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Sen. Dianne Hesselbein elected as Senate Democratic leader
Senate Democrats elected Sen. Dianne Hesselbein (D-Middleton) on Friday to serve as the new Wisconsin Senate Minority leader, filling a vacancy left by Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison). Hesselbein beat Sen. Kelda Roys of Madison and Sen. Jeff Smith of Brunswick to succeed Agard, who is stepping down after announcing on Thursday that she […]
Unions file lawsuit challenging Wisconsin Act 10
A group of unions representing public employees including teachers filed a lawsuit on Thursday challenging Wisconsin Act 10, which stripped collective bargaining rights from most public employees in the state. Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed the law in 2011 despite some of the largest protests in state history, and the law has since shaped […]
WI Senate Democratic leader announces campaign for Dane Co. executive
Wisconsin Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison) announced Thursday that she will run for Dane County executive — a decision that will leave Senate Democrats with a leadership opening and an open Senate seat. Agard’s decision follows current Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announcement in October that he would be retiring next year after almost […]
Evers used email alias for security purposes, according to his office
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has been using an alternate email account under the name of a former Major League Baseball player to communicate with state employees — a practice his office says is used for security purposes and for work efficiency. Evers used the email address “[email protected]” to communicate with other state officials as first […]
Gov. Evers tells Joint Finance Committee to release tribal grant money
Gov. Tony Evers urged the Joint Finance Committee on Monday to release funding for Tribal Assistance Grants after Republicans chose to exclude two tribes from recent funding approvals in part because of ongoing road disputes. In September, the Department of Administration (DOA) submitted a request for transfer of $11 million to be distributed for the […]
Wisconsin Legislature approves final version of Brewers stadium deal
Wisconsin lawmakers approved a controversial deal to spend about $500 million in public money on renovations and maintenance of American Family Field on Tuesday, despite objections from some lawmakers that the package has a lopsided impact on taxpayers. The Wisconsin Senate concurred in both Brewers bills — AB 438 and AB 439 — in a […]
Assembly advances elections-related constitutional amendment proposals and bills
The Wisconsin Assembly advanced a slate of election policy proposals, including two constitutional amendments that will go to voters in 2024 and several bipartisan bills, during a floor session on Thursday. “There are bills on the calendar today that we’re not going to agree on, but there are just as many that we do. I […]
Senate committees advance Brewers stadium deal with additional changes
Senators adopted changes to the Milwaukee Brewers stadium deal on Wednesday that would lower the state’s contribution, increase the team’s contribution and adopt a ticket surcharge on events including concerts. Two committees voted to advance the bills with the amendments on Wednesday, setting the deal up to go to the floor of the Senate for […]
Group continues to pressure Vos on WEC administrator impeachment resolution
A group is continuing to pressure Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) to bring a resolution to impeach Wisconsin Election Administrator Meagan Wolfe to a vote, despite Vos’ public statements that it’s unlikely the Assembly will take up the issue. The Wisconsin Elections Committee, Inc, a nonprofit group that has been running attack ads against Vos […]
Wisconsin Assembly passes higher education bills
The Wisconsin Assembly passed several bills on Tuesday that would affect Wisconsin’s higher education system by changing admissions requirements, implementing penalties for free speech violations and ending race-based programs and requirements. While Republicans said the bills would help address ongoing problems throughout the state’s education system, Democrats criticized Republicans for unfairly targeting diversity equity and […]
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, seeking to connect with UW-Madison students, interrupted by protesters
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin came to connect with University of Wisconsin-Madison student leaders on Friday as a part of Democrats’ weekend of “One Year to Win” events, a get-out-the-vote effort in the lead-up to the November 2024 elections. Wisconsin Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski and Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, […]
GOP bill targeting transgender people would require inmates be placed according to sex at birth
The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety committee considered a bill Thursday that would require inmates to be held in facilities that align with their sex at birth and that strip searches be completed by someone of the same sex using the same method of determination. The bill — SB 438/AB 447 — is the latest […]