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Vukmir and Nicholson square off in first Republican Senate debate

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There weren’t a lot of major policy differences shared during last night’s Republican Senate Debate, but feathers did get ruffled near the end.

In her closing statements State Senator Leah Vukmir attacked Kevin Nicholson for his time as a Democrat. “We know more about Kevin’s track record as a Democrat than we do about his track record as a Republican. And I think that’s the issue: who can you trust?”

Nicholson said his status his time spent as a Marine was all the credentials he needed. “For those who have said that leading Marines in combat during the course of two wars does not qualify as conservative credentials have to look inside them and decide what they think conservative credentials are.”

Over the course of the debate the two agreed on policy issues more than they disagreed, both coming out in favor of Donald Trump initiatives like building the wall, imposing tariffs on Chinese imports and more.

When asked about how best to handle government spending and budget overruns, Nicholson says he’s willing to stand up to Republican leadership and push for better spending packages and better budgets. “That means people withholding those omnibus bills to the last second, and you’ve got to be willing to say ‘No, I will not vote for that.'”

Vukmir said more has to be done to cut back on discretionary spending. “And that would be much better suited if we would bring that money back to the states and let the states administer the programs they way they know how and the way they see fit. They’re closer to the problems.”

Vukmir also told the crowd she’ll work on improving infrastructure by lowering the cost of building through the dismantling of the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage acts. “These were my initiatives. We repealed them at the local level. We repealed it at the state level. I’d like to go to Washington and say ‘Let’s get rid of Davis-Bacon.'”

Nicholson says the federal government needs to better plan out how to cycle their construction efforts. “You have to be smart about what you pay for, how you maintain it and then plan for it to end at some point so you can build a new one.”

That debate was hosted by Americans For Prosperity of Wisconsin.

Early polling shows most Republicans are still undecided in the race.

Rep. Kleefisch won’t run for re-election

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State Representative Joel Kleefisch has announced he won’t be running for re-election.

In a press release posted to Facebook on Monday, Kleefisch said he will be stepping down to spend more time with his daughters and wife, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch. “My kids have never really known parents outside of elective office. It’s time for them to sit with me on the side of a parade route”

Kleefisch says he’s happy to have served in the Assembly since 2004. “Words can’t describe what an honor it’s been to be part of Wisconsin’s successes for nearly 14 years.”

“I have never stopped believing that hard work and heartfelt convictions can make this state a better place for the people who live here.”

Kleefisch says that he’s especially proud of a number of bills and policies he’s promoted through his tenure, including fighting human trafficking, combating the opioid crisis, cracking down on sex offenders and making it easier for more hunters and anglers to get into Wisconsin’s great outdoors.

His departure is another in a string of Republicans announcing their retirement from office in Wisconsin, including House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Vos won’t run for Congress

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State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says he won’t run for Congress, even as he downplays allegations of ethics violations connected with a trip to London.

Vos told WISN’s Jay Weber on Friday that he will not run for Congress following the pending departure of House Speaker Paul Ryan. Vos says he’s decided to stay and work for Wisconsin in the state legislature. “I am incredibly proud of the state we’re in. I’m proud that on every single conservative reform that has passed since 2010, I have been in the room, and I’ve been one of the people that helped to make it happen.”

“I’ve decided that I will stay in Wisconsin, stay in the state Assembly, and hope to bring back a very strong conservative majority to show Washington how states can lead and not the reverse,” says Vos.

Democratic State Representative Peter Barca, who held the 1st Assembly seat for one term in the 90s, is said to be considering getting in. There are already two Democrats in the race.

Meanwhile, Vos is also denying that there was any political wrongdoing on his part for taking a trip to London paid for by a political action committee. Vos was among a number of lobbyists and lawmakers from other states who took that trip for free.

Fallout from the trip has already cost Ohio’s Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger his job after an FBI investigation.

Vos says he followed state ethics laws in accepting the August trip, and that he hasn’t been contacted by the FBI or other authorities concerning the trip.

Final day of activity in Wisconsin Assembly

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A final day of activity for the state Assembly. The chamber signed off Thursday, on package of school safety bills proposed by Governor Scott Walker, and already passed in the Senate.

“Our goal is to make sure that every child that leaves for school, comes home from school,” said Representative Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma)

“This is not something that we are new to, it’s something that we have been working on for session after session,” said Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester)

But Minority Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) said Republicans in past sessions took actions that made schools less safe, and the measures passed Thursday are inadequate.

“It does nothing to reduce the risk of firearms in the wrong peoples hands,” Hintz said of the package. Provisions include creation of an Office of School Safety within the state Department of Justice, that would administer a one-time $100 million grant program to fund building improvements, school resource officers and training opportunities.

The Assembly also passed a bill to expand to 11 the number of data sources consulted in background checks for long gun purchases. It’s unclear whether than bill will make it to the governor.

The Assembly voted unanimously Thursday to approve changes made by the Senate on a bill overhauling the state’s juvenile corrections system — and moving towards closing the troubled Lincoln Hills youth prison. The Assembly also approved 59-31 a 100 dollar per child tax credit, and an exemption from the state sales tax for some school supplies, during the first weekend of August.

Assembly approves tax incentives for Kimberly-Clark

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Kimberly-Clark would be able to take advantage of new tax incentives if it keeps two of its Wisconsin plants open, under a bill approved by the Assembly Thursday night.

The proposal would offer the company benefits similar to those used to lure Foxconn to the state last year, including job retention tax credits of 17 percent of payroll. State Representative Mike Rohrkaste (R-Neenah), who represents the region where the plants marked for closure are located, said it could help protect those 600 jobs and the others that depend on Kimberly-Clark’s presence.

“We are talking about a real solution that will keep good paying jobs here in Wisconsin,” he said. “This will give Kimberly-Clark the opportunity to improve their business plan and be here for the long run.”

Democrats argued the proposal sets a bad precedent though and could encourage other companies to request similar benefits by threatening to leave the state. State Representative Amanda Stuck (D-Appleton) also noted that the company used federal tax cuts approved last year to justify the cuts in the first place.

Kimberly-Clark did not ask for the incentive package and has only said it will take it into consideration.

The bill passed on a 56-37 vote. It now heads to the state Senate.

Assembly approves funding for new prison and county prosecutors

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The state Assembly has passed a bill that would make it easier to revoke the release of anyone on extended supervision, parole, or probation if they are charged with a crime – adding in language that would also fund new prosecutors and construction of a new prison.

The legislation was one of dozens of bills the chamber was taking up Thursday, as the Assembly pushes to wrap up its floor periods for the year. Its original aim was to allow the Department of Corrections to recommend revoking the release of those who state Representative Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc) said “screw up” their second chance.

Kleefisch recounted the story of a man who was on extended supervision and threatened his wife, but was allowed to stay free. “Extended supervision is extended supervision because you don’t have your full rights back yet,” he said. “You have to be good.”

Democrats were critical of the effects the bill would have on the corrections system, both through sending people back to prison and by taxing the courts. While an amendment authorizes up to $350 million in borrowing to fund a new state prison and funds the addition of nearly 54 new prosecutors in 40 counties, state Representative Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) said it could overload the system. “The long term consequences of this bill will be meaningful criminal justice reform in the state of Wisconsin – the short term consequences are that we will break the system, and break our bank,” he argued.

The legislation now heads to the Senate, which will have to sign-off on the amendments added by the Assembly.

Tax credit bill passes the Wisconsin Assembly

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The Wisconsin Assembly (Photo: Andrew Beckett)

The state Assembly has approved a bill that would give parents a tax rebate and offer a limited sales tax holiday.

The proposal would give parents a $100 per child tax rebate and offer a sales tax holiday in early August for purchases of up to $100. Republican state Representative Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca), the bill’s sponsor, says it “offers an opportunity to return the state’s budget surplus to Wisconsin citizens.”

State Representative Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) and other Democrats described it as an election year gimmick though, since payments would go out this summer. “It reeks of vote-buying and game-playing,” he argued during debate on the Assembly floor Thursday.

After nearly three hours of debate, the bill passed on a bipartisan 61-35 vote.

The measure now heads to the state Senate, where its future remains uncertain. Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) has been largely non-committal on whether his chamber will take up the bill when it meets next month for the last time this session.

If the Senate were to make changes that require Assembly approval, it could likely kill the bill. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) has indicated his chamber has no plans to return this year after it adjourns early Friday morning.

Assembly opens marathon floor session

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The Wisconsin Assembly. (File photo)

The state Assembly has kicked-off what could be its final session day of the year.

Lawmakers are expected to take up dozens of bills, during a floor period that’s expected to stretch in to early Friday morning. Among the bills being taken up are a proposed $100 per child care tax credit Governor Scott Walker proposed, along with legislation authorizing $350 million in funding to build a new state prison.

Democrats argue Republicans are going home without addressing important issues facing that state – such as fixing transportation funding and expanding broadband infrastructure. Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) and other Democrats have called the child tax credit an election year gimmick, and argue the money would be better spent investing in the state’s infrastructure.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) says Republicans are proud of what they have done in the past year, and there are many accomplishments they can point at with pride.

Assembly approves juvenile corrections reforms

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Lincoln Hills School (Photo: WI DOC)

The state Assembly has passed legislation that would overhaul the state’s juvenile corrections system.

The bill approved unanimously on Wednesday would close the state’s troubled Lincoln Hills youth prison by 2021, moving offenders to new state or county-run facilities. If signed by the governor, Democratic state Representative David Bowen (D-Milwaukee) said will make the first major changes to the system in 22 years. “I think that we have a chance to really set a new course for the state of Wisconsin on how we get young people back on the right track, to be able to be contributing members of our communities,” he said during debate on the Assembly floor Wednesday.

The push to change how juvenile corrections operates comes after years of reports about abuse at Lincoln Hills, and concerns about the safety of inmates and staff. While Governor Scott Walker initially said he was confident in how the facility was operating, he began calling earlier this year for lawmakers to begin the process of reforming the system before the current session ends for the year.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) has raised doubts about it passing before the session ends. Based on changes made to the proposal and approved by the Assembly though, Senate Republican Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) said Wednesday he’s optimistic about it receiving a vote when the chamber meets next month.

“We have to change what we’re doing…we can’t continue to just house juveniles and have the recidivism rate as high as it is,” he told reporters. “I think this will help us get to that point.”

Republicans propose adding new prosecutors in 40 Wisconsin counties

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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.”