Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Legislature

State Bar president pleased to see increase in funding for DAs, defenders in proposed state budget

By

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 needs to raise the pay for public defenders.

“It’s just as stressful and the pay is not good. So you know, for lawyers, the choice might be well, why do I want to do this job that A is very stressful, and B might actually be dangerous.”

Evers is hoping to spend 36 million dollars on that increase, which would move base pay for starting prosecutors and defenders to 35 dollars an hour. He’s also hoping to hire 50 more prosecutors and public defenders statewide. 

Hickey says the state is hurting for justice. “There are lots of open positions. And that means that cases are not being processed the way they should be. So victims are waiting for justice, and people who are charged with crimes are waiting.”

That proposed budget is now in the hands of the legislature’s joint finance committee.

Evers calls for budget bipartisanship, ‘devoid of reality’ says Vos

By

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 breakthrough budget, let’s not just dismiss ideas because they’re proposed by a person or a party you dislike,” the governor said.

Evers laid out am ambitious set of budget goals, including an historic $2.6 billion funding increase to K-12 schools, targeted middle class tax relief, increasing the state hourly minimum wage to $9.25 in 2025 and $10.25 in 2026, and 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave benefits.

“It was a budget that is absolutely devoid of reality,” said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) during a Republican press conference following the governor’s address.

Evers’ budget plan now goes to the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, whose co-chair, Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) said “I’ve seen this movie before,” adding that Evers’ budget consists of “deficit spending, and a liberal wish list.”

Marklein said the committee will start from base, to build a budget that funds the state’s priorities.

Evers and Republicans talking but still far apart

By

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 we’re going to agree on everything” Evers said on WKOW’s Capitol City Sunday.

Evers rejected a Republican proposal for a flat tax. “We don’t need to be spending our time and effort to provide the wealthiest of Wisconsinites with some extraordinary large tax cut,” the Democratic governor said.

“It’s important to keep discussions open because tax reform is just vitally important,” said Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg).

Evers says the state’s current progressive tax system is a good one. LeMahieu says it’s uncompetitive with other states. “We’re not looking to grow the size of government. We’re looking to make sure that government can continue to operate efficiently and provide services that they need to provide.”

Evers will present his budget message in two weeks. LeMahieu said it’s likely that Republicans will reject that and start from the ground up.
–

DHS seeks public input on opioid settlement spending

By

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 funding. 

“We are really at the process right now of that data gathering, and making sure that we have everything we need to really look and determine what the best ways of using this funding would be or the best ways to propose that to the legislature for their consideration and approval.”

The department had over 30 million dollars to work with last year and used it to help the state’s tribes and to improve drug treatment facilities. Krupski says any choices that are made by DHS will have to be approved by the legislature’s Republican-controlled joint finance committee.

“Last year’s plan, they ended up approving about 85% of what the Department of Health Services proposed. And they made a few you know, a few alterations in there as well.”

You can find that survey online HERE: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7165956/Opioid-Litigation-Public-Input-2023

Evers delivers State of the State address

By

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 surplus and over $1.7 billion in the rainy day fund.

WATCH: State of the State Address on WisconsinEye

Evers called for nearly $1.3 billion in new state spending on mental health initiatives, addressing PFAS contamination and supporting Wisconsin workers. Evers also called for a major increase in shared revenues to local governments to be funded with 20 percent of the sales tax. He rejected a Republican flat tax proposal, calling that a giveaway for the wealthiest in the state.

WATCH: Speaker Vos response on WisconsinEye

In the Republican response, Speaker Robin Vos pledged Wisconsin Republicans will not raise taxes and won’t pass a budget that doesn’t have significant tax reform.

Evers will deliver State of the State address on Tuesday

By

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 one area where the Democratic governor and Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature appear to be in agreement.

Evers is also likely to call for repeal of the state’s 1849 law which all but bans abortion, and for legalization of cannabis, both of which are opposed by Republicans.

The State of the State address is scheduled for 7:00 PM in the Assembly chambers of the Capitol in Madison. The Republican response will follow. Both may be seen at WisconsinEye, and Wisconsin Public Television, and will be carried live on Wisconsin Public Radio.

Bail and benefits questions will be on Wisconsin’s April statewide ballot

By

WRN photo

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 support pretrial detention.” Goyke said. “I support people that pose a public safety risk being held in custody. But when we make that decision and that measure solely about money, we allow a subgroup of people the opportunity to buy their way out of jail.”

The amendment’s author, Representative Cindi Duchow (R-Delafield), said pretrial detention has been on the books for decades in Wisconsin, but has never been used.

“Pretrial detention doesn’t work,” said Duchow. “It’s basically a mini trial before your trial. The victim has to come in and testify which can be traumatizing for a victim of violent crime. You have to have a whole little mini hearing. You have to have all your evidence. You have to have your DNA back. We don’t have the physical space to do it, nor do we have the finances to do it.”

Democrats argued that the proposed change will disproportionately impact low income Wisconsinites, while allowing those with the financial resources to pay higher bail amounts.

“If we’re serious about safety, there are other measures to do that,” said Representative Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee). She noted prosecutors and public defenders are understaffed and underfunded.

The measure will allow judges to consider past convictions of those charged with crimes, as well as “the need to protect the community from serious harm” and “prevent the intimidation of witnesses,” when setting bail. Judges are currently only allowed to set bail amounts to ensure an individual appears back in court.

Duchow said that will still leave judges and court commissioners with considerable discretion. “They’re gonna look back at their (defendants) past criminal convictions. They’re going to sort out the dangers to the community and then they’re going to set their bail. And if they want to set it for $10 they can do it, if they want to set it for 10 million. We are not handcuffing our judges.”

Ten Democrats voted to approve the amendment which passed 74-23, following state Senate approval on Tuesday. Passage by two consecutive legislative sessions is required before proposed constitutional amendments go to voters.

The Assembly also approved putting a nonbinding, advisory referendum on the ballot. Voters will be asked if childless, able bodied adults should be required to apply for work in order to receive state funded welfare benefits.

That’s something that’s already required under state law. “It is amazing to see the mental gymnastics that Wisconsin Republicans are actively pursuing to make sense of something that already is happening,” said Representative Christina Shelton (D-Green Bay.)

Republicans argue it’s not being enforced. This is something the state’s supposed to be doing,” said Representative Jon Plumer (R-Lodi). “It’s not the only instance in the state of Wisconsin where an agency is not following the letter of the law.”

It’s an advisory referendum, meaning no action is required if approved by voters.

State Senate approves bail reform constitutional amendment

By

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 look at “the totality of the circumstances” when determining bail, according to authors Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) and Representative Cindi Duchow (R-Delafield). Currently, a judge can only consider flight risk when setting cash bail, and may only set other conditions of bail in light of potential serious bodily harm, meaning injury with a risk of death.

LeMahieu unveils flat tax proposal

By

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 Friday.

“This proposal will fundamentally transform Wisconsin’s individual income tax and keep more money in the pockets of hardworking Wisconsinites,” LeMahieu said in a press release.

It would phase in a flat tax of 3.25% over the next three years. That idea appears widely supported by Republicans in the state Senate and Assembly, but it’s a non-starter with Democratic Governor Tony Evers, who has his own plans for the surplus. Evers has said he’d probably veto any flat tax plan.

Wisconsin’s current progressive income tax has four brackets, ranging from 3.54% up to 7.65% for incomes of $267,000 and up. Flat tax critics contend it mainly benefits those with higher incomes.

Legalized cannabis again a non-starter in next legislative session

By

It doesn’t look as if legalized marijuana will be part of the discussion in the Wisconsin Legislature next year. State Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison) has been a longtime proponent of legalizing recreational cannabis.

“It’s not a matter of if you’re a red state or a blue state people believe overwhelmingly that the reform of cannabis is actually necessary in our communities and it is the right thing to do,” Agard said.

People may believe that, but Senate President Chris Kapenga (R-Delavan) says support isn’t there with the Republican majority. “I don’t think the support is there in our caucus to legalize. I think that she probably has that in her caucus.”

Agard and Kapenga were on WKOW’s “Capitol City Sunday.”