by Bob Hague | Apr 5, 2023
A win Tuesday for Republicans in a state Senate special election. Republican state Representative Dan Knodl defeated Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin, who conceded on Wednesday. Knodl’s victory in the 8th State Senate District special election gives Senate...
by Bob Hague | Apr 4, 2023
The governor’s office has rescheduled a bill-signing ceremony, following a complaint from the measure’s Republican authors. Governor Tony Evers will sign legislation co-authored by Joint Finance Committee co-chairs Senator Howard Marklein and Representative Mark...
by Bob Hague | Mar 31, 2023
On Major League Baseball’s Opening Day, Governor Tony Evers’ pitch to spend state funds on the Milwaukee Brewers’ ballpark is still viewed with caution by Republicans on the legislature’s budget panel. “That appears to have been a plan that the governor basically...
by Raymond Neupert | Mar 28, 2023
A state labor ruling that eliminated health insurance requirements for police and fire departments has legislative Republicans moving to pass a law to fix that. That ruling was against the Racine police department after the city challenged providing health insurance...
by Bob Hague | Mar 28, 2023
At the Capitol, work begins in earnest on the next two year state budget, as the Wisconsin Legislature’s budget writing Joint Finance Committee begins agency briefings this week. The Departments of Corrections and Transportation start things out Tuesday. The...
by Bob Hague | Mar 23, 2023
Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature want a special election for Secretary of State. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu noted on Wednesday that Doug LaFollette had hardly begun a new term when he abruptly resigned. “There are three years and nine months left in...
by Bob Hague | Mar 23, 2023
Some members of Governor Tony Evers’ administration are finally official. Many people named to posts by the Democratic governor in his first term have yet to be confirmed. But on Wednesday, the state Senate unanimously confirmed several, including Wisconsin Economic...
by Raymond Neupert | Mar 8, 2023
The head of the state legislature’s rules committee wants to strike down new guidelines for child vaccinations. That’s following a hearing where the Department of Health Services staff explained why the changes will help prevent serious illnesses. Doctor...
by Bob Hague | Mar 6, 2023
University of Wisconsin System President Jay Rothman says students participating in the Wisconsin Tuition Promise have “skin in the game.” Rothman was asked about the program last week at the Capitol. Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee Chair Dave Murhpy...
by Raymond Neupert | Mar 1, 2023
Lawmakers want to increase the penalties for people who drive recklessly. State Representative Bob Donovan says the two proposed bills will double the penalties against repeat reckless drivers, and make it easier to charge them. “I think that is the important...
by Bob Hague | Mar 1, 2023
It looks as if a flat tax will not be part of the next state budget, but the Republican co-chairs of the legislature’s budget panel don’t rule it out eventually. Joint Finance Committee co-chairs, state Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and...
by Raymond Neupert | Feb 22, 2023
The Wisconsin State Bar is hopeful that a proposed increase in funding for prosecutors and public defenders will survive the budget process. Governor Tony Evers wants to raise the base pay for both, and State Bar President Margaret Hickey says Wisconsin desperately...
by Bob Hague | Feb 16, 2023
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers called for bipartisan cooperation, in his budget address Wednesday night. Republican legislative leaders were quick to say there was little in the Democratic governor’s two year spending plan that they like. “As you consider this...
by Bob Hague | Jan 30, 2023
They’ve been talking, but there’s still plenty of distance between Governor Tony Evers and Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature. “It’s good for people to understand that adults can get together and talk about things. That does not mean though that...
by Raymond Neupert | Jan 27, 2023
The Department of Health Services will be getting another 8 million dollars in funding from a series of settlements from opioid drug manufacturers. Director of Opioid Initiatives Paul Krupski says they’re asking for public input on how best to spend that...
by Bob Hague | Jan 24, 2023
Governor Tony Evers laid out his priorities for Wisconsin in his fifth State of the State address on Tuesday night. The Democratic governor noted that state government is in a great fiscal position, expected to end the current biennium with about a $6.5 billion...
by Bob Hague | Jan 23, 2023
Governor Tony Evers will deliver the annual State of the State address Tuesday night. State government has a budget surplus that’s projected to hit $6.6 billion, so Evers is likely to talk about the need to increase state shared revenue to local governments. That’s...
by Bob Hague | Jan 20, 2023
Wisconsin voters will be able to weigh in on a proposed constitutional amendment on bail reform as part of the April statewide ballot. In Assembly debate Thursday, Representative Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) argued against the proposal, and for pretrial detention. “I...
by Bob Hague | Jan 17, 2023
The Wisconsin Senate has approved a bail reform amendment to the state Constitution. Tuesday’s bipartisan 23-9 vote moves the proposed amendment closer to the April statewide ballot. The Assembly is scheduled to vote on the proposal on Thursday. It allows judges to...
by Bob Hague | Jan 13, 2023
The Wisconsin State Senate’s Republican leader has released his flat tax plan. Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg), who says his goal is to “give everybody a tax cut” using a portion of the state’s projected $6.6 billion budget surplus, released the plan...
