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Vos says Assembly won’t be on floor next week

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Governor Tony Evers WRN image

Governor Tony Evers appeared confident on Thursday, that state legislators would answer his summons for a special session on rural issues next week. The governor announced during his State of the State address on Wednesday. He wants the legislature to act on a package of proposals that would assist rural Wisconsin, at an estimated cost of $8.5 million over two years.

“They (legislators) have all the information, and from what I’ve heard through the grapevine . . . the folks in the Senate seem very interested in this topic, and I believe that there will be a special session next week Tuesday,” Evers said during a conference call with reporters.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos released a statement, naming it clear that chamber won’t taking any immediate action.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos WRN image

“The Assembly will not be on the floor next week. The bills will be referred to committee and hearings will be held. We’re currently reviewing the legislation and gathering input from farmers, including farmers from our own caucus.”

Evers said “lots of people on both sides of the aisle” reached out to his office following his State of the State. “Let’s get them on board. Let’s get something done for the farmers.”

State to collect more in revenue than projected

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State government is expected to see $452 million more in the general fund to end the biennium than previously projected, according to new figures released Thursday by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau.

Based upon our analysis, we project the closing, net general fund balance at the end of this biennium (June 30, 2021) to be $620.2 million. This is $451.9 million above the balance that was projected at the time of enactment of the 2019-21 biennial budget, as modified to incorporate the 2018-19 ending balance (2019-20 opening balance) as shown in the Annual Fiscal Report for 2018-19.

The $451.9 million is the net result of: (1) an increase of $818.2 million in estimated tax collections; (2) an increase of $20.0 million in departmental revenues (non-tax receipts deposited into the general fund); (3) a decrease of $22.8 million in net appropriations; and (4) a transfer of $409.1 million to the budget stabilization fund.

Republican heads of the state’s powerful budget committee – Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), and Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) pledged to use the new revenue to “continue to look for ways to protect taxpayers instead of growing government.”

Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz says the legislature should put some thought into it. {It) gets a little dangerous when you start making spending or tax cut decisions in a vacuum without an eye for the future,” Hintz said “That’s when government has some regrets.”

He’s hoping to see more funding for a number of the items that were cut from this year’s budget, including spending on youth prisons, aid for the UW-System, and school based mental health care.

Evers State of the State: special session on rural issues, nonpartisan redistricting commission

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Governor Tony Evers

Governor Tony Evers has promised a fresh effort on bipartisan redistricting, and is calling the legislature into special session to address the challenges facing rural Wisconsin. The Democratic governor’s State of the State address was widely panned Wednesday night, by Republican legislative leaders.

Noting that the state is losing two dairy farms each day, Evers proposed a special session.

I am announcing a three-pronged plan to start addressing these challenges. First, tonight I am calling a special session of the legislature next week to take up legislation to invest in our farmers, agricultural industries, and our rural communities.

On redrawing the state’s electoral maps, the governor noted that legislation to provide for non-partisan redistricting has consistently failed to advance in the legislature, so he’ll appoint a commission to do the job, which in recent decades has been undertaken by the legislature.

Our nonpartisan redistricting commission will consist of the people of our state-not elected officials, not lobbyists, not high-paid consultants. The People’s Maps Commission will visit every congressional district, hear directly from folks across our state, and draw fair, impartial maps for the Legislature to take up next year

Republican leaders issued statements that were generally critical of the governor’s record, and his remarks.

“While the governor was able to expand his view beyond just Madison and Milwaukee tonight, sadly a majority of his State of the State address touted priorities that speak only to liberal hubs,” said Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steinke (R-Kaukauna). “After months of focusing on growing the size of government, expanding welfare, and largely ignoring the needs of rural communities, tonight’s speech was much more of the same.”

“It’s disappointing that Governor Evers would rather pose for holy pictures than actually work with the legislature,” said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Burlington) “His speech tonight was more about politics than anything else. Governor Evers is finally acknowledging the needs of rural Wisconsin. He has basically ignored our rural areas his entire term up to this point with an agenda focused on Madison and Milwaukee.”

“Governor Evers spent his first year in office catering to his far-left liberal friends in Madison,” said Joint Finance Committee co-chair, Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette). “No amount of rhetoric can cover his failed record of putting rural Wisconsin and our farmer behind liberal special interests.”

“It is my hope that the governor will spend what is left of the legislative session to focus on issues that put Wisconsin families first,” said state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau). “I’m eager to hear his plans for helping agriculture in Wisconsin. Additionally, the Senate will continue our efforts to crack down on repeat violent criminals, and work on a tax cut for hard-working Wisconsinites.”

Kind gets another challenger in Wisconsin’s 3rd CD

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Another Republican is in the running, to oppose La Crosse Congressman Ron Kind in November. John Garske spent 20 years in the U.S. Army and now has a business assisting veterans transition to the private sector.

In a phone interview with WisPolitics, Garske said he was inspired to run by “this impeachment fiasco and sham” as well as career politicians who have impeded progress in Congress.

Several other Republicans are also running for a chance to challenge Kind, who was unopposed four years ago, when President Donald Trump carried the western Wisconsin 3rd Congressional District by more than four points.

Kind was reelected to a 12th term in the 3rd CD in 2018 with 59.7 percent of the vote.

‘A partisan operation’ – Vos derides Evers’ approach on youth vaping

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Governor Tony Evers recently proposed a series of measures to combat youth vaping in Wisconsin, and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Burlington) on Tuesday said the governor’s approach has been partisan.

“He reached out to no one, spoke to no one, worked only with Democrats, and they’re introducing partisan bills,” Vos said. “What was the purpose of that, if you actually wanted to get something across the finish line, as opposed to just kind of posing for holy pictures and then never actually doing the hard work.”

Vos said Republicans are also working on the youth vaping issue. It’s a topic the governor is expected to touch on, in tonight’s State of the State address. “Certainly working in a bipartisan fashion would give him a better chance of success than a partisan operation,” Vos said.

Foxconn founder Gou says Wisconsin plant is still on schedule

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The founder of Foxconn says the Wisconsin plant is still on schedule to open this year. Bloomberg News reports that Terry Gou made that announcement at a New Year’s Party.

He’s quoted as saying that he will be spending more time in the US this year. Gou recently stepped down as chairman of the company to run for office, but is still on the board of directors and is the largest shareholder.

Evers to deliver 2nd State of the State address

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Governor Tony Evers WRN image

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is scheduled to deliver his second State of the State address on Tuesday. The Democratic governor’s remarks to a joint session of the Republican controlled legislature come at a time of contentious relations between Evers and GOP leaders.

Assembly Speaker Robin Voss (R-Burlington) said there are plenty of positive developments in the state which Evers could talk about.

“I hope he doesn’t choose to make it a partisan exercise, where he focuses on things that make political points, but don actually help to bridge the divide,” Vos said.

Evers will lay out his priorities for the state in the Assembly chambers, beginning at 7:00. State Senate President Roger Roth will deliver the Republican response. Both can be seen on Wisconsin Public Television and WisconsinEye.

Wisconsin Assembly passes ‘Protect Life Day’ resolution

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The Republican lead Wisconsin Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution designating Wednesday, the anniversary of Roe Vs Wade, as Protect Life Day in Wisconsin.

The resolution calls legalized abortion “a human rights abuse unprecedented in American history” and says that the Supreme Court usurped power from the states.

Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) stated her frank beliefs at the start of discussion on the Assembly floor.

“You want my full opinion, this is garbage and it should be withdrawn,” Subeck said. “And I don’t say that about many bills and I don’t say that about many resolutions. This resolution is about nothing but pure politics.”

The resolution’s author, Representative Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls) said she just wanted to start a discussion about how great children are.

The resolution passed on a party line vote.

DOJ partners with gas stations to spot human trafficking

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The Wisconsin Department of Justice is partnering with the Wisconsin Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association, in an effort to help spot human traffickers. Attorney General Josh Kaul says employees working in places like gas stations and hotels can often be the first to spot trafficking.

“They can also allow law enforcement to make contact with a survivor of human trafficking and help that person get the services that are needed to help that person escape from trafficking,” Kaul said.

The initiative is not the only effort to address human trafficking in the state. How to spot trafficking is now part of the training truck drivers receive at the state’s technical colleges.

State Senate ‘tinkers around the edges’ of dark store loophole

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The Wisconsin state Senate has passed a bill dealing with – but not closing – the dark store loophole. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) says the measure – making the tax assessment appeal process easier – was one of three bills to come out of a study committee.

“This is a complicated, tedious issue,” Fitzgerald said.

The loophole allows big-box retailers to have their property assessments based on those of vacant competitors. Democrats like Dave Hansen of Green Bay are impatient.

“How many sessions is it going to take to get this passed, before we start looking out for the residential taxpayers of this state?”

Senator Janis Ringhand, (D-Evansville) who served on that study committee, said none of the bills that came out of it, including the one passed on Tuesday, actually close the loophole.