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Assembly Republicans pass bills excluding trans girls and women from sports
Multiple times during a debate on Wednesday over two bills that would exclude transgender girls and women from playing sports in leagues that align with their gender identity, the bills’ author, Rep. Barbara Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc) expressed outrage over accusations from Democrats that the legislation was “shameful” or “cruel.” “We’ve heard some really unkind rhetoric here […]
Republicans to borrow money to pay for broadband expansion grants
Republican legislators on Wisconsin’s powerful Joint Finance Committee (JFC) approved spending $125 million on broadband expansion grants — which is about $75 million less than Democratic Gov. Tony Evers had requested. The Republicans also plan to pay for the grants through borrowing, rather than tax revenue, because previous budget decisions have left the state millions […]
Suburban Republican calls for National Guard to patrol Milwaukee ‘war zone’
A Waukesha County Republican said that armed troops patrolling the streets of Milwaukee is necessary for residents to feel like they don’t live in a “war-zone-like setting.” Rep. Joe Sanfelippo (R–New Berlin), concerned about recent increases in violent crime in the state’s largest city, said in a news release Tuesday that despite his frequent attempts […]
Wisconsin’s budget surplus offers flexibility and opportunities to lawmakers, report says
Wisconsin’s $4.4 billion budget surplus represents a “golden opportunity” for lawmakers to address a number of the state’s largest challenges, according to a report from the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum (WPF). The news of the surplus — which is attributed to stronger than expected tax revenue, funds not spent and a massive injection of federal […]
Godlewski’s housing task force pivots to helping Wisconsinites access homeownership
A new program meant to help Wisconsinites buy, fix and remain in their homes was announced Wednesday. The effort is an outgrowth of State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski’s homeownership task force and will aim to connect community groups, local officials and other housing experts to assist people. Wisconsin’s homeownership rate has declined steadily since 2004 — […]
DHS hopes social pressures boost vaccinations of UW students as Republicans mull a ban on mandates
Wisconsin health officials are hoping the draws of campus social life — parties, sporting events, student organizations — will be enough to encourage COVID-19 vaccination for students as universities largely get back to normal operations. This strategy of social pressure comes as Republican legislators consider a bill that would prohibit University of Wisconsin officials from […]
Oneida Co. judge threatens to jail a woman for not spending her stimulus check on rent
A 22-year-old single mother in Oneida County faces 60 days in jail for contempt of court because she didn’t spend her stimulus check on back rent or give her debit card to her landlord’s lawyer after she was ordered to do so by a judge. The woman, Cassandra Beatty, has been fighting an eviction for […]
UW Board of Regents elects Evers appointee as president
The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents elected Ed Manydeeds III to serve as its next president on Friday. The board, now with a majority of appointees by Gov. Tony Evers, rejected promoting vice president Michael Grebe, a Scott Walker appointee, in a 10-8 vote. The decision to elect Manydeeds comes at an important moment […]
Republicans introduce ban on critical race theory in the name of Martin Luther King Jr.
Wisconsin Republicans continued a strategy of governance by Twitter trending topics on Thursday with the introduction of a slate of bills meant to ban so-called critical race theory (CRT) from K-12 schools, higher education and state employee training. The Wisconsin bills follow similar efforts from GOP counterparts in other state legislatures to ban critical race […]
False allegations of stolen election continue as Elections Commission cites minimal reports of fraud
Instances of illegal voting in the 2020 presidential election, whether by convicted felons casting a ballot or other violations of election law, occurred a miniscule number of times, according to a report by the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC). On Wednesday, the six-member body held its quarterly meeting to address the commission’s reports on voting irregularities […]
Bill of rights for residents of manufactured housing introduced in Congress
WASHINGTON—U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne is pushing for tenants’ rights to extend to residents of manufactured housing communities to protect them from predatory rent hikes. The Iowa Democrat introduced two pieces of legislation last week. One bill aims to establish a set of minimum standards and protections for tenants of manufactured housing communities, which are typically […]
Wisconsin Republicans using a ‘back door’ to extend the Scott Walker era
Wisconsin Republicans are using quirks in state law to retain power over the administrative levers of government — extending the control gained during Scott Walker’s governorship deep into Gov. Tony Evers’ term. In the first months of 2021, Evers was finally set to gain control of many of Wisconsin’s most powerful boards and commissions as […]