Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled Assembly passed a sweeping redistricting reform plan that takes the power of drawing maps out of the hands of lawmakers and gives it to nonpartisan staff. But Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has all but promised to veto the bill that he called “bogus.”
Author Archives: Scott Bauer / Associated Press
Scott Bauer is the head of the AP bureau in Madison, covering state government and politics.
Posted inHealth & Welfare
Planned Parenthood to resume offering abortions in Wisconsin next week
Planned Parenthood announced Thursday that it will resume offering abortions in Wisconsin next week after a judge ruled that an 1849 law that seemingly banned the procedure actually didn’t apply to abortions.
Posted inGovernment
Robin Vos asks former state Supreme Court justices to review impeachment
The impeachment criteria panel being created by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos will consist of three former Wisconsin Supreme Court justices.
Posted inGovernment
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers rejects GOP’s surprise redistricting plan
Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers shot down as “bogus” a surprise plan Republicans floated that would have the Legislature approve new maps drawn by nonpartisan staff, preempting the state Supreme Court from tossing the current GOP-drawn boundaries.
Posted inGovernment
GOP threat to impeach Wisconsin Supreme Court justice is driven by fear of losing legislative edge
A new liberal tilt to the Wisconsin Supreme Court is driving Republicans’ fears of losing their large legislative majorities, which were built under some of the most gerrymandered political maps in the U.S.
Posted inGovernment
Wisconsin GOP threatens to impeach justice over donations, but conservatives also took party cash
Wisconsin Republicans are threatening to impeach a state Supreme Court justice over donations she received from the Democratic Party. But there’s no rule requiring her to recuse herself, and conservative judges on the court have taken Republican donations.
Posted inGovernment
Wisconsin Democrats combat impeachment of Justice Janet Protasiewicz with $4M effort
The Wisconsin Democratic Party on Wednesday launched a $4 million effort to pressure Republicans to back down from impeaching a new liberal state Supreme Court justice being targeted after she criticized GOP-drawn legislative electoral maps and spoke in favor of abortion rights.
Posted inGovernment
Complaints over campaign comments by Wisconsin Supreme Court justice are dismissed
A state judiciary disciplinary panel has rejected several complaints lodged against Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz that alleged she violated the judicial code of ethics for comments she made during the campaign.
Posted inGovernment
Liberals fight Republican attempt to boot Wisconsin Supreme Court justice from redistricting case
Liberals argued in a legal filing this week that Republicans were trying to nullify the election of a Democratic-backed Wisconsin Supreme Court justice by asking her to recuse herself from hearing redistricting lawsuits that could result in drawing new legislative electoral maps.
Posted inGovernment
Assembly GOP revives income tax cut after Wisconsin governor vetoed similar plan
Wisconsin Assembly Republicans on Tuesday proposed a nearly $3 billion tax cut targeting the middle class, but it’s unclear whether Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is on board after he vetoed a similar tax cut just last month.
Posted inGovernment
Wisconsin Republicans ask newly elected liberal justice not to hear redistricting case
Republicans who control the Wisconsin Legislature asked that the newest Democratic-backed justice on the state Supreme Court recuse herself from lawsuits seeking to overturn GOP-drawn electoral maps, arguing that she has prejudged the cases. Republicans argue in their motions filed with the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday and made public Wednesday that Justice Janet Protasiewicz can’t fairly […]
Posted inGovernment
Lawsuit targets Wisconsin legislative districts resembling Swiss cheese
The challenge to noncontiguous districts could provide judges a way to decide the case without ever addressing whether partisan gerrymandering is illegal.