Around 20 students gathered Thursday evening for the Second Congressional District candidate forum, as the four candidates shared their past experiences and views on politics and finance. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, cyber and electronic security consultant Dennis Hall, Rep. Kelda Helen Roys, D-Madison, and local attorney Matt Silverman all took… Read more »

Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin, is the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. He spoke to The Badger Herald briefly outside of his Tuesday election night party at Moe’s Tavern and Grill. The Badger Herald: How do you feel about the voter ID bill? And do you… Read more »

A judge has granted special immunity to the 12th witness in the ongoing John Doe investigation of former employees who served under Gov. Scott Walker when he was Milwaukee County executive. The Associated Press reported that former Milwaukee municipal judge and private attorney David Halbrooks received immunity in the probe… Read more »

New polling results show Gov. Scott Walker is five points ahead of his Democratic opponent Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in Wisconsin’s upcoming June recall elections, a difference from previous polls which showed Barrett and Walker neck-and-neck. According to a Rasmussen statewide telephone survey, 50 percent of Wisconsin’s likely voters would… Read more »

For nearly two years, the Milwaukee district attorney’s John Doe probe has investigated Gov. Scott Walker’s administration during his term as Milwaukee County Executive in 2010.  Two of the most important advances in the investigation came in January when authorities arrested former Deputy Chief of Staff Kelly Rindfleisch and former… Read more »

Republican legislators are calling on Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett to release specific details about his plans for the state budget so voters can compare his plans to Gov. Scott Walker’s record over his last year in office. Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairs Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills,… Read more »

More than six months after recall efforts officially started last November, opponents of Gov. Scott Walker will have the chance to recall him June 5 in an election against Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. On Tuesday, the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination came to an end when Barrett won the… Read more »

A day after Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was nominated to run against Gov. Scott Walker in the governor’s recall election, progressive and labor leaders held a rally in Madison to show their unity behind Barrett in the upcoming general election. The rally started at Library Mall, where the crowd proceeded… Read more »

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett may have defeated former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk in Tuesday’s recall primary for the Democratic nomination for governor, but he will face his final challenge in the general election against Gov. Scott Walker June 5. While Walker has the advantage of incumbency, University of Wisconsin… Read more »

All four Senate-aspiring Democrats defeated placeholder candidates in recall primaries Tuesday and will go on to face Republican senators in a set of general elections that may change the Senate’s majority party. According to the Associated Press, based on preliminary results, Lori Compas won the Democratic Senate primary for the district of Senate… Read more »

Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin, received the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor and will now face Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch in the June 5 recall election. According to the Associated Press, based on preliminary election results, Mitchell received 52 percent of the vote. Isaac Weix, who… Read more »

After a month-long campaign, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett emerged from Tuesday’s primary recall election as the Democratic candidate for governor. Barrett received 55 percent of the primary vote, with former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk receiving 37 percent. The Associated Press called the election for Barrett just before 9 p.m.,… Read more »

Dane County Treasurer Dave Worzala withdrew his bid in the race for a U.S. congressional seat Tuesday, saying his campaign made an important impact on the other candidates. Worzala, who was in the running against Rep. Kelda Roys, D-Madison; Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison; and local attorney Matt Silverman for Wisconsin’s… Read more »

Last Saturday, as thousands of students turned out for the Mifflin Street Block Party, Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, celebrated his 85th birthday. As the longest-serving state legislator in the nation, Risser recently announced he will again seek re-election. He sat down with The Badger Herald to reflect on the past… Read more »

With the recall election for the governor’s seat just over one month away, campaign spending for the race has already surpassed the most expensive elections in the state’s history. Mike McCabe, executive director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog group, said he believes this will continue to… Read more »

Last Saturday, as thousands of students turned out for the Mifflin Street Block Party, Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, celebrated his 85th birthday. The longest-serving state legislator in the nation, Risser recently announced he will again seek re-election. He sat down with The Badger Herald to reflect on the past session… Read more »

With Gov. Scott Walker’s recall election a month away, the events leading up to the gubernatorial recall have influenced political sentiments nationwide and could reflect a gradual trend of greater conservatism in Wisconsin. While Wisconsin elections tend to be closely split between the parties, Walker’s support could indicate a gradual… Read more »

During the past year, University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly has led the UW System in the face of $300 million of funding cuts and budgetary lapses. The Badger Herald sat down with Reilly to discuss the impact of these trends and possible solutions being offered. Here are the… Read more »

With a recall primary set for tomorrow, Gov. Scott Walker’s potential Democratic opponents faced off in a debate held at Vilas Hall Friday night, addressing the issues of rising student loan debt and improving the state’s economy. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Sen. Kathleen Vinehout,… Read more »

A small group of medicinal marijuana supporters marched from the Capitol steps Saturday to generate support for a bill that would legalize medical cannabis in Wisconsin. The Madison Global Cannabis Freedom March ended at the Mifflin Street Block Party and was a part of a nationwide march sponsored by the… Read more »

Following a recall effort largely motivated by the repeal of collective bargaining rights for public employees, Democratic gubernatorial candidates have shifted the race’s platform to zone in on job creation as their primary looms in the near future. Former Dane County Executive and gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Falk and Milwaukee Mayor… Read more »

As the Democratic primary approaches, Milwaukee Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett sat down with students at Memorial Union Thursday, saying graduates face a grim job market and that he is the strongest candidate to face Gov. Scott Walker in a recall election. During the discussion, Barrett said the… Read more »

State election officials predict more than 1.3 million people will vote in next Tuesday’s primary election, the highest turnout in more than half a century for a partisan primary. The predicted voter turnout is 30 to 35 percent, according to a Government Accountability Board statement. This percentage equates to between… Read more »

Independent presidential candidate and former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer made a campaign stop in Madison Wednesday, calling for disclosure laws and campaign finance reform as necessary steps to fix the federal debt. Roemer spoke at the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign’s annual meeting, where he said “all these guys” who are talking… Read more »

A Wisconsin advocacy group has filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Board alleging scholarships offered by a free market think tank to state legislators as incentive to attend their conferences violate state ethics laws. The Center for Media and Democracy filed a complaint March 23 alleging the American Legislative… Read more »

Supreme Court Justice Patience Roggensack will recuse herself from an ethics case involving two of her fellow judges, claiming as a material witness she cannot preside over the case. Last June, colleagues accused Justice David Prosser of putting his hands around the neck of Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. He is… Read more »

A poll, released less than one week before the primaries, shows Gov. Scott Walker leading Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett by one percentage point in a recall election, while Barrett leads all other Democratic contenders in the recall. A Marquette Law School poll released Wednesday shows Walker leads Barrett 48 percent… Read more »

Messages of solidarity and unity were the themes of the annual May Day Rally Tuesday evening, as hundreds of community members gathered on the Capitol steps to promote workers’ rights. The May Day rally was held in commemoration of the 1886 May Day Haymarket massacre, during which workers took part in… Read more »

Recently filed campaign finance reports provide the first peek into the legal defense fund formed by Gov. Scott Walker in March to help pay for the legal expenses surrounding the John Doe investigation into Walker’s time as Milwaukee County executive. A closer look at the finance report for his recall campaign… Read more »

Although newly passed legislation surrounding voter ID requirements is tied up in court, college students may still face a number of other obstacles while heading to the polls for the upcoming recall elections. The Wisconsin Women’s Network held a brown bag lunch discussion Tuesday to consider recent changes in state voting… Read more »

While the Republicans running as Democrats in the recall elections originally did so to ensure a primary for all recall elections, many are beginning to run active campaigns, enticed by the possibility of winning and attention to their beliefs. Earlier this month, the Republican Party of Wisconsin collected enough signatures… Read more »

A living site for the homeless on the East Side of Madison which began as a local offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street movement can no longer be a temporary housing space after a judge’s decision Monday night. Occupy Madison, which has transformed into an encampment of the city’s homeless,… Read more »

Federal officials approved changes by the governor to cut costs to the state-run health care program BadgerCare late last week, which will eliminate coverage for an estimated 17,000 people.  According to a statement released by the Department of Health Services, the cuts will affect adults above 133 percent of the… Read more »

Out-of-town University of Wisconsin students may face troubles in the recall elections this summer after the implementation of new rules for voting this month. City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl said students have quite a few things to be concerned about in the upcoming recall elections, with new voting rules in effect… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker unveiled a $100 million initiative to boost Milwaukee’s economy on Monday, with a focus on areas of the city where some of the highest rates of unemployment in the state exist. According to a statement from Walker’s office, the Transform Milwaukee initiative is a project that will… Read more »

With the recall election primaries just one week away, a major round of campaign financing figures filed Monday shows the governor with a substantial lead in the money race against his prospective Democratic challengers. Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign leads all other candidates in the gubernatorial race, raising more than $13 million over… Read more »

Under threat of a presidential veto, Congress passed a bill Friday to prevent the Stafford Student Loan interest rate from doubling, which would affect more than 10,000 University of Wisconsin students, by repealing a health care program. According to a summary, the bill would extend the 3.4 percent interest rate… Read more »

An independent candidate has entered the field of challengers against Gov. Scott Walker, running as a write-in candidate to prevent the farther polarization of politics and to balance the state budget. Steven Zelinski, an independent roofing and construction contractor from Webster, announced he is running for governor in the recall… Read more »

As a result of health care reforms made by Congress last year, Wisconsin citizens will receive more than $16 million in refunds from insurance companies as part of mandates, which some worry may drive companies out of business. According to a statement released Thursday by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a… Read more »

Hundreds of men, women and children gathered outside the Capitol on Saturday to rally in protest of recently enacted laws pertaining to women’s rights, employment and reproductive health. At the event, many women and men shared their stories about why they continue to fight for these rights. Among the events… Read more »

An appeals court rejected the state’s request to lift an injunction on a law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls, ensuring the law will not be in effect for the May primary and possibly the June recall election. The voter ID law currently faces two challenges in… Read more »

As a recall primary approaches and supporters of Democratic gubernatorial candidates begin to criticize one another, a Democratic insider has warned attacks between supporters could damage the party in a possible recall election against Gov. Scott Walker. On Wednesday, a flyer circulated among members of the Wisconsin Education Association Council… Read more »

A poll released Thursday shows Democratic contenders in Senate recalls closing the gap between them and their Republican challengers, which could mean a possible switch in the control of the Senate toward a Democrat majority after the recall elections this summer. These new polls, officially released Tuesday, differ from an… Read more »

Efforts to recall Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, after he opposed a mining bill — which failed to pass the Legislature last session — hit the midpoint this week and are “right on track,” according to organizers. The Recall Bob Jauch Committee hit the 30-day midpoint last Wednesday, according to committee… Read more »

While legislators across the country introduced fewer abortion-restricting bills in the first three months of this year than last year, a study put out by a sexual health advocacy group shows a significant increase over the past decade. In the first three months of the year, legislators in 45 out… Read more »

Check out a video excerpt from this interview here.In early March, Sen. Jim Holperin, D-Conover, announced he would not seek re-election after serving more than 30 years as a representative, secretary of tourism and a senator. Holperin has also faced two recall elections, one over tribal treaty rights when he served in… Read more »

Voters may not have to present photo identification at the polls for the June recall elections after a court denied the state’s request to end a temporary injunction on the law Wednesday.  The voter ID law faces two challenges brought in two separate appeals courts, one brought by the League… Read more »

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser requested another of his colleagues on the Supreme Court remove himself from a case involving an ethics complaint against Prosser on Wednesday, a move which calls into question whether he will face discipline for allegedly placing his hands around another justice’s neck last June.… Read more »

A new study by the University of Wisconsin’s Institute for Research on Poverty found although the nationwide recession led to a loss of jobs in Wisconsin, the poverty rate in Wisconsin was actually lower in 2010 than in 2009. Using its own Wisconsin Poverty Measure, whose methodology and results differ… Read more »

During the university’s celebration of the Year of the Wisconsin Idea, experts are questioning the strength of the state’s relationship with the University of Wisconsin System and whether the public feels a growing distance from the higher education system. In a report published last month, UW political science professor Kathy… Read more »

Three Wisconsin schools gained recognition from the federal government for their excellence in promoting a healthy and environmentally sustainable learning environment. The U.S. Department of Education issued the first Green Ribbon School awards to a total of 78 institutions in the country, spanning across 29 states. Dimensions of Learning Academy… Read more »

Wisconsin legislators are calling on the U.S. Senate to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which would result in a loss of millions in funding to the state if not restored. The act provides $7.5 million in federal funding to Wisconsin each year to be used for supporting child advocacy… Read more »

Despite numbers last week showing a decrease in statewide unemployment, Wisconsin is the only state in the country to experience a statistically significant job loss throughout the last year, according to recently gathered national statistics.The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that Wisconsin lost 23,900 jobs from March 2011 to… Read more »

State election officials are working with Waukesha County to implement a quicker system of reporting election night results after multiple instances of irregularities, which led to a statewide recount for a Supreme Court race last year.  Government Accountability Director Kevin Kennedy said in a statement that the GAB is working… Read more »

Budget reforms implemented under the state’s recent collective bargaining reforms now exceed more than $1 billion in savings for taxpayers, according to a statement Gov. Scott Walker made public Monday. In the statement, Walker said the largest savings came from reducing the budget to the public school system and lowering property… Read more »

With federal student loan interest rates set to double in July, President Barack Obama is urging Congress to draft legislation to freeze them.  On July 1, student loan interest rates will increase from 3.4 percent to 6.4 percent, according to a White House report. This increase would affect 7.4 million… Read more »

With a primary for the recall elections only two weeks away, some Republican legislators are calling for party faithfuls to vote in Democratic primaries to deceptively influence the elections.  Rep. Robin Vos, R-Burlington, said while he is not working to coordinate cross-over voting efforts, where a Republican may vote for a Democrat… Read more »

A group of legislators and health experts criticized U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan and its cuts to Medicare at a roundtable discussion in Madison on Monday.  At the meeting, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said Ryan’s Medicare plan cuts spending on the program for seniors by approximately 15 percent while… Read more »

State Senate candidates are clashing over federal tax plans after a new contender entered the race late last week.Libertarian candidate Joseph Kexel of Kenosha, Wis., announced his run for U.S. Senate Friday with promises to balance the country’s budget. Kexel joins a slew of other candidates vying to replace retiring… Read more »

Prosecutors cleared a Milwaukee real estate broker’s involvement in the ongoing John Doe investigation into Gov. Scott Walker’s activities as former Milwaukee county executive. A statement from the Milwaukee’s District Attorney’s office to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel confirmed Andrew Jensen had been cleared of involvement in the investigation. “The District… Read more »

With hundreds of applications flowing in every day, the Department of Justice last week issued the 100,000th concealed carry permit in the state since the law passed last year, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced Friday. Van Hollen said the department has been flooded with applications, reaching the 100,000 milestone… Read more »

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin suspended its use of nonsurgical abortions late last week because of concerns surrounding restrictions put into effect Friday by a recently signed law. In a statement from PPW, President and CEO Teri Huyck said the organization would discontinue the use of chemical, or nonsurgical, abortions even… Read more »

Despite large cuts to the state’s education budget, Gov. Scott Walker reinstated a program to give merit raises and pay adjustments to University of Wisconsin employees and other state workers, according to a report from the Associated Press on Friday. 218 employees across nine agencies received a total of $765,195… Read more »

Secretary of State Doug La Follette is one of four Democrats running for the party’s nomination for governor in the upcoming recall. La Follette served as secretary of state between 1975 and 1979 and again during a second stint between 1982 and the present. A former University of Wisconsin-Parkside professor,… Read more »

Democrats and Republicans clashed over the future and manner of job creation after a report released Thursday showed the state losing jobs during the month of March. According to a Department of Workforce Development statement, the state lost 4,300 private sector jobs throughout March. However, the state’s unemployment rate also… Read more »

Voters may not need to show photo identification at the polls for the recall elections after a Dane County judge extended a court case on a challenge to the law Thursday. After hearing evidence for the past four days, Dane County Circuit Judge David Flanagan set a briefing schedule.  Flanagan… Read more »

Gubernatorial candidate and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett pledged Thursday that if elected governor in a June recall election, he would call a special session of the Legislature to reinstate collective bargaining rights for public employees. Joined at the Capitol by Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, and Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, Barrett… Read more »

Democratic leaders are criticizing Wisconsin’s appeal to the federal Supreme Court against a recent redistricting decision to back plans for two Milwaukee Assembly districts.  Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said in a statement the redistricting laws that the Legislature passed over the past session were upheld by the courts in… Read more »

With elections dominating the news at the state and federal level, a top national Democratic pollster criticized aspects of political polling culture and offered his analysis on the issues surrounding recall elections. Mark Mellman of the Democratic opinion research organization The Mellman Group spoke at the Madison Club Thursday and… Read more »

Newly released polls show Republican incumbents leading their Democratic challengers in the recall elections, races which could determine which party will hold a majority in the state Senate. In a poll conducted by the polling group Public Policy Polling for the liberal blog Daily Kos released Tuesday, Senate Republican Leader… Read more »

Student loan debt would be completely forgiven after 10 years of public service under a proposed plan by a top federal education official, which would also strive to make the United States the number one producer of college graduates within the decade. United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan gave… Read more »

Gubernatorial candidate and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk released her plan to address student loans and rising tuition costs Wednesday, which she said would allow the state to work with the federal government to make loans more affordable and easier for students to pay off. At a press conference… Read more »

State school officials have released data showing school districts have cut more than 2,000 jobs over the past school year, leading Democratic legislators to question whether reforms passed and supported by Gov. Scott Walker, such as limiting collective bargaining for public employee unions, are working. The 2011-13 biennium budget under… Read more »

Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, revealed her economic plan if elected to the governor’s seat Tuesday, which involves increasing funding to the University of Wisconsin System, a day after many contenders for the Democratic nomination promised to repeal tax cuts supported by Gov. Scott Walker.  In her plan, Vinehout also said… Read more »

Democratic candidates running for Madison’s 2nd congressional seat unveiled first quarter fundraising Monday, with state Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, leading the pack with more than $200,000 in donations. In reports filed to the Federal Election Commission, Pocan raised $209,377 between January and March of this year. Pocan’s report also showed he… Read more »

Protestors demanded equal pay for women at an event at the Capitol on Tuesday, which commemorated “Equal Pay Day” across the country. Hosted by Rep. Kelda Helen Roys, D-Madison, the event drew nearly 100 people to hear several speakers address the issue of a woman’s right to demand equal pay for… Read more »

Six fake Democrats will remain on the recall election ballots after the state election board unanimously approved its staff recommendations to do so at a meeting on Tuesday. The Government Accountability Board unanimously ruled no election fraud was occurring and the board did not have the authority to decide the… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., reported more than $2 million in contributions raised in the first quarter of campaign fundraising, with others running for Wisconsin Senate seats trailing her.In a statement, Baldwin thanked the 24,000 people who contributed to the campaign and said her fundraising numbers were “a sign of… Read more »

Statewide property taxes for homeowners have gone down for the first time in 12 years, which officials in the governor’s office are crediting as a ripple effect of the ending of collective bargaining for public employees.The statement from Gov. Scott Walker’s office said the tax bill for the median value home… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker is leading all Democratic contenders for governor according to recent polling, while Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett snagged the endorsements of five Madison mayors over the weekend.  According to a joint poll conducted by the Democratic leaning Public Policy Polling released Monday, Walker leads Barrett 50 to 45… Read more »

With recall election primaries less than three weeks away, the state Supreme Court refused to take up two lawsuits challenging the state’s voter ID law on Monday. The justices’ one-page statement announced their decision not to take up the cases but did not comment on the lawsuits filed by the… Read more »

Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, 50-year veteran of the state Senate and the longest serving state legislator in the nation, announced Saturday he will run for reelection. In a statement, Risser, 84, pledged to work to remove the “radical right wing agenda” being pursued by the current administration and to “get… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker said his budget reforms are improving school finances based on district surveys conducted in the last decade and has requested the state’s largest teachers union provide survey data in what they call a political ploy. To verify survey information, Walker sent a letter Thursday to Mary Bell,… Read more »

Tea Party members of all generations gathered at the steps of the Capitol Saturday, calling for limiting taxes and lowering government spending as part of the Americans for Prosperity Tax Day Rally. At least 4,000 Tea Party members were in attendance. Speakers included Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, conservative radio host… Read more »

A series of developments unfolded last week in the ongoing John Doe investigation of bureaucrats who allegedly did campaign work and fundraising while working under Gov. Scott Walker during his time as Milwaukee County executive. On Friday, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin said in a statement that they had obtained… Read more »

A Wisconsin State Supreme Court judge has asked that two fellow judges be removed from an upcoming discipline case against him alleging he placed his hands around the neck of another justice last June. Justice David Prosser filed two motions Thursday asking for Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson and Justice Ann… Read more »

A panel of federal judges sided with an immigrants’ rights group and a group of Democratic voters in revising two Milwaukee Assembly districts, rejecting a plan proposed by Republicans. Immigrants’ rights group Voces de la Frontera and a group of Democratic voters brought the case against the Wisconsin Government Accountability… Read more »

With a gubernatorial recall election still two months away, the campaign for Gov. Scott Walker released two attack advertisements Thursday focusing on the job records of Democratic gubernatorial candidates Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. The ad against Barrett alleges Milwaukee has not only had… Read more »

The president of a national policy research center criticized a Wisconsin congressman’s federal budget proposal because of the cuts it will make to social welfare programs, despite the plan’s support from many Republicans.  Bob Greenstein, founder and president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, delivered the lecture in… Read more »

Studies show rates of HIV infection in young black men who have sex with men to be higher than any other demographic group in Wisconsin. A report from the Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services revealed that men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for 72 percent of… Read more »

Following presentations on recommendations for increased flexibilities from University of Wisconsin System officials, members of the Special Task Force on UW Restructuring and Operational Flexibilities sparred over the creation of institutional governing boards to oversee UW institutions. JoAnne Brandes, a member of the Carroll University Board of Directors, said she… Read more »

In a living room discussion held Tuesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius heard stories from women who have benefited from the reforms brought about by the Affordable Care Act that currently faces a federal Supreme Court challenge. Sebelius said she has had similar conversations with women throughout the… Read more »

With the May 8 primary for the gubernatorial recall election approaching, four Democrats running in the contest against Gov. Scott Walker clashed over the best way to restore collective bargaining rights for public employee unions Wednesday night. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett; former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk; Sen. Kathleen Vinehout,… Read more »

Progressive groups have raised legal complaints to state agencies against a Republican tactic to run fake Democratic candidates in the primaries for Wisconsin’s multiple recall elections. Last summer, the Republican Party of Wisconsin ran “fake” Democratic candidates in the primaries for state Senate recall elections. On Tuesday, RPW spokesperson Ben… Read more »

Following the filing of nomination papers for recall elections on the Tuesday deadline, three candidates for governor and lieutenant governor did not get on the ballot while two had paperwork problems and will still appear on the ballot, assuming they are not contested. Michael Mangan, a Milwaukee energy engineer, did… Read more »

Two Republican U.S. Senate candidates unveiled further details of the policy reforms they would pursue if elected in November.Vying alongside two others for the GOP nomination to take on retiring Democrat U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl’s seat, former Gov. Tommy Thompson and U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann both updated their plans for… Read more »

Just hours before the deadline Tuesday, four Democratic gubernatorial challengers turned in signatures to the Government Accountability Board to qualify for primaries that will be held May 8. All nominees must turn in a minimum of 2,000 signatures supporting their candidacy in the race, according to rules set by the… Read more »

GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum suspended his campaign in the race for the party’s presidential nomination Tuesday, making former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney the only GOP candidate likely to receive enough delegates to win the nomination. Santorum said he made the decision over the weekend and formally made his announcement… Read more »

President Barack Obama is leading in support from independent voters in swing states, according to a recent survey.  The survey, conducted by the moderate Democratic think tank Third Way, found 57 percent of independent swing voters hold a favorable opinion of Obama while 41 percent hold a favorable opinion of Mitt… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker plans to include a proposal in the next budget allowing for law enforcement officers to collect DNA at the time of arrest for some felonies and sex-related crimes.  Walker, following the signing of a bill increasing the penalty for repeat offenders of domestic violence, spoke Monday at… Read more »

In an action some groups say violates state statutes, the Republican Party of Wisconsin is running six Republicans as “fake” Democrats to force a primary race in recall elections for four state senators, the lieutenant governor and the governor.   RPW spokesperson Ben Sparks said they are running the Democrats… Read more »

The state’s largest union forwarded a video to its members last week criticizing Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s stance on collective bargaining, despite Barrett’s campaign calling the video inaccurate. The 24th Wisconsin chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, sent out an email last week… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker signed four bills relating to women’s reproductive health and pay equality without the usual public fanfare last Thursday, a move that came under fire from Democrats and advocacy groups.Walker signed the four bills into law on Thursday and announced their signing, along with 47 other bills, in a… Read more »

Recall election dates are set after the Government Accountability Board approved staff recommendations last Friday to certify the recall elections against Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four Republican state senators. Primaries will be held on May 8 followed by a general election on June 5. Following the… Read more »

A recently released report found that young people and Americans in general are driving less, and calls on politicians, policymakers and the public to reevaluate their approaches toward transportation policies. According to a Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group report, from 2001 to 2009, the average annual number of vehicle miles… Read more »

As a recall election for Gov. Scott Walker looms in the near future, three Republican candidates have stepped forward to possibly challenge Walker in a primary for the Republican nomination. Michael Mangan, a Milwaukee energy engineer, Arthur Kohl-Riggs, a Madison citizen, and Patrick O’Brien, a New Glarus stay-at-home father, have… Read more »

A federal judge upheld most of the law passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature last year that limited collective bargaining rights for many public employee unions, while striking down sections relating to annual recertification and allowing union members to deduct fees from their paycheck. Judge William Conley of the United States… Read more »

Wisconsin may have the first wolf hunt in a state east of the Mississippi River this year, which supporters say could help control a growing wolf population, while opponents say the hunt could put the gray wolf back on the endangered species list. On April 2, Gov. Scott Walker signed… Read more »

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the Wisconsin GOP primary Tuesday, and experts predict it is unlikely for any other candidate to win the Republican nomination.  Romney received 44.1 percent of the vote, closely followed by former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum with 36.9 percent. Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich lagged… Read more »

With less than a week to go before the Wisconsin presidential primary, Texan congressman and Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul made a stop on the University of Wisconsin campus Thursday night, calling for an end to the Afghanistan War as well as an end to the Federal Reserve. According to… Read more »

With the Wisconsin presidential primary less than a week away, Callista Gingrich, wife of former Speaker of the House and current contender for the Republican presidential nomination Newt Gingrich, spoke to voters Wednesday asking them for their support on the campaign trail. Callista Gingrich spoke to a group of supporters… Read more »

A state Supreme Court Justice who has been at the center of numerous ethics complaints and allegations has ruled against a client of a law firm that did not charge him for legal work when attorneys represented him before the Supreme Court on previous ethics charges. Justice Michael Gableman, who… Read more »

Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette announced his candidacy for governor Wednesday, saying the need for Wisconsin to return to a mutual respect for all its citizens would be a focus of his campaign. In a statement, La Follette said he was the best choice to defeat Gov. Scott… Read more »

Two Wisconsin Courts of Appeals asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court Wednesday to take up two separate lawsuits against the voter ID law approved last year for a final ruling on whether the law should be enforced. One of the lawsuits was filed jointly by immigrant rights group Voces de la… Read more »

A federal court will draw the district lines for two Assembly districts after legislators decided against holding a special session to redraw the maps. On Tuesday, three federal judges ruled to redraw election maps for two Milwaukee Assembly districts. In doing so, the court ordered the state and the groups… Read more »

Newly released documents show the court involved in an ongoing John Doe probe into Gov. Scott Walker’s tenure as Milwaukee County executive subpoenaed the public files of multiple employees and also contain online chat transcripts where employees discussed future career aspirations in Walker’s administration. According to the court documents, on… Read more »

Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney has a solid lead in the Republican presidential field while a neck-and-neck race for the Wisconsin governor’s seat continues, according to polling released Tuesday. When matched up against Gov. Scott Walker in the most recent polling by the Marquette University Law School, none of the… Read more »

Election officials said there are still gray areas in what regulations for campaign finance will be in place for the upcoming recall elections during a meeting Tuesday morning. Government Accountability Board Director Kevin Kennedy and Mike Wittenwyler, attorney at Godfrey & Kahn and a University of Wisconsin Law School professor, led… Read more »

Members of a panel discussion held Monday said investing in a clean energy economy is crucial to bringing the country out of recession and competing on a global scale University of Wisconsin law professor Thomas Mitchell, who introduced the panelists, said a greener economy could help economically disadvantaged communities through… Read more »

The United States Supreme Court began a three-day process of oral arguments over whether an almost 150-year-old law should bar them from considering whether the government can require Americans to purchase health insurance on Monday. The court opened its arguments with a debate over whether it has the authority to… Read more »

Some Madison voters whose absentee ballots are two-to-four weeks late could face additional challenges in the upcoming April election. A recent Government Accountability Board statement revealed that at least 277 absentee ballots were sent out late to voters in Madison. In response to this delay, the board surveyed 1,851 municipal clerks… Read more »

State Democrats and a Latino advocacy group filed court briefs yesterday arguing for more clarification in the redistricting decision handed down last week in Milwaukee.  Three federal judges unanimously ruled Thursday election maps drawn last year by Republican lawmakers for two districts on Milwaukee’s south side violated Latinos’ voting rights and… Read more »

A northeastern Wisconsinite declared his intentions to run against Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch in a likely summer recall election, joining a growing field of other Democratic candidates.  Bruce Berman, a former supervisor on the Marinette County Board and a contract truck driver, announced Friday he plans to run against Kleefisch.… Read more »

A conservative recall group submitted its report on signature eligibility to the Government Accountability Board Friday, questioning the legitimacy of many signatures on the gubernatorial and state Senate recall petitions. 63,000 recall signatures are ineligible and should not be counted, and an additional 212,000 were deemed questionable, according to a… Read more »

Former governor of Wisconsin and current candidate in a race for a U.S. Senate seat Tommy Thompson reflected on his career in politics and made predictions for the upcoming GOP presidential primary to a crowd at Union South on Saturday. Thompson was asked for his thoughts on the Republican presidential… Read more »

With Wisconsin’s upcoming GOP presidential primary on April 3, Mitt Romney holds a double-digit lead over Rick Santorum, according to polling released Friday, leading experts to agree Romney is a safe bet to win the state. A new statewide poll released by the Rasmussen Report shows 46 percent of likely… Read more »

Obama for America Wisconsin and a group of officials and Wisconsin citizens celebrated the two-year anniversary of the passing of the Affordable Care Act by Congress on Friday. In a conference call led by Obama for America National Campaign Co-Chair and former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, the group lauded the… Read more »

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will soon make public his decision on whether to join a field of candidates seeking the Democratic nomination to run against Gov. Scott Walker in a potential recall election. Patrick Guarasci, campaign adviser for Tom Barrett for Milwaukee, said an announcement would likely come before the… Read more »

Ann Romney touted her husband and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s campaign efforts for the Republican presidential nomination in a visit to Middleton Thursday, focusing on the difficulties of life on the campaign road and a need to fix the economic crisis. Ann Romney appeared early Thursday morning outside the Hubbard… Read more »

Three federal judges unanimously ruled Thursday election maps drawn last year by Republican lawmakers for two districts on Milwaukee’s south side violated Latinos’ voting rights and must be redrawn. However, the court approved all other legislative and congressional districts drawn by legislators last year, according to a court order. In… Read more »

Democratic legislators and medical interest groups are seeking vetoes from the governor on recently passed women’s health legislation requiring school districts to emphasize abstinence in sex education and doctors to ensure the voluntary consent of women seeking abortions. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, and Rep. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, asked for vetoes… Read more »

Following the resignation of a senator facing recall, a Republican representative has stepped forward to run in a recall election which will decide which party take the majority in the state Senate. Rep. Jerry Petrowski, R-Stettin, announced his candidacy Tuesday for the seat vacated by Sen. Pam Galloway, R-Wausau, who… Read more »

A state commission approved plans to renovate a Camp Randall facility as part of the second phase of the University of Wisconsin’s plan to build a new center for student athletes to train. The State of Wisconsin Building Commission approved Phase Two of UW’s plans to build the Student Athlete… Read more »

Voters will have a chance to cast their ballot for an alternative third party presidential candidate to be selected by a nonpartisan organization this November, after supporters collected nearly double the amount of signatures needed to get a candidate on the ballot. Americans Elect, a national nonpartisan organization founded for… Read more »

The Government Accountability Board has received a substantial federal grant that could help to increase voter turnout in to be held elections later this year. GAB, which oversees elections in Wisconsin, plans to use the $1.9 million grant they received earlier this month to simplify the process of absentee voting… Read more »

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser is asking that his colleagues recuse themselves in the consideration of the disciplinary case filed against him last week, a move that could put an end to the case entirely if successful.  Prosser is accused of choking his colleague, Justice Ann Walsh Bradley, during… Read more »

A women’s health group kicked off its statewide tour in Madison on Tuesday, from which they will be traveling to several cities throughout the week to educate Wisconsin women about the implications of the Affordable Care Act. Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health is making the trip because March 23 marks… Read more »

A former aide to Gov. Scott Walker during his tenure as Milwaukee County Executive pleaded not guilty to all four felony charges of disorderly conduct in public office as part of an ongoing John Doe investigation Tuesday. Kelly Rindfleisch, Walker’s former deputy chief of staff in Milwaukee County, has been… Read more »

Concealed carry licenses from other states will continue to be recognized in Wisconsin after lawmakers granted an extension for an emergency rule at a committee meeting Tuesday.   The Republican-controlled Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules gave the state’s Department of Justice an extra 60-day expansion in a bipartisan… Read more »

Wisconsin’s high school graduation rate of more than 90 percent is the highest in the nation, according to a study released Monday.  Building a Grad Nation, a national program dedicated to ending the high school dropout epidemic, released a report showing that Wisconsin had a high school graduation rate of… Read more »

After legislators passed bills modifying abortion restrictions and coverage last week, a new study shows a growing number of states are becoming more restrictive to abortion access and rights. The Guttmacher Institute, a group working to advance sexual and reproductive health rights, said in a study released last Thursday that… Read more »

A Wisconsin firefighters union president declared his plans to run for lieutenant governor in the state recall election against current Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch on Monday, pledging to focus on creating jobs and restoring collective bargaining rights if elected. Mahlon Mitchell, 33, has been a firefighter in Madison for 15… Read more »

A conservative group launched recall efforts against two more state senators on Monday in reaction to the votes against mining reform legislation that failed to pass at the end of the legislative session. At the Government Accountability Board’s office Monday morning, two members of Citizens for Responsible Government, an organization… Read more »

At the end of a marathon Assembly floor session that stretched from Thursday morning to Friday evening and saw the passage of more than 50 bills as well as an attempted filibuster of a bill concerning Wisconsin technical colleges, tired lawmakers offered final remarks and speeches. The Wisconsin legislative session… Read more »

A bill making major changes to the landlord-tenant relationship has passed the Assembly in its final scheduled meeting of the year and will now head to Gov. Scott Walker for signing. The bill, among other changes, would prohibit city and state government from establishing a moratorium on evictions. Legislators voted… Read more »

A Supreme Court justice is facing a formal ethics complaint and potential sanctions after he allegedly placed his hands around the neck of another justice in a confrontation last June. The Wisconsin Judicial Commission, an independent state judicial conduct organization, alleged in a complaint filed last Friday that Justice David… Read more »

The Wisconsin Department of Justice plans to appeal the rulings of two Dane County judges who have issued injunctions against a law requiring voters to present photo identification at the polls. In a statement last Thursday, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said DOJ has filed two separate challenges to… Read more »

One of the four state Senators facing recall elections resigned Friday because of family health issues, eliminating the Republican majority and throwing the power balance of the Senate into question. Sen. Pam Galloway, R-Wausau, said in a statement last Friday she was resigning because her family was dealing with severe… Read more »

In a final late-night session for the Wisconsin Assembly, lawmakers rushed through more than 50 bills to pass before the state’s legislative session ends for the year, including a bill that would make changes to abortion procedures. Lawmakers debated a bill which would require a physician to conduct a physical… Read more »

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Falk’s campaign goals and challenges in a potential recall race against Gov. Scott Walker were outlined at a gathering of University of Wisconsin College Democrats Thursday night. Falk originally intended to speak at the meeting, but because of scheduling confusion, Scot Ross, her campaign spokesperson, spoke… Read more »

A recently-released letter communicating between teachers’ unions encouraging opposition to legislation allowing financial concessions for unions has drawn ire from Gov. Scott Walker’s office. The original letter, addressed to the Milwaukee Teachers Education Association and sent jointly by the executive directors of unions in Madison, Kenosha, Racine and Green Bay,… Read more »

At the end of the last scheduled meeting of the Senate’s session this year, Republican and Democratic senators exchanged criticisms over its failures and accomplishments. The session, which began in January 2011, saw the passage of many controversial bills, including a repeal of collective bargaining rights for public employees. Sen.… Read more »

In an early Wednesday morning session, legislators approved a controversial bill establishing a gray wolf hunt in Wisconsin after rejecting a number of amendments offered by Democratic legislators. The bill would establish a wolf hunt from Oct. 15 to the end of February and passed the Assembly by a vote… Read more »

A bill which would make sweeping changes to current tenant-landlord laws in the state was passed in a Senate session Wednesday despite protests from Democrats who said the bill opened the door for mistreatment of renters by some landlords. The bill makes a variety of changes to landlord-tenant relations, including… Read more »

The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign filed complaints Tuesday against three tax-exempt organizations claiming they violated federal revenue codes for non-profit groups by participating in the political campaign for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. WDC Director Mike McCabe said the campaign filed the complaints on the basis that the Heartland Institute, Americans for… Read more »

A Dane County judge put the state one step closer to making the recall elections a certainty by officially granting state election officials an extension to review recall petition signatures until March 30, which would set the dates of recall elections to May 8 and June 5. Dane County Circuit… Read more »

With job creation taking the forefront in state politics, a federal report revised state figures on job growth to show Wisconsin is leading the nation in job loss in both the public and private sectors. According to a report released Tuesday from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wisconsin lost… Read more »

In a late night session, Assembly lawmakers approved bills establishing abstinence as the preferred choice of birth control in public school sex education and prohibiting abortion under health care exchanges. Assembly lawmakers passed 60-34 a bill requiring school districts to present abstinence as the preferred choice of birth control and… Read more »

Recall organizers collected 842,860 public signatures to recall Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, the Government Accountability Board said in a statement on Monday, making it the first official tally confirmed by the board.  The statement from GAB said the board staff has nullified 29,125 total signatures against Kleefisch, leaving the total… Read more »

A non-profit organization released a report Tuesday outlining benefits the collective bargaining act had on the state since its implementation last year, but critics said the findings do not give an accurate long-term forecast.  The Education Action Group’s report outlines case studies throughout Wisconsin that show the legislation saved the… Read more »

A second Dane County judge handed down a decision on Monday that ruled the state’s voter ID law is unconstitutional and legally barred any further attempts to enforce the law. The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin challenged the new voter ID law on the basis that it was unconstitutional… Read more »

The Government Accountability Board’s decision Monday to push back recall election dates could affect the electorate that turns out to vote, including a smaller number of students, many of whom may be out-of-town on summer vacation when elections are held. Pending the approval of a Dane County judge Wednesday, the… Read more »

Wisconsin technical colleges would gain greater flexibilities to control state funds used for training students under a bill introduced to a Senate committee on Monday. Under current law, the Technical College System Board may award a grant to a technical college to help provide skills training for students working at… Read more »

On the one year anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown in Japan, alternative energy advocates claimed little has changed in nuclear power plant regulation and that Wisconsin’s drinking water could be at risk for contamination in the event of a similar situation in the state. Clean energy and anti-nuclear advocates… Read more »

The Government Accountability Board officially authorized recall elections for four state senators at a meeting on Monday after unanimously rejecting multiple challenges to petitions brought by attorneys representing the senators. The unanimous rejection of all four formal challenges for Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau; Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine; Sen. Terry Moulton,… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker has opened a legal defense fund to help pay for the legal expenses surrounding the John Doe investigation, according to a statement released by his campaign. The statement released Friday said in order to fulfill his commitment to working with the investigation, Walker will form the legal… Read more »

One year after the passage of the budget repair law that sparked mass protests in Madison, an estimated 35,000 people gathered outside the Capitol on Saturday for the Reclaim Wisconsin Rally. While the event was organized as the last stop in a Wisconsin State AFL-CIO bus tour, many organizations participated… Read more »

The Government Accountability Board requested an additional two weeks to complete the review of the signatures supporting the recall of Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four Republican senators, despite also announcing the likelihood of denying the senators’ challenges. A statement from the GAB’s petition review staff said… Read more »

A much-anticipated jobs report for the state found an improved outlook for the state’s job market, with both positive job growth in the private sector and a drop in the unemployment rate. According to the Department of Workforce Development report for January, the state gained an estimated 15,700 private sector… Read more »

In a recent international competition, judges decided Wisconsin cheesemakers are extra sharp. Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association Executive Director John Umhoefer said the organization hosts the World Championship Cheese Contest every other year and always performs well. This year, the state’s entries won 30 first place finishes out of 83 categories… Read more »

University of Wisconsin System employees presented a grim picture of financial aid problems facing universities, at a Board of Regents meeting Thursday. UW Financial Aid Director Susan Fischer said the financial aid program is no longer staying true to its mission of addressing a “family’s ability to pay” as the… Read more »

As the result of a hotly contested injunction to stop enforcement of the voter ID law, University of Wisconsin students and Wisconsin residents no longer have to present photo identification in order to receive an absentee ballot or cast a vote for the upcoming primary election. This measure comes as… Read more »

A bill requiring young athletes who sustain concussions to get approval from an expert physician before returning to play will head to the Senate floor for discussion after being voted out of committee. During a Senate Committee on Public Health, Human Services and Revenue executive session Thursday, legislators voted to… Read more »

The state’s Republican Party filed a complaint Wednesday accusing a Dane County Circuit judge of violating a state statute after he did not disclose that he signed a recall petition when handing down a judgment that could invalidate the governor’s voter ID law. The complaint, filed against circuit judge David… Read more »

As the one-year anniversary of the passage of the bill repealing most collective bargaining rights for public unions approaches, Democratic legislators are seeking to do away with the contentious law. At a press conference Thursday, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, and Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, introduced the Collective Bargaining Restoration Act,… Read more »

A new grant program seeks to begin closing a gap between the skills employees have and the skills employers need by funding a partnership between technical colleges and businesses. According to a statement, Gov. Scott Walker announced the creation of Wisconsin Workforce Partnership Grant Wednesday at campaign stops in La… Read more »

While an Assembly committee has approved a bill making major changes to landlord-tenant relations, the Legislature may not pass it this session because of time constraints. The bill, which would make changes to laws governing landlord tenant relations such as no longer allowing cities and states to prohibit landlords from… Read more »

The Senate’s Tuesday-night rejection of a bill that would have relaxed restrictions on ore mining in Wisconsin brought varying reactions by those who had been working both on advancing and stopping the bill. On Tuesday night, the Senate rejected an amendment to the bill that would ease regulations on the… Read more »

Plans to appeal the controversial injunction a Dane County circuit judge placed on the voter ID law have been announced in the days following his decision. Department of Justice spokesperson Dana Brueck said in an email to The Badger Herald that the DOJ plans to appeal Circuit Judge David Flanagan’s… Read more »

A bill banning individuals from intentionally abusing a state employment program passed in the Senate Tuesday, despite critics who warned the bill would have negative consequences for the offender’s family. According to Wisconsin’s Department of Children and Families, the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program is available to parents of minor children… Read more »

A Dane County judge placed an injunction on the highly controversial voter ID law until further notice. Dane County Circuit Court Judge David Flanagan, who signed a recall petition against Gov. Scott Walker, wrote in his order that Voces de la Frontera and the Milwaukee branch of the National Association… Read more »

A mining firm abolished its $1.5 billion mining project in Iron and Ashland counties late Tuesday night after frustration with the Senate’s rejection of a mining bill that would streamline regulations. Gogebic Taconite, LLC President Bill Williams issued a statement after the Senate session Tuesday that said GTAC is ending… Read more »

Student representatives from the University of Wisconsin System gathered at the Capitol Tuesday, calling on legislators to take more action on education initiatives and participate in more dialogue with the UW System.  The “#WI Need to Talk” hearing featured 40 students from 10 UW System schools addressing the top education… Read more »

The first candidate to announce a bid against Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch in a potential recall race came forward Tuesday with promises to restore ethics to Wisconsin government. Seventy-year-old Ira Robins, a private investigator from Milwaukee, filed papers with the Government Accountability Board to run against Kleefisch Tuesday morning. He… Read more »

An amended bill streamlining the mining permit process in Wisconsin will soon head to a Senate floor vote after lawmakers rejected a bipartisan-authored compromise amendment. The Joint Finance Committee decided in a 12-4 party-line vote Monday to approve an amended version of the Assembly’s version of the mining bill, which… Read more »

A video showing Gov. Scott Walker on the campaign trail claiming that he would be willing to negotiate with public employees if elected to office surfaced Friday, which his critics say proves he did not run on the idea of eliminating collective bargaining.  The video features Walker as a candidate… Read more »

Despite a surge in employment rates in late 2011, Wisconsin is still struggling to create new jobs when compared to the rest of the nation.  According to a report from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wisconsin lost an estimated 27,700 private sector jobs from August to December of 2011… Read more »

United States Senate Candidate Tommy Thompson advocated for the construction of the controversial Keystone Pipeline during the unveiling of his proposed federal budget plan Monday. Thompson’s RESTORE Act, or Reform Entitlements, Simplify Taxes, Overturn Regulatory Excess Act, will introduce a number of economic initiatives, including budget reform, repealing Obamacare and… Read more »

Two Tea Party groups have partnered together to build a website that would allow the public to search for fraudulent recall petition signatures. We the People of the Republic and Wisconsin GrandSons of Liberty operate Verify the Recall, a website they claim will ensure the validity of signatures in the… Read more »

Democratic lawmakers are requesting the Assembly close a loophole in the state budget that would allow for the expansion of school voucher programs across the state. When the Legislature passed the budget last year, it included a provision permitting the school voucher program to expand. However, after passing the budget,… Read more »

Jill Stein’s campaign celebrated the opening of her campaign headquarters in Madison on Saturday after a victory in the Wisconsin Green Party’s nominating convention, in which she captured seven of the state’s nine delegates. Stein, 62, is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and currently lives in Lexington, Mass. She… Read more »

The state’s primary recall elections could be delayed into early summer to allow state officials the time necessary to verify and enter signatures by hand, a process which has drawn scrutiny from both Democrats and Republicans. According to a statement released by the Government Accountability Board, the board could potentially… Read more »

Citizens in central Wisconsin are pushing for the creation of a new county, which if successful would be the first new state county in more than 50 years. University of Wisconsin-Marshfield and Wood County history professor Jeff Kleiman first proposed establishing Century County from parts of Wood, Marathon and Clark… Read more »

Three sets of recent polls released found that while the majority of Wisconsinites approve of Gov. Scott Walker’s job performance, Wisconsin could play a roll in reelecting President Barack Obama in the upcoming 2012 presidential election. A Rasmussen Reports telephone poll released last Wednesday found that Walker’s approval rating currently… Read more »

A leader of the University of Wisconsin Police Department presented university police challenges in facilitating and monitoring the crowds at last year’s union protests Saturday. Former UW Chancellor Biddy Martin was scheduled to speak but had to cancel due to health reasons, prompting Chief of Police and Associate Vice Chancellor… Read more »

A Senate committee passed a bill Thursday legalizing a gray wolf hunt in Wisconsin, putting the bill on the fast track for passage in the Senate. The bill would establish a wolf hunt from Oct. 15 to the end of February, providing licenses to both in-state and out-of-state residents. The… Read more »

The United States Congress passed a bill Thursday allowing the start of construction of a new bridge connecting Wisconsin and Minnesota over the St. Croix River. The measure received bipartisan support in the House of Representatives with 339 in favor and 80 opposed, while the Senate gave unanimous approval. For… Read more »

A bill that would make major changes to the relationship between landlords and tenants was delayed for a committee vote for the fourth time in an effort to give legislators more time to look at amendments to the bill. The Senate Committee on Housing and Insurance delayed a paper ballot… Read more »

United States Senate contender Republican Mark Neumann revealed his budget plans Wednesday, criticizing President Barack Obama’s current budget and calling on other candidates in the Senate race to release their own plans. Neumann’s five year plans cut spending by $1.36 trillion, repeal Obama’s health care law and permanently extend former… Read more »

A Republican senator came out against a compromise bill Wednesday meant to streamline the permit process for opening a mine put forward by fellow Republican legislators, jeopardizing passage of the bill in the Senate. Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, called for further compromise on an already compromised mining bill, as… Read more »

Wisconsin legislators may take up a controversial bill that would establish single parenthood as a factor contributing to child abuse and neglect. The Senate Committee on Public Health, Human Services and Revenue scheduled a vote Friday on a bill authored by Assistant State Majority Leader Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, requiring… Read more »

After already receiving a 30-day extension to review recall petitions, state election officials anticipate asking for more time to review recall petition signatures for a potential election against Gov. Scott Walker. In a letter sent to the Joint Finance Committee asking for additional funds to cover the cost of reviewing… Read more »

Two recently released polls present radically different views of the current U.S. Senate race, while a new candidate has announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination. A Rasmussen Reports poll released Tuesday put all three GOP candidates ahead of Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, the only Democrat currently running for democratic Sen. Herb… Read more »

Following months of controversy, Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill into law Wednesday making it easier for developers to build on wetlands throughout the state. Under the new law, developers proposing a project on wetlands either would have to create new wetlands equal to the amount they destroy or pay… Read more »

Lori Compas, one of the organizers behind the effort to recall Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, declared her candidacy to run against Fitzgerald in a Tuesday press conference, saying she would run on her desire to return to an honest government. In the public announcement, Compas presented a platform inspired… Read more »

At a contentious public hearing, concerned citizens lashed out against a bill establishing a wolf hunt they claimed was formed without consultation of the public, while officials say it would curtail a growing population problem. The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environment heard testimony Tuesday on a bill that… Read more »

A national polling organization unveiled extensive data from throughout the state on Tuesday matching up candidates against Gov. Scott Walker in the upcoming recall election, and concluded the governor is in for “the fight of his life.” Public Policy Polling’s data suggested the polling numbers are some of the most… Read more »

A bill announced by legislators Tuesday would stop Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed health care cuts and reverse the elimination of coverage for certain Wisconsinites currently enrolled in the BadgerCare program Tuesday. Democratic legislators announced their plans to introduce the BadgerCare Protection Act, which would prevent the Department of Health Services… Read more »

Wisconsin’s practice of collecting birth costs from unmarried fathers could be preventing women from obtaining appropriate prenatal care for fear of abuse, according to a recent report. Advocacy and Benefits Counseling for Health, Inc., a Madison non-profit law firm, released a report Monday that suggested Wisconsin should discontinue collecting birth costs… Read more »

The criteria for recalling an elected official in future elections would become narrower under a state constitutional amendment approved by an Assembly committee on Tuesday. According to the amendment’s analysis by legislative council, the Legislature would establish a code of ethics to be used as a criteria for determining if… Read more »

President Barack Obama is calling on governors across the nation to increase funding for higher education and decrease federal funding for universities whose tuitions he argues are too high.  In his remarks to the National Governors Association Monday, Obama issued a challenge to governors to invest more in education. “Nothing… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker announced Monday he will not verify recall signatures filed against him because of the limited time given to review petitions.  The deadline for Walker to submit challenged to the signatures was Monday, according to a statement from the Government Accountability Board. Walker would have had to invalidate… Read more »

Health care experts at the state and federal level hosted a forum Monday in Madison to inform the public on the new changes coming to health care programs in the state.  As part of the HealthWatch Wisconsin Conference taking place Monday and Tuesday, the first member of the panel, Wisconsin… Read more »

Wisconsin may soon be the next state to open up a hunting season for the sandhill crane, a species once close to extinction in Wisconsin.  Introduced by several Republican legislators to the Assembly on Wednesday, the bill would require the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to authorize a hunting season… Read more »

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin revealed its plans Thursday to file a complaint with the Government Accountability Board that calls for an investigation into the election donations made by conservative financier David Koch. According to a statement released by the party, the complaint will be submitted because of statements Koch recently… Read more »

Despite signs of recovery over the last year, Wisconsin is one of the leading states in layoffs and unemployment claims, according to the most recent federal statistics.  Only five other states — California, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Florida — had more layoffs than Wisconsin during January of this year,… Read more »

After unanimous bipartisan approval in the Senate, a bill that would lift the enrollment cap on the state’s long-term health care program for elderly and disabled citizens received support from both legislators and citizens during a public hearing held Thursday. The Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care heard testimony… Read more »

State education officials requested a waiver on Wednesday for parts of the No Child Left Behind Act to establish a new accountability system for public schools, an action that has carried mixed support from the governor’s office. In a statement, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction said the waiver calls… Read more »

A fourth lawsuit was filed to question the legality of Wisconsin’s voter identification law Thursday, alleging the law disenfranchises minorities from voting in elections. The Advancement Project, a group based in Washington, D.C., filed the lawsuit against the Government Accountability Board in Milwaukee on behalf of several groups who claim… Read more »

Kathleen Falk, one of the Democratic candidates to face off in the recall race for Wisconsin governor, announced the support of a prominent healthcare union on Thursday to continue expanding her campaign support network. Service Employees International Union President Dian Palmer said the union believes Falk would be the best… Read more »

In what is already shaping up to be a heated national race, President Barack Obama leads all Republican candidates currently competing in the Republican National Convention primary, according to two polls released over the past two days that focus on Wisconsin’s possible role as a battleground state. The first poll,… Read more »

An Assembly committee approved a bill establishing a wolf hunting season in Wisconsin following the de-listing of wolves from the endangered species list last January. In an executive session Wednesday, the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources passed in a bipartisan vote an amended bill establishing a wolf hunt from Oct.… Read more »

As a potential recall race against Gov. Scott Walker looms, the field of declared and possible opponents is growing, as current Secretary of State Doug La Follette is taking his first steps toward running for governor. La Follette said he plans to file paperwork with the Government Accountability Board to form… Read more »

A University of Wisconsin “Arts in Protest” exhibit has been shut down after Republican members of the state Legislature opposed the art display. Wisconsin Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, said the festival, hosted by UW-Extension’s School for Workers, would be inappropriate if paid for and sponsored by UW because it would… Read more »

In a morning session held after Democrats used a procedural move to block a vote, the Senate passed a bill banning webcam abortions and requiring doctors to conduct a physical examination before giving a patient an abortion-inducing drug. The bill passed on a party-line vote Wednesday in the Republican-controlled chamber.… Read more »

Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, is one of two announced Democrats running against Gov. Scott Walker in a potential recall election. Vinehout, 53, spent 10 years as a dairy farmer and 10 years teaching health administration to college students, before being elected to public office in 2006 and re-elected in 2010.… Read more »

The state Assembly approved a bill Tuesday that would eliminate some compensation for employees that claim discrimination. Under current law, an employee alleging workplace discrimination can file a complaint with the Department of Workforce Development. If their case is recognized by circuit court, the employee can be reinstated and compensated… Read more »

Republican legislators declined for the second time a chance given by federal courts to make adjustments to the new state voting maps passed last year, which opponents allege unfairly benefit Republican legislators. The court, comprised of three judges, suggested Tuesday that Wisconsin Republicans adjust their maps by changing parts that… Read more »

Lawmakers clashed over a bill banning webcam abortions in a Senate legislative session Tuesday before Democrats delayed a vote on the proposal.  After an hour-long debate, Senate Democrats objected to a final reading of a bill requiring doctors to physically examine a woman before giving her an abortion-inducing drug. The… Read more »

Building on wetlands will be easier under legislation approved in the State Assembly Tuesday, despite opposition by Democrats.   According to an analysis of the bill, developers would be allowed to submit mitigation outlines, or outlines for developing on wetlands in a new area, with their permit applications. It also… Read more »

A bipartisan amendment to contentious mining legislation up for consideration in the state Assembly was announced Tuesday but was met with heated opposition from several Republican legislators. Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, and Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, both members of the recently-disbanded Mining Jobs Committee, introduced the Wisconsin Way Mining… Read more »

A University of Wisconsin student will get the rare opportunity to work at Facebook as a part of a summer fellowship for his research in computer science. According to a statement from Facebook, UW graduate student Tyler Harter is one of 12 fellowship winners out of nearly 300 applicants nationwide after… Read more »

A bill establishing more relaxed wolf-killing laws in Wisconsin may lead to the species being relisted as endangered, although its supporters claim it would lead to more effective management of the population.   Adrian Treves, University of Wisconsin environmental studies professor and expert on public opinions toward wolves, submitted testimony… Read more »

As protesters commemorate the one-year anniversary of the budget repair bill protests, many workers at the Capitol building are reporting disturbances by consistent protesters and are calling for action to be taken. Rep. David Craig, R-Big Bend, and Rep. Paul Farrow, R-Pewaukee, sent a letter to the Secretary of Wisconsin… Read more »

As accusations of partisanship surround last year’s redistricting process, legislators and advocacy groups have begun to focus on reforming Wisconsin’s system for drawing electoral maps. Rep. Brett Hulsey, D-Madison, and Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, met with various groups last week to discuss an Assembly bill on redistricting first introduced last… Read more »

A variety of religious leaders revealed Monday an initiative which calls on the Wisconsin Legislature to reduce the state’s prison population by half by the end of 2015. The leaders, who gathered at the Capitol, presented an open letter to Gov. Scott Walker and the Legislature signed by more than… Read more »

Tensions flared at a public hearing Friday as legislators and citizens clashed over a bill that would streamline the process for receiving a mining permit in Wisconsin. Dozens of people provided testimony on the bill, which was referred to the Joint Finance Committee Wednesday after Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald,… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign will not be granted an extra two-week extension to review and verify recall signatures, a local judge ruled last week. Dane County Circuit Court Judge Richard Niess, who heard testimony on the cases from both recall groups and Walker’s campaign Friday, denied a request for a… Read more »

Newly released documents from Republicans may prove beneficial to the Democrats’ case in tomorrow’s redistricting trial and could also help gain support for legislation to reform the process in the future. As the result of a federal court order, Republican lawyers publicly released a number of documents, including pledges signed… Read more »

The federal government chose to deny Wisconsin’s request to delay a bill requiring insurance companies to spend 80 percent of their profits on medical expenses last Thursday. The bill, titled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, would require insurers selling policies to individuals to spend at least 80 percent… Read more »

With the first election requiring voters to provide photo identification fast approaching, an option for identification other than drivers’ licenses or students IDs will now be accepted at polls across the state. The state Department of Transportation announced Friday that receipts for either Wisconsin drivers licenses or state identification cards… Read more »

At a public forum celebrating the one-year anniversary of the Wisconsin protests against Gov. Scott Walker and legislation limiting collective bargaining rights, speakers celebrated lessons learned during the past year and steps that could be taken to further the movement. Leland Pan, a University of Wisconsin sophomore majoring in political… Read more »

The federal government has announced it supports proposed changes to Wisconsin’s Medicaid program but needs further details before it can officially approve them. In a letter sent Wednesday to Wisconsin Medicaid Director Brett Davis, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Director Cindy Mann said while the federal government agrees with… Read more »

A candidate in the potential recall election against Gov. Scott Walker has snagged the endorsement of an influential women’s rights political organization. EMILY’s List, the nation’s largest resource for women in politics, announced its endorsement of former Dane County Executive and gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Falk Thursday, according to Falk spokesperson… Read more »

A former aide to Gov. Scott Walker received a new judge Thursday, postponing a scheduled arraignment; the latest turn of events in an investigation into Walker’s former employees. Tim Russell, a former Milwaukee County employee under Walker’s tenure as Milwaukee County Executive, who faces charges of embezzlement, has requested and received… Read more »

Claiming the current Republican administration has committed ethics violations, Democratic legislators introduced a package of bills Thursday, prompting their Republican counterparts to accuse them of hypocrisy. The introduced bills deal with a wide range of issues such as placing caps on fundraising during recall campaigns, requiring judges to recuse themselves… Read more »

Following a contentious public hearing Wednesday, a Senate committee has delayed a vote and decided to revise a housing tenant bill which could make drastic changes to tenant laws. According to a Legislative Reference Bureau analysis, one of these changes would require tenants who have concerns about the rental property… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin System will face $46.1 million in budget cuts this year, after the state’s budget-writing committee approved the additional cutbacks Wednesday.Despite objections raised by Democratic lawmakers who claimed the blow will cause negative shockwaves for the state’s public universities, the Joint Finance Committee voted 11-4 to pass… Read more »

Following a contentious battle in the Assembly, a bill streamlining mining permit laws could come up for a vote in the Senate sooner than expected after a Republican senator disbanded a committee he created to revise permit laws. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said in a statement he dissolved the… Read more »

At a public hearing Wednesday, lawmakers and citizens debated new legislation which would make sweeping changes to current tenant-landlord laws. According to an analysis of the bill from the Legislative Reference Bureau, tenants of a building would be required to submit a written request to the landlord and give the… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign has asked courts for another extension to review the petition signatures gathered against him as he faces a possible recall election. Earlier this year, United Wisconsin turned in over one million signatures to force a possible recall election. These signatures face review under the Government Accountability… Read more »

State representatives proposed a bill Tuesday that would prevent Gov. Scott Walker from using mortgage settlement funds intended for Wisconsin citizens to fill a future lapse in the state budget. Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, proposed the bill with Rep. Tamara Grigsby, D-Milwaukee, on Tuesday. The bill would instead utilize the… Read more »

After four GOP senators facing potential recalls submitted an analysis of possibly fraudulent signatures, committees heading the recall efforts filed responses to the reports with the Government Accountability Board Tuesday. The filed responses argue the GOP challenges were incorrect on several counts.  The responses said the GOP challenges are based… Read more »

In a legislative session Tuesday, lawmakers passed a bill removing the enrollment cap on Family Care and debated legislation dealing with building on wetlands and restoring collective bargaining.  The Senate unanimously passed a bill removing the enrollment cap placed on long-term Family Care programs in the 2011-13 biennial budget act.… Read more »

Advocates of voter redistricting reform held a public hearing at the Capitol Tuesday, calling on the Legislature to pass the Redistricting Reform Act, which would make redistricting a nonpartisan process.  Every 10 years, lawmakers redraw voter district lines to reflect changes in the state’s population. Under current redistricting laws, the… Read more »

A year after the first major protests against Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill, Democrats and Republicans still clash over the extent, influence and justification for the resulting recall efforts. At a party to mark the one-year anniversary, Dane County executive Joe Parisi told those gathered that the Republican Party… Read more »

On the one-year anniversary of the first large-scale protests against Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial budget repair bill, experts say the protests and the movement it spawned have had a large impact on the state and the nation. On Feb. 11, 2011, Walker, as he later said, “dropped the bomb” by… Read more »

The Government Accountability Board revealed the previously undisclosed location of the recall petitions Monday, and considered upcoming plans for the verification process. GAB spokesperson Reid Magney said the work is being done at the State of Wisconsin Central Services Building in Madison. He also said Capitol Police are providing security… Read more »

After Gov. Scott Walker and Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen unveiled plans late last week to use federal mortgage relief funds to repair the state deficit, Wisconsin legislators are criticizing Walker’s leadership and his controversial decision to move funds. A press conference drew criticism from legislators Thursday after Van Hollen and… Read more »

The Government Accountability Board posted recall-targeted senators’ petition signature challenges Friday morning amid controversy about the signatures’ legitimacy. The challenges by all four senators, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald’s formal complaints, can be found on the GAB’s website. Fitzgerald submitted a written challenge to the GAB Friday morning that… Read more »

Two legislators introduced an education reform bill Friday which would attempt to improve student reading programs and create a screening process to prevent early readers from falling behind their peers. Rep. Steve Kestell, R-Elkhart Lake, and Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, created the bill which would try to ensure every teacher… Read more »

A Dane County judge has ruled against two civil rights groups in their effort to halt the controversial voter ID law, set to go into effect before the spring primary election on Feb. 21, but did not discount a future injunction. Circuit Judge David Flanagan temporarily denied the Milwaukee chapter… Read more »

With wind chill bringing temperatures to near zero, a crowd of protesters huddled together to hear speeches Saturday in recognition of the one-year anniversary of the budget repair bill introduced by Gov. Scott Walker. According to Capitol Police estimates, 500 protesters, chanting “one year later, one year stronger,” gathered on… Read more »

Lawmakers are considering amending the state constitution to make it more difficult for citizens to trigger recalls, along with other bills imposing stiffer penalties on people who sign petitions twice. At an Assembly Committee on Election and Campaign Reform public hearing Thursday, lawmakers took testimony from the public and debated… Read more »

All four Republican senators who face recall elections filed challenges against the legitimacy of petition signatures with state election officials Thursday. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, Sen. Terry Moulton, R-Chippewa Falls, Sen. Pam Galloway, R-Wausau, and Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, filed their challenges by the 5 p.m. deadline, according… Read more »

Wisconsin is facing a larger biennial budget shortfall than originally projected according to new estimates, and it is one that could require emergency action by legislators and the governor’s office. In a memo sent Thursday to Joint Finance Committee chairs Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and Robin Vos, R-Burlington, Legislative Fiscal… Read more »

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Gov. Scott Walker revealed in a conference Thursday a national settlement which will bring $140 million to Wisconsin to go toward damages for families affected by the foreclosure crisis. Van Hollen and Walker said Wisconsin joined a landmark $25 billion joint federal-state agreement with… Read more »

Democratic lawmakers and independent consumer advocacy groups began calls for redistricting reform after viewing recently-released public documents that reveal Republican legislators signed secrecy pacts when redrawing legislative districts. Voces de La Frontera filed a complaint Monday containing documents showing 58 Republican Assembly members and 17 Republican senators had signed secrecy… Read more »

The Assembly could take up a bill dealing with a wide range of abortion issues, including coercion, abortions approved by webcam and legal penalties for women who receive abortions. The bill was authored by Rep. Michelle Litjens, R-Oshkosh, and has three parts, Executive Director for Wisconsin Right to Life Barbara… Read more »

Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, announced her run for governor Wednesday in a potential recall election against Gov. Scott Walker, becoming the second Democratic candidate to do so. “We need a fresh start and a new attitude in Wisconsin politics and government. I have the experience and temperament necessary to lead,”… Read more »

An immigration rights organization revealed a memo Monday that includes legal agreements signed by nearly all Republican state lawmakers promising not to comment publicly about redistricting discussions while new GOP maps were being drafted.  The group, Voces de la Frontera, released an official complaint Tuesday, which included a lawsuit challenging… Read more »

A former county-level staffer for Gov. Scott Walker pleaded guilty to two felony charges on Tuesday as the ongoing 20-month investigation into Walker’s former campaign staff continues.  Darlene Wink, a former Milwaukee County employee under Walker’s tenure as Milwaukee County Executive, entered a guilty plea for two felony charges of… Read more »

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, announced his plans to challenge more than 3,000 recall signatures as the Government Accountability Board simultaneously addressed several issues surrounding the recall petitions Tuesday. The Associated Press reported Tuesday Fitzgerald planned to challenge the legitimacy of the 3,000 signatures, which would be enough to stop… Read more »

State election officials could see a cut in their power to regulate campaign finance if a bill legislators considered Monday makes its way through the House and Senate. According to a Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules report, the bill would remove the Government Accountability Board’s ability to regulate corporation and individual campaign expenditures.  At a… Read more »

With a potential recall election months away, an independent candidate has declared he will join the race for governor.  In two ads aired locally before and after the Super Bowl Sunday night, Brookfield physician and kidney specialist Hariprasad “Hari” Trivedi announced his intentions to run as an independent candidate in… Read more »

Taxpayers throughout the country could see a more leveled rate under a proposal U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., revealed during a conference call Monday. The proposal would would ensure middle class workers do not pay a higher tax rate than those earning more than $1 million annually.  In a statement… Read more »

Possible fraudulent usage of Wisconsin’s FoodShare program has spurred further investigation into the program by the Department of Health Services. The Wisconsin State Legislature Joint Audit Committee released a report of the allegations Friday as part of a comprehensive audit process, and will publish a more detailed audit in the… Read more »

A Republican leader in the state Assembly, in charge of maintaining order during legislative sessions, has carried a concealed gun during sessions in the Wisconsin Legislature. Assembly Leader Pro Tempore Bill Kramer, R-Waukesha, told the Associated Press Friday he has carried a concealed Glock 26, a subcompact semi-automatic gun, on… Read more »

A Republican U.S. Senate candidate has received a number of stimulus grants to fund his business, despite having previously publicly disagreed with a stimulus program. The Associated Press reported Friday that Mark Neumann, a former congressman and solar power business owner, received about $500,000 in stimulus grants and about $250,000… Read more »

After a 20-month investigation into former campaign staff that has resulted in multiple arrests, Gov. Scott Walker has announced plans to voluntarily meet with a district attorney investigating the case. In a statement released Friday, Walker said his campaign and office has cooperated with information requests from Milwaukee County District… Read more »

A Milwaukee County official who faces charges after he allegedly accepted a bribe as part of a sting operation has suspended his campaign for Milwaukee comptroller. The Milwaukee County district attorney’s office filed a criminal complaint Thursday against John Thomas, 18th District Milwaukee County supervisor, saying he received money on… Read more »

State election officials may not have to scan recall petitions for duplicate or fictitious names, according to a recent appeals court decision. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals unanimously overruled a lower court’s decision Friday, deciding that recall committees should have been allowed to participate in a lawsuit filed by Gov.… Read more »

Vice President Joe Biden provided details during a press conference call Wednesday on President Barack Obama’s plan to address the high cost of tuition on campuses across the country. University administrators have questioned ambiguities in the plan to cut federal aid to campuses that do not take actions to reduce… Read more »

With small bands of protesters and rallies calling for the governor’s recall acting as fixtures at the Capitol building, Democratic legislators are criticizing the policies for gatherings, saying they restrict free speech. Proponents say these policies aim to guarantee safety for employees. A Feb. 1 letter sent to the Department… Read more »

A new bill proposed in the Assembly would allow establishments to bring a civil lawsuit against underage drinkers in bars regardless of whether police issued a criminal citation, potentially relying on video footage or a seized ID card as evidence in court. The liquor license holder would have to prove… Read more »

A former legislative aide to a Milwaukee senator has claimed his staff engaged in illegal activities, including working on campaign websites, while being paid by the state. Jana Williams, a former legislative aide to Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, has filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Board against the senator’s… Read more »

As potential recall elections loom overhead, Wisconsin legislators are circulating a bill that would restructure current campaign finance laws and reestablish public financing. According to a statement, Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison; Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay; and Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, are currently circulating a bill for co-sponsors that would… Read more »

The latest fundraising numbers released for the race to fill U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl’s seat this fall have raised questions about the viability of the campaign of Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald. As Kohl, longtime Democratic senator of Wisconsin, has chosen not to seek reelection, the race has attracted some of… Read more »

Wisconsin medical programs are facing budget shortfalls which could potentially take away health insurance for 30,000 children. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a report Thursday that estimates a $141 million shortfall in the budget for Wisconsin Medical Assistance Programs. Stephanie Smiley, Department of Health Services spokesperson, said this estimate is an accurate reflection of the… Read more »

Despite weeks of speculation about Sen. Tim Cullen, D-Janesville, seeking to unseat Gov. Scott Walker in a potential recall race, the senator announced today his name will not appear on any ballot tickets because he would not be able to financially compete with the other candidates. Cullen said in a… Read more »

U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson unveiled a new policy proposal Wednesday that would order federal workers to contribute more to their retirement pensions and health insurance.  According to a statement released by the Thompson campaign, Thompson, a Republican, cited a report released by the Congressional Budget Office that said federal… Read more »

As Republican state senators facing recall elections review petition signatures for the possibility to challenge them in court, three Democratic candidates have launched campaigns to run against them. At a rally at Monona Terrace Tuesday evening, Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller, D-Monona, introduced the three candidates and said the recall… Read more »

State election officials publicly released the recall petitions for Gov. Scott Walker online Tuesday night, reversing their original decision to postpone publication amid privacy concerns. Government Accountability Board spokesperson Reid Magney said the board gave Walker’s campaign electronic copies of the petitions containing an estimated one million signatures Friday, and promised to post… Read more »

As the state election season approaches, the League of Women Voters voiced concerns over a possible bureaucratic quagmire surrounding the identification documents necessary to receive an ID that will be accepted to vote at the polls. A statement released by the League said citizens could be caught in a Catch-22… Read more »

With a primary more than seven months away, Democratic candidates for the Second Congressional District race are beginning to rake in thousands of dollars in campaign contributions.  Dane County Treasurer Dave Worzala; Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison; Rep. Kelda Roys, D-Madison; and Matt Silverman, a local attorney and Iraq War veteran,… Read more »

U.S. Senate candidate Sen. Frank Lasee, R-De Pere, announced Sunday he will drop out of the race for Herb Kohl’s Senate seat in Washington, saying it was not the right time to run. “After much consideration and prayer with my wife, Amy and I have determined this is not the… Read more »

With a potential election to recall Gov. Scott Walker on the horizon, another state senator, Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, has emerged as a potential candidate in the race. While Vinehout has yet to announce her decision to run, Voters for Vinehout filed a campaign registration statement with the Government Accountability… Read more »

After a 50-year struggle to rebuild a population in Wisconsin, the gray wolf has been taken off the federal endangered species list in the Midwest and has become the center of a hunting controversy in light of numerous problems with wolves interfering with livestock and homes.  Last Friday, federal officials… Read more »

After hours of debate Thursday, the Wisconsin Assembly passed a controversial mining bill, which supporters say will create more jobs in Wisconsin, but which opponents argue will create more secrecy in the permit process. According to the Wisconsin Legislature’s website, the bill, which passed along party lines in a 59-36… Read more »

The words “trust” and “respect” seemed to be on a loop Thursday night during a lecture led by a historic Wisconsin politician which commemorated a former University of Wisconsin professor. Nearly 100 people gathered at Union South to hear the lecture, held in honor of former UW professor John Commons,… Read more »

Check out the full video interview here. Sen. Tim Cullen, D-Janesville, is one of two Democrats to have announced a run against Gov. Scott Walker in a possible recall election. Cullen served as senate majority leader in the 1980s and as former Gov. Tommy Thompson’s secretary of health and human… Read more »

In light of recent controversy surrounding possible redistricting legislation, three Wisconsin political insiders appeared before an independent consumer advocacy board Thursday to push for redistricting and campaign disclosure reform. The State Governing Board for Common Cause in Wisconsin heard testimony from University of Wisconsin political science professor Barry Burden, Sen.… Read more »

As the John Doe investigation into a number of Gov. Scott Walker’s former affiliates continued Thursday, two more former Walker aides were arrested by the Milwaukee District Attorney’s office for improper political fundraising.  The DA’s office filed complaints against two former Milwaukee County employees, Kelly Rindfleisch and Darlene Wink, for… Read more »

Sen. Tim Cullen, D-Janesville, is one of two Democrats to have announced a run against Gov. Scott Walker in a possible recall election. Cullen served as Senate Majority Leader in the 1980s and as former Gov. Tommy Thompson’s secretary of health and human services. He came out of retirement in… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker delivered his State of the State address Wednesday night, emphasizing his efforts to create jobs and balance the state’s budget during his tenure as governor. Upon entering the Assembly, legislators on the Assembly floor and observers in the gallery greeted Walker with a mix of boos and… Read more »

A rally outside the Capitol Wednesday night drew activists and citizens to protest proposed mining legislation which would limit regulations and streamline the process for building sand mines in the state. There was also a strong presence at the rally from several Native American tribes from Wisconsin, including the Bad… Read more »

A recent poll suggests although Gov. Scott Walker leads his Democratic contenders in a possible recall election, Wisconsin citizens remain polarized on the recall effort and on recent legislative actions now being implemented. A Marquette Law School poll released Wednesday shows Walker leading six to 10 percentage points over four… Read more »

State elections officials received a 30-day extension on the amount of time they will have to verify and validate more than 1 million reported signatures for the recall of Gov. Scott Walker and separate petitions for four Republican senators. In a Wednesday hearing before Dane County Judge Richard Niess, the… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker joined forces with state Superintendent Tony Evers this week, announcing they will lead a collaborative effort with other educators, policymakers and parents to develop a new statewide accountability system for education. In a statement, Evers said it was made clear that the overall goal of the proposal… Read more »

Tensions erupted in the Senate chambers Tuesday afternoon after Democratic and Republican members of the legislature lashed out at one another. Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller, D-Monona, said it was appropriate to assess how Wisconsin fared under the past 12 months as the anniversary of Gov. Scott Walker’s contentious budget… Read more »

Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who recently unveiled her plans to run against the governor in a possible recall election, addressed students on campus Tuesday about her 30-year tenure in government, highlighting issues likely to be at the forefront of the campaign. Falk focused her speech on her experience… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign announced Tuesday it has raised more than $4.5 million in recall funding throughout the last five weeks, including millions in contributions from out-of-state donors. A statement released by spokesperson Ciara Matthews said there were 21,443 total contributions. 16,406 donations were $50 or less, representing 76.5 percent… Read more »

In near zero degree temperatures and after officials declared a citywide snow emergency, more than 50 protesters gathered outside Kastenmeier Federal Courthouse Friday as part of a nationwide protest against unlimited corporate spending in elections. The protest commemorates the second anniversary of the Jan. 21, 2010 Supreme Court decision in… Read more »

As a potential governor recall election looms in the near future, Democratic candidates are already declaring their intentions to run for the party’s nomination. Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk made her mark as the first official candidate in the race against Republican Gov. Scott Walker, filing papers to run… Read more »

Amid allegations Gov. Scott Walker has not met the job creation goals he promised since taking office, the governor recently established a workforce readiness council, which aims to create degree programs to move people into the workforce. Walker signed an executive order Jan. 13 creating the College and Workforce Readiness… Read more »

State lawmakers are calling for the ousting of a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice after allegations surfaced in December that several state ethics codes had been violated. A joint resolution, drafted by Rep. Kelda Helen Roys, D-Madison, said Justice Michael Gableman violated the state’s ethics codes while presiding over cases involving… Read more »

While supporters of new mining legislation say the initiative as a way to streamline Wisconsin’s iron mining permit process, the bill likely to be one of the key issues of the upcoming legislative session has vocal critics. According to the Wisconsin Legislature’s website, the mining bill was introduced to the… Read more »

As clerks around the state work to correct errors that placed voters in the wrong district, a recent federal court order characterized the redistricting legislation as an attempt to conceal what actually transpired in the bill’s introduction.Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl said the system for voter registration is going through… Read more »

Recall campaigns turned in more than enough signatures to trigger special elections against four Republican senators who found themselves under fire last spring after voting in favor of a controversial bill set to curb collective bargaining rights.  Petitioners attempting to recall Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, turned in an… Read more »

After receiving an estimated 1.9 million signatures meant to trigger various recall elections throughout the state, Wisconsin’s chief election official said he did not know how long it would take to review and verify signatures for elections that could cost the state millions of dollars.  Typically, the Government Accountability Board… Read more »

In the new session of the Wisconsin Legislature, lawmakers are planning to take up four bills proposed in early December that would create harsher penalties for drunken driving. Rep. Josh Zepnick, D-Milwaukee, introduced legislation that would establish a pilot program where three counties in Wisconsin would create a sobriety checkpoint. The… Read more »

With more than a million signatures in tow, recall organizers turned over the petitions gathered to trigger a recall election for Gov. Scott Walker, making it the most participated-in recall effort per capita in American history. United Wisconsin Vice Chair Ryan Lawler said the milestone marks the end of a 60-day… Read more »

Despite the cold temperatures, the race for the Democratic nomination in Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional District is heating up as local politicians gain key endorsements. Former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle endorsed Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, to replace Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, who is leaving Congress to seek election in the Senate. “In… Read more »

The race for United States Sen. Herb Kohl’s soon-to-be vacant Senate seat is heating up with Kohl announcing his endorsement of Rep. Tammy Baldwin and Mark Neumann receiving an endorsement from Sen. Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina. A statement released from Baldwin’s campaign on Jan. 9 announced Kohl’s endorsement. The endorsement… Read more »

As the state buzzed with news of recall petitions being filed against Gov. Scott Walker, three men with ties to Walker were arrested Jan. 5 on embezzlement charges as part of an ongoing criminal investigation by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office. According to the criminal complaints filed by the… Read more »

Amid statewide concern regarding the place for concealed carry in Wisconsin courthouses, the state’s Supreme Court has delayed discussion on weapon policy in courtrooms.After hearing testimony at its Jan. 11 meeting, Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson said the court will wait to investigate issues around concealed carry before making a decision… Read more »

A group attempting to recall Gov. Scott Walker has collected more than 500,000 signatures, about forty thousand less than the amount they need to trigger his recall. United Wisconsin said in a statement Thursday that they have collected 507,533 signatures in their effort to recall Walker. Recall supporters need to… Read more »

A new piece of legislation would require physicians to ensure that a woman seeking an abortion gives full consent before receiving one. Under current state law, a woman who requests an abortion must give voluntary and informed written consent to the abortion. The bill, coauthored by Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New… Read more »

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson was handed a prominent endorsement Wednesday in his race for the soon-to-be vacant seat in the U.S. Senate. Former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee announced his endorsement yesterday as he praised Thompson’s career as governor and his recent work as U.S. secretary of health and human… Read more »

A controversial bill introduced in the Legislature Wednesday that would open an iron mine in northern Wisconsin was met by a sea of conflicting responses as advocates stressed job creation and opponents looked to detrimental environmental effects. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, was introduced to the Wisconsin… Read more »

The voter ID law has created much controversy since its passage last spring, and both Wisconsin’s government and its voters have faced substantial challenges with the law in light of the potential upcoming spring recall elections. The law was upheld in court despite a lawsuit earlier this semester from the… Read more »

After massive protests at the Capitol last spring, Gov. Scott Walker’s opponents jumped at the chance to begin collecting signatures to trigger his recall. Starting at midnight on Nov. 15, recall supporters held pajama parties throughout Wisconsin to kick off the official recall effort. Four days later, one official recall… Read more »

On May 13, four-term incumbent Sen. Herb Kohl announced he would retire at the end of his term and not seek reelection in 2012. Kohl, a Democrat who owns the Milwaukee Bucks and is a founder of the Kohl’s department store chain, will be 77 in 2012. The seat has… Read more »

Farm advocates and several lawmakers in the state are worried new federal changes to child labor laws will prevent minors from fully working on farms. This past year, there have been several attempts to change child labor laws in Wisconsin, specifically relating to youths working in the farming industry, said… Read more »

The top elections officials in the state decided Tuesday to allow only signers and circulators of recall petitions to prepare the petitions and to allow technical college students to use their student IDs to identify themselves at the polls. At their meeting Tuesday, the Government Accountability Board voted to reverse… Read more »

A Wisconsin civil liberties activist group has filed a lawsuit against Gov. Scott Walker alleging the new voter ID law unconstitutional. On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit against the voter ID law, which goes into effect in February. They argue that besides being unconstitutional,… Read more »

Wisconsin government oversight officials are preparing to educate voters on new requirements at the polls before next year’s state elections bring the implementation of controversial voter ID laws. The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board plans to promote public awareness leading up to the enacting of the voter ID law next year,… Read more »

Assembly Republicans introduced a mining bill Thursday that environmentalists say would detrimentally affect Wisconsin’s green protections and stifle citizen input in the mining permit process. Sam Weis, spokesperson for the environmental advocacy organization Clean Wisconsin, said the introduced bill outlines a streamlined process for mining companies to obtain permits. Weis… Read more »

School districts across Wisconsin have made strides toward reforming the state’s teacher evaluation process by implementing new merit-based salaries for teachers under new powers provided by the budget repair legislation. Under Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial legislation, bargaining units for teachers are still able to negotiate base wages, but cannot negotiate other… Read more »

Republican Party of Wisconsin officials are investigating claims of recall petition fraud after a man in Milwaukee said Thursday night he signed various recall petitions 80 times. According to Ben Sparks, spokesperson for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, state GOP officials have also been alerted to multiple instances of misconduct… Read more »

The majority of bargaining units representing teachers across the state voted to recertify last week, even in light of extensive limits to their bargaining abilities due to legislation approved by Gov. Scott Walker last spring. Around 85 percent of school district unions who sought recertification this year succeeded in an… Read more »

In the midst of opponents to the recall effort raising allegations of fraud, the Government Accountability Board recently announced it would need more time and additional workers to review the petitions. The GAB released a memo Thursday that said the body would need an additional month and 50 temporary workers… Read more »

A week after Gov. Scott Walker’s administration unveiled new requirements for holding events at the Capitol and other state buildings, a Wisconsin lawmaker is introducing a piece of legislation that would weaken the power of the executive branch to make Capitol event policy decisions. On Wednesday, State Sen. Lena Taylor,… Read more »

After a battle almost two years in the making, the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents made the final call to demolish the block of buildings on University Avenue, which includes Brothers’ Bar, to make room for a new UW School of Music performance facility. The regents also evaluated the… Read more »

Several lawmakers are officially calling for Wisconsin’s unemployment benefits to be extended before they expire for citizens on Dec. 31. A statement released by 34 state Democrats urged Congress to extend the benefits because of the current recession. According to the statement, 234,000 Wisconsin residents are currently unemployed, and approximately… Read more »

The composition of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents could be significantly altered after Gov. Scott Walker signed a law Tuesday requesting the state appoint at least one member from every congressional district to the governing body. According to UW spokesperson David Giroux, the bill, introduced by Sen. Sheila… Read more »

The Department of Administration and the Capitol Police hosted a public forum Tuesday morning to inform members of the public about the newly drafted rules for holding an event or rally at the Capitol. Chris Ahmuty, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin, said he felt many… Read more »