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 […]
Tracking the Senate Confirmation Process for the Evers Administration Cabinet
Date Thu, Mar. 16, 2023 - 5:18pm By Hamilton
Capital Budget 2023-25 and “Vision 2030” Highlights
Date Thu, Mar. 16, 2023 - 4:20pm By Hamilton
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 […]
Gov. Evers 2023-25 Executive Budget Highlights
Date Thu, Feb. 16, 2023 - 11:48am By Hamilton
Gov. Evers gave his third biennial budget address on February 15, unveiling his 2023-25 executive budget. He proposes an operating budget of $103.8 billion over the next two fiscal years, adding a net 816.55 FTE positions. For comparison, the 2021-23 state budget spent $87.5 billion with a net reduction of 174.19 FTE positions. The complete […]
Kirsten Johnson Appointed DHS Secretary as Agency Releases State Health Plan, Equity Report
Date Wed, Feb. 8, 2023 - 10:38am By Hamilton
Kirsten Johnson Appointed DHS Secretary On Monday, Gov. Tony Evers (D) announced the appointment of Kirsten Johnson as secretary of the Department of Health Services (DHS). Most recently, Johnson was the Milwaukee Commissioner of Health for two years and previously spent 10 years as the director and health officer of the Washington Ozaukee Public Health […]
In Fifth State of the State, Gov. Evers Announces Budget Proposals
Date Wed, Jan. 25, 2023 - 11:07am By Hamilton
Gov. Tony Evers (D) delivered his fifth annual State of the State address on the evening of January 24 before a joint session of the Wisconsin Legislature. The address was delivered in the Assembly Chambers of the Wisconsin Capitol Building. The governor’s office has released the full text of his prepared remarks as well as […]
State Budget Issues: Taxes, Medicaid, PFAS
Date Wed, Jan. 25, 2023 - 11:03am By Hamilton
With another legislative session comes another biennial state budget bill, and Wisconsin is expected to have a surplus of $7.1 billion when the current fiscal biennium ends June 30. The 2023-25 state budget will occupy much of the Legislature’s attention for the next few months. In last night’s State of the State address, Gov. Tony […]
Gov. Evers Begins Second Term as GOP Legislature Considers Broad Tax Reform
Date Wed, Jan. 11, 2023 - 9:24am By Hamilton
Tony Evers Sworn in for Second Term as Governor Inauguration Day in Wisconsin took place on January 3. Democratic incumbents Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul began their second terms in office, while Sara Rodriguez was sworn in as the state’s new lieutenant governor. Gov. Evers spent the majority of his second inaugural […]
Kicking Off Second Term, Gov. Evers Names Several New Agency Heads
Date Wed, Jan. 11, 2023 - 9:00am By Hamilton
Following the November 2022 election, three members of Gov. Tony Evers’ (D) cabinet announced they were leaving the administration. Sec. Preston Cole of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Sec. Mary Kolar of the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) have both retired, and Gov. Evers has since appointed their replacements. To lead DVA, Gov. […]
2022 Election Results
Date Wed, Nov. 9, 2022 - 10:23am By Hamilton
Based on available results as of Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at 10:30 AM. United States Senate Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (50.5 percent) won a third six-year term, defeating Democratic challenger Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes (49.5 percent). Governor Democratic Gov. Tony Evers (51.2 percent) defeated Republican challenger Tim Michels (47.8 percent). Evers’ running-mate Rep. Sara […]
2022 Election Preview
Date Wed, Oct. 26, 2022 - 10:05am By Hamilton
Political Environment Historically, midterm elections in the first term of a presidency are rather textbook in nature. Whichever party has recently won the presidency tends to face an unfavorable electoral environment. On average, the party in power loses 36 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and faces challenges in races from the top to […]