House Republicans And Democrats Choose Sides On President's Budget
WISCREPORT.COM (04/11/2013) - In General, now that the White House has released the budget proposal advocated by President Barack Obama, Democrats are largely in favor of most of the proposals, while Republicans are not. Wisconsin U.S. House Representatives Ron Kind (D) and Paul Ryan (R) are no exception. For more on this story, see inside the online pages of WisconsinReport.com, informing internet readers since 2001. (read more)...
Wisconsin U. S. Senators Urged To Help Keep Funding For Key Juvenile Programs
WISCREPORT.COM (09/13/2011) - Youth, parents, juvenile justice programs and community groups are calling on Senators Kohl and Johnson to ensure adequate federal funding for vital juvenile justice programs and to maintain strong federal standards to protect children in the justice system, promote effective local delinquency prevention efforts, and increase public safety. Wisconsin Parent Advocate Vicky Gunderson says it is important to keep the funding strong to create robust support for the Juvenile Justice Program and Standards. See more inside the website pages of WisconsinReport.com, providing information to internet readers since 2001. (read more)...
Wisconsin Gov. Walker Makes Positive And Negative Vetoes On State Budget
WISCREPORT.COM (06/27/2011) - On Sunday, Governor Walker signed into law the 2011-2013 State Budget, which included 50 vetoes. Advocacy groups and editorials around the state encouraged the Governor to veto the most egregious policy changes inserted into the budget with no public hearing or input. While there were a few positive vetoes, such as one the prevented commercial bail bonds from operating in Wisconsin, many of what some people call, attacks on consumer protections, remained. See inside the internet pages of WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Senator Lassa Asks Gov. Walker To Okay Wisconsin Rapids Armory Project
WISCREPORT.COM (06/24/2011) - The location of Governor Scott Walker signing the Wisconsin budget has been changed to Fox Valley Metal-Tech, Inc. in Green Bay. Signing is scheduled to take place Sunday at 2 PM (CDT). Governor Walker has been contemplating making some alterations to the budget under the line item veto powers Wisconsin governors have enjoyed utilizing for years. A Central Wisconsin State legislator has asked Walker to do so for a Wisconsin Rapids project. See inside the internet pages of WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Judge Sumi Says Republican Lawmakers Failed To Comply With Open Meetings Law
WISCREPORT.COM (05/26/2011) - After hearing evidence, a Madison, Wisconsin judge has ruled that the Anti-Collective Bargaining Law passed by the Republican controlled Wisconsin legislature is null and void. Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi says Republican lawmakers violated the state's open meetings law in rushing the legislation through at the height of the Capitol protests. Sumi ruled the evidence was clear and convincing that a conference committee failed to comply with the law. See inside WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
House U.s. Budget Passed Ends Medicare As We Know It, But Senate Plan Could Save It
WISCREPORT.COM (04/15/2011) - On what would normally be the final day of filing income tax returns, the United States House passed it's version of a U.S. budget that could cut about $6 Trillion over a period of years. The Republican controlled House plan includes cuts to social safety net programs. It remains to be seen if all of the budget cuts remain intact as the Democrat controlled U.S. Senate is working on its own plan, and the political ideology and rhetoric continues. See inside the internet pages of WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Wisconsin Congressman Petri Is Cheering Aviation House Passage
WISCREPORT.COM (04/01/2011) - U.S. House of Representatives Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Tom Petri (R-WI) is cheering passage of the FFA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 (HR658). H.R. 658 was passed in the House by a vote of 223 to 196. The Senate approved a different FAA reauthorization bill in February. The two proposals will have to be negotiated to produce a final bill for the President's signature. See inside the internet pages of WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
It's Judge Sumi Vs. G O P: Battle For Power Continues In Wisconsin
WISCREPORT.COM (03/30/2011) - Dane County Judge Maryanne Sumi is upset that elected Wisconsin Republicans have disobeyed what she intended in her original Act 10 (Anti-Collective Bargaining Law) restraint order, and said as much in her ruling Tuesday, March 29th. The GOP disagrees and have voiced their displeasure with, what they call, a leftist judge trying to act as the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government. See inside the internet pages of WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Milwaukee Mayor Barrett Pleased With Gov. Walker Application For Rail Funds
WISCREPORT.COM (03/29/2011) - Wisconsin is applying for 150 million dollars in high speed rail funds from the federal government. The money will provide upgrades to the Hiawatha line, which provided service between Milwaukee and Chicago to more than 800,000 passengers last year. Walker's former opponent in the race for the Governor's office, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett is all for the project. See inside the internet pages of WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Collective Bargaining Status Still Unclear After Legislative Reference Bureau Action
WISCREPORT.COM (03/26/2011) - The publication of the Wisconsin Anti-Collective Bargaining Law by the Legislative Reference Bureau Friday, March 25th, may not have legally activated the law because it was not done in the traditional way, and it might be against the intent of the restraining order issued by a judge. The Dane County District Attorney will present the case on behalf of the People of Wisconsin Tuesday morning, March 29, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. See inside the internet pages of WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Congress Told Don't Cut Research Funds; Cancer Kills 1,500 Everyday
WISCREPORT.COM (03/25/2011) - The American Cancer Society is urging the U.S. Congress to listen to the results of a recent poll that shows that 77 percent of Americans oppose cuts to research and 76 percent oppose cuts to prevention. A Wisconsin spokesperson says research is key to finding a cure for Cancer. See inside the internet pages of WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Worry Over Changes To Medicaid Programs And Real Reasons Behind Budget Repair Bill
WISCREPORT.COM (03/12/2011) - AARP Wisconsin is disappointed that the budget repair bill signed by Governor Walker gives the Department of Health Services increased power to make drastic changes to Medicaid programs with very little oversight by the state legislature. Meanwhile, a Wausau, WI Democrat Assembly Representative is finding fault with Governor Walker saying passing a bill that he claimed was 'non-fiscal' in nature was responsible for saving 1,500 jobs. See inside WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Judge Albert Says It's Ok To Limit Protester Access To Wisconsin State Building
WISCREPORT.COM (03/04/2011) - The Wisconsin Department of Administration says a court order allowed the security force at the State Capitol Building to remove overnight protesters from the building last night. People have been protesting Gov. Walker attempts to limit public worker bargaining rights while also giving them what amounts to pay cuts to fix a State Budget expense excess. See inside WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
State Treasurer Disagrees With Gov. Walker Proposal To Gut The Constitutional Office
WISCREPORT.COM (03/03/2011) - The State Treasurer of Wisconsin says he wants to be party to eliminating the office he holds, but, he thinks people should be able to determine if that constitutional office is eliminated, not to gut it through the budget process. He says Gov. Scott Walker wants to move two key areas of responsibility to the Office of Administration. See inside WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Deep Emotions Boil Over Gov. Walker Biennium Budget Proposals
WISCREPORT.COM (03/02/2011) - The reaction to the next Wisconsin biennial budget proposed by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is bringing more deeply emotions to the surface. Republicans in Madison say the biennial budget will drastically curb spending and reduce the structural deficit. However, Democrats are fearful many measures in the proposed budget will cause irreparable damage to working families and will shift more power to corporations and businesses. One of the things opponents worry about is the validity of the University of Wisconsin system under the terms of the proposed budget. More inside WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
Morning Joe: What's Wrong With People Coming Together To Negotiate?
WISCREPORT.COM (02/28/2011) - The weekend again found thousands of demonstrators in Madison, Wisconsin to continue protests against what protesters believe is an unfair attitude by newly elected Governor Scott Walker. There were estimates again in the 70,000 range as protesters often wondered, where is the national media. Even some of the people in the media wondered why media coverage seemed to dry up during the weekend efforts. Conservative Joe Scarborough of Morning Joe on MSNBC wondered aloud, indicating he thinks the governor might be going too far. See inside WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Governor And Lawmakers Should Step Back For Common Future
WISCREPORT.COM (02/24/2011) - The faculty and staff of the University of Wisconsin - Madison School of Library and Information Studies has issued a letter to Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) and the State Legislature about the loss of Collective Bargaining. The group opposes the abolition of most Collective Bargaining rights by the Budget Repair Bill now being pushed through the Wisconsin Legislature by newly elected Governor Walker and Republicans in the Assembly and Senate. See inside the internet pages of WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Republican Govs Assn Supports Gov. Walker Stand In Wisconsin
WISCREPORT.COM (02/23/2011) - Some Republican Governors around the United States of America are urging their own form of solidarity behind fellow GOP Governor Scott Walker. The Republican Governors Association (RGA) is sponsoring a website suggesting it is a great idea to Stand With Scott in the battle of wills going on in the State of Wisconsin. RGA Chairman Rick Perry sees the Walker fight with Democrats, public workers, unions, and supporters, as a defining moment for the Conservative movement. See inside WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Gov. Walker Tv Address Tonight; Lawmakers Like Peaceful Protests
WISCREPORT.COM (02/22/2011) - The demonstrations of peaceful protesters in the state capital at Madison, Wisconsin have been a welcome change from some of the violent pictures of recent foreign demonstrations of people seeking regime changes in the mid-east. The two sides are still far apart in the controversy over what new Governor Scott Walker wants to do to get the budget in line with available funds. Gov. Walker will address the issues tonight via WisEye TV at 6 pm CST. WisEye is also making the feed available to interested stations or networks. See inside WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Democrats Upset About Perceived Republican Plan To Harm Unions
WISCREPORT.COM (02/19/2011) - State Senator Julie Lassa of Stevens Point, WI says the true agenda of newly elected Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is now clear. Lassa is one of the Fab-14 Democrats who went to Illinois to slow down the process of what is being called an attempt to break unions in the state. She says public employees have offered to make concessions, but, Walker refused to accept them unless he is also able to take away the right of workers to have a say in their future through the collective bargaining process. More inside WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
Committee Democrats Disappear Before Trojan Horse Budget Repair Vote
WISCREPORT.COM (02/17/2011) - The Wisconsin Joint Committee On Finance reportedly took a vote and approved the so-called Budget Repair Bill, which Representative Mark Pocan (D-Madison) is calling a Trojan Horse. At this writing its not known if that is accurate because Republicans hold a 19-14 majority, but they need at least one Democrat to be present before taking a vote on the bill, and the Associated Press says as ever-growing throngs of protesters filled the Capitol for a third day, the 14 Democrats disappeared from the Capitol, whereabouts unknown. See inside WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
Sen. Lassa Wants Public Hearings On Gov. Walker Budget Proposals
WISCREPORT.COM (02/12/2011) - Workers and Democrats in Madison are calling parts of the new Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker budget request, Job Killing Proposals, while Republicans and other proponents say Walker is taking a necessary stance for the times. State Senator Julie Lassa (D-St.Point) is calling on the Republican leadership not to ramrod the budget through before legislators and the public have an opportunity to know what is in the proposal. She wants public hearings before the vote. See inside the internet pages of WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (12/22/2010) - The residents of the State of Wisconsin will continue to have eight seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to the latest Census figures released this week. Some states have gains in population and some have losses, however, most states will have the same number of representatives as before. Texas and Florida are the big gainers. Texas will add 4 seats in the House, while Florida only gets 2. Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Louisiana and Pennsylvania are among those losing one seat each. The big losers are Ohio and New York, each losing two. See more inside WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (09/22/2010) - Wisconsin faces a budget deficit of at least $3.1 billion in the state's next two-year budget cycle, according to a new University of Wisconsin analysis. University of Wisconsin-Madison La Follette School of Public Affairs economist Andrew Reschovsky blames expected jumps in children entering schools and longer lives of Baby Boomers, which will likely raise the costs of education and medical assistance by 400 million dollars. See WisconsinReport.com for more. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (06/21/2010) - U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) are leading a bipartisan group of senators in urging the House of Representatives to take up legislation to end the automatic pay raise system for members of Congress. In a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, 20 senators asked that the House vote on a bill passed by the Senate last year requiring members of Congress to pass legislation if they want to give themselves a pay raise. Currently, members of Congress receive an automatic pay increase UNLESS they pass legislation to block it. Click on headline above to read more at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (03/31/2010) - Communities nationwide are urging their residents to take 10 minutes on Thursday, April 1, Census Day, to fill out and mail back their 2010 Census forms if they haven't already done so. As the official reference date for the once-a-decade civic ceremony, Census Day will serve as the point-in-time benchmark for the nation's population count for the next 10 years. Residents still have time to fill out and mail back their ten question census form, saving the government about 57 dollars for each household that does not have to be visited by an enumerator. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (02/19/2010) - Wisconsin State Senate Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston) is upset with accusations leveled at Democrats by Republican State Senator Scott Fitzgerald (Juneau). Fitzgerald says Democrats are raiding millions of dollars from the State Transportation Fund to use on what he calls Pet Projects, including fish fries. Senator Decker suggests that Fitzgerald should start using real facts, backed up with proof, if he can. The hub bub seems to be over a recent report on a Madison television station. Read more at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (06/29/2009) - Joined by local officials, business and education leaders and Wisconsin citizens, Governor Jim Doyle signed into law today a state budget that builds upon the commitment to expand access to affordable health care coverage, invests in Wisconsin businesses that will create jobs and lead to future growth, and continues to protect priorities like education and police and fire protection, in the face of unprecedented national economic challenges. For the first time since 1977, the budget is being enacted before the start of the new biennium. More at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (06/18/2009) - The Wisconsin State Senate has passed a biennial budget bill for 2009-2011. As usual, there are misgivings by Republicans that majority party Senate Democrats were able to get the budget passed. However, Majority Leader Russ Decker says the version passed has no general sales or payroll tax increases, yet, it still protects working families, schools, and police and fire services from cuts. Another provision invests in highways, airports, bridges and harbors, and is expected to create about 10,000 jobs. Read more at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (04/20/2009) - Governor Jim Doyle has approved proposals for transit projects in 14 small urban areas and 32 non-urbanized areas around Wisconsin. Approval is a major step in securing the portion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding that has been appropriated for the state. The projects total nearly $34.5 million. Read more about this story at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (04/13/2009) - United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi likes the idea of the United States government purchasing nearly 18,000 fuel efficient vehicles from only American car makers. Pelosi believes it will help auto makers currently in financial touble, spur the economy, and make the government fleet more fuel efficient. The Speaker also is supportive of President Obama's plan to make healthcare better for the military and veterans. Read more at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (04/04/2009) - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen says the first priority of any government should be public safety. He made the statement while attending a get together of law enforcement professionals in Cambridge friday. Van Hollen is concerned about possible sentencing changes being discussed by State officials in Madison. Read more details at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (04/02/2009) - House Budget Committee Ranking Republican Paul Ryan (WI-01) yesterday introduced a comprehensive alternative to the fiscal year 2010 budget proposed by the President and Democratic Majority. Republicans say their plan will get spending and deficits under control, without raising taxes, but some Democrats don't think it's right for the country, at this point in history. Read more at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (02/26/2009) - United States Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) is commending President Barack Obama for presenting a budget to Congress that represents an honest assessment of the current financial situation. Wisconsin's United States Senator Russ Feingold, a member of the Senate Budget Committee agrees. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (02/19/2009) - The Institute for Wisconsin’s Future (IWF) is applauding Governor Jim Doyle and the Legislature for the tax reform ideas contained in both the budget-repair bill, which passed the Legislature February 18th, and the governor’s budget proposal for the 2009-2011 biennium, released February 17th. More at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (10/08/08) - Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Joe Wineke is calling last night's Presidential Debate Barack Obama’s second straight debate victory. Wineke says John McCain was unable to articulate a new direction for the country beyond what Wineke calls the failed, recycled policies of George Bush. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former Lieutenant Governor Margaret Farrow are spinning the second Presidential Debate from the Republican point of view. Farrow and Walker saw McCain making several points and coming out ahead of Obama in the Nashville debate. Read more at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (09/30/08) - The Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) CEO is weighing in on the failure by the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, and one of Wisconsin's U.S. Senators has some suggestions on how to make the Bailout Better. Wisconsin Bankers Association President Kurt Bauer warns the crisis won't get better by doing nothing. Senator Russ Feingold expects the so-called Bailout to see another round of voting by Congress, which creates another opportunity to address what he calls major flaws in the proposal. Read more at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (09/29/08) - The United States Congress failed to pass the 700 Billion Dollar Solution they have been working on over the weekend and debating today. Despite the apparent urgency of the financial crisis, H.R 3997, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, failed on the House floor by a vote of 205 - 228. Several Wisconsin members of the House of Representatives voiced dissapproval of the so-called Bailout. Some others were dismayed that the attempt to find a solution that the majority could agree on just wasn't possible. The Stock Market reacted in dissappointment. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (09/27/08) - There are mixed reactions to last night's first United States Presidential Debate between the two major party candidates running to be the next Commander In Chief of the Economy as well as Commander In Chief of the Military. McCain supporters say Arizona Senator John McCain won, while Illinois Senator Barack Obama supporters say Obama came out on top. And, Depending on which tv/radio talker you listen to after the debates, you have your choice of, it was a draw, or, Obama proved he was ready to take control of the military and the economy, or, McCain's strategy seemed to be to try his best to look stern and to not look at his opponent, and so on. Read more at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (09/25/08) - The Republican and Democrat running against each other for President of the United States have decided to lend their input and guidance in the current national economy emergency Congress is wrestling with. Yesterday, U.S. Senators John McCain (R) and Barack Obama (D) issued a joint statement that pointed out that it's important for both parties to come together to solve the problem. Obama and McCain will both be meeting with President George W. Bush and leaders of Congress today in hopes of making a difference in the so-called 700 Billion Dollar Solution to save homes, jobs, and the ecomomy proponents say are at stake. More at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (09/23/08) - Probable voters in four Battleground States are looking at the Barack Obama - Joe Biden ticket as the one that is more likely to bring about Change. By 19 - 24 point margins, voters in Wisconsin, Colorado, Michigan, and Minnesota say Democrat Barack Obama, not Republican John McCain, is the candidate of change. That poll result lifts Senator Obama into the lead in these battleground states, according to four simultaneous Quinnipiac University polls of likely voters, conducted in partnership with The Wall Street Journal and WashingtonPost.com More at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (09/22/08) - Illinois Senator Barack Obama started out being the only major presidential candidate advocating Change at the start of the Democrats Primary Campaign. When his opponent, New York Senator Hillary Clinton saw people were drawn to the message of Change, her slogan soon was about Change, but, Obama's message was the one people wanted. Now, it's the Republican candidate, Senator John McCain, who has changed his message to a declaration that McCain is the Change guy. While in Green Bay, Wisconsin today, Barack Obama explained that Obama's Change is The Real Change We Need. To read Barack Obama's speech, go to WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (09/01/08) - The 2008 Report of the Democratic Platform Committee suggests that Democrats want to make the United States Government and the country less partisan than it has been for decades. The Preamble to the Platform, states that it's time to reach out to Republicans, Independents, and all Americans who hunger for a new direction, and a reason to hope. The Platform indicates Democrats not only want to undo the damage they perceive that the Bush Administration has done, they want to find and enact the ideas that are right for the country and it's citizens. Read the Preamble at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (08/29/08) - U.S. Senator John McCain today announced that he has selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate and to serve as his vice president. The McCain campaign says Governor Palin is a tough executive who has demonstrated during her time in short time in office that she is ready to be president. In addition to naming 44 year old Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate against the Obama - Biden ticket, the McCain campaign has released a statement from McCain that calls Barack Obama's nomination acceptance speech last night, misleading. Read more at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (08/22/08) - A Wisconsin health care organization is attributing three of the state's congressional representatives for saving some Medicare benefits for residents of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Health Care Association (WHCA) has high praise for U.S. Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Steve Kagen (D-WI) and Ron Kind (D-WI), a member of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, for participating in a successful, bipartisan effort in Congress last week to stop the Bush Administration attempt to cut some funding. See WisconsinReport.com for more details. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (03/21/08) - The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin is encouraging all Wisconsin legislators to say no to Real ID. The ACLU position is that Real ID is an expensive, pointless, and overly invasive federal mandate. When President George W. Bush signed the Real ID Act a couple of years ago, it became mandatory that states become involved. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation currently must comply with Real ID rules by 2010. Even though Real ID is a federal law, states must finance the Real ID program, so the Wisconsin legislature is considering ways to do that. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (03/19/08) - The war in Iraq is costing Wisconsin residents alone, millions of dollars, no, billions of dollars, with a B, since the beginning of the hostile action five years ago. A group called Citizen Action of Wisconsin, estimates that in 2008, Wisconsin's share of the war will be One-Point-Three Billion additional dollars. The 2008 amount is based on Bush Administration and military proposals for additional outlays of funds to be funneled into the effort in Iraq this year. A report issued today shows what Wisconsin governments and citizens could have gained locally if that money wasn't going into the war. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (03/14/08) - A growing group of Wisconsin businesses, community groups and health care providers have announced a new coalition supporting the proposed Wisconsin hospital assessment. StopTheShift.org members say it’s time that the State Legislature do something about what is called the hidden tax that businesses have paid for too many years because of significant underfunding of Wisconsin’s Medicaid program. The coalition's broad-based membership includes Wisconsin Hospital Association, Aurora Health Care, Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, and other organizations. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (03/13/08) - When Wisconsin voters go to their polling places in April, among other things, they will be voting on a statewide referendum affecting the so-called partial veto that has been exercised from time to time by Governors from both sides of the aisle. The veto power of Wisconsin’s governor is one of the nation’s strongest, but a question on the April 1 ballot asks voters if that power should be limited. In addition to selecting a supreme court justice, voters will be asked if they want to amend the state constitution to limit the governor’s partial veto authority. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (03/13/08) - The Wisconsin State Assembly passed what is called a Budget Repair Bill Wednesday night, March 12th. Democratic Majority Leader in the Wisconsin Senate, Senator Russ Decker of Weston, Wisconsin, is calling the so-called Budget Repairs, Bush Budgeting At It's Worst. Decker suggests the Republican controlled State Assembly is favoring Wal-Mart over school kids, other businesses and residents of the state in some of the items included in the Budget Repair Bill. Wisconsin Assembly Republicans currently outnumber Democrats 52 to 47. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (02/25/08) - The Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center in Tomah will receive $4.425 million from the 2008 VA Appropriations bill to complete a renovation of their facility. Democratic Congressional Representative Ron Kind of LaCrosse says the funding was made possible by the boost given to the Veterans Administration by the Democratic Congress, who this year provided the largest increase to the VA in its 77-year history with an allocation of $3.8 billion above what President Bush had requested. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (02/21/08) - Outsourcing government jobs to private companies may not be saving taxpayers money, as had been promised by the Bush administration. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released an audit, requested by Wisconsin's U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl, and several other senators, on the competitive sourcing program at the United State Forest Service (USFS). The administration had promoted the outsourcing plan as a way to cut down on government spending, but, because complete data is not available, saving money in this instance, is unknown. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (02/16/08) - Democratic U.S. Congressional Representative Ron Kind of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, says the farm bill being discussed in committee needs more work to make it work for family farmers and taxpayers. Kind says, among other things, what he calls, the proposal’s budget gimmick, phases out direct payments in the ninth year, only to see them reappear again in the tenth. He calls that a sham. Kind also says he's looking forward to working with his Ways and Means colleagues to prevent new taxes for farm programs. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (01/24/08) - In his sixth State of the State Address, Governor Jim Doyle unveiled bold plans to grow Wisconsin by fostering innovation, seizing renewable energy opportunities, making health care more affordable and investing in education. The Governor called on lawmakers to work together and invest in long-term economic growth in the midst of a plummeting global market. Governor Doyle said America's economy is in deep turmoil and this will be a year of great challenge for everyone, including the people of Wisconsin and the government. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/11/07) - The Wisconsin State Senate voted 33-0 to ban what has been called the Frankenstein Veto; wherein Governor Jim Doyle, or any Wisconsin Governor can cobble together unrelated words to create new sentences and laws never passed by the state legislature. State Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R – River Falls) has led a bipartisan effort to prohibit what Republicans are calling this abuse of the partial veto. Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he is pleased the Senate voted to send the constitutional ammendment to an April referendum. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/26/07) - Joined by students, local officials, business leaders and other Wisconsin citizens at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Governor Jim Doyle signed into law a budget that invests in the University System and puts Wisconsin on the path to permanent fiscal stability. In addition to cutting state operations by more than $200 million, the budget cuts advance commitments and one time spending nearly in half, and will have $120 million in reserves at the end of this biennium. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/25/07) - The new Wisconsin budget set to be signed by Governor Jim Doyle tomorrow (Friday) includes economic development monies for municipalities that experienced devaluation in manufacturing properties in Portage, Wood and Adams counties. The funds will help Stevens Point, Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids, as well as Plover, Auburndale, Amherst Junction, Biron, Friendship, Whiting, Port Edwards, Vesper, and the Town of Remington. There is also money in the State Budget to refurbish the Korean War Memorial along I-39 at Plover. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/24/07) - Last night the Wisconsin State Legislature finally passed a budget that took many long and arduous tries to come to something satisfactory to both Republicans and Democrats. The compromise budget was passed on what has been called a a bipartisan vote, sending the bill to the Governor’s desk for his review. The budget acted on by the legislature came out of a committee charged with the duty of coming up with the compromise announced last weekend. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/23/07) - Several organizations are praising aspects of the compromise State Budget announced last week. They include the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, and AARP Wisconsin. The praise centers around Badger Care Plus Expansion, SeniorCare, and FamilyCare. The Citizen Action Committee Executive Director says it's the first real progress on health care coverage in a decade. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/20/07) - It seems that the Battle Over the Wisconsin Budget is over, according to an announcement made yesterday (10/19/07). Governor Jim Doyle joined with Speaker Mike Huebsch, Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson and Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser to announce a budget agreement. Huebsch says the budget moves Wisconsin forward and lives within taxpayers’ means. Robson is hoping for swift bipartisan support of the latest compromise. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/18/07) - There is a standoff taking place in the State Capital over the Wisconsin Budget. Even though the Democrat controlled Senate passed the compromise version, nearly nine months after Governor Doyle introduced his budget to the Legislature, the Assembly still refuses to pass a budget. The Assembly voted against the compromise budget bill following approval by the Senate and Governor Jim Doyle is losing his patience with Assembly Republicans. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/16/07) - If lawmakers got grades, the Wisconsin Assembly would get an “F” or worse, according to State Senator Roger Breske (D-Eland). The Senate approved the latest version of the Wisconsin budget and passed it on to the Assembly for action. However, this week the lower house failed to pass this version. On Monday night, 53 of those State Representatives voted “no,” stalling the 2007-2008 state budget, again. That makes Wisconsin still the only state in the nation without a budget. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/15/07) - The Wisconsin State Senate has passed a budget compromise. After voting for the compromise budget, Senator Russ Decker (D-Weston) urged his colleagues in the State Assembly to meet the Senate in the middle and pass the bill soon. The budget passed by the Senate is the result of months of give and take from both sides. He says he hopes Assembly Republicans will put the rhetoric aside and pass the budget. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/13/07) - As gridlock continues over passage of a state budget, State Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) is proposing an overhaul of the Wisconsin's budgeting process designed to prevent future impasses. Under Darling’s proposal, the Legislature would assign portions of the Governor’s proposal to a number of joint legislative committees able to amend the bill yet still required to adhere to a set appropriation level. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/9/07) - Governor Jim Doyle has announced he will call the full Legislature into Special Session on a compromise budget bill on Monday, October 15. The Wisconsin Legislature is the only Legislature in the country that has failed to pass a budget. Doyle says it's time for what he called extreme Republicans to put partisan interests aside and do what's best for Wisconsin. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/3/07) - In response to a state budget stalemate that is now dragging into its fourth month, State Representative Louis Molepske, Jr. (D-Stevens Point) will begin circulating legislation for co-sponsorship that will set budget benchmarks and hold state legislators accountable for unnecessary delays in passing a budget. Molepske hopes the Budget Accountability Act will correct the practice of late budgets. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/2/07) - The Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) is urging members of the state budget conference committee and legislative leaders to not leave property taxpayers in the cold in light of a proposal to remove an increase in the real estate transfer fee. The doubling of the fee, as originally proposed, would have provided funding for critical county programs. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/2/07) - Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D-Beloit) says there is no more time for excuses, Wisconsin needs the budget bill passed. She is urging Assembly Republicans to let the Assembly Speaker get the budget done, while Speaker Huebsch says Republicans are ready to do their part, but he has reservations. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/1/07) - Governor Jim Doyle is warning of the severe consequences for the state if the Legislature fails to pass a state budget. For more than eight months the Legislature has failed to pass a budget, forcing thousands of students onto waiting lists for financial aid, putting the expansion of the Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center for sex offenders on hold, and causing problems for road projects. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/27/07) - The Wisconsin chapter of Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) says enacting budget increases when economic woes threaten to take a bite out of state government revenues and damage Wisconsinites prosperity is a foolhardy move. Analysis of data shows the state’s unemployment rate has become worse than the national average since last year. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/24/07) - Representative Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) told the Wood County Democratic Party meeting that the real problem in getting a state budget is that 15 Republican members of the State Assembly signed a No Tax Increase pledge and are now stuck in their own rhetoric. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - State Representative Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) blasted the Republican budget cuts to the Educational Communications Board as short-sighted, stupid, and downright idiotic. The veteran lawmaker said the cuts would end local programming in Wisconsin, create maintenance problems with the weather radio transmitters, Amber Alerts, and more. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - Senator Julie Lassa (D - Stevens Point) voiced her support for Governor Doyle’s economic development, pro-family and clean energy initiatives as outlined in his fifth State of the State address. Sen. Lassa says is looking forward to working with Governor Doyle to make his vision a reality. (read more)...
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