MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin taxpayers spent about $76,000 to fund a state Department of Natural Resources policy board member’s legal fight to remain on the board after his term expired, a news outlet reported Wednesday. The Wisconsin State Journal said it had obtained invoices through an open records request detailing state payments to Fred Prehn’s […]
Tag: The Associated Press
Wisconsin Watch is publishing these stories as part of a partnership with The Associated Press.
Posted inGovernment
Wisconsin Republicans, Evers set to clash on budget
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans who control the state Legislature are poised to clash with newly reelected Democratic Gov. Tony Evers over tax cuts, how to fund local governments and whether to expand the private school choice program to wealthier families. But even though Evers and Republicans are on opposite sides of issues like abortion […]
Posted inEnvironment, Government
Scott Walker appointee Fred Prehn resigns from Wisconsin DNR board
A member of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource’s policy board appointed by former Republican Gov. Scott Walker who refused to step down even after his term ended nearly two years ago said Friday that he was resigning.
Posted inHealth & Welfare
Abortion ban changes split Wisconsin GOP under veto threat
Wisconsin Republicans who control the Legislature are divided over whether to push for rape and incest abortion exceptions in the face of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ pledge to veto any bill that keeps the state’s 173-year-old ban in place.
Posted inGovernment
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers opposes GOP flat income tax cut plan
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is promising to veto any flat income tax cut plan passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, favoring instead his proposal to reduce taxes for the middle class by 10%.
Posted inGovernment
Milwaukee challenge says 2020 census undercounted population
The city of Milwaukee on Tuesday joined the ranks of other major cities that are challenging their 2020 census figures, claiming that the once-a-decade U.S. head count which determines political power and federal funding undercounted the city’s true population by 16,500 people.
Posted inEnvironment
Scientists: Atmospheric carbon might turn Great Lakes more acidic
The Great Lakes have endured a lot the past century, from supersized algae blobs to invasive mussels and bloodsucking sea lamprey that nearly wiped out fish populations. Now, another danger: They — and other big lakes around the world — might be getting more acidic, which could make them less hospitable for some fish and plants.
Posted inGovernment
Wisconsin GOP leader wants to change military voting
The Republican leader of the Wisconsin Senate said Thursday that he is considering legislation that would change the state’s military absentee voting laws, reversing his previous position on the issue. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu’s support for taking action comes after some members of the bipartisan Wisconsin Election Commission said changes to the law could be the […]
Posted inEconomy, Government
Wisconsin Republican leaders unified in opposition to train
The Republican leader of the Wisconsin Senate said Thursday that he opposes spending any state money to help Madison bring a passenger rail line that would connect the capital city to Milwaukee, joining the state’s other top GOP legislative leader in opposition to the project.
Posted inEconomy, Government
Audit calls for transparency on Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ COVID relief spending
A nonpartisan audit released Wednesday called on Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to be more transparent about how he distributes billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
Posted inEnvironment
Wisconsin regulators move ahead with groundwater PFAS rules
Wisconsin’s natural resources board on Wednesday voted unanimously to proceed with regulating so-called forever chemicals in the state’s groundwater, 10 months after a plan was scrapped under pressure from the state’s powerful business industry.
Posted inEconomy, Government
Foxconn qualifies for Wisconsin state tax breaks again
Foxconn Technology Group qualified for tax breaks from the state of Wisconsin for a second year in a row in 2022 under revised contract terms that lowered benchmarks the technology company needed to meet.