Content referencing Jeff Smith
Bill Limits Rent Hikes in Wisconsin Mobile Home Parks
Democrats seek to preserve one of 'last remaining sources of truly affordable housing.'
Feb 11th, 2026 by Addie Costello
The Legislature’s Revolving Door
Lots of turnover of legislators in both parties. Why?
Feb 9th, 2026 by Steven Walters
Wisconsin’s State Legislative Races Heating Up
Democrats have more cash in Senate races, Republicans far more in Assembly contests.
Feb 4th, 2026 by Baylor Spears
Senate President Confident GOP Won’t Lose Majority
'We’re going to run on the same policies we’ve always run on,' Felzkowski says.
Dec 23rd, 2025 by Baylor Spears
We Won’t Act Like Republicans, Wisconsin Democrats Say
Democrats hope to gain legislative majority in 2026 election.
Dec 22nd, 2025 by Brittany Carloni
Why Republicans Pass Bills They Know Gov. Evers Will Veto
Key part of their strategy to win elections in 2026, hold power in Legislature.
Nov 24th, 2025 by Brittany Carloni
Senate Passes Bills to Eliminate 400-Year Veto, Redefine Abortion
And a bipartisan bill that bars health care for undocumented immigrants.
Nov 19th, 2025 by Baylor Spears
This Veterans Day Wisconsin Serves Fewer Homeless Vets
State officials argue over closing of veterans agencies in Green Bay, Chippewa Falls.
Nov 11th, 2025 by Baylor Spears
Republican Sen. Jesse James Will Challenge Democratic Sen. Jeff Smith
New legislative map put James's home town into incumbent Democrat's district.
Oct 28th, 2025 by Baylor Spears
School Aid Shrinks for 7 in 10 Wisconsin Districts
Most districts see aid cuts as $350 million shifts to private programs.
Oct 17th, 2025 by Baylor Spears
Wisconsin Dems Continue Push For Independent Redistricting Commission
Proposal endorsed by one Democratic gubernatorial candidate.
Oct 17th, 2025 by Henry Redman
Four Districts Will Shape Control of Wisconsin Senate
Democrats are targeting three Republican incumbents.
Sep 29th, 2025 by Steven Walters
Veterans Say Klein Hall Gave Them a New Life
Now the Chippewa Falls facility closing after Republican legislators cut funding.
Sep 2nd, 2025 by Janelle Mella
Competing Bills Aim To Save Two State Facilities For Homeless Veterans
Budget deal 'overlooked' $2 million funding need.
Aug 13th, 2025 by Rich Kremer
Fight for Control of Wisconsin Senate Has Begun
2026 election gives Democrats a chance to flip seats under new legislative maps.
Jul 23rd, 2025 by Rich Kremer
State Senate Passes Bill That It Says Targets ‘Violent Riots’ With New Felony Penalties
But Sen. Larson says it could be used on protesters.
Jun 19th, 2025 by Rich Kremer
Republican Legislators Push Tax Credits for Films Made in Wisconsin
Republican leaders had removed similar item from Evers' budget.
May 21st, 2025 by Baylor Spears
Republican Lawmakers No Show As Farmers Deplore Trump Changes
Complaints about funding cuts, tariff threats, deporting workers.
Feb 24th, 2025 by Henry Redman
Committee Advances Health Care Bills For Senate Review
Two of three advancing with bipartisan support.
Feb 21st, 2025 by Erik Gunn
Wisconsin Mom Pushing for Adult-Sized Changing Tables to Serve Disabled
Sarah Knowles wants more universal changing stations across the state, nation.
Dec 25th, 2024 by Evan Casey
Time For Legislators to Work Together
For years Republican legislators froze out Democrats. Fair maps should change that.
Nov 30th, 2024 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Wisconsin Senate Votes to Override Governor’s Vetoes
Effort unlikely to pass Assembly.
May 15th, 2024 by Baylor Spears
Visiting Eau Claire, Evers Chides Legislators for Blocking Hospital Funds
As Republicans withhold aid, hospital closings create health-care gap in western Wisconsin.
Mar 19th, 2024 by Erik Gunn
Controversial Power Line Bill Dies In Legislature
Opponents of 'Right of First Refusal' bill say it would have hiked utility rates.
Mar 18th, 2024 by Erik Gunn
Senate Fires 8 Evers Appointees, Approves 3 Constitutional Amendments
Senate ends session for year with governor 'apoplectic' over 'petty partisan politics.'
Mar 13th, 2024 by Baylor Spears
Constitutional Amendment Would Block Ranked Choice Voting
Proposal designed to halt bipartisan bill.
Feb 9th, 2024 by Henry Redman
Senate Votes to Fire Evers Appointee from Public Service Commission
Tyler Huebner rejected. Senate also passes electric vehicle, nudity ban and tax cut bills.
Jan 17th, 2024 by Baylor Spears
GOP Committee Votes to Toss Utility Commissioner Tyler Huebner
RENEW Wisconsin leader on PSC board since 2020, but never confirmed by Legislature.
Jan 15th, 2024 by Erik Gunn
Assembly Committee Considers Final Five Runoff System for Elections
Bipartisan bill's version of ranked choice voting is for congressional races only.
Jan 10th, 2024 by Henry Redman
WI Secretary of State Calls for Removing Election Commissioner Robert Spindell
Spindell admitted serving as fake elector and also celebrated voter suppression.
Dec 11th, 2023 by Henry Redman
Republicans Seek To Abolish Wisconsin Elections Commission
Power would be transferred to Secretary of State, Legislature's election committees.
Dec 5th, 2023 by Sarah Lehr
Dianne Hesselbein Is New Senate Minority Leader
Democrats pick her to succeed Sen. Agard, now running for Dane County Executive.
Dec 2nd, 2023 by Anya van Wagtendonk
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.
Dec 1st, 2023 by Anya van Wagtendonk
Bill Would Help Prevent Food Waste
State grants to help create community composting, get retailers' unsold products to food pantries.
Nov 25th, 2023 by Margaret Faust
Final Five Bill Changes Congressional Elections in Wisconsin
Bipartisan proposal pushes less partisan, ranked-choice elections.
Oct 2nd, 2023 by Steven Walters
Bipartisan Bill Creates Ranked Choice Voting for Congressional Races
With a single primary for all candidates. What are its chances of passage?
Sep 26th, 2023 by Robert D'Andrea
Evers’ Child Care Proposal Might Get A Second Life
After inaction by GOP leaders, Senate quietly moves legislation forward.
Sep 24th, 2023 by Erik Gunn
Taxpayers Paying For Both Sides of Senate Lawsuit Over Redistricting
Democrats and Republicans both charging State of Wisconsin for redistricting legal fight.
Sep 21st, 2023 by Rich Kremer
Conservative Groups Oppose Including Voucher Schools In Transparency Dashboard
Bipartisan panel backs financial transparency dashboard, but School Choice WI and WILL object.
Aug 31st, 2023 by Corrinne Hess
Artificial Intelligence Being Used To Generate Election Ads
"Synthetic media" allows coordination with super PACs, deep faces. Will it be regulated?
Jul 28th, 2023 by Phoebe Petrovic
How to Achieve Fair Legislative Maps
We can learn from Iowa and Michigan, which created independent redistricting to prevent gerrymandering.
Jul 25th, 2023 by State Sen. Jeff Smith and State Rep. Deb Andraca
Legislature Passes Local Revenue, Schools Bills
Deal heads to Gov. Evers’ desk. Despite bipartisan support, some are calling for him to veto proposals.
Jun 15th, 2023 by Baylor Spears
Senate Mulls Milwaukee’s Financial Peril
Struggling to create plan for shared revenue and sales tax that's acceptable to Assembly and Gov. Evers.
May 24th, 2023 by Baylor Spears
Capitol Has New Generation of Leaders
44% of Legislature's 132 members changed in last four years.
Apr 24th, 2023 by Steven Walters
Celebrating Black Resistance
Black History Month a good time to celebrate how many racial barriers have been overcome.
Feb 12th, 2023 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
New Programs Help Pay for Energy Efficiency
And energy assistance. How to get funding from state and federal programs.
Nov 28th, 2022 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Senate Democrats Elect New Leadership
Sen. Melissa Agard will lead 11 Democrats, just one third of the Senate.
Nov 16th, 2022 by Baylor Spears
Republicans Don’t Win Veto-Proof Legislature
Had to flip five Assembly seats and one Senate district and fell short.
Nov 9th, 2022 by Baylor Spears
Republicans Seek Veto-Proof Legislature
GOP supermajority possible if they flip one senate district, five assembly seats now held by Democrats.
Nov 7th, 2022 by Shawn Johnson
Historic Turnover Will Change Legislature
Retirements, redistricting and members pursuing higher office could transform Legislature.
Mar 28th, 2022 by Steven Walters
Use of Paper Ballots Soared in State Senate
Maneuver used in hundreds of bills to bar any debate or amendments to proposed bills.
Mar 13th, 2022 by Henry Redman
How to Improve State’s K-12 Schools
Teacher recruitment and retention is a key issue.
Mar 3rd, 2022 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Senate Passes a Dozen Voting Bills
Republicans say bills address election ‘irregularities.’ Democrats charge ‘voter suppression.'
Feb 23rd, 2022 by Erik Gunn
State Senate Votes on Guns, Vaccines, China
Against vaccine mandates and China and for guns on school grounds.
Feb 16th, 2022 by Erik Gunn
School Voucher Lobby Wants More State Funding
Pushing for more public funding of private schools.
Feb 2nd, 2022 by Ruth Conniff
Republicans Offer Slate of Election Bills
They won’t suppress votes, Bernier and other GOP legislators promise. Democrats skeptical.
Feb 2nd, 2022 by Henry Redman
Getting Health Insurance Has Never Been Easier
Evers has made it easier to get ACA coverage. Enrollment period through January 15.
Nov 29th, 2021 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Poverty Worsening For Some In State
70,000 households have children who went hungry because family couldn't afford food.
Nov 20th, 2021 by Isiah Holmes
Hundreds Denounce GOP Redistricting Plan
Republicans control Legislature, and propose maps maintaining electoral advantage.
Oct 28th, 2021 by Laurel White
GOP Legislators Push To Continue Gerrymandering
Pushing for redistricting to diverge from current districts as little as possible.
Sep 29th, 2021 by Melanie Conklin and Henry Redman
Tax Cut Divides Democrats
Evers and some Democratic legislators supported it. GOP hopes to gain new seats from swing-district opponents.
Jul 19th, 2021 by Steven Walters
State Legislature Passes Biennial Budget
Lawmakers cut billions from the Governor's budget.
Jul 1st, 2021 by Laurel White and Megan Hart
Capitol Rally For Nonpartisan Redistricting
Advocates push plan modeled on Iowa’s non-partisan system.
May 18th, 2021 by Shawn Johnson
Fight For Fair Maps Heats Up
Legislators, advocates and a mathematician push for nonpartisan voting districts.
May 16th, 2021 by Ruth Conniff
Every Worker Deserves a Safe Workplace
Governor’s budget includes provisions to help workers, enhance workers compensation.
May 2nd, 2021 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Are State’s Schools Rolling In Dough?
Republican legislators think Milwaukee Public Schools getting away with something.
Apr 28th, 2021 by Ruth Conniff
Bill Requires MPS Reimburse Private School Transportation Costs
When MPS went virtual, it stopped providing transportation for private school students.
Apr 22nd, 2021 by Ruth Conniff
Bills Cap Predatory Lending at 36%
Average payday interest rate is 517%. Industry has given generously to legislators
Apr 20th, 2021 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Will State Judges Protect Voting Rights?
Expert at state forum suggests federal courts may be less important as state courts rule on election laws.
Mar 22nd, 2021 by Steven Walters
11 Bills Would Change State Voting Laws
One is bipartisan. The others are not.
Feb 25th, 2021 by Laurel White
Correct a Cheating System With Fair Maps
Ending gerrymandering will mean prioritizing your needs over the ambitions of politicians.
Feb 3rd, 2021 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
A Plea to State Republicans
Please stop the lies, stop fueling far-right threats to our democracy
Jan 20th, 2021 by Angela Lang and Matt Rothschild
A People’s Agenda for 2021
Expanding Medicaid, fair electoral maps, helping relieve student debt and expanded broad band.
Dec 29th, 2020 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Why Republicans Won’t End Election Complaints
It’s no longer about electing Trump. It’s laying the groundwork for voter suppression.
Dec 14th, 2020 by Bruce Murphy
The Hunger Games, Wisconsin Edition
You’re on your own as pandemic rages and Republican legislators again refuse to meet.
Dec 7th, 2020 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Legislative Houses Elect Their Leaders
Democrats call for action on COVID-19 crisis.
Nov 11th, 2020 by Melanie Conklin
Who Will Care For You?
The state’s caregiver workforce faces a crisis of low wages and high turnover.
Oct 16th, 2020 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Mail-In Voting Is Easy, Safe, Secure
In-person voting is great. But if that worries you, voting absentee by mail is safe.
Oct 10th, 2020 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
The Republican ‘Do Nothing’ Strategy
Collect paycheck for nine months of not working and blame governor for any problems.
Sep 21st, 2020 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Can Wisconsin Create Fair District Maps?
Former Republican State Sen. Dan Kapanke admits gerrymander, calls for fair maps.
Sep 11th, 2020 by Melanie Conklin
Legislature Must Act for Unemployed
Some have waited 15 weeks to get unemployment compensation; state law must to be reformed.
Aug 9th, 2020 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
People’s Maps Commission Seeks Fair Elections
Citizen members being selected, will oversee fair maps, end partisan gerrymandering.
Jul 21st, 2020 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
It’s Patriotic To Wear a Mask
When in public protect your fellow Americans by wearing a mask.
Jul 1st, 2020 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
What Legislature Didn’t Do About Pandemic
A number of good measures passed. But many important proposals were killed.
Apr 23rd, 2020 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Flood Prevention Laws Needed
State’s annual rainfall up by 7 inches and "100-year floods" now happen routinely.
Mar 17th, 2020 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
State Now 23rd in Healthcare Outcomes
We ranked 7th in 1990. How can we turn that around?
Mar 15th, 2020 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
State School Funding Will Lower Taxes
By reducing number of school referendums to hike property taxes. Republicans should reconsider Evers plan.
Feb 17th, 2020 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Farmers Forgotten?
Despite bipartisan reception, farm legislation delayed during special legislative session.
Jan 30th, 2020 by Melanie Conklin
Bill Would Prohibit Free Campaign Rallies
Trump, Clinton campaigns still owe Eau Claire, other cities for security, sanitation costs.
Jan 14th, 2020 by Rich Kremer
Proposal Would Ban Gerrymandering
Fair Maps Constitutional Amendment would amend state constitution, require non-partisan redistricting.
Jan 13th, 2020 by Matt Rothschild
Lessons Learned in 2019
It’s not divided government, it's shared government. Or should be.
Jan 3rd, 2020 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Will Lincoln Hills Ever Be Closed?
Republicans refuse to meet and vote on amount of funding for replacement facilities.
Dec 10th, 2019 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
State Ranks 41st in Internet Speed
Broadband expansion is badly needed in Wisconsin.
Nov 4th, 2019 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Gun Control Has Wide Support
Majority of state’s gun owners favor background checks. Even some gun store owners do
Aug 19th, 2019 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Enough of Divide-and-Conquer Politics
Once again Vos and Fitzgerald try to scapegoat Milwaukee.
Jul 22nd, 2019 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Oh, Those Dreaded Plastic Bags
Council debates what to do with bags that clog up recycling process.
May 15th, 2019 by Jeramey Jannene
State Building Commission Turns Partisan
Vote by party lines on governor’s capital budget breaks with bipartisan tradition.
Apr 1st, 2019 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Why Medicaid Expansion Needed
Key to expanding health coverage, better reimbursement rates, says new state DHS secretary.
Mar 15th, 2019 by Rich Kremer
Legislators Blow Off Bipartisanship
Republicans say they want to work together, but have yet to act on it.
Feb 3rd, 2019 by State Sen. Jeff Smith
Secretive Fund Spent $715,480 On Democrats
High Ground Political Fund, connected to Nation Consulting, funded six state senate races.
Feb 1st, 2019 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
