There is a plan that would end Wisconsin’s 6.27% personal income tax.
Former Gov. Scott Walker, University of Wisconsin economist Noah Williams, and a coalition of reform groups in the state on Thursday proposed eliminating the individual income tax as a way to jumpstart the state’s economy.
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First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, accompanied by second gentleman Doug Emhoff, visited a children’s COVID vaccine clinic and Waukesha City Hall during their Wisconsin trip. This was the first visit from anyone in the White House following the Waukesha parade tragedy.
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The state’s largest business group says Gov. Tony Evers’ could have done better with his latest workforce development effort.
The governor on Tuesday announced plans to spend $60 million in coronavirus stimulus money to try and get more people back to work in the state.
“There is no one-size-fits-all solution to addressing the workforce challenges across our state, so these funds are critically important to encourage regions and communities to develop cutting-edge, long-term solutions to the unique workforce challenges they face,” the governor said.
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Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) wrote a letter to United States Attorney General Merrick Garland asking for information regarding violent felons out on pretrial release. Johnson said that he found this information to be necessary following the “inappropriately low” bail of the Waukesha parade killer Darrell Brooks.
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Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul said in an interview with Associated Press that he would not enforce bans on abortion if Roe v. Wade gets overturned. Kaul said that he would not “investigate or prosecute anyone for having an abortion.” Wisconsin has an abortion ban law that is currently unenforceable under Roe v. Wade provisions, but that could change depending on if the Supreme Court decides to overturn the 1973 decision this summer.
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Two University of Wisconsin (UW) campuses have paused their employee COVID vaccine mandates following a federal judge blocking the Biden Administration requirement for federal employees to be vaccinated. University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are the two campuses who are pausing the mandate effective immediately.
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Wisconsin’s governor can continue to exclude certain news organizations from specific news conferences.
The United States Supreme Court on Friday declined to take a case entered by John J. MacIver Institute that challenged the governor’s invite-only press briefings.
MacIver sued in 2019, saying Evers violated the First Amendment by excluding its reporters from the annual budget briefing.
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First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are scheduled to visit Milwaukee and Waukesha on Wednesday. This will be the only visit from any White House official following the Waukesha parade killings that took place nearly a month ago.
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The top Republican in the Wisconsin Assembly is not a fan of the UW System’s decision to no longer require an SAT or ACT test.
UW Regents last week approved a plan to extend the school’s “test-optional policy” for two more years. That means high school freshmen and sophomores don’t have to worry about taking the tests in order to get into a University of Wisconsin school.
Regents say dropping the test requirement will help more students get into college.
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Wisconsin’s state superintendent is snapping back at Republican lawmakers over $77 million in coronavirus money for schools.
Superintendent Jill Underly on Thursday wrote a defiant letter to the heads of the legislature’s budget writing panel.
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Wisconsin is taking a huge step to eliminate the sometimes long wait to get a license to work in the state.
Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday signed a plan (AB 218) that fast-tracks occupational licensing in the state.
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The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents voted to extend the system’s test-optional admissions process, which began during the coronavirus pandemic.
The process will allow students to choose if they would like to submit their scores for standardized tests, like the ACT or SAT, when applying to universities.
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The Wisconsin’s Elections Commission has determined the so-called Zuckerbucks are not technically illegal.
Elections commissioners on Wednesday sided with a staff attorney who wrote “the Commission finds that the complaint does not raise probable cause to believe that a violation of law or abuse of discretion has occurred.”
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After demands from Arizona State University students that Kyle Rittenhouse – the now-18-year-old who was acquitted of all charges brought against him when he defended himself against rioters in Kenosha, Wisconsin – be banned from going to ASU, Rittenhouse himself issued a simple response: “I’m going.”
In an interview with conservative commentator Steven Crowder, Rittenhouse touched on the “very, very small” ASU student protest against him, calling him a “white supremacist killer,” declaring that, despite the students opposition to him, he still plans to complete his undergraduate degree there.
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Republican state lawmakers sent a letter to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D), urging the executive to remove Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm from office.
Chisholm has received harsh backlash for the decision from his office to recommend $1,000 bail for Darrell Brooks. After being released from custody, Brooks plowed his vehicle through a Christmas parade. He killed multiple people and injured dozens more.
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Billionaire philanthropist John Arnold is one of the creators of a bail calculation tool used in Waukesha, Wisc., the jurisdiction that set Darrell Brooks Jr.’s bail so low that he was able to be leave jail and allegedly plow an SUV into a crowd of Christmas parade-goers, killing six people and injuring several dozen others.
Arnold and his wife, Laura, fund a range of left-leaning social and legal projects, including bail reform, abortion rights, anti-gun work, and single-payer health care. A commentary published in Investor’s Business Daily called them “the mini George Soroses” because of the notable similarities between their political-philanthropic goals and those of the notoriously left-wing philanthropist, according to legalnewswire.com.
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Parents across Wisconsin will not get to see everything their kids are learning in school.
Gov. Tony Evers on Friday vetoed the so-called classroom transparency act.
The idea of the plan was to have schools share their curriculum, lesson plans, and assignments with parents so they knew just what their kids are being taught.
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Stephen K. Bannon welcomed Conservative attorney, legal scholar, and professor of law John Eastman on Monday’s War Room: Pandemic to explain his attorney’s letter to Congress citing the illegitimacy of his subpoena regarding the January 6 committee hearings. Bannon: I’m going to start with John Eastman. God do I love this guy. John Eastman, Raheem Kassam, and the great team over at the National pulse have a story. Because I never talk about this stuff because I’m focused on destroying brick by brick this radical regime that is the Biden administration and proud of it. So suck on that Democrats. Embrace the suck. But there is a huge story up here about your lawyer and something destroying the January 6 subpoenas. Can you walk us through here what’s gone on here sir? I’m going to put it up on the screen in Denver and all of our platforms so people can see it in our live chat. John Eastman, the floor is all yours. Eastman: I love that headline. John Eastman’s Lawyers Just Destroyed the January 6 Committee and its Subpoenas. Look, what we discovered looking into this, and I should say that I like you were subpoenaed to…
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Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol aren’t sure just how far Gov. Tony Evers’ new $110 million for schools in the state will go.
The governor on Thursday announced the latest round of Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security(CARES) Act spending.
“This $110 million investment is an opportunity for schools to invest directly into programming to help students both in and out of the classroom, allowing schools to hire additional educators and staff, provide more educational and extracurricular opportunities, invest in mental health supports, buy art supplies or computers, or keep the lights on – whatever they need and, most importantly, whatever our kids need,” the governor said.
The $110 million breaks down to about $134 per child.
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Former Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor and GOP gubernatorial candidate Rebecca Kleefisch on Friday announced that her campaign located hundreds of potential new, Republican poll workers.
Kleefisch’s campaign, which identified 600 potential recruits, has sought to have poll workers for each county throughout the state.
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On Friday, Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed five bills restricting abortion that were passed by the Republican-majority state legislature.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again today: as long as I’m governor, I will veto any legislation that turns back the clock on reproductive rights in this state—and that’s a promise,” Evers tweeted.
He said he firmly opposed all five bills, which would have restricted abortion by allowing third parties to pursue damage claims in cases of unwanted abortions and requiring more stringent reporting requirements on patients and providers, according to The Hill.
One of the bills, the Shield the Vulnerable Act, would have banned abortions performed on the basis of race, sex, or disability diagnosis of the unborn baby. It would have also allowed third parties such as a spouse, partner, or family member of a woman to bring damages to court if they did not want her to have the abortion, the news outlet reported.
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Five fully vaccinated California residents contracted the Omicron COVID variant while attending a wedding in Wisconsin, various reports say. The Wisconsin State Journal reported that no cases have been contracted by residents at this time, however Wisconsin’s Department of Health (DHS) is investigating the ‘outbreak.’
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There’s growing support among Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol to do something about the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, on Wednesday said he’s fed up with the Commission and its response to the questions about last year’s election.
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The Wisconsin commissioner who approved the alleged Waukesha SUV killer, Darrell Brooks’, bail was reassigned. WISN 12 News reported that Cedric Cornwall, the commissioner, has been removed from criminal cases and will now only be assigned to small claims or children’s cases.
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Cortez Rice, a Minnesota activist who had falsely claimed to be George Floyd’s nephew, is imprisoned in Waukesha County, Wisconsin for jury tampering.
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A former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice who is leading one of the investigations into the state’s 2020 elections says it’s clear to him there is a cover-up going on.
Former Justice Michael Gableman told the Assembly’s Committee on Elections on Wednesday that the state’s Elections Commission, its administrator, and the mayors of Madison and Green Bay have refused to answer any of his questions about the Mark Zuckerberg-funded Center for Tech and Civic Life, and continue to refuse to cooperate with the subpoenas issued in the case.
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Far-left media outlets and commentators have tied the deadly shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan to former President Donald J. Trump, all while denying that the massacre in Waukesha, Wisconsin could have had political motivations.
“Comprehensive coverage of the Oxford High School shooting here, from the gunman’s chilling videos to his parents’ outspoken political views,” Daily Beast’s Rachel Olding bragged on Twitter.
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The Wisconsin Senate Education Committee on Monday advanced a bill to block Critical Race Theory (CRT) teachings from the state’s school curriculum.
The measure was passed by the State Assembly earlier this year and is now prepared for full consideration by the Senate.
Assembly Bill 411, approved by Republicans on a party-line vote, would prohibit “race or sex stereotyping in 1) instruction provided to pupils in school districts and independent charter schools; and 2) training provided to employees of school boards and independent charter schools,” according to a summary produced by the Legislative Reference Bureau.
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The Wisconsin Supreme Court has indicated it will not make many changes to the political map drawn by Republicans.
The court ruled 4-3 on Tuesday that it is going with the “least-change approach” to the state’s new political map.
“We have the power to provide a judicial remedy but not to legislate,” Justice Rebecca Bradley wrote for the majority. “We have no authority to act as a ‘super-legislature’ by inserting ourselves into the actual lawmaking function.”
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The Wisconsin Elections Commission will soon answer the charges from an October audit that found dozens of instances when the commission didn’t follow the state’s election laws.
Commissioners are scheduled to meet Wednesday morning to provide an official response to the audit’s questions, and Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, is very interested to hear what the Commission has to say.
“The audit is damning,” Brandtjen told The Center Square on Tuesday. “It makes it very clear that WEC is not doing its job.”
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In response to the Kyle Rittenhouse case, Kenosha’s three Democratic lawmakers have introduced a plan to make it illegal for anyone under 18 to carry a rifle or a shotgun unless they are hunting.
“While Wisconsin law generally prohibits a minor from possessing a dangerous weapon, there is an exception which allows a minor to possess a long gun or rifle if the barrel is longer than 16 inches,” Sen. Bob Wirch, D-Somers, along with Reps. Tod Ohnstad, D-Kenosha, and Tip McGuire, D-Kenosha, said in a statement. “The exception was made to respect Wisconsin’s sporting heritage. This bill simply clarifies that a minor may only possess a long gun or rifle if they are legally hunting and in compliance with hunting laws.”
Prosecutors in the Rittenhouse case tried to charge him with illegal possession of a firearm, but that charge was dropped because Wisconsin law allows some teenagers to carry certain rifles and shotguns.
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Teachers from Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay have signed a pledge to teach Critical Race Theory in schools. The pledge, started by the Zinn Education Project, had over 7,500 signees in the end of October, which was the last time an update about the petition was posted.
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The need for loans has arguably never been greater in America following the COVID-19 pandemic. A 2020 study conducted by Bankrate.com shows that just 39% of Americans can cover a $1,000 emergency cost without taking out a loan. In a time of economic uncertainty, lenders offer a last resort option for many who are struggling to make ends meet and support themselves and their families.
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Wisconsin’s U.S. senators are telling “outside groups” to stop trying to use Waukesha’s parade tragedy for their own purposes.
Republican Ron Johnson and Democrat Tammy Baldwin issued a joint statement on Saturday decrying the politicization of the deaths at Waukesha’s Christmas Parade.
“It has come to our attention that outside individuals or groups may attempt to exploit the tragedy that occurred last Sunday in Waukesha for their own political purposes. As the U.S. Senators representing Wisconsin, one from each political party, we are asking anyone considering such action to cease and desist,” the two wrote.
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Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI-08) responded in a video posted to Twitter, to Dr. Anthony Fauci’s claim to “represent science,” saying “That’s crazy.” Fauci claimed to represent science during an interview on Face the Nation with CBS that was aired on Sunday.
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A Racine County judge sentenced an arsonist to six years in prison who burned down buildings during the unrest following the death of George Floyd. The judge said, “Racine don’t play.” Hernandez committed the act of arson on May 31, 2020, when a protest in Racine turned into a riot with protesters throwing bricks and rocks at police officers.
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Rep. David Steffen, R-Green Bay, said a lot of folks in Brown County love the idea of a tax rebate from Lambeau Field. But as Packer fans, Steffen says the same people are a little leery about his plan for the stadium tax.
Steffen, who not only represents Green Bay but used to work for the Packers, wants to get rid of The Green Bay/Brown County Professional Football Stadium District, and allow the city of Green Bay to essentially take over its functions.
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Two Wisconsin state lawmakers are proposing changes to the state constitution regarding bail guidelines. Republicans Representative Cindi Duchow (R-Delafield) and Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) are “drafting a resolution to allow court commissioners, who make decisions on bail amounts and conditions, to consider additional factors.”
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A Racine Sheriff called for the removal of a supervisor over posting bail for an alleged gun thief. Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling says that a county supervisor needs to be removed from his position after he posted bail for a man who is accused of stealing three sheriff’s SWAT team guns.
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GoFundMe’s about-face on facilitating donations to legal funds for Kyle Rittenhouse after his acquittal Friday is prompting questions about comparable fundraisers it left up for anti-police rioters and left-wing activists accused of violence.
The massive crowdfunding platform, whose biggest fundraisers include several left-wing causes, explained that its “long-standing policy” prohibits raising money for individuals charged with a violent crime.
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Senator Ron Johnson (R) criticized ‘Catch and Release’ policies in a Fox News interview, saying that’s how situations like the one in Waukesha develop. Johnson said that those policies need to be reworked both for border security and within the United States justice system.
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There are a lot of questions about how the suspect in Waukesha’s parade tragedy was out of jail.
State Sen. Melissa Agard, D-Madison, on Monday said the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office must provide more answers about how Darrell Brooks was released on bail just days before police say he drove through the parade crowd in Waukesha.
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The driver in the Waukesha mass murder event Sunday has a long criminal history spanning nearly two decades. Darrell Edward Brooks, the man taken into custody after he drove through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, killed 5 and wounded 48 others in the mass killing.
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Five are dead and dozens more injured after a Black Lives Matter activist and two others allegedly plowed through a crowd of Christmas paraders in Waukesha Sunday evening.
Some say it’s “karma” for the acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse, who walked after a jury decided last week that he acted in self-defense in the killing of two rioters, and the injuring of a third.
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The flag at the Wisconsin Capitol – as well as flags across the rest of the state – will be lowered to remember the people killed in the tragedy at Waukesha’s Christmas Parade.
Gov. Tony Evers issued an order to lower the flags after five people were killed and dozens more were hurt Sunday afternoon. The official count is 40-plus injured, including 12 children.
The governor on Sunday said his thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted.
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The parents of one of the two men shot and killed by Kyle Rittenhouse during three nights of rioting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, last year vowed to continue their fight for justice for their slain son.
A jury found Rittenhouse not guilty Friday of all five charges in the case including first degree intentional homicide in the death of Anthony Huber.
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The City of Madison on Wednesday announced that all individuals who serve as poll workers will be mandated to receive the coronavirus vaccine.
Earlier this year, city officials detailed the vaccine requirement or testing for all city employees. A recent memo certified that the requirements would be extended to poll workers.
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The fight over Wisconsin’s next political map took its next step toward a courtroom Thursday.
Gov. Tony Evers vetoed the new maps drawn by Republican lawmakers.
“What’s sitting in front of me here are gerrymandered maps modeled after the same gerrymandered maps we’ve had for a decade,” Evers said in a video message. “They were sent to my desk over the objections of a decade’s worth of people in this state demanding better, demanding more, and demanding a fair, nonpartisan process for preparing our maps for the next 10 years.”
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Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) released a statement following the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, saying that “We must move forward.” Rittenhouse was declared not guilty on all five counts against him.
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Representative Thomas Tiffany (R-WI-07) is demanding answers from United States Attorney General Merrick Garland following a leaked Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) memo that outlines how parents would be given “threat tags” for outbursts at school board meetings. Garland had come under fire for comments equating domestic terrorism with concerned parents at school board meetings.
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