Google+

Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Politics & Government

Former DA reprimanded for harassing texts

By

A former central Wisconsin district attorney has been reprimanded for sending racy texts to a client.

The State Supreme Court publicly reprimanded Attorney John Schellpfeffer this month for sending sexually charged texts to a client he was representing in family court cases. He texted the client to “wear something sexy” to a meeting along with other sexual jokes and memes.

Schellpfeffer was formerly the Lincoln County district attorney and is now in private practice.

No fines were assessed in the case.

Brooks says constituents support gas tax and fee hikes for roads

By

PHOTO: WRN

A retiring Wisconsin lawmaker says the state’s rural roads are badly in need of repairs. “We still have a lot of roads in need. We have a lot of bridges that need attention,” said Representative Ed Brooks (R-Reedsburg), who represents the 50th Assembly District west of Madison.

Brooks said that surveys by his office show constituents in support of gas tax or registration fee increases, to pay for the costs of transportation infrastructure. “Modest increases. But every increase helps to fund additional things in the rural community, and the state,” Brooks said. “We’ve got some major projects coming up, but we’ve also got a lot of farm to market roads that are just as important.”

Wisconsin continues to fare poorly, in 50 state road quality rankings. Brooks said he differs with Governor Scott Walker, who among other things has called for greater efficiency in transportation budgeting. “Eventually you get to where you can’t squeeze any more moisture out of a sponge,” said Brooks, who was first elected to the Assembly in 2008.

Brooks comments come as Walker, who is running for reelection in November, is being criticized for the condition of Wisconsin roads. His former Secretary of Transportation, Mark Gottlieb, delivered a rebuke to his former boss, in an interview with the Capital Times.

“This administration has prioritized not raising fuel taxes over maintaining the transportation system, and they need to accept the consequences of that decision,” Gottlieb said. Brooks noted that while Walker’s most recent budget did distribute more money to rural roads, “there were no new dollars in the budget.”

Brooks is the 13th legislator and the 10th Republican to decide not to seek reelection this year.

Special elections set after primaries

By

Two Republicans are moving forward after winning primaries on Tuesday.

State Representative Andre Jacque will face Democrat Caleb Frostman for the 1st Senate race.

Lodi karate school owner Jon Plumer will take on Democrat Ann Groves Lloyd for the 42nd Assembly District.

Both seats were left vacant after Governor Walker appointed State Senator Frank Lasee and state Assemblyman Keith Ripp to state administration positions. The general election for both seats is June 12.

Barca won’t run for Ryan’s House seat

By

A leading Democrat won’t be running for House Speaker Paul Ryan’s seat in Congress. State representative Peter Barca has decided against getting into the race for the First Congressional District.

In a statement, Barca said he will instead continue his run for the 64h Assembly District. Democrats Randy Bryce and Cathy Meyers are already seeking the seat which Ryan will be vacating at the end of his term.

Sign up now for child tax rebate

By

Wisconsin parents can start signing up for a special 100 dollar per child tax rebate.

Revenue Secretary Richard Chandler says the special rebate is open to all parents who had dependents on their 2017 taxes. The rebate is technically a rebate on the the state sales tax. “We assume any parent of a child will have paid at least $100 in sales tax.”

Chandler says they’ve got a special website devoted to signing up, at ChildTaxRebate.wi.gov. “There’s a very simple form for people to fill out and that gets the rebate on its way.” The form is there to verify that your child is both a resident of Wisconsin and a US Citizen.

“You just need your Social Security number, your spouse’s Social Security number if you’re married, and for the child you just need their name, their Social Security number, date of birth,” says Chandler. That rebate will be sent to you by either direct deposit or a physical check to your address.

You’ll have to sign up before July 2 to qualify.

Correction: The original version of this story said the deadline was June 2nd.

GOP convention endorses Vukmir

By

Wisconsin Republicans have endorsed a U.S. Senate candidate. Delegates at the party’s weekend convention in Milwaukee heard from both candidates prior to casting their endorsement ballots. State Senator Leah Vukmir, and Kevin Nicholson, the self-described “outsider” who’s a former Marine — and a former Democrat

Vukmir carried the day with delegates, getting 73 percent of votes to Nicholson’s 27 percent.

“It is a strong statement,” Vukmir said. “This is a historic endorsement, and I’m proud of it.” Nicholson spokesman Brandon Moody brushed off those results. “It was never a focus of our campaign, to be honest with you. We’re going to go back out and try to win the primary, like we have the entire time.”

The endorsement is not the same as the nomination, which will be up to voters in August’s statewide primary. That winner faces Senator Baldwin in November.

The weekend convention also saw Governor Scott Walker issue a strongly worded warning to delegates. Walker told them that Democrats are driven by anger and hatred, and that Republicans need to “wake up” and organize, in order to stem a “blue wave in November.

It was also the final state party convention for Paul Ryan, as House Speaker and congressman from Wisconsin’s 1st District. Ryan, who’s not running for reelection, was presented with a Green Bay Packers jersey by Walker and Republican members of Congress.

Walker warns GOP of Democrat ‘anger and hatred’

By

Governor Scott Walker issues a warning to Wisconsin Republicans — “wake up.” The governor’s message to delegates at the party‘s weekend convention in Milwaukee — Democrats are filled with anger and hatred.

“They’re angry at me. They’re angry a the president. They’re angry at all of you,” Walker said.

Walker’s warning — that anger and hatred is a powfull motovator for Democrats hoping for a “blue wave” at the polls in November.

“We need to counter that not with more of the same, we need to counter that with optimism and organization.”

Walker said it will likely be the “toughest ever” election for the GOP. Sixteen Democrats are running for the chance to oppose Walker in November. Voter’s will pick one in the August 14th primary.

Schimel clarifies memo on CBD oil

By

Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel is clarifying a memo on CBD oil and industrial hemp. The oil can be used to treat seizures. Schimel said there are products being sold in Wisconsin that are not FDA approved.

“There have been parents who have purchased this if their kids have seizure disorders, and their kids have ended up getting high because of the CBD oil.”

A recent DOJ memo caused some confusion, but Schimel says farmers who are in compliance should be able to sell their hemp, and any products made from it will be legal.

“The only way to produce industrial hemp in American legally, and market its products, is to follow the rule set forth in the 2014 farm bill.”

Hundreds of Wisconsin farmers have applied for new state licenses that would allow them to grow industrial hemp, from which CBD can be processed.

“What’s out there right now, it’s kind of a buyer beware market,” said Schimel. He said Wisconsin CBD oil products will be safe if the new law’s rules are followed. It’s good news for farmers.

Milwaukee County may hold recreational marijuana referendum

By

A ballot question on recreational marijuana in Milwaukee County is a step closer, after the county board’s judiciary committee unanimously endorsed a referendum proposal on Thursday. Twenty-three people spoke in favor, only one against the proposal.

“I have severe nerve damage, and I can get all the morphine I want, but I can’t get cannabis,” one man told the committee. “I’m a felon because I grew 2 marijuana plants in my closet,” a woman told the panel.

County Supervisor John Weishan is proposing the referendum, to send a message to state lawmakers in Madison

The full county board will decide whether the advisory question will be put to voters in November. “What this is, is to create the momentum, so we get people in Madison to actually do their job, and so something for the state of Wis

County Supervisor John Weishan is proposing the referendum, to send a message to state lawmakers in Madison. “What this is, is to create the momentum, so we get people in Madison to actually do their job, and so something for the state of Wisconsin,” Weishan said.

Republican legislative leaders, along with Governor Scott Walker and Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel, have said they oppose legalization.

Nicholson and Vukmir to make their cases at Republican convention

By

The two Republican candidates for US Senate are getting ready to make their cases to the state party at this weekend’s GOP Convention in Milwaukee.

State senator Leah Vukmir says voters can be assured she’s already prepared to get things done in Washington.  “They’re looking for a strong, proven, consistent leader who’s going to get to Washington and hit the ground running.”

Vukmir says she wants to bring the work she’s done in Madison to the floor in Washington. “I want to continue regulatory reform, tax reform. I want to work on immigration reform.”

Candidate Kevin Nicholson says he wants to shake up the status quo and get things done. “There’s way too many people that are willing to simply push those problems down the road, say they’re part of a system and this is what you simply have to do.”

He says that means going against party leadership, if he has to. “Solve the problems, do the right thing while I’m there, and if the people of Wisconsin say ‘Hey, that’s great, tough medicine, we don’t want you any more’ they can bring me back home and that’s fine.”

Republicans will be picking their choice in candidate this weekend at the state GOP convention, but voters will have to wait until August to cast their own votes in the partisan primary.