Governor Scott Walker as well, who indicated Wednesday it is not a priority for him. “I don’t know how far it’s gonna go,” Walker told reporters at the Capitol.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos this week also downplayed the chances of his chamber taking it up before the session ends. “Could be a big lift,” Vos said…echoing comments Fitzgerald has made about bills the Assembly has been pushing to pass in the final days of the session that may face trouble building support in the Senate.

Brewery owners around the state have already come out against the current bill, arguing sweeping changes to the industry should not be rushed through at the last minute. In a letter sent to lawmakers this week, MillerCoors called the proposal a “flawed solution in search of a problem that doesn’t exist.”

Governor Scott Walker is optimistic lawmakers will act on several issues he’s identified as top priorities before the legislative session ends next month.

Senate Republicans have raised concerns about passing some of Walker’s key proposals, such as an overhaul of the juvenile corrections system and a bill creating a tax rebate for parents and a sales tax holiday. Despite that, the governor told reporters Wednesday that he believes there’s strong support for lawmakers to act.

“I think there’s a lot of appeal out in the public,” Walker said. “Whether or not we can get that all through remains to be seen, but I think at a minimum our hope is that we’ll get a child tax credit.”

Walker also signaled he’s open to the Assembly’s version of a juvenile corrections overhaul, if county governments are willing to take a more active role in housing offenders. “As long as the counties are supportive of that, that’s something I’m interested in pursuing,” Walker said.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) told the Associated Press that getting an entire corrections reform plan through this session may be a “heavy lift,” but Walker said Wednesday that he met with the Juneau Republican and believes there is a willingness to do something. “The question is just how quickly,” Walker said.

A public hearing on the Assembly corrections bill has been scheduled for Thursday morning at the Capitol.