Republicans to kill legalized pot, other Evers priorities
3 years, 7 months ago

Republicans to kill legalized pot, other Evers priorities

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Republicans plan to vote next week to kill key parts of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ state budget proposal, including legalizing medical and recreational marijuana, expanding Medicaid to capture $1.6 billion in federal funding and granting collective bargaining rights to public workers. Also on the chopping block: Making Juneteenth, the day marking the emancipation of people who had been enslaved in the United States, a state holiday; increasing taxes on capital gains and manufacturers; cutting taxes for poor people; re-instating collective bargaining rights lost under the Act 10 law passed a decade ago; and automatic voter registration. Republicans also plan to remove Evers’ call to create a so-called red flag law for gun owners; new statewide standards for the “forever chemicals” known as PFAS; and allowing municipalities and counties to raise the sales tax if approved by voters. “Wisconsin Republicans are sending a clear message that they haven’t listened to a single word of what the public has told them this year,” said Democratic state Sen. Kelda Roys, of Madison.

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History of this topic

Wisconsin Senate plans to vote on overriding Evers veto of PFAS funding, other bills
7 months, 1 week ago

Wisconsin Senate plans to vote on overriding Evers veto of PFAS funding, other bills

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Republicans said Monday that the state Senate would vote to override up to 36 of the governor’s vetoes, including a bill to fight PFAS pollution — moves that Democrats derided as desperate election year stunts. Republican state Sen. Howard Marklein, co-chair of the Legislature’s budget committee, said at a news conference that overriding Evers’ vetoes was “about …

Wisconsin Republicans ignore governor’s call to spend $125M to combat ‘forever chemicals’
8 months, 1 week ago

Wisconsin Republicans ignore governor’s call to spend $125M to combat ‘forever chemicals’

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Republicans on Tuesday ignored the latest call from Democratic Gov. But Republicans on the Joint Finance Committee did not show up, with the GOP co-chairs calling Evers’ move “blatant political game-playing.” Although no Republicans came, Evers made a previously unannounced appearance in the Capitol hearing room and joined three Democratic lawmakers in blasting the GOP inaction. …

Evers signs Republican-authored bill to expand Wisconsin child care tax credit
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Evers signs Republican-authored bill to expand Wisconsin child care tax credit

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed a Republican-authored bill Monday that dramatically expands the state child care tax credit, days after vetoing three other GOP bills that would have delivered $800 million in tax cuts. The bill expands the state child care tax credit to 100% of the claimants’ federal child care tax credit. The legislation included the …

Wisconsin Republicans appear to be at an impasse over medical marijuana legalization plan
11 months, 1 week ago

Wisconsin Republicans appear to be at an impasse over medical marijuana legalization plan

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Republicans appear to be at an impasse over a proposal to legalize medical marijuana. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu last week said the bill’s proposed creation of state-run dispensaries was a “nonstarter.” Vos said at a news conference that “months and months of negotiations” resulted in a “very detailed bill” he proposed that has the minimum …

Wisconsin governor who called for marijuana legalization says he’ll back limited GOP proposal
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Wisconsin governor who called for marijuana legalization says he’ll back limited GOP proposal

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, who has pushed for full legalization of recreational marijuana, said Wednesday that he is open to a more limited medical marijuana legalization being promoted by Republicans. Vos said the proposal would be limited and modeled after the medical marijuana law that had been in place in neighboring Minnesota before it moved to full …

A Republican proposal to legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin is coming soon
1 year ago

A Republican proposal to legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin is coming soon

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Republicans plan to unveil a proposal soon to legalize medical marijuana in the state and could vote on it sometime in 2024, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said. Vos, in an interview Wednesday, said the proposal will be limited and modeled after the medical marijuana law that had been in place in neighboring Minnesota before it moved …

Wisconsin governor vetoes $2 billion tax cut, calls Republican plan ‘completely unserious’
1 year, 1 month ago

Wisconsin governor vetoes $2 billion tax cut, calls Republican plan ‘completely unserious’

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers on Monday vetoed a $2 billion Republican tax cut bill, calling it “completely unserious.” Evers’ veto was expected, as he opposed the GOP plan from the moment it was introduced as a substitute to the Democratic governor’s own workforce development package. Instead, the Legislature passed a measure that would have cut income taxes, created …

Wisconsin’s Democratic governor sues Republican Legislature over blocking basic functions
1 year, 1 month ago

Wisconsin’s Democratic governor sues Republican Legislature over blocking basic functions

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Evers said it was “a bridge too far” and “just bull s---” that Republican state lawmakers were telling 35,000 University of Wisconsin employees who were expecting pay raises to “stick it.” “You can’t do that,” Evers told reporters at a news conference. “That’s why we’re suing and that’s why we’re going to win.” Evers …

Wisconsin Legislature rejects governor’s special session on child care, worker shortages
1 year, 3 months ago

Wisconsin Legislature rejects governor’s special session on child care, worker shortages

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled Legislature on Wednesday ignored Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ call for a special session to pass a $1 billion package that would keep a pandemic-era child care program running, send more money to the University of Wisconsin and create a paid family leave program. Evers, outside of a daycare facility near Madison, said he wasn’t surprised …

Wisconsin Republican leader blocks pay raises in continuation of DEI fight
1 year, 3 months ago

Wisconsin Republican leader blocks pay raises in continuation of DEI fight

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Republican speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly is blocking pay raises for University of Wisconsin employees unless the university cuts diversity, equity and inclusion spending by $32 million — a move that comes amid the Democratic governor’s calls for lawmakers to spend even more on higher education. In June, the GOP-controlled Wisconsin Legislature cut funding to the …

Wisconsin Senate votes to override Evers’ 400-year veto and his gutting of tax increase
1 year, 3 months ago

Wisconsin Senate votes to override Evers’ 400-year veto and his gutting of tax increase

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Republicans who control the Wisconsin Senate voted Thursday to override three of Gov. Tony Evers’ vetoes, including one that attempted to enshrine school funding increases for 400 years. Republicans had the necessary two-thirds majority to override the vetoes in the Senate and did so in a series of 22-11 votes along party lines, but they don’t have …

Wisconsin Republicans dismiss governor’s call to increase funding for child care, UW System
1 year, 4 months ago

Wisconsin Republicans dismiss governor’s call to increase funding for child care, UW System

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday called a special legislative session for September in a longshot attempt quickly dismissed by Republicans to approve funding they rejected earlier this year for child care services, a family leave program, the University of Wisconsin System and other efforts targeting the state’s worker shortage problem. Evers has been highlighting child …

Wisconsin’s Democratic governor guts Republican tax cut, increases school funding for 400 years
1 year, 5 months ago

Wisconsin’s Democratic governor guts Republican tax cut, increases school funding for 400 years

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed off on a two-year spending plan Wednesday after gutting a Republican tax cut and using his broad veto powers to increase school funding for centuries. Under his veto, unless it’s undone by a future Legislature and governor, Evers said schools will have “predictable long-term spending authority.” “There are lots of wins here,” …

Tax cuts and a UW squeeze: A look at the proposed GOP-backed Wisconsin state budget
1 year, 6 months ago

Tax cuts and a UW squeeze: A look at the proposed GOP-backed Wisconsin state budget

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Here’s a look at what is and isn’t in the proposed Wisconsin state budget that the Republican-controlled Legislature is expected to pass next week: TAX CUT: Income taxes would be cut by $3.5 billion and the state’s four brackets would be condensed to three. UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN: The University of Wisconsin System’s budget would be cut by …

Republicans reject funding for top University of Wisconsin building project
1 year, 6 months ago

Republicans reject funding for top University of Wisconsin building project

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — GOP lawmakers rejected funding Thursday for the University of Wisconsin’s top priority, the replacement of an engineering building on its flagship Madison campus, approving allocations for about 60% of the state government and UW projects sought by Gov. The Republican-controlled budget committee voted along party lines to fund nearly $2.4 billion in building projects statewide, down from …

Evers pushing for tax cuts, new paid family leave program
1 year, 10 months ago

Evers pushing for tax cuts, new paid family leave program

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers made a plea for bipartisanship with the unveiling of a nearly $104 billion state budget Wednesday that includes a new paid family leave program for most public and private-sector workers, tax cuts for the middle class, a plan to keep the Milwaukee Brewers in their stadium until at least 2043 and higher …

Wisconsin Gov. Evers details tax plan to boost middle class
1 year, 10 months ago

Wisconsin Gov. Evers details tax plan to boost middle class

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic Gov. The governor’s office released details Sunday showing the plan would limit exceptions that benefit wealthy filers, outlaw state taxes on federal student loan relief and follow through on Evers’ campaign promises for $1.2 billion in tax cuts over two years. A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, who first proposed the plan for a …

EXPLAINER: Where Wisconsin governor and Republicans agree
1 year, 10 months ago

EXPLAINER: Where Wisconsin governor and Republicans agree

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Some are clearly dead on arrival, but in other areas, Evers and Republicans appear willing to compromise on how to spend the state’s unprecedented budget surplus, estimated Wednesday at more than $7.1 billion. Evers initially called for a 4% increase in funding, using the current formula, while Republicans talked about taking a new approach …

Evers pushes for legal abortions, expanded Medicaid
1 year, 11 months ago

Evers pushes for legal abortions, expanded Medicaid

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers outlined a largely liberal agenda in his second inaugural address Tuesday, calling for overturning an 1849 state law banning abortions, expanding Medicaid coverage and legalizing marijuana. The GOP returns this session with even larger majorities in the state Legislature, and the Senate Republican leader called Evers’ speech disappointing and “highly partisan.” Evers and other …

Wisconsin Gov. Evers opposes GOP flat income tax cut plan
2 years ago

Wisconsin Gov. Evers opposes GOP flat income tax cut plan

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is promising to veto any flat income tax cut plan passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, favoring instead his proposal to reduce taxes for the middle class by 10%. Evers, in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, came out against an idea being floated by Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu that …

Can Wisconsin Gov. Evers and GOP Legislature work together?
2 years, 1 month ago

Can Wisconsin Gov. Evers and GOP Legislature work together?

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Can newly reelected Democratic Gov. “But it certainly could also be an opportunity to fight and disagree over how to use the money.” Both sides have staked out priorities, not all of which conflict, but neither faction has shown much of an ability to work together, with Evers vetoing more than 120 bills over the past four …

In final days, Evers asks Wis. voters to worry about Michels
2 years, 1 month ago

In final days, Evers asks Wis. voters to worry about Michels

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. “I’m not the flashiest guy in the room,” Evers said, pivoting quickly to portray Republican Tim Michels as the opposite — a “radical” and “dangerous” force who could be a threat to democracy. Evers certified President Joe Biden’s win; Michels, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has said that “maybe” the 2020 election …

Wisconsin Democrats put abortion in spotlight
2 years, 2 months ago

Wisconsin Democrats put abortion in spotlight

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled Legislature took mere seconds on Tuesday to reject Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ call to create a way for voters to get a chance to repeal the state’s 1849 abortion ban, even as Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson voiced support for letting the people decide the issue. A Marquette University Law School poll last month showed …

Wisconsin Democrats put abortion in spotlight
2 years, 2 months ago

Wisconsin Democrats put abortion in spotlight

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Tony Evers' call to create a way for voters to get a chance to …

Wisconsin Republicans reject Evers call for abortion vote
2 years, 3 months ago

Wisconsin Republicans reject Evers call for abortion vote

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Republicans on Wednesday rejected Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ call to allow voters to get a chance to repeal the state’s 1849 abortion ban. Wisconsin clinics stopped performing abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, as a legal fight plays out to determine whether the state’s pre-Civil War era abortion ban is in effect. …

Legalizing marijuana gaining momentum in Wisconsin
2 years, 10 months ago

Legalizing marijuana gaining momentum in Wisconsin

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The push to legalize marijuana in Wisconsin enjoys some bipartisan support, but backers of bills that would make it legal for either medical or recreational use say it won’t happen this year. “I never thought I was going to live to see the day, but we’re actually talking realistically about marijuana reform,” Democratic Senate Minority Leader Janet …

Wisconsin lawmakers send anti-abortion bills to governor
3 years, 1 month ago

Wisconsin lawmakers send anti-abortion bills to governor

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Assembly gave final approval Wednesday to a package of anti-abortion bills, many of which Democratic Gov. One bill, which Evers vetoed in 2019, would impose criminal penalties on doctors who fail to give medical care in the extremely rare circumstance in which a baby is born alive following an abortion attempt. “This is simply …

Evers signs GOP-written state budget with $2B tax cut
3 years, 5 months ago

Evers signs GOP-written state budget with $2B tax cut

Associated Press  

WHITEFISH BAY, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers signed the Republican-written state budget Thursday, enacting a two-year spending plan that includes a $2 billion income tax cut while making 50 largely minor partial vetoes, saying unfinished business still needs to be addressed. Evers, a Democrat who is running for reelection next year, cast it as a bipartisan effort even though the …

Wisconsin Republicans quickly kill Medicaid expansion
3 years, 6 months ago

Wisconsin Republicans quickly kill Medicaid expansion

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Republicans who control the Wisconsin Legislature on Tuesday convened and within seconds ended a special session called by Democratic Gov. Democratic Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz said rejecting Medicaid expansion was “absurd” and that no private business would make the same decision with so much federal money on the table. Evers called the special session last week, …

Gov. Evers calls special session on Medicaid expansion
3 years, 7 months ago

Gov. Evers calls special session on Medicaid expansion

Associated Press  

MIDDLETON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday called a special session for the Legislature to expand Medicaid in Wisconsin, promising to use $850 million in federal money that would come to the state to pay for an array of economic development projects across the state. Turning down Medicaid expansion now will mean Republicans are also rejecting economic development projects …

Republicans scrap Evers’ priorities, start writing budget
3 years, 7 months ago

Republicans scrap Evers’ priorities, start writing budget

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Legislature’s Republican-led budget committee on Thursday killed hundreds of Democratic Gov. Republicans, along a party line vote, essentially scrapped the Democratic governor’s entire two-year spending proposal and instead began crafting their own budget based off of the current budget, which the GOP-controlled Legislature passed two years ago without a single Democratic vote and which Evers …

Evers says he’s listening to the people, not GOP lawmakers
3 years, 7 months ago

Evers says he’s listening to the people, not GOP lawmakers

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers said Thursday that he hasn’t met with Republican legislative leaders to discuss his $91 billion state budget proposal because he’s listening to what the people of Wisconsin want and that GOP lawmakers should do the same. “It’s clear from my vantage point the people of Wisconsin need to be heard from,” Evers said outside …

Evers calls for more education spending, $1 billion tax hike
3 years, 10 months ago

Evers calls for more education spending, $1 billion tax hike

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers called on the Republican-controlled Legislature Tuesday to bolster funding for K-12 and higher education and reform the state’s criminal justice systems, while delivering a state budget with $1 billion in tax increases and liberal policy priorities that GOP leaders promised to quickly kill. Evers pitched his $91 billion two-year state budget to the Legislature …

Highlights of Gov. Evers’ $91 billion state budget plan
3 years, 10 months ago

Highlights of Gov. Evers’ $91 billion state budget plan

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Highlights of Gov. Tony Evers’ state budget proposal submitted to the Legislature on Tuesday: GENERAL BUDGET: — The $91 billion state budget would increase state spending by 7.3% in the first year and 2% in the second. — Increase general aid to K-12 schools by $613 million, the biggest increase in more than 15 years, and restore …

Evers renewing call for Medicaid expansion opposed by GOP
3 years, 10 months ago

Evers renewing call for Medicaid expansion opposed by GOP

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers will try again to expand Medicaid coverage in Wisconsin, announcing Wednesday that his state budget proposal will also have more than $150 million in other health initiatives, including bolstering student mental health support, addressing the opioid crisis and increasing telehealth accessibility. Republicans argue that accepting the federal money to expand the state’s BadgerCare Medicaid …

Evers’ budget proposal would legalize recreational marijuana
3 years, 10 months ago

Evers’ budget proposal would legalize recreational marijuana

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers says his budget plan will include a proposal to legalize recreational marijuana, an idea that will likely be blocked by the Republican-controlled Legislature but could be a catalyst to allow the use of medical marijuana. Evers said the recreational marijuana measure could generate $166 million in revenue that would be used to help …

Evers to again push for lower prescription drug costs
3 years, 10 months ago

Evers to again push for lower prescription drug costs

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers plans to renew efforts designed to lower prescription drug costs, putting forward a proposal in his state budget that the Republican-controlled Legislature previously rejected. Evers’ prescription drug plan largely follows recommendations of a task force he created in 2019 that put forward ways to reduce the costs of prescription drugs, expand access to needed …

Wisconsin revenue projections jump by $1.2 billion
3 years, 10 months ago

Wisconsin revenue projections jump by $1.2 billion

Associated Press  

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin state government’s financial future brightened Tuesday after analysts released projections that show the state should collect $1.2 billion more in tax revenue by mid-2023 than estimated in November. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau report said the state’s general fund should finish the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, with nearly $1.8 billion, about $630 million more …

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