David Steffen

Bipartisan Budget Deal Gets Mixed Reviews From Wisconsin Legislators

A 'step in the right direction' or a 'little sad' and 'unacceptable'?

Wisconsin Lawmakers Discuss Pro-Nuclear Energy Bills

GOP bills would conduct nuclear siting study, convene nuclear conference in Madison

Prison Reforms Impact Many Legislators

One-third of all districts affected. Evers 'take it or leave it' plan likely to get lots of discussion and review.

Evers’ Prison Plan Receives Mixed Reviews

Lawmakers divided on $500 million plan, but local officials, advocacy groups like it.

GOP Lawmakers Push For More Nuclear Power in Wisconsin

Discussion comes as new Microsoft data center expected to use more power than every house in Dane County.

Republican Bill Moves Lawsuits Out of Dane County

A 'Court Fairness' proposal or an 'attempt to gerrymander the courts'?

Speaker Vos Announces Assembly Standing Committee Membership

Coalition Pushes Closing Wisconsin’s Green Bay Prison

126-year-old maximum security facility in 'dire state' and way over capacity.

Evers Signs Legislation To Protect Students From Strip Searches

'Being treated with dignity and basic privacy is something every student should expect.'

Bipartisan Support For Wisconsin Joining Lawsuit Against Facebook, Meta

Attorney General Josh Kaul adds Wisconsin to list of 32 states suing tech giant.

Bill Would Allow New Bars To Offer Indoor Cigar, Pipe Smoking

City of Milwaukee could support the bill, but raised questions over regulation.

Bipartisan Bill to Protect Election Workers Moves Forward

Proposed state law makes it a felony to attack an election worker.

Assembly Approves Tax Cut Bill And 2 Constitutional Amendment Proposals

Legislation would next go to state Senate.

Republicans Advance Income Tax Cut

Evers promises a veto, calling it a financially 'irresponsible' bill.

Constitutional Amendment Would Require Supermajority For Wisconsin Tax Increases

Republican-led proposal is pending before the Legislature.

Bipartisan Legislation Would Prevent Strip Searches In Wisconsin Schools

Proposal is response to Oconto County incident where 6 girls were forced to strip down to underwear.

Republican Proposal Designed To Give Tax Break To Retirees

Proposal, which has some early bipartisan support, would protect retirees from Wisconsin income taxes.

Strip Search of Rural Wisconsin High Schoolers Results In Bipartisan Legislation

Proposal would expand protections after six girls stripped to underwear in vaping cartridge search.

Why Bipartisan Expungement Bill Needed

Current law makes it complicated and costly to clear your criminal record.

Uncertainty Around Solar Financing Regulations Limits Wisconsin Installations

Solar developers awaiting new PSC ruling following initial ruling to allow third-party financing.

Bill Would Make Damaging Historical Property a Felony

Sponsors bring up damage to statues during 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

Sexual Assault Kit Bills Finally Sent to Governor

Bills aimed at preventing a future backlog took years to make it through state legislature.

Bill Mandating Cursive Lessons Splits Party

Republicans push it, while Democrats, teachers union, school boards oppose it.

GOP Bill Moves State Elections Commission to Wausau

Opponents note this moves the commission away from the majority of state population.

Legislature Passes Absentee Voting Restrictions

And proposal cutting funding to municipalities that reduce police funding.

GOP Lawmakers End Weekly Unemployment Boost

State legislature votes to end $300 federal supplement. Governor Evers could veto.

Online Tool Can Clear Criminal, Evictions Records

Advocacy groups create Legal Tune Up to easily check if records can be removed from data bases.

About The CDC’s New Mask Guidance

It’s not ‘masks off’ for everyone, say state public health experts.

Expunging Criminal Records Gets Broad Support

Police, prosecutors, public defenders, business groups back bill expanding expungement.

Legislature Passes Cocktails-To-Go Bill

It awaits the governor's signature. The Senate also passed a bill allowing home deliveries of alcohol.

Cocktails To Go Bill Passes Assembly

State Senate has yet to vote on the legislation. City has concerns.

As State Looks to Bounce Back from Pandemic, Gov. Evers Urges Bipartisan Support for $2.38 Billion in Capital Budget Investments to Provide Estimated 29,000 Family-Supporting Jobs, $4.3 Billion in Economic Impact 

Governor's 2021-23 capital budget to be taken up by State Building Commission this week includes major projects in both Republican and Democratic districts

Will Supreme Court Act on Mask Mandate?

State high court has sat on case for months, could decide fight between governor and Legislature.

Criminal Record Expungement Bill Is Back

Bipartisan bill pushed by Rep. Evan Goyke nearly passed in last session.

Cocktails To Go Bill Enjoys Industry Support

Seen as a life line to bars and restaurants, the bill brings up questions regarding drunk driving, and local control over liquor licensing.

Disability Community Demands Better Voting Access

Current system and election laws make accessibility difficult to guarantee.

Federal Judge Tears Apart Election Lawsuit

The Wisconsin Voters Alliance was attempting to overturn the 2020 election results with the lawsuit.

Evers Reflects on Year of Pandemic, Protests

Proud of his administration’s response to COVID-19, “we turned that around a little bit.”

Wisconsin Republicans Join New Federal Election Lawsuit

Suit seeks to toss results from five states in advance of Electoral College.

Last Call for the Legislature

The rush to end session and go home for the year results in some ugly legislation.

Assembly Rejects Bipartisan Rape Kit Bill

Republicans pass bill with "poison pills' that will force veto by Gov. Evers.

Will Republicans Kill Rape Kit Bill?

30 states passed bills to assure rape kits are processed. Only Wisconsin has made it partisan, expert testifies.

Sexual Assault Bill Becomes Partisan Issue

Bipartisan bill ready to pass but gets hijacked by Republicans adding provisions on school choice, ICE.

Assembly Health Committee Fails to Act on Sexual Assault Kit Legislation

Kaul Pushes Assembly for Rape Kit Bill

AG wants legislation to ensure no more backlog of untested sexual assault kits.

AG Kaul Urges Assembly Health Committee to Hold Public Hearing on Legislation to Prevent Future Backlog of Untested Sexual Assault Kits

"This legislation will help prevent another backlog of untested sexual assault kits."

Where Have All The Hunters Gone?

Millennials less likely to hunt. To counter decline state looks to women and children.

Bill Eases Burdens On Pot Offenders

Bipartisan bill would expunge records of 89,000 marijuana offenders, helping them get better jobs, wages.

Bills Target Energy Pipeline Protesters

Model legislation created by ALEC targets protests, passed in Iowa but modified by Wisconsin Republicans.

Working for Clean Energy a Tricky Task

Polls show bipartisan support, but how you talk about it matters.

New DNR Head Has Agenda of Change

Climate change, lead laterals and CAFO-polluted private wells are top concerns.

Proposal Seeks to Prevent Rape Kit Backlog

Attorney General Kaul, lawmakers push defined procedures for handling sexual assault testing so all kits processed promptly.

Bipartisan Group of Legislators and AG Kaul Propose Legislation to Prevent Future Backlog of Untested Sexual Assault Kits

"The legislation we’re proposing today, which is supported by nurses, law enforcement, advocates for survivors, and a bipartisan group of legislators, sends a clear message: Wisconsin must never have another backlog of untested sexual assault kits."

AFP-WI Backs Expungement Reform Bill

The bill makes smart reforms to Wisconsin’s criminal justice system to help provide second chances to people who have paid their debt to society.

Report Finds Barriers to Jobs for Ex-Cons

Few states make it tougher to expunge criminal records, WPF study finds.

Governor Walker Signs Bills to Create and Expand Outdoor Recreation, Attract Talent to Wisconsin, and Improve Medical Assistance

93 bills signed into law at the Wisconsin State Capitol

Governor Walker Signs Bills on Improving Family Access to High-Quality Child Care, Creating Transitional Jobs Program for Wisconsin Veterans, and Increasing Funding for Watershed Protection Grants

Governor Walker signs 64 bills into law at the Wisconsin State Capitol

Speaker Vos leads State Assembly Delegation to a Trade Summit

"With the current negotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and newly imposed tariffs, it’s essential that we’re actively engaged in a dialogue to protect our state’s interests."

Rep. Considine appointed to new state committee

"I am proud to bring my experience in agriculture and education to the table on this committee..."

Green Bay Prison To Be Replaced?

Century-old Green Bay and the Oshkosh prison both horribly overcrowded. Part 5 of series.

Bill Would Let Utilities Destroy Wetlands

They donated $1.9 million to politicians, want bill letting them take over wetlands.

With Elections Just a Year Away, Legislature Abandons Wisconsin Families

Industrial Acid Mining Bill Will Put Public Health at Risk for Generations

Speaker Vos Announces New Assembly Committee on International Affairs and Commerce

Wisconsin exported $21 billion in products last year.

Leah unveils 100+ Wisconsin endorsements

Elected officials, grassroots activists and business owners unite behind Leah

Bill Lets Some Criminal Records Be Expunged

Rep. Goyke’s bill gets bipartisan support, allows retroactive expungement of youthful convictions.

Governor Walker Signs 20 Bills Into Law

Acts 37 - 56

A Bill Providing Pathways to Employment for Youthful Offenders Receives Public Hearing

Bipartisan legislation would fix Wisconsin’s outdated expungement law

Governor Scott Walker Signs 46 Bills Into Law

Acts 154 - 199.

A Tale of Three Sports Facilities

How the funding and politics varied for Lambeau Field, Miller Park and Bucks’ new arena.