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Wisconsin Assembly proposes historic shared revenue reforms

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Local officials are responding to an historic shared revenue plan from  Republicans in the Wisconsin Assembly. “Just to put into perspective, we’ve lost almost 38% of our state shared funding over the last 23 years,” said Beaver Dam Mayor Becky Glewen during a press conference at the Capitol on Thursday. “I have been with the city for 10 years and we’ve been through some difficult budgets,” said Watertown Mayor Emily McFarland. “And one that I will never forget as the year that we’ve considered shutting off every other streetlight in the city of Watertown to save $250,000.”

Details are still being finalized but every community would see at least a 10% increase in state aid. Going forward 20% of all state sales tax revenue would go to local governments.

Jerry Dor is Chairman of the Dane County Town of Bristol, with about 4400 residents. “We spend more now on emergency services than we do on fixing our roads. And of course what’s the priority? Emergency services is always a priority – that’s got to be. So if you drive through a few potholes that’s one thing but if you can’t respond with ambulance and fire service that’s a whole different ball game.”  

The shared revenue plan will include some restrictions on how local governments can spend the money. “I think that that’s not the way I would characterize it,” said Representative Mark Born of Beaver Dam. “I think that there are times where local control is absolutely the best as a former local official, and there’s times where statewide standards are needed. And that’s always the balance that we’re looking at here in the state of Wisconsin.”

Flat tax proposal lacks full support in Assembly

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Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu is proposing a flat tax for Wisconsin. The Republican from Oostburg says the flat tax would, in theory, do away with the different levels of the current system, and make filing much more simple.

“Regardless of how much money you make, you pay the same percentage of your income to the state government,” LeMahieu said. “A lot of states have been moving towards either eliminating their income tax – such as Tennessee recently eliminated their income tax by increasing their sales tax a couple of percentage points. But a lot of states have gone to or are moving to a lower flat tax.”

LeMahieu testified on his bill before a Senate committee on Tuesday. In the Assembly, Speaker Robin Vos says he hasn’t ruled out the flat tax but doesn’t see it happening in this session.

“So I think an awful lot of us want to take the time to listen first, which is why we have not necessarily said that the flat tax is the premier way we’re going to adopt tax reform. We haven’t ruled it out either,” Vos said. 

Governor Tony Evers has promised to veto any flat tax bill that passes.

WOMT

 

State Sen. Ballweg calls for more funding for rural roads and bridges

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A Wisconsin State Senator says the state budget needs to include money to improve local roads serving farmers. 

Markesan Republican Joan Ballweg says smaller county and town bridges are in need of serious repairs. “Making it difficult for our farmers to get their product to the main arteries, I think is something that has been overlooked for some time.”

Ballweg says lack of maintenance has led to stricter and stricter weight limits on rural roads. “There’s really no good way to unload big pieces of equipment out on a town or county highway”

Ballweg wants to see 150 million dollars in the budget for those bridges and roads. Ballweg serves on the state’s legislative joint finance committee, so she will have some say in the budget presented to the Governor.

‘Little White Schoolhouse’ relocation in Ripon may impact historic status

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Ripon’s historic Little White Schoolhouse was successfully moved to a new location on Monday – though not without controversy. Republican Party of Fond du Lac County Chairman Timothy Bachleitner said a more appropriate location could have been found.

PHOTO: Hometown Broadcasting

“It’s about setting, it’s about atmosphere,” he explained. “What the State Historical Society and the National Historical Society wants to see happen is that these landmarks are preserved in their original field conditions.”

According to a letter from the Wisconsin Historical Society, the move of the building known as “Birthplace of the Republican Party” may have led to its delisting as a National Historic site.

“There are plenty of places in the community that this could have been put and it would have retained its status, it would have stayed a landmark it just would have taken a little bit of work from the entities that have been involved in this move,” said Bachleitner.

Bachleitner said at a meeting of the State Historical Society last fall he pointed out moving the schoolhouse would violate some national standards.

Ripon Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mandy Kimes said the delisting of the Schoolhouse as a National Historical site because of its move came as a surprise to Chamber officials. Kimes said they did due diligence and received approval from the Wisconsin Historical Society to remain on the State Registry, expecting the National Park Service to follow suit with the national designation.

Kimes said the Chamber learned in late March the move could lead to delisting, but had no previous notification it was even being considered. She said they are appealing the decision.

Bob Nelson, Hometown Broadcastng 

Baldwin announces U.S. Senate reelection bid

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Saying “the stakes have never been higher and our work isn’t over yet,” Wisconsin Democrat, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has announced she’ll seek a third six-year term in 2024. 

The 61-year-old Madison native defeated Republican Leah Vukmir by 11-points in her 2018 reelection. Baldwin became the first openly gay U.S. Senator when elected in 2012, defeating former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson.      

Baldwin’s career in politics began on the Madison Common Council in the mid-1980s. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, Baldwin also served on the Dane County Board and in the Wisconsin State Assembly. Prior to her first Senate win, Baldwin served seven terms in the U.S. House, representing Wisconsin’s 2nd District.          

So far there are no official challenges to Baldwin from either political party. Republican businessman Eric Hovde is considering a second Senate run after opting not to run for governor in 2022.

Evers taps Vruwink as Commissioner of Railroads

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Don Vruwink

A former state Representative has been named as Commissioner of Railroads. Governor Tony Evers announced his appointment of Don Vruwink to fill a vacancy created by Commissioner of Railroads Yash Wadhwa’s resignation, effective March 1.

The primary focus of the Office of the Commissioner of Railroads is to ensure railroad crossing safety. In addition to the commissioner the agency has a staff of four, including a Railroad Safety Analyst.

Vruwink, a former educator and coach from Milton, represented the 43rd Assembly District from 2017 to 2022. His appointment by Evers is subject to conformation by the Wisconsin State Senate.

Transgender candidate elected to Madison Common Council

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A transgender woman has been elected to office in Wisconsin for the first time. Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford was elected to Madison’s city council in a tight race. She won by 54 votes.

Martinez Rutherford says she decided to run for city council last November after seeing what she called a rise in transphobia spread across the United States.

In addition to helping Madison’s trans community, Martinez-Rutherford also campaigned on affordable housing. Her win aside, there are no other out trans women elected officials in the state, according to LGBTQ+Victory Institute, which tracks diversity in government representation.

First woman and first Native American judge elected in Sawyer County

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A Sawyer County woman achieved two historic firsts in Tuesday’s spring elections. Monica Isham is the new Judge for the newly established Sawyer County Circuit Court Branch 2.

Isham, Deputy Attorney General for Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, is the first woman and first Native American to serve as a judge in Sawyer County. She grew up on the LCO Reservation outside Hayward, and is a graduate of Hayward High School, UW Green Bay and Marquette University Law School. 

Isham was unopposed on Tuesday’s ballot.

Knodl wins special election in 8th state Senate District

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A win Tuesday for Republicans in a state Senate special election. Republican state Representative Dan Knodl defeated Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin, who conceded on Wednesday.

Knodl’s victory in the 8th State Senate District special election gives Senate Republicans the 22nd vote needed for a supermajority to override vetoes by Governor Tony Evers. Assembly Republicans are two seats shy of the 66 votes needed in that chamber.

The Senate does have the votes to impeach elected officials, and Knodl has said he wants to impeach Milwaukee County Judges and District Attorney John Chisholm.

Protasiewicz win gives liberals state Supreme Court majority

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A state Supreme Court win for Janet Protasiewicz. The liberal Milwaukee County judge defeated conservative former Justice Dan Kelly by 10 points on Tuesday.

Protasiewicz, who made it clear during the campaign that she supports abortion rights, told supporters in Milwaukee that Wisconsin “is taking a step forward to a better and brighter future where our rights and freedoms will be protected.”

Kelly was not conciliatory in his concession remarks, which included a vitriolic personal attack on Protasiewicz. Kelly called the campaign “beneath contempt” and accused Protasiewicz of being “a serial liar.”

Protasiewicz will serve a 10-year term starting in August replacing retiring conservative Justice Pat Roggensack, giving liberals a 4-3 majority on the court. The court is expected to consider abortion rights and partisan redistricting.