WisPolitics Midday: Recent Episodes
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WisPolitics Midday provides what you need to know about Wisconsin politics in about five minutes.
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In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Christian Phelps, D-Eau Claire, says the 60% special education reimbursement Gov. Tony Evers is proposing should be a minimum, instead of the current 30% rate.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, freshman Rep. Duke Tucker, R-Grantsburg, talks about his motivations for seeking public office, his priorities in the Assembly, and how his background as a veteran has made him a better elected official.
In this week's Capitol Chats, Wisconsin Medicaid Director Bill Hanna says the reconciliation bill will cost the state $8 million in Medicaid-related costs in the first year of implementation.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Washington County Executive and a Republican gubernatorial candidate Josh Schoemann says "disappointed" is a mild way to describe how he feels about Gov. Tony Evers work, and he'd like to make changes if elected governor.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk, R-Hubertus, talks about a bill he co-authored that would require local sheriffs to comply with federal immigration enforcement policies, at the risk of losing state funding.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Revenue Secretary David Casey talks about the challenges of measuring tariffs' impact, the agency's budget priorities and more.
In this week's Capitol Chats, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities President Eric Fulcomer expresses concerns with the impact of federal funding cuts on college grants, and says he hopes the state budget can support more grant money.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Natural Resources Secretary Karen Hyun talks about her top priorities for the state budget and the prospects for her confirmation by the state Senate.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, former Gov. Scott Walker says the Republican Party needs to work on its grassroots organizing following the spring election. He also says he won't be running for governor next year, and isn't endorsing a particular candidate at this point.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, longtime Legislative Fiscal Bureau Director Bob Lang discusses the bureau's role in the budget process and says accurately evaluating the impact of tariffs on revenue estimates will be "critical."
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin says Elon Musk's involvement in the state Supreme Court race "doesn't look like it reshaped voting patterns in the state very much at all," but says his intense campaign could take some credit for the high voter turnout.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Angelina Cruz, D-Racine, says public education is at a "concerning crossroads." The former teacher and union leader is a freshman in the Assembly and serves on the Education Committee.
Rep. Lindee Brill, R-Sheboygan Falls, who is the vice-chair of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention Committee, says in a new Capitol Chats episode that addressing addiction in the state is important to her because of how many people are impacted each day.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, criticizes cuts to federal funding and tariffs under the Trump administration. Baldwin also says Dems will fight to prevent cuts to Medicaid.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, discusses his concerns about retaliatory tariffs and the impact on Wisconsin. He also praises President Donald Trump's cost-cutting efforts.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, freshman Rep. Angelito Tenorio, D-West Allis, talks about his milestone as the first Filipino American in the state Assembly and his priorities in office.
Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah is returning to the Legislature after 10 years away. He is now the chair of the Committee on Corrections and discussed his plan to address prison reform working with both parties.
Freshman Rep. Margaret Arney, D-Wauwatosa, discusses her priorities, including expanding Medicaid, addressing climate change and providing resources to Wisconsinites.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Rep. Rob Kreibich, R-New Richmond, discusses tax cuts, returning to the Legislature and priorities the chair of the Commerce Committee.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, freshman Rep. Karen DeSanto, D-Baraboo, talks about her priorities for the legislative session and her past role as a professional clown.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, discusses her priorities for the legislative session and working with Republican leadership.
Outgoing Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay, in an interview for WisPolitics's Capitol Chats podcast says while there’s “definitely a danger” to breaking party lines, lawmakers can’t be afraid to “lose a committee appointment because of your principles.”
Cowles, the longest-serving Wisconsin state lawmaker currently in office, has been elected to the state Senate for the past 37 years since winning an April 1987 special election. Before that, he served in the Assembly from 1982-1987. He will retire next month after deciding not to seek reelection when he was drawn into a district with fellow Green Bay GOP Sen. Eric Wimberger.
Cowles joined WisPolitics’ Capitol Chats podcast to talk about his time in office, how the state of politics has changed over the course of his career, and his history of bucking party norms.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, freshman U.S. Rep. Tony Wied says Americans want the policies President-elect Donald Trump has proposed. The De Pere Republican also says he wants to develop a good relationship with Democrats, and condemns President Biden decision to pardon his son Hunter.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, soon-to-be Democratic Party of Wisconsin Executive Director Sarah Abel says Tammy Baldwin would have won reelection against Republican Eric Hovde even if America First candidate Thomas Leager, who Dem donors helped put on the ballot, hadn't been in the race. Hovde has blamed Leager for his loss.
In this week's Capitol Chats, GOP strategist Bill McCoshen and Dem strategist Joe Zepecki join a special edition of the podcast on this week's elections in Wisconsin. McCoshen credits President-elect Donald Trump for winning over more voters in rural areas and Zepecki touts Dem U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin winning reelection despite Trump carrying the state. Baldwin is the first Wisconsin candidate for U.S. Senate since 1968 to win an election when the nominee for the other party won the presidential race.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, former Dem U.S. Senate candidate and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes talks about his The Long Run PAC, which aims to support nontraditional candidates. Barnes says his experience running for U.S. Senate puts him in a position to support candidates who feel things aren't going their way or are being bombarded by racist or misogynistic attack ads.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, UW-La Follette School Director Susan Webb-Yackee shares how the Main Street Agenda program, a partnership between the La Follette School and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, has sought to bring Wisconsinites together across political lines.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Republican 8th CD candidate Tony Wied says his opponent, Dem Kristin Lyerly, is a "rubber stamp" for the Biden-Harris administration. Wied also declined to share his thoughts on a GOP proposal to ask voters to weigh in on a 14-week abortion ban.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, 8th CD Dem candidate Kristin Lyerly, an OB-GYN, says she believes her message in support of abortion resonates in the district, arguing abortion “is not something rare and unusual.” This interview was conducted before Lyerly and GOP opponent Tony Wied agreed to a debate.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, American Bar Association president-elect Michelle Behnke shares her thoughts on being the second Wisconsinite to lead the organization and what she hopes to accomplish. Behnke also reflects on her milestones as the first person of color and fourth woman to lead the State Bar Association.
A special edition of Capitol Chats reviews the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. WisPolitics President Jeff Mayers speaks with Stan Milam of the Janesville Gazette, Grace Segers of The New Republic, Ruth Conniff of the Wisconsin Examiner and Matt Smith of WISN TV, co-host of WisPolitics partner show, “UpFront.”
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, state GOP Chair Brian Schimming says while there may be a honeymoon period around Dem presidential nominee Kamala Harris' candidacy, he expects it to be cut short once voters learn more about her record.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, State Dem Party Chair Ben Wikler says Wisconsin DNC delegates who haven't formally endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign have "absolute clarity" that they support her over former President Donald Trump.
A special edition of Capitol Chats reviews the 2024 Republican National Convention. WisPolitics President Jeff Mayers speaks with and WisPolitics reporter Kate Morton; Lou Jacobson, who covers politics for US News, PolitiFact and Sabato's Crystal Ball; and Taurean Small, campaign reporter at CBS News.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode Trygve Olson, a senior adviser for anti-Trump group The Lincoln Project, compares former President Donald Trump to an autocrat and says Wisconsin voters will decide whether democracy continues in the 2024 presidential election.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Wisconsin Policy Forum VP and Research Director Jason Stein weighs in on the Universities of Wisconsin's budget challenges. Stein raises concerns that the state has reduced the capacity for universities to serve the labor market and discusses the closures of two-year campuses over the past few years.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Angela Lang, executive director of Milwaukee-based Black Leaders Organizing for Communities weighs in on Milwaukee and Black and Brown voters' importance in the 2024 election. Lang also shares her thoughts on what President Joe Biden could do to appeal to Black voters.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Rick Abrams, CEO of the Wisconsin Health Care Association and Wisconsin Center for Assisted Living (WHCA/WiCAL) shares concerns about Wisconsin’s nursing homes’ ability to meet new minimum staffing standards in the midst of a worker shortage.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Forward Analytics Director Dale Knapp says the state will need to build more housing to meet an increased need due in part to the baby boom of the mid-20th century. Knapp said some challenges are building enough housing that’s also affordable and people with a “not in my backyard” attitude toward new housing projects.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Wisconsin Young Republicans Chair Kyle Schroeder says young GOP voters are enthused and ready to get behind former President Donald Trump. He also says their biggest issues right now are abortion, the economy and issues at the southern border. He also says many are disappointed with the Biden administration isn't cracking down harder on pro-Palestinian protests around the country.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Wisconsin College Democrats Chair Matthew Lehner says one of the biggest misconceptions about young voters is that they won’t turn out to vote in November. He also says he shares concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza but noted there are many other issues at stake in the upcoming presidential election, such as abortion, LGBTQ+ and racial equality and climate change.
On this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Dane County Republican Party Chair Brandon Maly, 24, says Republican voters, even so-called "RINOs," will likely rally behind Trump in the November general election as long as they can clear the abortion hurdle. Maly says voters aren't pleased with how the White House is handling many current issues, especially the economy. He also says Republicans should meet younger voters where they are, instead of talking about banning TikTok.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Dem strategist Joe Zepecki shares his takeaways from the April 2 presidential primary. Zepecki says he believes President Joe Biden will earn support from uninstructed voters in November. He also points out the percentage of voters who cast ballots in the GOP primary for candidates that are no longer in the race was higher than the margin of uninstructed votes in the Dem primary.
In this week's Capitol Chats: Kyle Johnson, political director for Listen to Wisconsin, says voters who checked the 'uninstructed' box this April primary want President Joe Biden to remember and listen to those who helped elect him to office.
They're protesting Biden’s policies toward Israel and Gaza. Johnson also says the movement still wants to see Biden earn a second term, but he needs to meet their demands before they can align to defeat former President Donald Trump. More than 47,000 voted uninstructed, surpassing the group's goal of 20,000.
Published on April 3, 2024.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, School Choice Wisconsin President Nic Kelly says new legislative maps that favor Dems could be a challenge. But he argues Dems should remember their constituents benefit from the state's private school voucher programs. Kelly also reviews the group's efforts during the legislative session.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Wisconsin Education Association Council President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen says the $1.4 billion in combined school budget referendum requests across Wisconsin is a sign public schools need more funding and the funding formula is broken. A WisPolitics review found this year to be the third-highest ask from schools since 2000. Wirtz-Olsen also talks about a new AAPI curriculum bill and the Senate's rejection of Gov. Tony Evers' nomination of John Miller to the UW Board of Regents.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer, D-Racine, announces her bid for reelection after talking about what her caucus wants to work on for the remainder of the year. She also says she's not too worried the Dem Assembly members leaving this year will impact her caucus' ability to make significant gains with the new legislative maps. Published on March 13, 2024.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Sen. Brad Pfaff discusses his bill aiming to fight PFAS contamination. The Onalaska Dem says the Legislature must act on the issue amid a standoff between Republicans and Gov. Tony Evers over PFAS funding.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Assembly Corrections Committee Chair Michael Schraa, R-Oshkosh, talks about some of the most pressing issues facing the Wisconsin's prisons. He talks about what it will take to continue driving security staff vacancy rates down and how likely it is a longterm push to replace maximum security prisons from the 19th century in Waupun and Green Bay with one newer facility. He also briefly touches on what's to come from his committee.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, WISDOM Transformational Justice Campaign Coordinator Mark Rice says long term lockdowns amount to torture for inmates. He also says there has been no significant progress to lift the nearly yearlong lockdowns at Wisconsin's two oldest maximum security prisons, and argues former Parole Commissioner John Tate II created a better climate on the Parole Commission.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, freshman Rep. Nate Gustafson discusses recommendations from the Speaker's Task Force on Artificial Intelligence he chairs. The Fox Crossing Republican also shares his thoughts on how AI could be used to address the state's workforce shortage.
In this week's WisPolitics Capitol Chats podcast, Americans for Prosperity State Director Megan Novak says most voters are thinking about inflation on regular goods and services such as groceries and energy heading into the presidential election. She argues the federal government has got to stop growing the national debt and should also focus on providing more American energy while. She also blasts President Joe Biden for what she calls anti-worker freedom policies.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, state Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, talks about her campaign to unseat U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, and touts her credentials as a state legislator. Shankland is one of three Dems vying for the seat.
In this week's WisPolitics Capitol Chats WILL President and General Counsel Rick Esenberg talks about the legislative redistricting lawsuit his office is party to. Esenberg also talks about what to watch for in the lawsuit seeking to make Wisconsin's 1849 abortion law unenforceable. A Dane County judge late last year ruled the law doesn't apply to consensual abortions, but Sheboygan DA Urmanski is appealing the decision.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Marquette University Law School Lubar Center Research Fellow John Johnson gives his first impressions of maps submitted to the Supreme Court for a redistricting lawsuit. He says the court laid out criteria the maps must meet, but did not detail how to gauge the criteria. He also says he'd be surprised if the federal government weighed in on the issue as Republicans have said they are ready to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In this week’s Capitol Chats episode, Debra Cronmiller, executive director of the League of Women Voters and chair of the Fair Maps Coalition, discusses a case before the Supreme Court challenging the state's legislative maps. The court has ordered new maps ahead of the 2024 elections.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Workforce Development Secretary Amy Pechacek says the department's plan to modernize its unemployment insurance claims program is on track to finish within the 4-year goal. But she says that won't be the end of modernization efforts as new technologies to improve efficiencies and protect against fraud come about.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Green Bay, says it's crucial to include protections for innocent property owners who discover PFAS contamination in their wells in his grant bill. He rips those who argue the protections would give polluters a legal pass, noting many who find contamination are not the source of the pollution. His bill to issue remediation grants would protect homeowners from being labeled as polluters and being forced to disclose the pollution on their mortgages and other legal documents.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Democracy Found Executive Director Sara Eskrich says ranked choice voting has proven successful in other states such as Alaska. Final five, a subset of ranked choice voting, would also decrease the odds candidates who mostly appeal to their party's extremes end up on the general election ballot, she added.
In this week's WisPolitics Capitol Chats podcast, Rep. David Steffen, R-Green Bay, argues the state has delayed replacing the aging Green Bay maximum security prison, built in the 1890s, too long. He says the politics of constructing a new prison while the administration has focused on criminal justice reform have let long term infrastructure, safety and staffing issues languish.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Wisconsin Conservation Voters Government Affairs Manager Peter Burress explains why the group opposes a GOP bill to combat PFAS contamination. Burress argues a provision in the bill would protect polluters and shift the cost to fight pollution to taxpayers.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rock County Clerk Lisa Tollefson, also the Wisconsin County Clerks Association's Legislative Committee co-chair, says a bill to allow absentee ballot processing before election night will absolutely help clerks do their jobs. But she says she's not sure if clerk protections the Legislature recently passed will do enough to deter harassment that has driven many election workers away since the 2020 election.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, says he and other House members are asking Israel to describe what the end of its latest conflict with Hamas will look like. He argues the Israeli bombing campaigns that have taken innocent lives "isn't a plan." The Congressional Progressive Caucus chair emeritus also says the White House should also do more to bring a ceasefire to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Sen. Romaine Quinn says his package of abortion-related bills would provide support for women and families. The Cameron Republican also pushes back on a lawsuit arguing abortion is legal in Wisconsin, saying abortion is clearly prohibited under state law.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, acting State Public Defender Katie York is in the office to talk about how she's doing since outgoing SPD Kelli Thompson gave her the reins earlier in the year. She says recent pay raises have helped some with staff vacancy issues, but she has a lot of other projects to work on now too.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Shelia Stubbs discusses a bill she has reintroduced to establish a task force on missing and murdered African American women and girls. The Madison Dem says she is hopeful the bill will be signed into law considering its bipartisan support.
This week's Capitol Chats podcast features an interview with redistricting expert John Johnson. The Marquette University Law School Lubar Center research fellow says the state Supreme Court could take a few different paths to tackling how to redraw the state’s legislative boundaries if it rules against the current maps. He said if the court draws new districts, he would expect to see “a map that bears no relation to what we currently have.”
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. LaKeshia Myers explains why she voted with Republicans on a nonpartisan redistricting bill. The Milwaukee Dem also explains her past concerns with Gov. Tony Evers' People's Maps Commission.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in his first interview for the podcast says he's skeptical about releasing any kind of report or findings from the panel looking into impeachment. The Rochester Republican also says he doesn't want it to come to impeachment, but he still wants to know what sort of conduct might be impeachable.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Rob Brooks, R-Saukville, talks about the details in a proposal to spend more than $600 million on Milwaukee Brewers stadium maintenance and improvements efforts. The deal would keep the team in Wisconsin through 2050 and proponents argue it would bring a major economic boost to the local area and the rest of the state.
On this week's Capitol Chats episode, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler says Republicans pushing to impeach liberal Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz are basically shooting themselves in the foot. If they go through with an impeachment, Wikler says it will likely turn many voters away from the GOP and open the door to more impeachments he says will also be politically motivated.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee Chair Scott Krug says the committee is focused on bipartisan solutions to election issues going into 2024. The Nekoosa Republican says allowing absentee ballots to be counted before Election Day is one priority.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Allouez, says the U.S. will always been a trade partner with China since the country relies on American goods such as Wisconsin soybeans. Still, he argues America must reduce its reliance on Chinese manufacturing and production to insulate itself against a possible economic and demographic collapse that Gallagher says could lead Chinese leader Xi Jinping to make volatile moves.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Dem AG Josh Kaul won't say if he plans to charge any of the 10 fake electors in Wisconsin as other AGs have brought similar cases in their states. He also talks about pushing for closure for survivors of clergy abuse and the future of his lawsuit to make the state's 1849 abortion ban unenforceable.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, freshman Rep. Melissa Ratcliff, D-Cottage Grove, talks about why she and Rep. Ryan Clancy, D-Milwaukee, formed the Transgender Parent and Non-Binary Advocacy Caucus. She also talks about the importance of expanding broadband access.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski talks about how she plans to run her new office, specifically how she wants to help clerks and other election workers do their jobs. She also talks briefly about her role as chair of the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, State Treasurer John Leiber warns the Town of Sanborn's property tax revenue issue could be just the beginning of revenue problems for municipalities that previously collected the taxes from tribal members. A recent federal court ruled tribal members don't have to pay property tax, which leaves Sanborn looking to fill a huge hole in its budget. Leiber also talks about the other work his office handles.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, nonprofit owner Rebecca Cooke talks about her second bid for western's Wisconsin's 3rd CD -- this time to unseat U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien. The Eau Claire Dem also talks about finding shared values with voters across the aisle.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, League of Wisconsin Municipalities Government Affairs Director Toni Herkert talks about how important the shared revenue deal that increases state aid to local governments by at least 20 percent is such an important measure. She also talks about why some municipalities got more than others, and why the Milwaukee-specific provisions are so contentious.
On this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Department of Health Services Sec. Kirsten Johnson talks about the importance of expanding Medicaid coverage in Wisconsin, which would save Medicaid recipients money. She also said the state's abortion ban could make Wisconsin less attractive to medical students, arguing the lack of abortion access is a "travesty."
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, talks about how Republicans' budget doesn't give Milwaukee the help it needs. She argues the state's most populous city is the economic driver, and other lawmakers should give Milwaukee the respect and resources it needs to keep boosting the rest of the state.
On this week's Capitol Chats podcast, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, argues the recent investigation that resulted in charges against Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's son, compromises the president. He also says several members of Biden's cabinet should be impeached.
In this week's Capitol Chats, Wisconsin's newly elected DNC Representative Alex Lasry says he wants to help carry national Dems to victory on a wave of past success. The former Milwaukee Bucks exec. also talks about possible plans to retake CD3 and battle for CD1 before talking a little bit about how he likes living on Milwaukee's east side.
On this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, talks about proposed symbolic and substantive legislation aimed at improving the lives of LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites. He also talks about a possible deal being reached between Dems and Republicans on a conversion therapy ban, which has been a hotly contested issue in the Capitol.
On this week's Capitol Chats episode, Clean Wisconsin Government Relations Director Erik Kanter talks about a proposal to spend $125 million on a state PFAS trust fund. Kanter says the money is important, but he's concerned with the proposal's restrictions on how the Department of Natural Resources can regulate PFAS contamination and cleanup efforts.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Safety and Professional Services Secretary Dan Hereth talks about how his agency has been working to address a backlog of license approvals that arose during the pandemic. Hereth says DSPS has implemented several technology and process improvements to speed the process along and ensure those who need help get it.
On this week's Capitol Chats episodes, Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee, explains why the shared revenue proposal floating around the Capitol is so important for Milwaukee. He also expresses some of his frustration with policy and spending restrictions that specifically target Milwaukee in the Assembly's version of the shared revenue deal.
League of Wisconsin Municipalities Executive Director Jerry Deschane says this session is turning out to be one of the most consequential for local governments in a generation. Several bills are circulating the Capitol to address shared revenue, workforce housing and PFAS "forever chemical" contamination.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, says he'll need to see a border security bill included in the debt limit increase for him to support it. He also talks about a possible Senate bid for next year's election.
On this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Bond says many of DVA's budget requests focus on improving housing, medical, substance abuse and other veteran care. He also says he's conducting a survey at the troubled Union Grove home to address issues lawmakers have raised about the quality of care there.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Superintendent Jill Underly argues Joint Finance Committee Republicans should support public school funding proposals because they would help everyone. She also says a proposal to allow teachers with concealed carry permits to bring guns to school would not reduce gun violence; reducing guns in schools would.
On this week's Capitol Chats episode, School Choice Wisconsin Director of Policy and Government Affairs Amy Loudenbeck rebukes Gov. Tony Evers' proposed enrollment caps. She says Wisconsin families rely on school choice "and anything that would limit or eliminate the program is going to meet some heavy resistance."
On this week's Capitol Chats episode, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin Legal Director Michelle Velasquez says the future of mifepristone is still up in the air as legal battles continue. She also says it'll be interesting to see how the legal battle of AG Josh Kaul's lawsuit to overturn the state's 1849 abortion ban plays out after the recent Supreme Court race created a 4-3 liberal majority on the bench.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr says the current administration has no appetite to increase prison capacity. And any talks about building new prisons to replace aging facilities would need to come with a criminal justice reform deal. Republicans in the Joint Finance Committee have been focusing on the aging Green Bay Correctional Institution, first opened in 1898.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Rep. Dave Murphy in a Zoom interview says he's happy the UW System issued its free speech survey to students. He also says he wants to look closer at the results and hold some hearings in the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee he chairs.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, State Public Defender Legislative Liaison Adam Plotkin says Wisconsin's criminal justice system needs public defenders taking cases in order to function. As the biennial budget cycle moves ahead, he wants to make sure Republicans include pay raises to address SPD recruitment and retention issues. Plotkin also talks about why a bill to define "violent crime" could increase the load on the justice system.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode, Fond du Lac DA Eric Toney says pay increases for prosecutors and public defenders are crucial to fighting the attorney shortage in Wisconsin. He also says he's been talking with Republican leaders about making sure DAs get what they need in the upcoming budget.
DNR Secretary Adam Payne says he's optimistic about coming to a consensus on setting water quality and PFAS standards after years of tumultuous talks. Payne also says the DNR needs to do a better job at figuring out the carrying capacity for gray wolves and animals they interact with while the department refines its draft wolf management plan.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, Minority Leader Greta Neubauer talks more about her idea to move to a full state-funding model for K-12 schools from the current two-thirds model. She also argues increasing shared revenue for local governments will help them keep many of their essential resources, such as public safety staff and equipment.
In this week's Capitol Chats podcast, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, says lawmakers need to keep in mind ways to dismantle Milwaukee's historic segregation issues while crafting legislation. The Ways and Means Committee member also says she hopes the fight to raise the debt ceiling won't again result in a downgrade of the U.S. credit rating as happened in the 2011 fight to raise the debt ceiling.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode Sen. Kelda Roys blasts "right wing billionaires" for foisting the UW System's free speech survey upon the statewide colleges and universities system. The Madison Dem also says the survey was "primed to get a result that would show some kind of a bias."
This week's Capitol Chats podcast covers what freshman Rep. Bob Donovan, R-Greenfield, wants to focus on in the Legislature. Donovan is a longtime local government veteran and he says he wants to bring that perspective to the negotiating table. He especially wants to focus on shared revenue issues for local governments and public safety issues.
On this week's Capitol Chats episode, U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher says the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party he's chairing will focus largely on deterring Chinese aggression toward Taiwan and other U.S. interests. He also said the U.S. sending 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine is the right move, but the war has unearthed some munitions stockpiling deficiencies.
This week's Capitol Chats episodes features an interview with freshman Rep. Darrin Madison. The Milwaukee Democratic Socialist says he wants to focus much of his time on improving the juvenile justice system. He also says he wants to "center working class citizens" in his discussions with fellow lawmakers.
In this week's Capitol Chats episode U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, says it's tough to see Republicans working together to get things done this Congress after a tumultuous speaker vote. He also says it's too early to say if U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden will work with others and blasts U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson for shooting down President Joe Biden's nomination of brother William Pocan to the federal bench.
In this week's Capitol Chats, freshman U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, in an interview recorded before the new year says former U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, La Crosse, won't return his phone calls. Van Orden also says he wants in on the House Agriculture Committee.
This week's Capitol Chats episode features Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu talking about his priorities to reduce taxes, slim down committees and reduce prison staff vacancy rates in the upcoming session. The Oostburg Republican also says he wants to restart the process for confirming gubernatorial appointments for boards such as the Natural Resources Board. LeMahieu last week announced committee assignments. See a list of assignments here: www.wispolitics.com/2022/sen-lemahi…mmittee-members
This week's Capitol Chats is a conversation with outgoing U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, D-La Crosse. Kind says he's in talks with the White House for his next job. He also hopes Derrick Van Orden does well to represent the La Crosse district he has represented since 1997. Capitol Chats will replace the WisPolitics Midday podcast.
This week's Midday podcast covers Rep. Janel Brandtjen's recently announced bid to replace Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, representing many of Milwaukee's northern suburbs. There aren't any Dems in the race, but GOP Rep. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, Theinsville Village President Van Mobley and Concordia University senior Robert Albrightson of Brown Deer are also running for the spot.
This week's Midday podcast covers Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu signaling areas they're willing to work with Gov. Tony Evers on this upcoming session. But they say that doesn't mean Evers will get everything he wants. And the Republican-run Legislature could still stop bills from ever getting to his desk.
This week's Midday podcast covers what happened in the 3rd CD after national Dem groups pull funding from the race. We also talk about what it means to see Fond du Lac County DA Eric Toney poll better than GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels in historically red counties.
This week's Midday podcast covers Marquette University Law Poll results in the tight Senate and Governor's races. We also talk about what issues to watch for as the Nov. 8 Election Day approaches. From election conspiracy theories to losing candidates denying the results, we talk about what may come up next week.
This week's Midday podcast covers some of the more important seats in the Senate and Assembly to watch for as Republicans seek to take a supermajority in the Legislature. The path is easier on the Senate side, but they'll have to pick up more Assembly seats to get there. That will likely change the political climate inside the Capitol, especially with the close gubernatorial race.
This week's Midday podcast covers GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels' position on Wisconsin's 1849 abortion ban. Previously he said the ban mirrors his position, but recently he said he wouldn't be putting doctors in jail. He also debated with Gov. Tony Evers about how to handle rising crime, the state surplus and other issues.
This week's Midday podcast covers U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes facing off for the first time in a debate ahead of the November election. Dem Gov. Tony Evers and GOP candidate Tim Michels will likely face off over crime, abortion and education issues in their first debate this week.
This week's Midday podcast covers the Legislature quickly gaveling in and out of a special session Gov. Tony Evers called to take up a measure that would allow voters to weigh in on statewide referendums. U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson also this week pitched his idea to have a 10-option referendum on when abortions should be allowed.
The Republican Party of Wisconsin this week filed two more lawsuits against the government as the November general approaches. One of those seeks to stop Milwaukee from working with private funders in a GOTV program. The other suit seeks to obtain communication records regarding staffing and abuse issues at a Union Grove veterans home.
This week's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers' call to convene a special session of the Legislature to take up a constitutional amendment to allow voters to pass legislation via referendum. Ever's promoted it as a way to overturn the state's 1849 abortion ban, but Republicans have signaled they won't back the measure. Since Evers' call, GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels said he would sign a bill to create exceptions to the state's abortion ban for rape and incest.
Today's Midday podcast covers three election-related lawsuits that involve the Wisconsin Elections Commission, federal courts, county courts and the Wisconsin Supreme Court. WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe at a WisPolitics.com Luncheon said the increasing amount of litigation is creating even more work for the commission.
Today's Midday podcast covers President Joe Biden and Gov. Tony Evers visiting Milwaukee's Laborfest on Monday to tout their support for unions and labor. GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Michels outside the event slammed Biden's student loan forgiveness program and festival goers inside had a range of thoughts on the $10,000 - $20,000 debt forgiveness.
This week's Midday podcast covers Assembly Speaker Robin Vos firing former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman from his job investigating the 2020 election. Vos also withdrew subpoenas that would have forced mayors of the state's five largest municipalities to testify in private in Gableman's office, which caused a Waukesha County judge to dismiss the case in which the subpoenas were filed.
Today's Midday podcast covers the newly announced site for the type 1 facility in Milwaukee slated to replace the state's juvenile prison in Lincoln County. But building that new facility alone won't mean Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, where juvenile girl offenders are also kept in Lincoln County, will close any time soon.
This week's Midday podcast covers results from the August primary election on Tuesday in the gubernatorial, attorney general, 63rd AD and secretary of state races. Trump-backed Tim Michels will face Gov. Tony Evers as GOP Fond du Lac Co. DA Eric Toney faces Dem AG Josh Kaul and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos holds onto the Republican endorsement for his 63rd AD seat.
This week's Midday podcast covers what Republican gubernatorial candidates are up to the week ahead of Tuesday's primary election. Construction business exec Tim Michels changes his stances on backing Trump in 2024 ahead of the former president's Wisconsin visit and former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch knocks Michels over an attack ad.
This week's Midday podcast covers what to watch for as candidates prepare to face off in the August 9 primary. Several candidates have dropped out and endorsed their former opponents while campaigns launch ads and gather endorsements. Primary winners will go on to the November general election.
This week's Midday podcast covers an argument between the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules and the Wisconsin Elections Commission over whether election clerk are allowed to cure missing or incorrect information on absentee ballot envelopes. JCRAR voted to suspend a WEC rule on the matter, but WEC attorneys say clerks can still use ballot curing guidance from 2016.
This week's Midday podcast covers the Wisconsin Supreme Court's ruling that absentee ballot drop boxes are illegal after Republicans have been raising concerns about them since the last presidential election. The Wisconsin Elections Commission also decided not to send local election clerks guidance on how to deal with the ruling.
This week's Midday podcast covers what some of Wisconsin's statewide candidates are doing to prepare for the August primary. Democratic candidates have been participating in candidate forums and making some attacks on each other while Republican candidates have started launching attack ads. But none of the attacks in Wisconsin have risen to the level seen in other states.
Today's Midday podcast covers what happens next in Wisconsin after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned abortion access protections in Roe v. Wade. Republicans argue the state's 1849 ban criminalizing abortions could go into effect, while many Dems argue newer laws supersede the 173-year-old law.
Today's Midday podcast covers the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn abortion protections in Roe v. Wade, triggering Wisconsin's 1849 law that criminalizes most abortions as a Class H felony. Dem AG Josh Kaul has said he won't expend Department of Justice resources enforcing the law, but Republicans are still praising the Supreme Court ruling.
This week's Midday podcast covers who's on the ballot for the August primary after the deadline to submit nomination signatures elapsed. The Legislature has 31 seats with only one major party listed on the ballot and three of those will have just one name.
Today's Midday podcast covers U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin's thoughts on the potential for the Senate to move ahead on background checks and red flag laws in the wake of recent mass shootings. State officials have also offered proposals to stop gun violence ranging from banning ghost guns to arming teachers.
Today's Midday podcast covers what happened at the Republican Party of Wisconsin Convention in Middleton over the weekend. Many of the statewide candidates looking for statewide party support didn't get it as many delegates choose the no endorsement option new for this year.
Today's Midday podcast covers the rise in ghost gun popularity as President Joe Biden introduces restrictions on homemade firearms that lack serial numbers. WisPolitics intern @EleaLevin interviews Dem AG Josh Kaul, who says Wisconsin needs more restrictions while Republican AG candidates argue to protect Second Amendment rights.
Today's Midday podcast covers former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman's investigation into the 2020 presidential election. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced his office would not be shutting down the investigation after former President Donald Trump criticized Republicans in Wisconsin who are voicing concerns about the probe.
Today's Midday podcast covers the first public hearing on a marijuana bill since 2009 as lawmakers propose a bill that would legalize medical marijuana. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had concerns about specifics in the bill such as who would be allowed to sell marijuana and what kinds of marijuana would be legal.
Today's Midday podcast covers turnout results from the Milwaukee mayoral race after then-acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson became the city's first elected Black mayor. Marquette University Law Lubar Center Research Fellow John Johnson says Johnson garnered widespread support from around the city to take home a historic win.
Today's Midday podcast covers former Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson's win to become the city's first elected Black mayor. Conservative Judge Maria Lazar also beat incumbent Lori Kornblum to become the state's new judge in the 2nd District Court of Appeals.
Today's Midday podcast covers the wind-up before next week's Milwaukee mayoral race and the election for 2nd District Court of Appeals. Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson will face former southwest side Ald. Bob Donovan as conservative Judge Maria Lazar faces liberal Judge Lori Kornblum next Tuesday.
Today's Midday podcast covers the rising population at Wisconsin's youth prison for boys, many of which are coming from Milwaukee. Milwaukee Deputy DA Elisabeth Mueller told WisPolitics.com many of those boys from Milwaukee are going to Lincoln Hills because Milwaukee has seen a sharp uptick in car-theft related crimes among juveniles.
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly Speaker Robin Vos after hearing from a group seeking to decertify the election results arguing there was widespread fraud in the election. Gov. Tony Evers at a WisPolitics.com luncheon at the Madison Club said that's one of the dumbest things he's heard Vos say.
Today's Midday podcast covers health care industry takeaways from the pandemic as we round the second year of COVID-19. UW Health Chief Quality Officer Dr. Jeff Pothof says Wisconsinites can at least somewhat return to normal as the omicron variant subsides.
Today's Midday podcast covers Special Counsel Michael Gableman's report on what he's found so far digging into the 2020 presidential election. He said private grants to major cities, the Wisconsin Elections Commission's relationship with the Electronic Registration Information Center influenced the results of the election. He also called for a "bounty" for citizens if they take action to ensure the Elections Commission's data sharing agreements with other departments, among other things.
In today's Midday podcast, the Assembly unanimously approved a bill that would replace Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake, the state's troubled youth prisons, with a $42 million facility in Milwaukee County. Also on the floor Black Caucus members talked about their resolution to honor 33 Black Americans and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. See the resolution: www.wispolitics.com/wp-content/uplo…yResolution.pdf
In this week's Midday podcast we cover the two winners of the Milwaukee mayoral primary election. Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson and former Ald. Bob Donovan will be on the April general election ballot. They both had some things to say about what comes next at their respective election night parties.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Wisconsin Elections Commission's latest move to respond to Republican concerns in the Legislature over how the 2020 presidential election was handled.
Today's Midday podcast covers former Justice Michael Gableman's election probe as it heads toward its conclusion. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in the face of what he calls Dem obstructions said Gableman can continue through February. Some work to reform the election process in response to aspects of the 2020 presidential election have already begun.
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly Speaker Robin Vos' effort to stall liberal group American Oversight's move to depose the Rochester Republican over former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman's election probe. Gableman also recently granted a deadline extension to Madison and Green Bay allowing them more time to respond to subpoenas regarding the last presidential election.
Today's Midday podcast covers the omicron variant of COVID-19, which UW Health Chief Quality Officer Dr. Jeff Pothof says is now the dominant variant. He also said hospitals are having to come up with unique ways to cope with the influx of new patients as beds fill up.
Today's Midday podcast covers a quick update on the rise of the omicron variant as the holiday season prompts travel. We also cover Assembly Dems' leadership updates as Minority Leader Gordon Hintz announces he will step down from his leadership role in January.
Today's Midday podcast covers the rise in COVID-19 cases across Wisconsin filling hospital beds and ICUs. Gov. Tony Evers is requesting help from the federal government to deal with the worsening situation as many Wisconsinites refuse to get vaccinated.
Today's Midday podcast covers the latest Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling on how the state's next legislative and congressional maps should be drawn. Justices ruled in favor of the Republican-backed least changes approach to drawing new district boundaries. They also ruled new maps will not take partisan makeup into consideration.
Today's Midday podcast covers a bill that would reduce penalties for marijuana and paraphernalia possession in most communities across the state, but it would increase penalties in Milwaukee and Dane counties. The lawmakers who introduced the bill also recently made headlines on their own for different reasons.
Today's Midday podcast covers the COVID-19 health care situation in Wisconsin as flu season approaches. Cases and deaths have been increasing compared to recent numbers as state health officials move to vaccinate children and distribute flu vaccines.
Today's Midday podcast covers Dane County Judge Jacob Frost's order to DNR halting the fall wolf hunt that would have started this weekend. A federal judge is waiting for more action in Frost's court before he offers his full opinion on whether DNR violated Ojibwe tribal treaty rights in setting its own wolf hunt quota.
Today's Midday podcast covers Racine County Sheriff's finding of Wisconsin Elections Commission violating election law as the Senate and Assembly conduct their own 2020 election investigations. The Legislative Audit Bureau also found no widespread fraud after conducting its investigation into the matter.
Today's Midday podcast covers eight Assembly bills that aim to create more workforce housing the state as well as tackle issues with homelessness. The bills will see the light of the Assembly floor next week, but groups representing the interests of local governments are opposing many of the bills they say would give more land use control to the state government.
Today's Midday podcast covers what health experts on a recent WisPolitics virtual luncheon had to say about the ongoing pandemic. They said the Delta surge has stalled for now, but providers are still struggling with workforce shortages, burnout and some vaccine hesitancy as they pass 18 months fighting the pandemic.
Today's Midday podcast covers several bills introduced by both sides of the aisle aiming to address gun rights issues. Dems are pushing red flag law and universal background check bills as Republicans push bills to decrease liability for gun makers and dealers, as well as increase reciprocity for out-of-state concealed carry permit holders.
Today's Midday podcast covers COVID-19 trends as a recent surge of cases sparked concern among health care officials. Trends are evening out now, but hospitals are still caring for hundreds of more severe cases as the state prepares for another pandemic winter.
Today's Midday podcast covers former Supreme Court Justice Gableman's new video offering more details on his push to investigate the 2020 presidential election. Milwaukee County Clerk George Christenson says the video is more of a "political stunt."
Today's Midday podcast covers former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch's formal announcement she is running against Gov. Tony Evers in the 2022 race for Wisconsin governor. She vowed to pass a series of election-related bills that Evers vetoed earlier this year if elected, among other things.
Today's Midday podcast covers potential Republican gubernatorial candidates looking to beat Gov. Evers. Rebecca Kleefisch and Rep. John Macco have not officially announced their bids, but they are moving closer. The race to replace outgoing Milwaukee Mayor Barrett is also heating up as he will likely become the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg.
Today's Midday podcast covers lawmakers' debate over a bill that would criminalize participating in an unlawful assembly that includes at least one person who makes a threat or violent act. The bill comes as many around the state recognize the anniversary of the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white Kenosha Police officer.
Today's Midday podcast covers changing population and racial trends across the state as census data shows the overall population increased more slowly than other states. Several Democratic voters filed a lawsuit after the data came out, hoping to have a federal court draw new district lines instead of anyone in state government.
Today's Midday podcast covers U.S. Rep. Ron Kind announcing he will not seek reelection after 24 years serving the 3rd Congressional District of Wisconsin. The U.S. Senate also approved the $1.2T infrastructure bill and the $3.5T reconciliation bill framework. The smaller bill would send over $6B to Wisconsin, including funds for EV charging networks and broadband expansion.
Today's Midday podcast covers some of the funds Wisconsin could see from the latest bipartisan infrastructure measure worth $1.2 trillion in total. The Badger state would get over $5 billion to spend on highways and bridges, but details on the larger reconciliation package expected to follow the "hard" infrastructure bill remain unclear.
Today's Midday podcast covers Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Senate Democratic Primary, bringing the total to eight Dems. Barnes says the race is more than just a plan to beat U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson.
Today's Midday podcast covers a joint settlement proposal between Purdue Pharma and 15 states that would bring millions to Wisconsin to fight the opioid epidemic. AG Josh Kaul says it's the best case scenario. As Kaul raises funds for his reelection campaign, GOP attorneys are raising funds for their campaigns for the upcoming election.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers' trip to a Whitefish Bay elementary school to sign the biennial budget. He vetoed roughly 50 proposals that were included by the GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee but kept their proposed tax cuts for middle-class Wisconsinites.
Today's Midday podcast covers what six Dems looking to take U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's seat had to say about providing health care for all Americans and addressing the student debt issue. Johnson also made headlines this week when he held a news conference on severe adverse side effects from various COVID-19 vaccines.
Today's Midday podcast covers four police policy overhaul bills signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers that primarily deal with police use of force and transparency. Eight other bills dealing with police policies, including no-knock warrants, are past the Assembly and headed to the Senate.
Today's Midday podcast covers various aspects of immigration reform as lawmakers in Congress battle over what to do with those already in the country, looking to get in and those waiting to see if they're allowed in at all. While some paint the issue as a partisan matter, others say it isn't that simple.
Today's Midday podcast covers the push to eliminate the extra $300 checks for unemployed people from the federal government. U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Allouez, introduced a bill to repurpose funds use for the extra UI benefits for a program he says should incentivize people to come back to work.
Today's Midday podcast covers a variety of roles Wisconsin National Guard soldiers filled throughout the pandemic. From administering more COVID-19 tests than any other National Guard unit to fighting forest fires in California, thousands of troops helped the nation recover.
Today's Midday podcast covers student vaccination requirements for Marquette University and the UW System. Marquette students will be required to get vaccinated by August, but UW System President Tommy Thompson says state university students will not be required to get vaccinated.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers' announcement he will run for a second term using many of the same campaign pillars that won him the 2018 election. Several potential Republican candidates could put up a fight as former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch has been eyeing the seat for a while.
Today's Midday podcast covers the fight over whether to end or continue the extra $300 per week enhanced unemployment benefits from the federal government. Republicans and business owners say the extra money is contributing to the workforce shortage while Dems say there is no evidence to support that.
Today's Midday podcast covers Joint Finance Committee proposals to spend taxpayer dollars on many of the same areas Evers called for in his budget, but they differ in how much money they spend and where that money comes from.
Today's Midday podcast covers Democratic U.S. Senate candidates who want to take control of Johnson's seat as he nears the end of his second term. At least five Dems have announced bids for the seat, but Johnson hasn't said whether or not he will run again in 2022.
Today's Midday podcast covers Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes acknowledging that some businesses are having a hard time finding help but said numbers don't support the idea that extra unemployment benefits are keeping people out of the workforce.
Assembly and Senate committees heard several mostly-Republican backed bills that would ban transgender girls from competing in girl sports in K-12 and collegiate competitions. Supporters say they would protect women athletes while opponents say they would hurt transgender kids.
Today's Midday podcast covers Senate Republicans and business owners arguing a bill that would end a federal boost to unemployment benefits would help address the state's worker shortage. Dems say the workforce shortage was apparent even before the $300 extra payments.
Today's Midday podcast covers state Sen. Steve Nass slamming the idea of ending the tuition freeze for the UW System that's been in place for the past eight years. He told his GOP colleagues the university doesn't need more money. But UW System President and former Governor Tommy Thompson, a Republican, says the schools would benefit from ending the freeze.
Today's Midday podcast covers only 15 state legislators, who last year reported attending conferences or speaking at seminars, a sharp drop from 2019 numbers. The decline in lawmaker travel during the pandemic year was detailed in the 2020 economic interest statements for all 131 lawmakers who were serving in the Legislature.
Today's Midday podcast covers a bill, now in the Senate, that would create a special commission to investigate what happened the day of the attack and what led up to it. The commission would then submit recommendations to improve security. Republicans opposed the bill. They say the investigation would be redundant because it overlaps with investigations from the FBI, Department of Justice and others.
Today's Midday podcast covers Wisconsin's congressional delegation divisions on the escalating fighting in Israel and Palestine as U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin calls for a ceasefire. GOP U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says Israel has a right to defend itself from Hamas.
Today's Midday podcast covers who wants to spend how much of whose dollars on expanding broadband access across the state. Gov. Evers announced a $100 million grant program to expand broadband and LFB says using federal dollars to expand access would cost more than using state funds.
Today's Midday podcast covers entertainment venues that have been struggling for more than a year without revenue. Some of those shuttered entertainment venues could see federal relief dollars this week.
Today's Midday podcast covers new mask-wearing CDC guidelines for vaccinated and unvaccinated people and what the future of the state's effort looks like as some mass vaccination clinics close.
Today's Midday podcast covers former 8th Congressional District Representative Reid Ribble announcing he will join a group of about 100 former and current elected officials if they create an official breakaway party. They say the new group aims to bring in 'rational' conservatives as opposed to the 'radical' conservatives who stand with former President Trump.
Today's Midday podcast covers a sampling of bills making their way through the Legislature. The Senate advanced a series of police reform bills and the Assembly passed bills to make publicly funded sports venues play the national anthem before games and to expand school voucher eligibility.
Today's Midday podcast covers four members of Wisconsin's House delegation requesting nearly $150 million in earmarks since both national party caucuses agreed to bring back community project funding. Republicans banned earmarks a decade ago after retaking control of the House with some criticizing the process as wasteful and ripe for corruption. After announcing they would bring back the process, Dems also announced several rules to increase transparency. That includes a cap on how many earmarks each representative can attach to bills.
Today's Midday podcast covers State Dem Party Chair Ben Wikler on the latest "UpFront" program arguing that "job one" in 2022 is to reelect Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. He also says U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson could pose a threat to any Dem candidates who hope to take Johnson's seat next year.
Today's Midday podcast covers The GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee kicking off its work on Tony Evers' budget by gutting the guv's proposal, pulling more than 380 provisions and amending the document to current law spending levels as they build their own version.
Today's Midday podcast covers vaccinations starting to slow and local county health departments beginning “hand-to-hand combat” to reach herd immunity. For more of the most relevant news on the coronavirus outbreak, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin and links to top stories, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.
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Today's Midday podcast covers Wisconsin’s tourism hubs, which are expecting a flood of visitors to enjoy the state’s recreation, food and event offerings. But businesses fear they won’t have the staff to accommodate them.
Today's Midday podcast covers Vice President Kamala Harris visit to a clean energy lab at UW-Milwaukee and participation in a roundtable discussion as part of her trip to Wisconsin. GOP Reps. Tyler August, of Lake Geneva, and Jim Steineke, of Kaukauna, wrote an open letter to the vice president detailing their visit last week to the southern border and urging her to take action.
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly co-chairs of the task force just released recommendations for improving policing and racial justice in Wisconsin. They say lawmakers will now go to work on writing the bills.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Dane County judge who voided two contracts GOP legislative leaders signed that put taxpayers on the hook for more than $1 million in legal fees, ruling lawmakers don't have the authority to retain private counsel for a redistricting suit that hasn't been filed yet.
Today's Midday podcast covers Evers approving SB 69, creating Wisconsin Act 30, alongside Jewish community advocates and state lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. The law requires all schools to provide Holocaust instruction to students grades five through eight once and provide Holocaust instruction again at least once more for students grade nine through 12.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Endless Frontier Act investments, which could help the U.S. beat China in tech. And existing tariffs could give the U.S. negotiating power in China trade deals.
Today's Midday podcast covers statewide housing supply at historic lows. Median home prices continue to rise and apartment rent increases are outpacing wage growth. The situation is spurring possible fixes from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and GOP lawmakers.
Today's Midday podcast covers UW System Interim President Tommy Thompson's plan to return to in-person classes through vaccination as well as his thoughts on his future as president.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers veto of 11 GOP-authored bills that would have directed how to spend federal money from the latest COVID-19 relief package, and how he plans to dole out another $420 million of the funds.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Speaker's Task Force on Racial Disparities's recommendation to ban police chokeholds except in "life-threatening situations or in self defense" along with other recommendations.
Today's Midday podcast covers a new deal with Foxconn, which would make the company have to show it had at least 481 full-time employees last year to qualify for the first round of job tax credits under the new deal between the state and the Taiwanese manufacturer.
Today's Midday podcast covers some local units of government making moves to decriminalize marijuana as progress at the state level appears unlikely. Nearly a decade after Colorado became the first state to legalize recreational marijuana, the debate has spiked in Wisconsin as more states join the pro-marijuana ranks.
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly Speaker Robin Vos' view on COVID-19 vaccine passports for Wisconsinites and his thoughts on Gov. Tony Evers negotiating a new contract between Wisconsin and Foxconn.
Today's Midday podcast covers Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu saying he doesn't back legalizing medical marijuana in Wisconsin without FDA approval as well as his thoughts on the 11-bill GOP package to spend federal pandemic relief funds.
Today's Midday podcast covers incoming Chief Justice Annette Ziegler pledging she will do "all I can to ensure the Wisconsin Supreme Court operates fairly and efficiently with a fidelity to the law." She will be the third consecutive woman to lead the state's judicial branch in the last 25 years.
Today's Midday podcast covers a new special enrollment signup period for the marketplace to celebrate the 11th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Anyone interested in signing up can do so through the ACA website through August.
The case involving Kinnard Farms, a Kewaunee County mega-dairy farm with about 8,200 cows, has become a regulatory battleground, drawing a litany of environmental and industrial groups in support or opposition to the lawsuit.
Today's Midday podcast covers newly elected state Superintendent Jill Underly responding to comments by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos about her election. She said those comments made her "really sad," but she looks forward to working with the Rochester Republican and the GOP-controlled Legislature.
Today's Midday podcast covers Wisconsin's report showing 1,046 cases today, the most cases in a single day since Feb. 11. This brings the seven-day average for daily confirmed cases to 733, the greatest average since mid-February. Today’s seven-day daily case average is nearly double that from a month ago.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Joint Finance Committee vote along party lines to OK 11 GOP bills to spend coming stimulus money as Dems questioned whether the proposals were allowed under federal law. The votes came after memos from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau suggested millions Republicans want to spend don't meet current federal guidance on how the money can be used. That includes paying off debt, grants for local roads and covering work on an emergency communication system.
Today's Midday podcast covers winners in the statewide Department of Public Instruction superintendent race as well as two legislative races and two state district court judge races.
Today's Midday podcast covers Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson said she believes everyone who wants a COVID-19 should have access to one within the next eight weeks. And, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg touted the Biden Administration's $2 trillion infrastructure plan as a means to keep the country globally competitive in the coming centuries.
Today's Midday podcast covers tomorrow's elections featuring races for the state Department of Public Instruction superintendent, two seats in the legislature and several judicial positions. Candidates Deb Kerr and Jill Underly face off for state superintendent.
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly Republicans' call to Evers to use some funds from the latest COVID-19 package to boost homeowners and long-term care facilities while expanding broadband after Evers vetoed legislation giving lawmakers a say in how the money is spent.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Wisconsin Supreme Court 4-3 ruling today that Gov. Tony Evers exceeded his authority in issuing multiple public health emergencies over the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers' vetoing a bill that would have given the state Legislature oversight over federal pandemic relief funds, warning it would've allowed a single lawmaker to delay by weeks getting the money to those who need it.
Today's Midday podcast covers a Waukesha businessman who co-founded the non-partisan group Democracy Found and why he thinks ranked-choice voting in Wisconsin could help restore a "functional democracy."
Today's Midday podcast covers Association President and CEO Kristine Hillmer speaking as a panelist on the latest WisBusiness.com virtual luncheon "Hospitality industry stirs after year of COVID." The lunch hour event featured Wisconsin's eatery and alehouse leaders a year after the economy shut down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today's Midday podcast covers approval of a new Ho-Chunk casino in Beloit. Ho-Chunk Nation Vice President Karena Thundercloud said it was "almost surreal" to hear Gov. Tony Evers had signed off on the tribe's proposal for a Beloit casino after dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic upending daily life for more than a year.
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly approved bills that would stop the state from requiring residents get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus and its mutations, ban health officials from prohibiting public gatherings in places of religious worship, prohibit employers from requiring workers to get vaccinated and require Gov. Tony Evers to submit a plan to the Legislature for when state employees will return to work in their offices.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers saying better data on COVID-19 infections and deaths in nursing homes would not have changed precautions or vaccine rollout plans.
Today's Midday podcast covers concerns from GOP congressmen over the delay in COVID-19 infection and death statistics from Wisconsin nursing homes, comparing the state's nursing home situation to New York's. Those congressmen also voiced concerns about nursing home residents receiving their second vaccine dose in a reasonable amount of time.
Today's Midday podcast covers' a DC Wrap interview with UW-Milwaukee political science Prof. Mordecai Lee where he talks about the divide within the GOP between those who support Donald Trump and those who oppose him likely dominating congressional politics in Wisconsin.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Assembly's voice vote on allowing bars and restaurants to sell mixed drinks in to-go cups to be consumed off the premises.
Today's Midday podcast covers Wisconsin in 2020 shattering the record for most firearm background checks, an indicator the year of the COVID-19 pandemic also marked a huge year for gun sales.
Today's Midday podcast covers new FEMA coordination of staffing support to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Wisconsin has committed to providing at least 7,000 weekly vaccine doses from the state's allocation for the site.
Today's Midday podcast covers Milwaukee Public Schools' plan to reopen for in-person classes, teachers' union president's call for more safety measures and the City of Madison's new violence prevention plan.
Today's Midday podcast covers state superintendent candidates disagreeing during a forum on tying pandemic-related school funding to opening schools for in-person classes as well as politics in the race and a freeze on vouchers.
Today's Midday podcast covers the American Rescue Plan Act, which President Biden just signed into law, as well as the House 220-211 vote to pass it. Dems supported the bill while Republicans voted against it.
Today's Midday podcast covers Republican lawmakers' call for the Green Bay mayor to resign and an investigation into the November election because of concerns over how that election was handled in Green Bay and other municipalities.
Today's Midday podcast covers the U.S. Supreme Court today declining, without comment, to hear former President Trump's appeal of a 7th Circuit ruling rejecting his attempt to overturn Wisconsin's election results both on the merits and because it was filed too late.
Today's Midday podcast covers GOP legislation to change state election laws. A Republican senator says he's trying to preserve integrity in elections, while a Dem senator calls it an attempt at voter suppression.
Today's Midday podcast covers the Legislature's top Dem leaders in a WisPolitics.com luncheon who voiced support for Gov. Tony Evers' budget proposals to raise the minimum wage and allow for expanded local sales taxes.
Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu calling Gov. Tony Evers' proposal to allow local governments to increase the sales tax through referendums dead on arrival.
Today's Midday podcast covers the arrival of a new single dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson and what that means for Wisconsin's vaccination effort and COVID-19 caseload.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers’ budget provision that doesn’t envision closing the state’s troubled youth prisons in northern Wisconsin until after a new juvenile facility in Milwaukee would be completed in early 2024.
Today's Midday podcast covers the candidates for state schools superintendent clash over voucher schools and their own district leadership during the pandemic In an "UpFront" TV appearance.
Today's Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers' special session bill to overhaul the UI computer system allowing Wisconsinites laid off since Feb. 7 to capture an additional week of unemployment.
Today's Midday podcast covers Senate bills that would require the Department of Justice to establish a tracking system for sexual assault kits and create a timeline for the processing and storage of kits.