In December 2020, Congress passed a 5,600-page spending bill totaling roughly $2.3 trillion. In addition to funding the federal government for nine months to the tune of $1.4 trillion, the bill featured a $900 billion economic stimulus and COVID-19 relief package. The House approved the package by a 359-53 margin, while the Senate passed it […]
Round 2 Federal COVID-19 Relief Legislation: What It Means for Wisconsin
Date Thu, Jan. 14, 2021 - 5:04pm By Hamilton
Gov. Evers Urges Congress to Act on PFAS
Date Mon, Oct. 7, 2019 - 3:24pm By Hamilton
On Sept. 18, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers joined a bipartisan group of 14 other governors in asking congressional armed services committees to include several provisions related to PFAS in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are manufactured chemicals that are found in many everyday products, including nonstick pans, cleaning products, paints, […]
Federal District Court Strikes Down ACA Mandate
Date Tue, Dec. 18, 2018 - 12:33pm By Hamilton
A federal district court in Texas has ruled that the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate is unconstitutional. The court further found that, because the individual mandate is “essential” to the ACA, the remaining provisions of the law are also invalid. Congress zeroed out the tax penalty appropriation, yet left in place the ACA’s individual […]
Speaker Ryan Not Running for Re-election
Date Fri, Apr. 13, 2018 - 9:19am By Hamilton
U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) announced this week he will not run for re-election in November. Ryan said he will finish his term in the House and will stay on as Speaker for the remainder of the legislative session. Ryan was elected as the representative for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District in 1998. He has […]
Wisconsin’s Primary Day To Be Held, Tuesday, August 9
Date Tue, Aug. 9, 2016 - 3:13pm By Hamilton
August 9, 2016 will mark the earliest primary day in Wisconsin for fall elections in the modern era. Whether or not this will have an effect on turnout remains to be seen as summer vacation is still in full swing and the highly charged presidential primary elections have ended and switched their focus to November. […]
Tom Nelson Announces Run for the 8th Congressional District
Date Fri, Apr. 15, 2016 - 9:45am By Hamilton
On April 7, Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson declared his candidacy for the 8th Congressional District in northeast Wisconsin. The seat is open after Rep. Reid Ribble’s retirement announcement last fall. Nelson served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2005 to 2011 and was the Assembly majority leader in the 2009-10 legislative session. In 2010, […]
Elections Update: More Retirements and New Candidates for 8th CD
Date Thu, Mar. 3, 2016 - 6:33pm By Hamilton
More legislators announce retirements Rep. John Murtha (R-Baldwin), Rep. Tom Larson (R-Colfax), and Sen. Nikiya Harris Dodd (D-Milwaukee) joined the growing number of legislators that will not seek re-election in 2016. Rep. John Murtha has announced he will not seek reelection to the Assembly seat he has held since 2006. Murtha served as the Majority […]
Sen. Lasee to Run for 8th Congressional District
Date Thu, Feb. 18, 2016 - 6:24pm By Hamilton
Sen. Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) has announced his plans to run for the 8th Congressional District in Northeast Wisconsin left open by U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble’s retirement. Lasee served in the Wisconsin Assembly from 1994 to 2006 and was elected to the State Senate in 2010. In his campaign announcement, Lasee stated his focus is […]
U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble Announces Retirement
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:21am By Hamilton
U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble announced his decision not to seek reelection to the 8th Congressional District, which covers large areas of northeast Wisconsin. Elected to the House of Representatives in 2010, Ribble had previously announced he would not serve for longer than eight years, so a retirement announcement was not expected until 2018. Rep. Ribble […]
Congress Passes Long-Term Transportation Bill
Date Fri, Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:36am By Hamilton
In early December, Congress passed the Fixing America’s Transportation Act (FAST ACT) with bipartisan support. The legislation provides funding to improve surface transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, transit systems and passenger rail network. The bill will provide $305 billion in funding over the next five years. This is the first long-term transportation bill in a […]