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Johnson, Baldwin both vote ‘yes’ to avert rail strike

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Wisconsin’s US Senators voted Thursday for a measure to avert a nationwide rail strike. Democrat Tammy Baldwin and Republican Ron Johnson voted ‘yes’ to send the measure to President Biden’s desk. The Senate vote was 80-15.

The agreement will give rail workers a roughly 24 percent pay increase by 2024 and more sick time flexibility. It does not include any new paid sick leave, the sticking point that could have resulted in a disruptive rail strike by the end of next week. Baldwin voted for a House passed amendment granting the rail workers seven paid sick days failed in the Senate on a 52-43 vote, short of the 60 votes needed for approval.

In a statement, Johnson said the ‘cooling off’ period should have been extended to force railroads and unions back to the negotiating table while keeping trains rolling. But he said a shutdown would have harmed people and the economy.

 

Kaul lays out second term priorities

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Attorney General Josh Kaul has laid out priorities for his second term. The newly reelected Democrat says public safety will be a top priority for the AG’s office

“The level of violence that we’ve been seeing in communities around the country, in the wake of the pandemic is unacceptable, and we need to make sure we are finally providing adequate funding to our communities.”

Kaul says he hopes to persuade Republican lawmakers of the importance of increased state shared revenue to help local governments pay for things like policing and preventing overdose deaths.

“The dollars that go from state government to local government and support things like local law enforcement. I’d like to see a strengthening of our bail system, and then also some commonsense measures that can prevent gun violence would be helpful, as well like universal background checks.”

Kaul was reelected to a second term this month, defeating Republican, Fond du Lac County DA Eric Toney.
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Flags at half-staff to memorialize Waukesha Parade victims

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Flags will fly at half-staff across Wisconsin on Monday, November 21 to mark the anniversary of the deadly attack on the Waukesha Christmas Parade. Governor Tony Evers ordered flags to be lowered in recognition and remembrance of the victims – 52-year-old Tamara Durand, 81-year-old Wilhelm Hospel, 52-year-old Jane Kulich, 71-year-old Leanna Owen, 79-year-old Virginia Sorenson and 8-year-old Jackson Sparks. Last week, Waukesha County Judge Jennifer Dorow sentenced Darrell

“As Monday marks the one-year anniversary of the senseless, violent attack at the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade, Kathy and I are thinking of the entire Waukesha community, the six people whose lives were mercilessly taken, and all of the loved ones, friends, first responders, and neighbors for whom this anniversary will be especially difficult and traumatic. As we remember this tragic event, we also reflect on the first responders, community leaders, and neighbors who ran toward danger to help, every person who responded in the days and months that followed with kindness, empathy, and compassion, and the extraordinary faith, strength, and resilience the Waukesha community has shown over the last year.”

Brooks to six life terms for the attack in which he drove his SUV through the parade route. Brooks has indicated he plans to appeal.

Cole to retire as DNR Secretary

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Department of Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole is retiring effective next week. Governor Tony Evers announced that Cole’s last day will be Wednesday. Evers appointed Cole as secretary in 2018. Prior to that, Cole served 11 years on the Natural Resources Board, first appointed by Democratic Governor Jim Doyle in 2007 and reappointed by Republican Governor Scott Walker in 2013. He served as chair in 2013 and 2014. Evers’ release did not name a replacement.

Evers beats Michels to win second term

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Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers thanked supporters gathered in Madison, after Republican challenger Tim Michels made a brief concession speech early Wednesday. “It wasn’t our night tonight, and I thank everybody for you support” the business executive told his supporters.

Unofficial results show the Democratic governor defeating Michels 51.2% to 47.8%. Democratic strongholds Dane and Milwaukee Counties propelled Evers and his running mate Sarah Rodriguez to the win. Michels won in the three so called “WOW” counties surrounding Milwaukee, but Evers improved his margins there from his win over Scott Walker in 2018.

“This victory isn’t really about me at all it’s about each of you,” Evers said. “Today and over these last few weeks, yes you showed up for me and Democrats up and down the ballot. But you didn’t just show up – you showed up for each other.”

 

Final Marquette Poll shows close top of ticket races

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The final Marquette Law School Poll before Election Day shows Wisconsin‘s top of ballot races remain close. In the race for governor, the new Marquette Poll finds 48% of likely voters support Democratic incumbent Tony Evers and 48% favor Republican challenger Tim Michels.

In the race for U.S. Senate, 50% of likely voters support Republican incumbent Ron Johnson, 48% support Democratic challenger Mandela Barnes. The margin of error for all likely voters is plus or minus 4.8%.

The latest Marquette Polls finds Inflation remains the number one concern of Wisconsin voters. Overall among registered voters, 68% say they are “very concerned” about inflation, the issue with the highest percentage. But top concerns diverge along party lines. Among Democrats, abortion policy, gun violence, public schools, an accurate vote count and inflation were the top five issues that have them very concerned. The top five issues that have Republicans very concerned are an accurate vote count, inflation, crime, illegal immigration and taxes.

Complete poll results can be seen here.

State fines co-owners of popup COVID-19 testing centers for failure to provide services

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The co-owners of a company that set up pop-up COVID-19 testing sites will be paying a fine to the state.

State consumer protection director Michael Domke says Aleya Siyaj and Akbar Syed, the co-owners of the Center for Covid Control, failed to provide the testing services they promised people. 

“And instead of slowing down or trying to throttle their business to keep up with what they’re able to produce, they just allowed themselves to keep taking more and more and more.”

The company, based out of Illinois, had multiple locations across Southern Wisconsin, but all of them folded up around January this year when investigations started mounting across the Country. “So I think the culmination of our agency and other agencies looking into their activities, led to them saying, Alright, enough is enough, and shutting their doors,” says Domke.

Siyaj and Syed will have to pay Wisconsin over 22 thousand dollars in civil forfeiture. Multiple other states have lawsuits pending against the couple. 

Michels campaign clarifies stance on abortion law

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The Republican candidate for governor reiterated his position on abortion on Tuesday. Tim Michels, who early in his campaign said he supported the 1849 criminal abortion law as written, later shifted his stance. Michels explained that during an appearance at the Milwaukee Rotary Club.

“I have said, that if the legislature puts a bill on my desk, and in it is an exception for rape and incest, that I would sign that,” the candidate said.  It’s unclear whether the Republican controlled legislature would put such a bill before Michels.

Also at the Rotary event, Michels pushed back on ads portraying him as “radical” on reproductive issues. “I am not against contraception, as they’re saying. I will never arrest a doctor, as they’re saying. I’m a reasonable guy.”

A campaign spokesperson clarified that Michels would uphold the criminal abortion law, which allows doctors who perform the procedure to be charged with a felony.

Evers shared revenue promise faces legislative hurdles

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At a Tuesday forum in Milwaukee, Governor Tony Evers repeated his promise to reset state government relations with cities and counties. Evers said increasing state shared revenues will be a budget priority – if he’s elected to a second term.

“Cities and counties do the hard work in this state,” the Democratic governor told a panel of journalists at an event sponsored by the Milwaukee Rotary Club and Milwaukee Press Club.

The Democratic governor has said his next two-year budget will include a more than $100-million increase in shared revenue. “There’s only so much that they can do without money and my goal is to provide those resources. Zero percent for the last 10 years is anything but adequate.”

Evers at abortions rights rally at the Capitol

Even if he defeats Republican Tim Michels, Evers will have a Republican legislature when he proposes his next budget. Lawmakers reduced his shared revenue requests in each the last two budgets.

Evers also said he won’t sign an abortion bill with rape and incest exceptions if he wins reelection. “Because that leaves the underlying law in place, which is a ban on abortion here. Because politicians in Wisconsin decided that they know more than the women; the women that want to have reproductive health decisions made by themselves.”

He added he wants to see federal abortion protections once granted under Roe v. Wade codified.

Madison absentee ballot boxes get a new look — and a message

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Absentee ballot drop boxes in Madison are getting a new look – and a message. “Truth is powerful and will prevail.” The quote from abolitionist Sojourner Truth will emblazon ballot drop boxes in a bold white on black format. It’s a response to the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling which banned ballot drop boxes.

That’s a decision Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway says disproportionately impacts voters with disabilities and voters of color in cities, including Madison. The project with New York based artist Jenny Holzer includes detailed instructions on how voters can return their absentee ballots under the new ruling.

“I think it’s very effective. I hope that it does make a statement and perhaps holds space for hope, that instead of trying to tear down our democratic processes that we can build them up together,” Rhodes Conway said.