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State Democrats introduce ‘red flag law’ bill, already face stiff opposition from Republicans

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State Democrats gathered at the capital on the anniversary of a mass shooting near Madison to push for gun control policies.

Governor Tony Evers says the bill will enact what’s called Extreme Risk Protection Orders, or so called ‘red flag laws’.

“In a state where nearly three of four gun deaths are suicide, having an ERPO process could be an important tool in helping us address firearm related suicides in Wisconsin.”

Evers says those ideas have broad support in the public, but not with elected Republicans. “Each and every day officials choose ideologies and false dichotomies over doing what’s right, that’s a choice that has consequences.”

In a joint statement in response, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald are calling it a non starter. “It’s widely known that we believe this legislation poses threats to due process and the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.”

Vos and Fitzgerald pointed instead to the 100 million dollars they passed in the budget that improves school safety, and say that they’re committed to improving mental health programs to prevent gun violence.

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald announces run for Congress

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State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald told WISN’s Jay Weber on Tuesday morning that he is running to fill Republican Jim Sensenbrenner’s seat in Congress. 

“I’ve been kind of watching and waiting for Congressman Sensenbrenner to see when he would actually think retirement was a good option for him. So as soon as I heard the news, I reached out to my wife and family members and supporters, and it didn’t take long for me to say I’m in this, 100 percent.”

Fitzgerald says he’s got the chops to make an impact in Washington DC. 

“I’ve driven a lot of conservative policies over the last 25 years, 12 years as Majority Leader. And I’d love the opportunity to be able to go out to Washington and hopefully make that same kind of impact.”

The announcement makes Fitzgerald the first to officially announce a run for Sensenbrenner’s seat. A number of other Republicans have floated their names as possibly making a run in the 5th District.

Data reveals impacts of suicide in Wisconsin

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If you or someone you know is struggling, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1.800.273.8255 or text “HOPELINE” to 741741.

New data shows the impact of suicide in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has released findings from its most recent analysis of state suicide deaths and suicide-related injury. It’s part of an effort to update Wisconsin’s suicide prevention plan and reduce the number of suicide attempts and deaths.

This analysis found:

The state’s suicide rate rose 40% between 2000 and 2017.
From 2013-2017, suicide rates in Wisconsin were highest among individuals ages 45-54.
Of all state deaths by firearm from 2013-2017, 71% were suicide deaths.
In 2017, the majority of individuals who died by suicide in Wisconsin were male.
In 2017, suicide was the second leading cause of death among adolescents in Wisconsin.

Tuesday is Suicide Prevention Day, and September is Suicide Awareness Month.

State Representative Joan Ballweg says suicide remains a difficult topic for people to grapple with. “I think one of the things that prevents people from reaching out for treatment is that there is a stigma, that there’s something wrong with you that is not going to be solved, that people are not going to be able to overcome,” said the lawmaker, who chairs the Speaker’s Task Force on Suicide Prevention.

“Encouraging people to get into treatment, whether it is a behavioral health condition, or suicidal ideation, that conversation should be normalized.”

The task force held its last hearing this week. Members expect to have recommendations ready for the legislature to consider this session.

JFC and AG Kaul reach agreement on settlement scuffle

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A stalemate between GOP leaders and the state attorney general’s office might be over.

Joint Finance Committee co chairs Alberta Darling and John Nygren announced on Thursday that they will be signing confidentiality agreements in order to take part in settlements being negotiated by Attorney General Josh Kaul.

Kaul says he needs those agreements in order to read in members of the Committee so they can approve the settlements, as required by one of the lame duck laws. Republicans still say Kaul is trying to undermine that law. 

Representative Sean Duffy will resign from Congress

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Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy announced on his Facebook page Monday that he will resign, effective September 23. The 7th District Republican and his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, are expecting their ninth child in October, and Duffy said in his post that the child has a heart condition.

He wrote that “this is the right time . . . to take a break from public service in order to be the support my wife, baby and family need right now.”

Duffy defeated Democrat Margaret Engebretsen last November, to win his fifth term representing the 7th CD. A special election will need to be called to fill out the remainder of his term.

 

Sheriff says Chippewa County killer may have been inspired by Jayme Closs case

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Much more is now known, about a pair of shootings in Chippewa County that left a total of a five people dead. But the motive that drove 33 year-old Richie German Jr. may remain unclear. “What was the motive? Why did this happen? I don’t have that answer,” said Chippewa County Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk during a Tuesday press conference. “We’re working on that answer. That question may never be answered.”

German killed his mother, 66 year-old Bridget German, brother, 32-year-old Douglas German, and Douglas’ eight year-old son Calvin Harris, all at Bridget German’s Lafayette home. Kowalczyk said he believes all three were dead by Saturday morning.

German was arrested following a domestic incident at his mother’s home in 2006, his only known contact with police. Kowalczyk called him a “troubled individual,” and said there are no indications that  German had a job or a car.

Sunday night, German shot and killed 24-year-old Laile Vang and himself at a Lake Hallie home, after shooting through the front door with a shotgun.

Vang’s parents, who were wounded, told police they did not know German. Sheriff Kowalczyk suggested German may have been attempting to kidnap Laile Vang, and compared the case to that of Jayme Closs kidnapper Jake Patterson, serving a life sentence for the murders the Barron teen’s parents.

Kowalczyk said Ritchie had exchanged text messages with Laile Vang, but that she also apparently did not know him. Her parents, 39-year-old Mai Chang Vang and 51-year-old Teng Vang were both shot, and both had to have an arm amputated. The parents are expected to recover.

NWS confirm nine tornadoes in weekend storms

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National Weather Service forecasters have confirmed nine tornado touchdowns across Wisconsin from weekend storms.

Friday night’s storm near Mosinee produced one of the biggest, an EF-1 that was on the ground for nearly ten minutes. Officials say that one uprooted hundreds of trees and damaged at least one barn while tearing the roofs off several other buildings.

No injuries were reported. Another EF-1 was reported near Pelican Lake in Oneida County- but N-W-S officials haven’t pegged any damage on that storm.

Another EF-1 was reported near Tripoli as well. Two additional touchdowns were reported near La Crosse, four others occurred from eastern Waupaca County into the Fox Valley

WSAU

Walker’s new job precludes run for office in 2022

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Governor Scott Walker (WRN photo)

It’s a new gig for Scott Walker. Walker tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he has accepted a full time job running the conservative group Young America’s Foundation.

Walker lost his bid for a third term as governor to Democrat Tony Evers, and says his new job will preclude another run for that office, or for U.S. Senate.  A post on the Young America’s Foundation website praises Walker. “Governor Walker courageously advanced freedom in a state that once was a “progressive” bastion. He championed right-to-work laws, right-to-life causes, and defended Wisconsin’s wage earners from over-reaching bureaucrats and tax collectors.”

Walker told the Journal Sentinel that he will not assume the presidency of the organization until 2021, when the current president steps down, and has committed to serve at least four years.

“I hope Scott Walker’s new employers in the D.C. area have a good contract with him,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Ben Wikler, who noted that Walker launched his campaign for president in 2014, after earlier saying his plan was to serve as governor for four more years. “I’m not even thinking about taking Walker off the list of potential Republican contenders for the 2022 Senate seat.”

Young America’s Foundation was founded in 1969. The group’s stated mission is “to educate and inspire young people on Traditional values, Limited Government, Judeo-Christian values, and Conservatism”

 

Trump and Democrats to visit Wisconsin this week

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Donald Trump will be in Milwaukee this week for a fundraiser for Republicans. GOP officials have confirmed that the President will be at a private event alongside top Republican National Committee officials. There’s been no announcements of any public rally alongside the trip. Several Democrat candidates for President are also scheduled to be in Wisconsin this week for a town hall meeting.

WisPolitics reports that sources say the event will include donations ranging from $2,800 per person up to $100,000 per couple, with the top donors able to participate in a round table discussion with the president,. The event is also expected to include RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel and party Co-chair Tommy Hicks Jr., along with Todd Ricketts, co-owner of the Chicago Cubs and finance chair of the Trump Victory Committee.

Five Democratic presidential candidates bring their campaigns to Milwaukee later this week. Julian Castro, Beto O’Rourke, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren will take part in a town hall meeting Thursday night at the Wisconsin Center. The League of United Latin American Citizens is holding its national convention. Marianne Williamson will speak to the same group Friday. Warren is also going to appear at a separate town hall meeting Thursday night at South Division High School.

Evers signs state budget, increases education funding through line item vetoes

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Governor Tony Evers has issued a partial veto of the state budget. At Wednesday’s signing, Evers said he’s excited to be able to return some of the things he promised to bring to Wisconsin residents when he was elected, including more school funding.

“And through the veto promise, I am adding nearly 100 million dollars more in per pupil aid for our schools compared to the budget that was passed by the legislature.”

Evers’ version of the budget restores funding for state youth prisons, allows the state prosecutor’s office to decide where new staff positions will be filled across the state, and cuts back on work requirements for food and health assistance programs.

Evers said his veto power couldn’t bring one of his biggest promises to fruition: the expansion of federal Medicaid funding for the state. “That’s why I’ll continue to fight for Medicaid expansion through separate legislation, future budget bills, and otherwise through every executive power I am afforded.

“Vetoing this budget in its entirety would have been more of the same divisiveness and petty political theatrics that the people of Wisconsin have had to put up with for far too long.”

Legislative Republicans say the relatively low number of vetoes shows that this was a good budget with lots of potential.