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GOP-led states plan new voter data systems to replace one they rejected. Good luck with that.
So far this year, seven states, all Republican-led, have left the Electronic Registration Information Center, an interstate compact for sharing voter registration data, and more could follow. Amid the exodus, some states, including Texas and Virginia, have said they plan to create their own data-sharing networks to replace ERIC. Pledging to build a new system […]
U.S. House GOP questions education secretary on transgender athletes, student loans
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans on Tuesday grilled the secretary of education about student debt cancellation and protections for transgender student athletes during a lengthy hearing on the president’s proposed budget request for the Department of Education. While the subject of the five-hour House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing was the fiscal 2024 budget […]
Madison teachers draw attention to issues facing educators by cutting extra hours of work
Teachers in Madison have been only working contract hours this week, hoping to draw attention to deteriorating wages and working conditions during Teacher Appreciation Week. Michael Jones, the president of the Madison Teachers Union, or MTI said teachers are underpaid for the amount of work they do, which is why they have been “reclaiming their […]
Mexican cartel targeted by Biden administration in multiple fentanyl indictments
WASHINGTON — As illicit fentanyl seizures reach record numbers, the Biden administration on Friday announced “government-wide efforts” to counter narcotics trafficking, including criminally charging members of the Sinaloa Cartel operating out of Mexico, and sanctioning Chinese producers of the chemicals used to make the synthetic drug. The Department of Justice unsealed indictments alleging fentanyl trafficking, […]
U.S. House speaker visit to Arizona border labeled publicity stunt by White House
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and a handful of Republican freshman lawmakers traveled to the U.S. – Mexico border Thursday, where they continued to blame the Biden administration for the fentanyl drug crisis. Leading up to the visit, the White House called it a “publicity stunt.” McCarthy said that there needs to be […]
Aviation turmoil shifts attention to stalled confirmation of FAA chief
A breakdown in the federal aviation system earlier this month threw a spotlight on the absence of a Senate-confirmed leader of the Federal Aviation Administration, prompting Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to push for the chamber to confirm President Joe Biden’s choice to lead the agency. But key Senate Republicans have raised concerns about that nominee, […]
Forever chemicals found in fish across Dane, Marathon, Portage waterways
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has issued fish consumption advisories for several water systems. Fish species in Marathon County’s Lake Wausau and the Stevens Point Flowage in Portage County were found to have high levels of PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), man-made compounds linked to chronic disease like cancers, […]
Madison preparing for potential Amtrak expansion
The city of Madison is moving ahead with planning for a potential passenger rail station, over a decade after former Republican Gov. Scott Walker rejected $810 million from the federal government for high speed rail. Remembrance of the lost opportunity hung in the air during the city’s kickoff meeting for its passenger rail study, where […]
Republican leaders to pursue ‘transformational tax changes’
Wisconsin’s top Republican leaders emphasized the potential for compromise in the coming legislative session as they pursue major tax changes and consider changes to school funding on Tuesday. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R – Rochester) and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R – Oostburg) agreed during a lunch-time panel hosted by WisPolitics that tax reform […]
DHS officials warn about respiratory illness rates, urge vaccinations
Wisconsin Department of Health Services officials said there is concern more people than ever before could become sick this holiday season as three respiratory illnesses — influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19 — circulate at high rates across Wisconsin and the country. “All three of these viruses we have seen before and they’re not totally […]
Republicans fall short of legislative supermajority
This piece was updated to reflect vote totals as of 12:45 p.m. Wednesday. It seems unlikely that Republicans will secure the veto-proof majorities in the Legislature that would give them the power to override Gov. Tony Evers’ vetoes. State Sen. Melissa Agard (D – Madison) said while it was too early to tell in some […]
Lawmakers and government officials highlight open enrollment, encourage people to vote
Sen. Tammy Baldwin along with other lawmakers and government officials spent Halloween day encouraging Wisconsinites to take advantage of the health insurance open enrollment period and touting Democrats’ recent health care accomplishments. “Halloween is a celebration of scary things, and what’s most scary to me is people who don’t have health insurance,” Baldwin said at […]