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Evers taps Pfaff for DOA job

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Former state Agriculture Secretary designee Brad Pfaff is back to work for a state agency. Governor Tony Evers office announced Monday that Pfaff has been has been hired to serve as the director of business and rural development in the Department of Administration.

DOA Secretary Joel Brennan said that while the state will lose a vital advocate like Pfaff at the Cabinet level, he’ll still be able to serve both the state and businesses while working for state administration. Pfaff’s appointment to lead the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection was rejected by the Senate last week, and Evers named Deputy Secretary Randy Romanski to an interim appointment.

Capitol tree becomes cultural flash point

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The 2012 Wisconsin state Capitol Christmas Tree (WRN image)

This year’s Capitol Rotunda evergreen is a cultural flash point. On Friday, Democratic governor Tony Evers dubbed the yet to be installed tree as a “holiday tree,” and requested that school kids around the state send science-themed ornaments for it.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald called that “‘PC’ garbage,” while Assembly Speaker Robin Vos tweeted: “We all know it’s a Christmas tree no matter what @GovEvers calls it.”

On Tuesday, Assembly Republicans will offer a proclamation to recognize Thanksgiving week as “National Bible Week.” Former Governor Scott Walker also posted multiple tweets deriding Evers decision. The tree had been called a holiday tree for some twenty years prior to Walker’s time in office.

No action on Evers’ special session on gun violence

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There was no action on gun violence in the legislature, but it was definitely “topic A” at the Capitol on Thursday. Minority Leader Gordon Hintz said taking guns from people posing a threat to themselves could reduce suicide rates. “If you want to reduce the number of suicides, you need to reduce access to firearms from those that are likely to harm themselves.”

Speaker Robin argued there are existing laws in place to take peoples’ gun when needed, and that a “red flag” bill deprives gun owners of due process. “Imagine that for any other circumstance. ‘We think that you might drive drunk, so we’re going to take away your car. We think that you might do something. I mean, even when you yell ‘fire’ in a crowded theater, it happens first, and then you’re prosecuted after. What they want to have happen is that you’re prosecuted first, and you have to prove yourself innocent. That is just a basic idea that far too many of us cannot accept.”

Attorney General Josh Kaul argued it wouldn’t have that impact. “Red flag laws have been upheld in Florida, in Connecticut, and Indiana. And . . . the one we’re introduced here in Wisconsin is similar in design to other legislation that is already in place in Wisconsin, that allows for people who are dangerous to be disarmed.”

Evers had called the special session on the red flag proposal, and on expanded background checks for gun purchasers. Both chambers gaveed in – and quickly out – without debate on either.

 

Evers taps Romanski as interim DATCP Secretary

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Governor Tony Evers is naming a deputy secretary as new interim state agriculture secretary. At a Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection board meeting on Thursday, Evers announced he’s promoting Randy Romanski to interim state agriculture secretary. The state Senate this week rejected Brad Pfaff’s nomination to lead the agency, an action Evers referred to as “amoral.”

Romanski previously served as the agency’s deputy secretary and then secretary under then-Governor Jim Doyle. He then worked for the Department of Transportation in the Division of State Patrol before Evers tapped him to serve as the agency’s deputy secretary under Pfaff.

Romanski won’t be subject to Senate confirmation in the interim role. Evers also said that Pfaff will not be staying on with DATCP.

Legislature won’t act on Evers’ gun control proposals

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The Wisconsin Legislature convenes in Madison on Thursday for a special session on gun control.  But convening is about all either chamber will do, as Republican leaders in the Assembly and Senate have made it clear they won’t be debating the proposals which Democratic Governor Tony Evers wants them to consider.

Evers called the special session for action on two measures: a “red flag” law that would allow judges to temporarily remove guns from people deemed a risk to themselves or others, and universal background checks for all sales by private parties, similar tho what gun dealers are already required to do by federal law.

School choice advocates sue DPI over release of test results

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School choice advocates are suing the state Department of Public Instruction, over release of test results. Plaintiffs including School Choice Wisconsin and the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty are alleging DPI violated state law when it released results of the annual Forward Exam in September.

The suit claims DPI intentionally delayed release of data for voucher schools in an effort to spin news stories to portray those schools negatively.

A DPI statement acknowledged the usual practice of releasing data to journalists a day early, but the Journal Sentinel reports it did not directly address the allegation that it withheld the voucher school data until the following day, after the news stories were published.

Sen. Ron Johnson’s Homeland Security committee briefed on threats to US

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Senator Jon Johnson’s homeland security committee got a briefing on threats to the US on Tuesday.

Senators heard about an increase in threats from domestic terrorism, including a growing threat from white supremacists. Over 100 suspected domestic terrorists were arrested this year, with over 1000 investigations ongoing at any time.

David Glawe with D H S also briefed senators about an attack on US citizens in Mexico by a drug cartel.

Senator Johnson says Mexican gangs have more control over the southern border than either the US or Mexican authorities.

State Senate passes pair of bills toughening OWI penalties

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The State Senate has approved a pair of measures aimed at toughening drunk driving laws.

The two bills both cover stricter sentences for drunk driving convictions. The first bill will impose a minimum five year prison term for people convicted of O W I homicide. That bill now heads to the Governor’s desk.

The second bill toughens the penalties for 5th and 6th time OWI to a minimum of six months. An exemption could be made by a judge, if they believe the person is not a danger to the community, and state their reasons for the record. 

WATCH: Salty Evers slams GOP over Pfaff firing

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The state Senate voted along party lines Tuesday to reject Brad Pfaff, Governor Tony Evers’ pick to head the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said his members were not comfortable with some of Pfaff’s actions since his appointment.

“Comments about Republicans and farmer suicide, certainly going back to some earlier changes that were made under DATCP, there’s a whole a slew of things that anybody could bring forth. But you’ve got to be comfortable. And I think as we stand here today there’s a number of members of the majority that just aren’t comfortable with Brad Pfaff.”

Pfaff was unanimously confirmed by the Senate Ag committee in February – but received zero Republican votes on the floor Tuesday, as GOP Senators essentially fired him as DATCP Secretary. The final vote was 19-14.

Democrats like Milwaukee’s LaTonya Johnson said Pfaff is extremely qualified, but had angered Republicans. “Let’s just say why we are really here. His tone and his words were not flattering to Republicans.”

In an unusual move, Evers, who picked Pfaff to lead DATCP, was in the chambers as the Senate debated his fate. Afterwards, he spoke with reporters. “There’s nobody who generates more enthusiasm and passion for Wisconsin’s agriculture industry than Brad Pfaff. Now we just threw that away, and for what reason, frankly I don’t know.”

Evers also said expectations that other appointees might need to “keep their mouths shut” in order to get Senate approval “is absolute bullshit.”
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Ag organizations lobby to support confirmation of Brad Pfaff at DATCP

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Governor Tony Evers’ pick to head the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is getting support from a large swath of Wisconsin’s agriculture community as the State Senate’s top Republican calls for his replacement. Executive Director Tom Bressner with the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association said Brad Pfaff needs to stay on the job.

“He has been total supportive. And he just works diligently for agriculture, and we’ve been very pleased and very impressed with the work that he’s been doing. It just makes total sense to us.”

State Senate Majority Scott Fitzgerald said last week that the votes are not in place to support Pfaff in the Senate, which has a scheduled vote on the appointment on Tuesday.  Pfaff and Fitzgerald tangled publicly earlier this year, over the issue of mental health funding for farmers.