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Governor Evers calls for fair maps, more broadband funding, and DWD overhaul in State of the State address

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Governor Tony Evers laid out his roadmap for 2021 at Tuesday night’s State of the State Address.

Evers took little time in laying out tall goals for 2021. Evers says he’ll be calling for a special session of the Legislature to overhaul and rebuild the state’s unemployment system.

“We know that replacing the system will take years. That’s why it should have been done sooner. But it’s also why we don’t have another moment to waste.”

Republicans have been decrying the backlog of unemployment claims that were generated by outdated systems and processes at D W D, and Evers wants them to get together and fix the issue.

Evers says that the massive push for increased internet access showed the vast digital divide across parts of Wisconsin, and that he’ll be stepping up the funding for broadband expansion to $200 million in his next budget.

“This pandemic has shown us first-hand that lack of access to high-speed internet continues to be a setback for kids, families, and businesses across our state.”

Governor Evers says that a fair and open redistricting process will be vital to the state in 2021. Evers says that the last time maps were drawn in the state, Republicans did so in secret with the help of attorneys, and that no one got to provide any input. 

“I’m announcing that my biennial budget is going to make sure that the legislature draws our maps in the light of day, in the public eye, and with public input by requiring public meetings for map drawing process.”

Many of the records for those strategy sessions were never released, and Evers says he doesn’t want to see a repeat of that process. “Because the people of our state deserve to know how these maps are drawn and by whom.”

Evers thanked the people of Wisconsin for their strength and perseverance through the pandemic and what was a tough year, and alled for continued unity among the people of the state.

Assembly signals opposition as Evers says he’ll sign Senate passed COVID-19 bill

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Governor Tony Evers said Tuesday that he’s on board with a coronavirus relief bill passed by the state Senate, and that he wants the state Assembly to send it to him for his signature.

The Senate approved the measure on a voice vote, after Democrat Chris Larson and Republican Steve Nass voted against an amendment to the bill which was passed by the Assembly last week.

The Senate bill retains liability protections for businesses, schools, churches and non-profits to which Evers had initially objected. But in a statement, the Democratic governor said he worked together with new Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu to find common ground.

Evers said in a statement that “AB 1 as amended by the Senate is a good start to support our state’s response to this pandemic.” He urged the Assembly to pass it.

However, Assembly Majority Leader, Representative Jim Steineke, quickly indicated that was an unlikely outcome.

“The state Senate passed a bill that fails to address so many of the issues we’re hearing from constituents from all over the state,” Steinke said.

“We will continue to advocate for the priorities of our constituents over the next few weeks as we move towards a response to the Senate’s actions during our next floor period later this month.”

The recent Assembly and Senate actions represent the first legislation to address the global pandemic since an initial response bill passed by both chambers last April.

Evers will deliver virtual ‘State of the State’ address

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Tonight’s State of the State address will be delivered virtually. With coronavirus still a real concern, Governor Tony Evers’ remarks will be streamed on the governor’s Facebook and YouTube accounts.

Wisconsin governors typically use the State of State address, traditionally to a joint session of the legislature in the state Assembly chambers, to highlight priorities for the coming year.

WisconsinEye and Wisconsin public broadcasting will also cover his 7:00 speech and the Republican response from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.

Wisconsin National Guard will help secure Capitol building

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The Wisconsin National Guard will help protect the state Capitol in Madison. Governor Tony Evers on Monday authorized the Wisconsin National Guard Reaction Force, which consists of troops trained to respond to requests for assistance on short notice, to support the Capitol Police in safety and security efforts.

At the state Capitol on Monday, workers replaced plywood that had only recently been removed from ground floor windows.

The action comes amid stepped up security at state Capitols around the nation following last week’s deadly takeover of the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters, and warnings of similar actions at state capitols.

“Once again, our state has asked our Citizen Soldiers in the Wisconsin National Guard to answer the call to keep our state, its citizens, and its institutions safe,” said Major General Paul Knapp, Wisconsin’s adjutant general. “We ask a lot of our troops who must take leave from their civilian employers and their families, and I’m proud of the sacrifices they make on a daily basis to serve their fellow citizens.”

 

SCOTUS declines to expedite Trump election challenges

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The U.S. Supreme Court refused Monday to fast-track a challenges to Wisconsin’s presidential election from President Donald Trump and his allies.

The cases the court declined to expedite challenged the results here in Wisconsin, as well as Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia.

The rejections came without comment or noted dissent. President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in January 20, and the cases presumably will become moot after that.

State Senate moving quickly on COVID-19 package

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The Wisconsin state Senate is poised to amend a coronavirus relief package passed by the state Assembly last week.

On WISN‘s “UpFront” Sunday, Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu said the goal is to get something Governor Tony Evers will support.

“What we’re looking to do in the Senate is find a bill — and this was our goal all along — was to find a bill that the governor will get that bill done for the state of Wisconsin.,” LeMahieu said.

A Senate committee scheduled a hearing Monday, with the goal of amending the Senate bill before the full Senate takes it up on Tuesday.

Grothman says Trump ‘did gin up’ supporters prior to Capitol riot

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After initially confining his criticisms to Rudy Giulianni and Donald Trump Jr., Wisconsin congressman Glenn Grothman now says Donald Trump also shares blame for this week’s mob violence at the the U.S. Capitol.

Grothman released a statement on Thursday, and in a Friday interview with WOMT radio, the 6th District Republican was pressed on his failure to question the president’s actions.

“I think the president did gin up this day to be more than it should have been. And some of my colleagues did as well, and I’ve been very critical of them to leadership, or within the building,” Grothman said.

Two of Grothman’s Wisconsin colleagues, Republicans Tom Tiffany and Scott Fitzgerald, did vote to reject electors from Arizona and Pennsylvania, and said they would have done the same if given the opportunity to vote against those from Wisconsin.

While not mentioning Tiffany and Fitzgerald by name, Grothman said “the idea that the U.S. Congress could say ‘no Wisconsin, we are not going to accept who you give us,’ is just a very dangerous precedent, and it is completely opposite of what’s in the Constitution.”

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial Board on Friday called for Tiffany, Fitzgerald and Senator Ron Johnson to either resign, or be removed from office. Johnson initially said he would object to Wisconsin’s electoral votes but backtracked following Wednesday’s violence.

Evers among 8 governors requesting more doses of vaccine from feds

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Tony Evers is among a group of Democratic governors calling on the Trump administration to accelerate release of coronavirus vaccines.

In a joint statement, Evers and seven others, including Minnesota’s Tim Walz and Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, claim that millions of safe, effective COVID19 vaccine doses are being held back.

They’ve directed their request to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and U.S. Army General Gustave Perna, who directs the federal vaccine distribution effort.

The Evers administration’s vaccine distribution has been criticized by Wisconsin Republicans, particularly Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who says the governor has done a poor job getting vaccine doses to where they are needed.

Johnson faces comparison to McCarthy from fellow Republicans following Capitol riot

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Senator Ron Johnson is now facing some harsh comparisons from Republicans after Wednesday’s riot at the US Capitol.

The Anti-Trump Republican group The Lincoln Project is swearing to run ads against Johnson if he runs for office again, with their founder Steve Schmidt saying “you will be an American villain who exceeds even the wretched McCarthy in ignominy.”

The RightWisconsin website likewise invoked McCarthyism in an editorial that said that McCarthy would have been proud of Johnson.

Johnson originally was part of an effort to overturn the results of the November election, but backed off from that position after rioters stormed the Capitol building during debates. Johnson has previously said he wouldn’t run for senator in 2022, but it’s unclear if he has plans for higher office.

Finance committee lifts objections to recount reimbursements

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The Wisconsin Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance has released funds to Milwaukee and Dane counties for the election recount, although the panel’s Republican co-chairs said they still have concerns about the actual receipts for the recount.

The action by the JFC comes more than a month after the recount process was completed.

“Although the receipts from Dane and Milwaukee counties have raised concerns, we now have the information we need to approve their request. At this time, the Wisconsin Elections Commission can reimburse them for their recount expenses,” said Co-Chair Representative Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam).

The Trump campaign paid some $3 million for the recount in the two counties which gave wide margins of victory for Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The recount reconfirmed Biden’s victory in Wisconsin.

“We continue to have concerns about the high hourly rate paid to workers, expensive rental costs when we have county-owned buildings sitting empty and inflated operational expenses,” said Co-Chair Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green). “We plan to consider options for the future. This committee will protect the state’s checkbook.”