Jeff Smith

Time For Legislators to Work Together

For years Republican legislators froze out Democrats. Fair maps should change that.

2024 Roundup- Gov. Evers Completes Annual 72-County Tour of Wisconsin

Wisconsin Senate Votes to Override Governor’s Vetoes

Effort unlikely to pass Assembly.

Visiting Eau Claire, Evers Chides Legislators for Blocking Hospital Funds

As Republicans withhold aid, hospital closings create health-care gap in western Wisconsin.

Controversial Power Line Bill Dies In Legislature

Opponents of 'Right of First Refusal' bill say it would have hiked utility rates.

Senate Fires 8 Evers Appointees, Approves 3 Constitutional Amendments

Senate ends session for year with governor 'apoplectic' over 'petty partisan politics.'

Constitutional Amendment Would Block Ranked Choice Voting

Proposal designed to halt bipartisan bill.

Gov. Evers, Members of Evers Administration Meet with Eau Claire Leaders to Support Regional Healthcare Workforce Following HSHS and Prevea Closures

Senate Votes to Fire Evers Appointee from Public Service Commission

Tyler Huebner rejected. Senate also passes electric vehicle, nudity ban and tax cut bills.

GOP Committee Votes to Toss Utility Commissioner Tyler Huebner

RENEW Wisconsin leader on PSC board since 2020, but never confirmed by Legislature.

Assembly Committee Considers Final Five Runoff System for Elections

Bipartisan bill's version of ranked choice voting is for congressional races only.

WI Secretary of State Calls for Removing Election Commissioner Robert Spindell

Spindell admitted serving as fake elector and also celebrated voter suppression.

Republicans Seek To Abolish Wisconsin Elections Commission

Power would be transferred to Secretary of State, Legislature's election committees.

Dianne Hesselbein Is New Senate Minority Leader

Democrats pick her to succeed Sen. Agard, now running for Dane County Executive.

Democrat’s Senate Leader Stepping Down, Running For Dane County Exec

Melissa Agard will serve out her senate term, but three candidates already running for her leadership post.

Bill Would Help Prevent Food Waste

State grants to help create community composting, get retailers' unsold products to food pantries.

Final Five Bill Changes Congressional Elections in Wisconsin

Bipartisan proposal pushes less partisan, ranked-choice elections.

Bipartisan Bill Creates Ranked Choice Voting for Congressional Races

With a single primary for all candidates. What are its chances of passage?

Evers’ Child Care Proposal Might Get A Second Life

After inaction by GOP leaders, Senate quietly moves legislation forward.

Taxpayers Paying For Both Sides of Senate Lawsuit Over Redistricting

Democrats and Republicans both charging State of Wisconsin for redistricting legal fight.

Conservative Groups Oppose Including Voucher Schools In Transparency Dashboard

Bipartisan panel backs financial transparency dashboard, but School Choice WI and WILL object.

Artificial Intelligence Being Used To Generate Election Ads

"Synthetic media" allows coordination with super PACs, deep faces. Will it be regulated?

Rep. Robyn Vining & Sen. Melissa Agard Re-Introduce Universal Changing Stations Bill

How to Achieve Fair Legislative Maps

We can learn from Iowa and Michigan, which created independent redistricting to prevent gerrymandering.

Legislature Passes Local Revenue, Schools Bills

Deal heads to Gov. Evers’ desk. Despite bipartisan support, some are calling for him to veto proposals.

Senate Mulls Milwaukee’s Financial Peril

Struggling to create plan for shared revenue and sales tax that's acceptable to Assembly and Gov. Evers.

Capitol Has New Generation of Leaders

44% of Legislature's 132 members changed in last four years.

Celebrating Black Resistance

Black History Month a good time to celebrate how many racial barriers have been overcome.

2022 Roundup: Gov. Evers Completes 2022 72-County Tour of Wisconsin

Jodi for State Senate Announces First Round of Endorsements for Senate District 8

Longtime area resident also announces campaign manager

New Programs Help Pay for Energy Efficiency

And energy assistance. How to get funding from state and federal programs.

Senate Democrats Elect New Leadership

Sen. Melissa Agard will lead 11 Democrats, just one third of the Senate.

Republicans Don’t Win Veto-Proof Legislature

Had to flip five Assembly seats and one Senate district and fell short.

Republicans Seek Veto-Proof Legislature

GOP supermajority possible if they flip one senate district, five assembly seats now held by Democrats.

Gov. Evers Announces Appointments to Blue Ribbon Commission on Veteran Opportunity

Historic Turnover Will Change Legislature

Retirements, redistricting and members pursuing higher office could transform Legislature.

Use of Paper Ballots Soared in State Senate

Maneuver used in hundreds of bills to bar any debate or amendments to proposed bills.

GOP plan to dismantle public education would raise taxes by over $577 million

Wisconsin Legislative Democrats Introduce Hazard Pay for Frontline Workers

How to Improve State’s K-12 Schools

Teacher recruitment and retention is a key issue.

Senate Passes a Dozen Voting Bills

Republicans say bills address election ‘irregularities.’ Democrats charge ‘voter suppression.'

Legislative Leaders Release Package Aimed at Maintaining Wisconsin’s Education Workforce

State Senate Votes on Guns, Vaccines, China

Against vaccine mandates and China and for guns on school grounds.

School Voucher Lobby Wants More State Funding

Pushing for more public funding of private schools.

Republicans Offer Slate of Election Bills

They won’t suppress votes, Bernier and other GOP legislators promise. Democrats skeptical.

Sarah Godlewski Releases Plan for Rural Wisconsin

Five-Pillar Policy Proposal Follows Endorsements from Rural Coalition as Godlewski Shows Strength in Communities Other Democrats Often Ignore

Sarah Godlewski Launches Coalition of Rural Wisconsinites Supporting her Campaign for U.S. Senate

Godlewski Shows Strength in Communities Other Democrats Often Ignore

Getting Health Insurance Has Never Been Easier

Evers has made it easier to get ACA coverage. Enrollment period through January 15.

Poverty Worsening For Some In State

70,000 households have children who went hungry because family couldn't afford food.

What They’re Saying: Local Electeds Praise Biden, Democrats in Congress for Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal

Hundreds Denounce GOP Redistricting Plan

Republicans control Legislature, and propose maps maintaining electoral advantage.

Rep. Robyn Vining Introduces Epi Access Legislation

GOP Legislators Push To Continue Gerrymandering

Pushing for redistricting to diverge from current districts as little as possible.

Baldwin, Colleagues Visit Fort McCoy

Baldwin toured facilities and was briefed on Afghan evacuee operations

Tax Cut Divides Democrats

Evers and some Democratic legislators supported it. GOP hopes to gain new seats from swing-district opponents.

State Legislature Passes Biennial Budget

Lawmakers cut billions from the Governor's budget.

Rep. Robyn Vining Urges Passage of Fair Maps Legislation

Capitol Rally For Nonpartisan Redistricting

Advocates push plan modeled on Iowa’s non-partisan system.

Fight For Fair Maps Heats Up

Legislators, advocates and a mathematician push for nonpartisan voting districts.

Every Worker Deserves a Safe Workplace

Governor’s budget includes provisions to help workers, enhance workers compensation.

Are State’s Schools Rolling In Dough?

Republican legislators think Milwaukee Public Schools getting away with something.

Bill Requires MPS Reimburse Private School Transportation Costs

When MPS went virtual, it stopped providing transportation for private school students.

Bills Cap Predatory Lending at 36%

Average payday interest rate is 517%. Industry has given generously to legislators

Representative LaKeshia Myers Introduces Bill Aimed at Increasing the Number of DATCP Dog Inspectors

Will State Judges Protect Voting Rights?

Expert at state forum suggests federal courts may be less important as state courts rule on election laws.

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

34 State Legislators Endorse Jill Underly for State Superintendent

11 Bills Would Change State Voting Laws

One is bipartisan. The others are not.

Village of Hixton receives $233,000 state grant to support redevelopment of commercial building

WEDC investment to help fund construction of new Sampson Heating & Air Conditioning building

Correct a Cheating System With Fair Maps

Ending gerrymandering will mean prioritizing your needs over the ambitions of politicians.

Underly Campaign Announces Endorsement of 12 State Legislators

A Plea to State Republicans

Please stop the lies, stop fueling far-right threats to our democracy

A People’s Agenda for 2021

Expanding Medicaid, fair electoral maps, helping relieve student debt and expanded broad band.

Why Republicans Won’t End Election Complaints

It’s no longer about electing Trump. It’s laying the groundwork for voter suppression.

The Hunger Games, Wisconsin Edition

You’re on your own as pandemic rages and Republican legislators again refuse to meet.

Legislative Houses Elect Their Leaders

Democrats call for action on COVID-19 crisis.

Elected Officials Across the State Join Call for Peaceful and Fair Vote Count

Who Will Care For You?

The state’s caregiver workforce faces a crisis of low wages and high turnover.

AG Kaul Announces Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force Membership

October 15, 2020

Mail-In Voting Is Easy, Safe, Secure

In-person voting is great. But if that worries you, voting absentee by mail is safe.

The Republican ‘Do Nothing’ Strategy

Collect paycheck for nine months of not working and blame governor for any problems.

Can Wisconsin Create Fair District Maps?

Former Republican State Sen. Dan Kapanke admits gerrymander, calls for fair maps.

Legislature Must Act for Unemployed

Some have waited 15 weeks to get unemployment compensation; state law must to be reformed.

People’s Maps Commission Seeks Fair Elections

Citizen members being selected, will oversee fair maps, end partisan gerrymandering.

It’s Patriotic To Wear a Mask

When in public protect your fellow Americans by wearing a mask.

Gov. Evers Announces Appointments to Governor’s Task Force on Student Debt

What Legislature Didn’t Do About Pandemic

A number of good measures passed. But many important proposals were killed.

Flood Prevention Laws Needed

State’s annual rainfall up by 7 inches and "100-year floods" now happen routinely.

State Now 23rd in Healthcare Outcomes

We ranked 7th in 1990. How can we turn that around?

State School Funding Will Lower Taxes

By reducing number of school referendums to hike property taxes. Republicans should reconsider Evers plan.

Farmers Forgotten?

Despite bipartisan reception, farm legislation delayed during special legislative session.

Bill Would Prohibit Free Campaign Rallies

Trump, Clinton campaigns still owe Eau Claire, other cities for security, sanitation costs.

Presidential Candidates Must Pay Their Bills

Statement from Sen. Smith & Rep. Stuck regarding the Introduction of The Recovery of Unsettled Municipal Payments Act

Proposal Would Ban Gerrymandering

Fair Maps Constitutional Amendment would amend state constitution, require non-partisan redistricting.

Lessons Learned in 2019

It’s not divided government, it's shared government. Or should be.

Rep. Robyn Vining Seeks to Make Wisconsin More Accessible

Rep. Bowen Introduces New Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Employer Flexibility in Hiring Practices

Bill Would Limit Liability for Employers Who Opt to Not Drug Test for THC and Other Cannabinoids

Will Lincoln Hills Ever Be Closed?

Republicans refuse to meet and vote on amount of funding for replacement facilities.

State Ranks 41st in Internet Speed

Broadband expansion is badly needed in Wisconsin.

Gun Control Has Wide Support

Majority of state’s gun owners favor background checks. Even some gun store owners do

Enough of Divide-and-Conquer Politics

Once again Vos and Fitzgerald try to scapegoat Milwaukee.

State Legislature Must Take Action to Protect Health Coverage

Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions, marketplace health insurance, at grave risk of having coverage taken away by conservative federal judges

Oh, Those Dreaded Plastic Bags

Council debates what to do with bags that clog up recycling process.

State Building Commission Turns Partisan

Vote by party lines on governor’s capital budget breaks with bipartisan tradition.

Why Medicaid Expansion Needed

Key to expanding health coverage, better reimbursement rates, says new state DHS secretary.

Legislators Blow Off Bipartisanship

Republicans say they want to work together, but have yet to act on it.

Secretive Fund Spent $715,480 On Democrats

High Ground Political Fund, connected to Nation Consulting, funded six state senate races.

State Senate Celebrates Swearing-In Ceremony Ahead of Upcoming Legislative Session

"Senate Republicans will continue to fight for hard-working families, taxpayers, and the future of our state just like we have for the last eight years."

Jewish Museum Milwaukee Exhibit Shows Importance of Civil Liberties through Hollywood’s Blacklist

Blacklist: The Hollywood Red Scare asks visitors to critically examine other points in history including contemporary issues

6 Senate Races Will Decide Party Control

Stakes are high, including control over 2020 redistricting.

Democrats Rejected Redistricting Reform

Legislative leaders rejected reforms proposed in 2009-2010 session.

Race for Democratic Chair Gets Dirty

Some mudslinging at the candidates may stick to Democratic insider and consultant Thad Nation. This story was updated at 6:30 p.m., May 26.

Who Will Lead the Democratic Party?

Five candidates seek the difficult job of trying to revive the minority party in Wisconsin.

Few Competitive Legislative Races

Redistricting has reduced the number of competitive districts for fall elections.