TheRepublic.com - Wisconsin state government News

Wis. GOP lawmaker explains 'no' vote on budget

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:24:43 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - One of three Wisconsin Assembly Republicans who voted against the state budget Wednesday said his decision was a difficult one.

Wis. Assembly passes state budget, heads to Senate

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:53:12 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Assembly passed the state budget Wednesday after Democrats decided against offering any amendments or prolonging debate, saying the $70 billion spending plan is so bad it can't be fixed.

Wisconsin Senate to debate state budget Thursday

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:49:58 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Senate plans to debate the state budget on Thursday, and Republican Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says no changes are planned.

Wis Dems: No budget debate was tactic, not retreat

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:26:05 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Assembly Democrats say their decision not to debate the state budget was part of a strategy, not surrender.

Highlights of state budget passed by Assembly

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:10:06 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The two-year state budget passed by the Republican-controlled Assembly on a 55-42 vote now heads to the state Senate for an expected vote on Thursday. If it passes there in identical form, it then heads to Gov. Scott Walker who can sign it, veto all of it, or veto any individual items he opposes. The Legislature has the option to override Walker's vetoes.

Health groups oppose bill barring gun inquiries

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:46:21 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Health organizations say a Wisconsin bill that would prohibit doctors from asking patients whether they own guns would interfere with the doctor-patient relationship.

Assembly delays budget debate until Wednesday

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:34:19 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The state Assembly has adjourned after debating the state budget for only 15 minutes.

Wisconsin Senate approves WEDC board term limits

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:43:42 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Senate has approved a bill that would limit terms for board members at Gov. Scott Walker's troubled quasi-public jobs agency.

Wis. Senate confirms 2 of Walker's regent nominees

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:55:17 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The state Senate has unanimously confirmed two of Gov. Scott Walker's nominees to the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents.

Wis. Senate to take up venture capital bill

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:04:14 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The state Senate is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a bill that would invest millions of dollars in state and private money in Wisconsin startups.

Wis. Supreme Court takes lawsuit over union law

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:41:35 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear the appeal of a lawsuit brought by two unions challenging the constitutionality of Gov. Scott Walker's law effectively ending collective bargaining for most public workers in the state.

Wis. Supreme Court takes domestic partner case

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:38:29 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Supreme Court has decided to hear a challenge to the state's domestic partner registry.

Gun group sues Wis. AG over concealed carry rules

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:55:05 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - A gun rights group has filed a lawsuit against Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen alleging his state Justice Department's concealed carry rules limit training class sizes.

Memo explains school spending increase

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:03:56 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - A new memo from the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau explains that the $150 per-student spending increase that's part of the state budget would amount to a $100 bump in the first year.

Correction: Wisconsin Abortion story

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 12:35:53 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - In a story June 13 about a package of Republican abortion bills, The Associated Press erroneously reported Rep. Andre Jacque's party affiliation. He is a Republican, not a Democrat.

Walker urged to reconsider regent appointment

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:15:29 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Gov. Scott Walker refused to say Thursday why he withdrew his nomination to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents of a UW-Platteville student who signed a petition to recall him from office.

Wis. Assembly bans abortions based on fetus' sex

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 19:04:59 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Assembly has approved a bill that would ban abortions based on the fetus' sex.

Wis. Assembly passes domestic violence bills

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:47:45 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Assembly approved a trio of bills Thursday to strengthen the state's domestic violence laws after one abuse victim was shot last year by her estranged husband at a Brookfield spa.

Wis. Assembly approves abortion insurance ban

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:32:38 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Assembly has passed a bill that would make public workers' abortions more expensive and allow religious organizations to refuse insurance coverage for contraceptives.

Report: Taxes would drop $677 million under budget

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:50:41 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - A new report shows state taxes collected in Wisconsin would drop by $677 million over the next two years, driven primarily by a $648 million income tax cut.

Veterans seek changes to property tax credit

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:38:32 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Veterans groups want the state Legislature to undo proposed limits on a popular property tax credit for disabled veterans and their spouses.

News from around Wisconsin at 5:58 p.m. CDT<<

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:02:37 -0400

Massive thunderstorms began moving into the Midwest on Wednesday. Meteorologists warn that the line of storms could launch a weather event called a derecho, which is a straight-line wind storm spanning at least 240 miles. Here's a snapshot of what is happening, state by state:

Assembly delays action on domestic violence bill

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:44:22 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Wisconsin Assembly has delayed action on a bill that would expand the scope of evidence that can be used to prosecute domestic violence cases.

Assembly passes bipartisan elections bill

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:52:14 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - The Assembly passed a bill Wednesday that would double the amount people could donate to political campaigns and also allow for online registration, but it was unclear if the Senate would act on it before adjourning for the summer.

Former wrestlers come to Assembly for resolution

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:52:43 -0400

MADISON, Wisconsin - Well-known Wisconsin wrestlers are joining with state lawmakers in supporting a resolution calling for wrestling to remain an Olympic event.