TheRepublic.com - Wisconsin State Legislature News

Work requirement would reduce food stamp rolls

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:50:14 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - A proposed work requirement for food stamps recipients in Wisconsin is projected to knock half of the people off the program.

GOP move gives state more control on construction

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:58:36 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Democrats said a move to standardize erosion control rules for commercial construction sites is another effort by Republicans to take power away from local authorities.

Wis. budget committee to consider DNA expansion

Mon, 20 May 2013 05:05:53 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Wisconsin lawmakers are set this week to consider Gov. Scott Walker's plan to take DNA from anyone arrested for a felony and anyone convicted of any crime.

Wisconsin bill would ban mandatory flu shots

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:04:04 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Wisconsin employers, including hospitals and nursing homes, could no longer require workers to get flu shots under a bill pending in the Legislature.

Wis. budget panel to consider rent-to-own changes

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:04:25 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee is poised to consider provisions in Gov. Scott Walker's executive budget that would exempt rent-to-own stores from Wisconsin's consumer protection laws.

Wis. not likely to take up gay marriage again soon

Sat, 18 May 2013 18:20:14 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Wisconsin's neighbor Minnesota may have become the 12th state in the country to legalize same-sex unions on Tuesday. But gay marriage is not on the legislative agenda in Wisconsin, and that's not expected to change in the near future.

Cost of Walker's Medicaid plan increases

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:13:49 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The cost of Gov. Scott Walker's plan to reject federally funded Medicaid expansion and instead tighten income eligibility for the program has gone up.

Walker signs layoff alternative bill

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:25:48 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Gov. Scott Walker on Friday signed into law a bill creating a program that gives employers an alternative to laying off employees when work slows.

Walker signs bill benefiting Wisconsin Ducks

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:28:51 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Gov. Scott Walker has signed into law a bill benefiting the military-style amphibious vehicle known as the Wisconsin Duck.

Bipartisan bill requires annual WEDC audit

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:19:18 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - A bill introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers would require annual audits at Gov. Scott Walker's troubled quasi-public jobs agency, as well as put limits on terms that board members appointed by the governor serve.

Wis. budget committee OKs stewardship reductions

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:28:14 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Republicans on the Legislature's budget committee approved a plan Wednesday that would dramatically scale back the state Department of Natural Resources' land stewardship program, arguing the program's debt has ballooned and the state has enough land.

Republican Grothman criticizes Revenue workers

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:28:31 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Wisconsin Revenue Department employees who work to collect delinquent taxes are mean and should be more compassionate, a Republican state senator said Wednesday during debate over whether to add more staff in that area.

Wis. committee bans night wolf hunting

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:50:12 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Legislature's finance committee has quietly left a provision that would ban night wolf hunting in Gov. Scott Walker's budget.

Wis. budget committee reduces wolf license fees

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:13:30 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Legislature's budget committee has approved reducing wolf hunt license fees.

Wis. committee approves money for mini-deer hunts

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:11:34 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Legislature's budget committee has approved spending nearly $2 million in federal money to set up private deer hunts.

Wis. budget committee OKs elk importation

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:09:23 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Legislature's finance committee has approved a plan in Gov. Scott Walker's budget that would relax Wisconsin's chronic wasting disease testing protocols and allow elk importation.

Wis. lawmakers pass Milwaukee County Board changes

Tue, 14 May 2013 22:35:22 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Republican-controlled state Senate passed a bill Tuesday weakening powers of the Milwaukee County Board, after agreeing to relatively minor changes brought forward by Democrats.

Dems delay Wis. Assembly vote on landlords bill

Tue, 14 May 2013 22:05:27 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Minority Democrats have delayed a state Assembly vote on a Republican bill that would grant landlords more power over tenants.

Wis. Assembly approves WEDC contracts bill

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:12:04 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The state Assembly has approved a bill that would bar Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. employees from negotiating contracts they have a financial stake in.

Dalai Lama tells Legislature to be compassionate

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:10:25 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Dalai Lama, speaking on the floor of the Wisconsin Assembly where lawmakers just two years ago hurled expletives at each other while angry protesters screamed insults, said Tuesday that the key to a happy life isn't power or money but compassion.

Assembly passes tax break for military families

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:21:49 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Assembly has passed a bill that would exempt military income for a soldier killed in combat from taxes.

Wis. Assembly passes drunken driving sentences

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:20:42 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The state Assembly has passed a Republican bill that would ensure repeat drunken drivers spend time behind bars.

Wis. Assembly passes underage drinking bill

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:53:08 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The state Assembly has approved a Republican bill that would allow bars and liquor stores to sue underage patrons or their parents for $1,000.

Wis. Assembly to vote on bill blocking injunctions

Tue, 14 May 2013 05:05:28 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The state Assembly is expected to take up a Republican bill that would allow attorneys to nullify court rulings blocking state laws by filing quick appeals.

Budget panel wants to see Corrections plan

Mon, 13 May 2013 18:19:48 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Legislature's budget committee wants more details from the Department of Corrections before it approves millions of dollars to pay additional workers to do GPS monitoring, create a new office for internal investigations and perform information technology upgrades.