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Over the past few months, the biennial state budget has been working through the legislative process. Since Governor Evers introduced his budget proposal in February, my legislative colleagues and I gathered feedback from the people of Wisconsin about their priorities for our state’s two-yea…

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Why is the veteran important? This question has more than one meaning. When I hear the word veteran I think of all the men and women that have served our country and fought for our freedom. I think of the time and dedication they put forth, so I can stand here today and read this paper. I th…

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In my e-update a couple of weeks ago I discussed Assembly Bill (AB) 245, a proposal introduced by Assembly Republicans to provide a historic investment in local governments through the shared revenue program. This program is one of the primary funding mechanisms for our county and municipal …

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As I travel the district, one of the biggest concerns that I hear from folks in local government is the need to revamp the state’s shared revenue program. This program is one of the primary funding mechanisms for our county and municipal governments. The current shared revenue formula has be…

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A lot of the economic stats are very, very good. Record low unemployment. Unprecedented state budget surplus. Resilient consumer spending. Easing of pandemic-era shortages, inflation, housing speculation and high gasoline prices.

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On Tuesday, the State Assembly was in session and approved several bills including two proposals protecting consumer choice, Assembly Bills (AB) 141 and 142. AB 141 prohibits state agencies and local governments from restricting the use or sale of a device, such as a lawnmower or a chainsaw,…

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A proposal in Gov. Tony Evers’ budget would require Wisconsin employers of 50 or more to provide their workers with paid family and medical leave. This comes as more states are adopting such requirements -- though so far, the change is not happening as quickly in the Midwest.

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Light rain was falling from a gray, sullen sky as I pulled my DNR fire control engine behind a police cruiser from Roseville, Minnesota. As I exited my truck, a steady stream of other law enforcement vehicles was filling in behind me. There was a little over a quarter mile hike to my destina…

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As I travel the district, one of the top concerns that I hear from employers both large and small is that they continue to struggle to find enough employees to meet their needs and serve their customers. With the labor shortage impacting industries across our state, we need to look for ways …

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The spring election isn’t over until April 4. But already spending in this year’s state Supreme Court has demolished the state and national judicial spending records.

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In just the past decade, the number of emergency teaching licenses in Wisconsin has nearly tripled, suggesting schools are facing increasing challenges from staff shortages and high turnover in areas such as special education. Often emergency licenses are reissued for multiple years, which m…

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A group of residents concerned about the impact of a local park redevelopment, a school board member who blew the whistle on his colleagues for being too secretive, and a longtime city official who has made a habit of accessibility are among the winners in this year’s Openness Awards, or Ope…

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After a gubernatorial election, the first job of the governor in the first year of the new term is unveiling the two-year state budget plan.

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Disinformation and misinformation hang like a dark cloud over the electoral process today. Disinformation is false by design; misinformation is false information that may or may not have been intentional. These elements have long been a part of the political process in the United States. Pre…

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Many people in Wisconsin are under the impression that the disastrous probe into the state’s 2020 presidential election conducted by former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman is over, as are its costs to taxpayers. They’re wrong.

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Wisconsin voters are still recovering from all the ads associated with the November elections that decided races for governor, U.S. Senate, Congress, and the state Legislature.

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Wisconsin Gov.-elect Tim Michels joined the group for lunch last week, celebrating the bright red wave that carried him to victory over incumbent Tony Evers in November’s mid-term elections.

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While the attention of media, elected officials and community leaders has been focused on the COVID-19 pandemic, another crisis — opioid addiction — has worsened in Wisconsin.

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As founder of We the Irrelevant, a website that tracks how well (or poorly) the actions of legislators match up with what the public has asked them to do, I have sent multiple open records requests to Wisconsin legislators on a variety of controversial initiatives. Each time, I’ve asked them…