Legislative Council Approves 2022 Study Committee Bills

The Joint Legislative Council (JLC) recommends special committees to study major issues identified by the Wisconsin Legislature, typically during even-numbered years after the regular session has adjourned.  In April 2022, JLC established seven study committees consisting of legislators and members of the public. Those committees held hearings and developed policy recommendations. On March 23, JLC met […]

Continue Reading ›

Tracking the Senate Confirmation Process for the Evers Administration Cabinet

In a January interview, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) said that the Senate would work to hold confirmation hearings on department secretaries and other agency heads appointed by Gov. Tony Evers (D). During Gov. Evers’ first term, the Senate chose not to take confirmation votes on about 185 of the governor’s appointments, including many […]

Continue Reading ›

VIDEO: Wisconsin Legislature Recognizes American Red Cross Month (March 2023)

The Wisconsin Legislature, by unanimously adopting Assembly Joint Resolution 14, has recognized March 2023 as American Red Cross Month in Wisconsin. AJR 14 passed the Assembly on March 14 and the Senate concurred in the resolution on March 22. The resolution was authored by Rep. Donna Rozar (R-Marshfield) and Sen. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan).

Continue Reading ›

Fiscal Bureau Issues Budget Analysis; Finance Committee Schedules Agency and Public Hearings

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau has released its plain-language summary (tables, agency-by-agency) of Gov. Tony Evers’ (D) executive budget proposal for the 2023-25 fiscal biennium. The document explains, in plain narrative terms along with simple financial tables, how state agencies, programs, and policies currently work and how the budget would affect them. Legislators rely on this […]

Continue Reading ›

Assembly and Senate Floor Sessions: March 2023

The 2023-24 legislative session has been off to a relatively slow start, with the Assembly and Senate each holding only one day of floor votes each in January and none in February. The Assembly voted earlier this week and each house is expected to meet one day next week. Assembly: March 14 (floor calendar) The […]

Continue Reading ›

Tracking the Senate Confirmation Process for the Evers Administration Cabinet

In a January interview, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) said that the Senate would work to hold confirmation hearings on department secretaries and other agency heads appointed by Gov. Tony Evers (D). During Gov. Evers’ first term, the Senate chose not to take confirmation votes on about 185 of the governor’s appointments, including many […]

Continue Reading ›

Capital Budget 2023-25 and “Vision 2030” Highlights

Gov. Tony Evers (D) released his 2023-25 capital budget recommendations on February 28. The capital budget includes plans for purchasing, constructing, maintaining, and disposing of state-owned buildings and other facilities, including University of Wisconsin System properties. Gov. Evers proposes spending $3.8 billion on capital projects over the next two fiscal years, financed by $1.9 billion […]

Continue Reading ›

Alliance of Health Insurers Urges CMS Not to Cut Medicare Advantage

The Alliance of Health Insurers (AHI) recently urged the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider deep cuts to the Medicare Advantage program which CMS had proposed. If the cuts take effect, AHI expressed concern that over 608,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in Wisconsin alone will experience major premium increases and lose many of […]

Continue Reading ›

Supreme Court Candidates Kelly, Protasiewicz Win Primary

In Wisconsin’s spring primary, held February 21, four candidates were on the ballot for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Former Justice Daniel Kelly, a judicial conservative, and Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz, a judicial liberal, were the top two vote-getters. They will face off in the general election on April 4. Over […]

Continue Reading ›

Rep. Knodl Wins Republican Primary in SD 8

In Wisconsin’s spring primary, held February 21, Rep. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) defeated two other candidates in a Republican primary for the 8th Senate District. The seat is currently vacant after Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) retired on December 1 last year, in the middle of her eighth term. Gov. Evers ordered a special election, coinciding with the […]

Continue Reading ›