As the public phase of the Hous impeachments proceedings enter a second week, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson said he’s willing to share his firsthand knowledge of the U.S.-Ukraine relationship. On NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday, Johnson told Chuck Todd that he’s been asked to do that by Republicans on the panel.

The Wisconsin Republican – who was in Ukraine prior to the president’s phone call with that country’s president – said he’s been asked share his firsthand knowledge, but doubts he’ll be asked to testify. “They’re not going to call me, because certainly Adam Schiff wouldn’t want to be called by the Senate. I’ll supply my telling of event, which is difficult to to do in 8-10 minutes on a show like this.”

Johnson also expressed concerns over the role of the whistle blower in the impeachment proceedings. “Having this all come out into public …. has exposed things that didn’t need to be exposed. This would have been far better off if we were just taking care of this behind the scenes.”

Johnson said he’s concerned about the impact the impeachment process is having on the country, stating that political differences need to be “settled at the ballot box, not in the streets or through impeachment.”

The City of Madison will hire someone to keep tabs on its police department. The common council passed a $340-million operating budget and a $174-million-dollar capital budget Wednesday.

City leaders helped closed an $11-million gap by enacting a new $40 local vehicle registration fee. The taxing-and-spending plan for 2020 also includes a new independent police auditor, three new police officers, affordable housing projects, and an ambulance for the under-served south-east side. Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway says she plans to sign the budget without any vetoes.

Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to stop in northeast Wisconsin during a campaign swing next week. The vice president will tour Marinette Marine and deliver remarks at the shipbuilding plant in northeastern Wisconsin Wednesday. Later the same day he will move on to his home state of Indiana.

The vice president’s visit was originally scheduled for October 23rd, but he canceled at the last minute for a Washington event, then made a stop in Pleasant Prairie later in the day.

A conservative group wants to purge thousands of people from the state’s voter rolls. Last month, the state Elections Commission mailed notices to some 234,00 voters, telling them to update their registrations with their new addresses if they’ve moved, or to notify the commission if they have not. Voters who fail to act will have their registrations suspended after April 2021.

But the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty contends state law requires the commission to remove people from the voter rolls much sooner. Three men it represents filed a lawsuit Wednesday asking an Ozaukee County judge to force the commission to remove people from the voter rolls if they did not respond to the commission’s letter.

Conservative Advocacy Group Files Lawsuit Against Wisconsin Elections Agency https://t.co/kpeY2p0MJ8

— WILL (@WILawLiberty) November 13, 2019

Analiese Eicher, Executive Director of the liberal One Wisconsin Now Institute, said the suit is a tactic utilized around the country by conservatives seeking to manipulate the rules on voting to give themselves an advantage

The latest right-wing effort to tip the scales for @JusticeDanKelly:https://t.co/0wJVEdvSQg

— One Wisconsin Now (@onewisconsinnow) November 13, 2019

Eicher noted that WILL board members donated thousands of dollars to the campaign of state Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, who is up for reelection next spring.

The state Assembly has approved a resolution declaring the week of Thanksgiving as National Bible Week in Wisconsin. Madison’s Freedom from Religion Foundation has called the resolution “highly inappropriate.”

ICYMI: The Wisconsin Assembly is considering a resolution recognizing “National Bible Week.” FFRF’s @AndrewLSeidel exposes this for what it is — an attempt to use the machinery of the state to promote religion. https://t.co/9B2pKKWuvh

— FFRF (@FFRF) November 12, 2019

Not so,. says Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Burlington). “It’s not something new that we’ve done . . . we have done these in the past. I think we recognize people of all faiths,” Vos said.

“I don’t have a real problem with it,” said Minority Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Ohskosh). “It seems to be we’re going to have holy wars or something, it might be to distract from the lack of an agenda overall.”

The resolution passed on 86-9 vote Tuesday. The Assembly also voted Tuesday to officially recognize the rotunda evergreen as a Christmas tree. That resolution was a reaction to Governor Tony Evers invitation to school kids to send ornaments for the Capitol’s “Holiday Tree.” Four Democrats joined Republicans on the pro Christmas Tree vote.

Governor Tony Evers has signed an Executive Order relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion in state government. Among other things, it requires state agencies to develop and implement equity and inclusion action plans, directs the state Department of Administration to develop and provide mandatory equity and inclusion training for all state employees, and creates the Governor’s Advisory Council on Equity and Inclusion.

“Ensuring our state workforce not only reflects the folks we serve, but implements culturally responsive and equitable policies, is critical for our state government to be effective,” Gov. Evers said. “I look forward to the progress of the advisory council and these state agencies as we work together to build more inclusive work environments that empower folks of diverse backgrounds to thrive in their workplaces.”

Evers announced the Executive Order in Madison on Tuesday.

“I think he (Evers) already did this in the spring,” said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. “Sometimes I feel like the purpose of these resolutions is to just regurgitate what he’s already done.” Vos said the state had an inclusive government under former Governor Scott Walker. “I certainly want it to be under Governor Evers.”