WisDOT: Updated Wisconsin state highway map now available

Contact: Mae Knowles, (608) 266-7917 mae.knowles@dot.wi.gov National Tourism Week is May 7 to 13 A valuable planning tool for summer road trips is now available. The latest version of the Wisconsin state highway map, a cooperative effort between the Wisconsin Department

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City of Madison: Madison and Middleton select winning offer for solar program; Madison recognized with “SolSmart Gold” Award at National Planning Conference

Contact: Katie Crawley, Mayor’s office KCrawley@cityofmadison.com Katherine Klausing, RENEW Wisconsin, 614-406-1105 katherine@renewwisconsin.org May 9, 2017 – Madison. The Cities of Madison and Middleton have selected the winning offer from contractors who competed to serve the MadiSUN Solar Group Buy program, which helps

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GOP lawmakers release UW merit aid bill

High-achieving Wisconsin students would get $5,000 scholarships each year to attend UW System schools under a new bill two GOP lawmakers laid out today. The bill, which has UW System President Ray Cross’ support, would pay for those scholarships by

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Motion benefiting Marathon County prompts JFC dust up

The committee approved 14-2 requiring WEDC to provide a $100,000 grant in 2017-18 from existing funds to the Marathon County Economic Development Corp. for a revolving fund to support minority-owned businesses. To qualify, 30 percent of the business would have

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JFC approves bringing back WEDC loan program

The Joint Finance Committee signed off on Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to bring back WEDC’s loan program, but tweaked his proposal to give the agency more flexibility in how it funds the loans. Walker had proposed only allowing the agency

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Funky fresh idea taking off in Milwaukee

A ‘funky fresh’ idea is taking off in Milwaukee with the support of grant money from FedEx. Funky Fresh Spring Rolls was started in 2013 by Trueman McGee, a former construction worker who, at 300 pounds, realized he needed a

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John Shiely: Reforming government means reforming government programs

The state can save at least $60 million in the next 2-year budget by simply changing the way it pays for state employee health benefits. Those savings grow by at $22 million more in general purpose revenue if repeal or delay of an ObamaCare tax does not occur. Unfortunately those savings are at risk of being left behind by the Legislature.

Read More »

WisDOT: Updated Wisconsin state highway map now available

Contact: Mae Knowles, (608) 266-7917 mae.knowles@dot.wi.gov National Tourism Week is May 7 to 13 A valuable planning tool for summer road trips is now available. The latest version of the Wisconsin state highway map, a cooperative effort between the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and Department of Tourism, not only reflects

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Rep. Kessler: Democrats decry “outrageous” attempts to silence

Contact: Rep. Fred Kessler, (608) 266-5813, (414) 840-3196 Democrats on Campaigns and Elections Committee Told to Limit Questions (MADISON) –Democrats serving on the Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee were scolded today by Committee Chair Rep. Kathy Bernier. The problem? Asking too many questions during a recent public hearing.  Apparently at that

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City of Madison: Madison and Middleton select winning offer for solar program; Madison recognized with “SolSmart Gold” Award at National Planning Conference

Contact: Katie Crawley, Mayor’s office KCrawley@cityofmadison.com Katherine Klausing, RENEW Wisconsin, 614-406-1105 katherine@renewwisconsin.org May 9, 2017 – Madison. The Cities of Madison and Middleton have selected the winning offer from contractors who competed to serve the MadiSUN Solar Group Buy program, which helps residents easily and affordably invest in solar electric systems on

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American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin: Issues Texas travel advisory

Contact: Gabriela Melendez, 202-715-0826 gmelendez@aclu.org Traveling to Texas May Result in Violation of Constitutional Rights The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Wisconsin issued a nationwide travel alert today informing anyone planning to travel to Texas in the near future to anticipate the possible violation of their constitutional rights when

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Dems push motions knocking Schimel on rape kits, swag

The committee shot down Dem amendments seeking to force AG Brad Schimel to spend more money to process sexual assault kits and to reduce the agency budget following a report by a liberal group on how much the Department of Justice spent on “swag.” Dems have been taking shots at

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Senate committee passes Vukmir, Sanfelippo crime bills

Six of eight bills in a GOP Victim Prevention Package passed the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee today, over concerns from Dem members. The bills, from Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield, and Rep. Joe Sanfelippo, R-New Berlin, are part of a package that looks to up some minimum sentences and

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LFB releases analysis of Kooyenga transpo and tax plan

Some Wisconsinites would end up paying more in income taxes under Kooyenga’s plan compared to current law, according to a new analysis by the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Those paying more would fluctuate over the next dozen years as the state moved toward a 3.95 percent flat tax and eliminated some

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JFC co-chairs applaud Kooyenga for offering transpo plan

The JFC co-chairs also applauded Rep. Dale Kooyenga, R-Brookfield, for putting forward a transportation plan, and Nygren said he was disappointed in the guv’s response. Over the weekend, Walker knocked the proposal as a gas tax hike. It would lower the excise tax, add the state sales tax to fuel

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GOP lawmakers release UW merit aid bill

High-achieving Wisconsin students would get $5,000 scholarships each year to attend UW System schools under a new bill two GOP lawmakers laid out today. The bill, which has UW System President Ray Cross’ support, would pay for those scholarships by selling off the remaining lands held by the state’s oldest

Read More »

JFC plans to reject self-insurance contracts, DOA defends plan

Gov. Scott Walker and DOA Secretary Scott Neitzel today knocked the Joint Finance Committee’s plans to reject the administration’s moves to self-insure state workers. Walker tweeted about the JFC co-chairs’ comments that they expect the committee will reject the contracts his administration reached as part of the self-insurance plan. “Wrong

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Motion benefiting Marathon County prompts JFC dust up

The committee approved 14-2 requiring WEDC to provide a $100,000 grant in 2017-18 from existing funds to the Marathon County Economic Development Corp. for a revolving fund to support minority-owned businesses. To qualify, 30 percent of the business would have to be owned by a person who is a member

Read More »

JFC approves bringing back WEDC loan program

The Joint Finance Committee signed off on Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to bring back WEDC’s loan program, but tweaked his proposal to give the agency more flexibility in how it funds the loans. Walker had proposed only allowing the agency to issue loans that are funded with the repayment of

Read More »

Funky fresh idea taking off in Milwaukee

A ‘funky fresh’ idea is taking off in Milwaukee with the support of grant money from FedEx. Funky Fresh Spring Rolls was started in 2013 by Trueman McGee, a former construction worker who, at 300 pounds, realized he needed a healthy shift in his life. He had been working in

Read More »

John Shiely: Reforming government means reforming government programs

The state can save at least $60 million in the next 2-year budget by simply changing the way it pays for state employee health benefits. Those savings grow by at $22 million more in general purpose revenue if repeal or delay of an ObamaCare tax does not occur. Unfortunately those savings are at risk of being left behind by the Legislature.

Read More »