Jon Erpenbach

Former Senator Erpenbach Could Be Confirmed As New Parole Board Leader

His former Republican colleagues will decide whether he can keep job Gov. Evers appointed him to.

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

Senator Agard Thanks Senators Bewley, Erpenbach, and Ringhand

State Republicans Want Citizens Under Guardianship Off Voter Rolls

Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition opposes idea, along with state Democrats.

Legislators Okay $31 Million For Opioid Treatment

Joint Finance makes $3 million change in how Evers planned to spend opioid suit settlement money.

Legislators Still Sitting on Opioid Funding

Democrats, health officials says lives could be lost if settlement funds not used to fight drug epidemic.

‘Day Without Child Care’ Dramatizes Issue

Wisconsin among 25 states that participates in event pushing better pay for workers, more affordable care.

State Lawmakers Hold Hearing on Medical Marijuana

But the state Legislature has already adjourned for the year, so a bill won't pass in 2022.

Fight Over Pollution Lawsuits Continues

Three settlements okayed but GOP legislators and Attorney General war over who gets money awarded.

Historic Turnover Will Change Legislature

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

Bill To End State Income Tax Debated

Republican and research center push it. Democrat and LFB report raise doubts.

Ramthun, Brandtjen Lead Rally to Overturn 2020 Election

Capitol event organized by Jefferson Davis pushes bill to recall state’s 2020 electors.

State Senate Votes on Guns, Vaccines, China

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

Assembly Democrats Take The Long View

Youngest leadership team ever lays out its vision, hopes and concerns.

Two Medical Marijuana Bills Proposed

One by legislators from each party. 37 states, including Mississippi, now allow it.

GOP Lawmakers Seek Control of Federal Aid

Proposed constitutional amendment gives Legislature control over spending federal funds.

GOP Lawmakers Try to Strip Evers Power Over Federal Aid

Republican controlled state Senate would change state law to place authority with legislature.

Rep. Robyn Vining Introduces Healthcare Heroes Act

Democrats’ Revolving Door Swings Again

Assembly minority leader Gordon Hintz's decision to step down the latest of many leadership changes.

Hintz Will Quit As Assembly Minority Leader

Democrat will resign position in January, cites need to spend more time with family.

Erpenbach Won’t Run For Reelection

Democratic state senator and 22-year veteran was central figure during Act 10 protests.

Erpenbach Will Not Seek Re-election

Senate Passes New Reading Test for Early Grades

Modeled on Mississippi plan. Democrats call it meaningless without more spending on education.

GOP Legislators Push To Continue Gerrymandering

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

Big Changes Needed In Political Districts

Population changes in Madison, metro Milwaukee require redrawn legislative and congressional seats.

Democrats Lose Experience In Legislature

10 years of Republican control helps creates Legislature with less experienced Democrats.

Evers Offers GOP a Second Chance to Fund Schools

Newly revised federal guidelines could take away pandemic aid to state unless education funding increased.

Legislature Is the Most Diverse in History

Many first served as local officials, many ran small businesses, some started as Capitol staffers.

Whose Vision Will Prevail In Budget Battle?

Republicans got their way in budget rewrite, but Evers' vetoes loom.

State Legislature Passes Biennial Budget

Lawmakers cut billions from the Governor's budget.

Special Interests Push for Tax Cut

Big donor business lobbyist groups want big handout: $200 million tax cut.

GOP Plan Cuts Business Property Taxes

But provision of plan also gives Legislature more power over local governments' revenue.

Republican Plan Loses $2.3 Billion for Schools

State lawmakers slashed education funding below federal minimum requirements.

GOP Lawmakers Reject Unemployment System Improvements

Republicans in State Legislature vote down $15 million to fix unemployment system.

Republicans Slash Evers Education Budget

Reduction in spending could mean state loses $1.5 billion in federal pandemic relief funding for education.

Evers Revises Plan to Expand Medicaid

Will Republican legislators turn down “projects in their own districts”?

Mark Born Offers a History Lesson

Republican representative and Joint Finance leader suggests small glass case of exhibits is quite enough Black history.

Legislature Passes Many Bills

Full agenda on Tuesday of mostly partisan legislation, much of it heading for governor’s veto.

State, Cities Can Start Spending Federal Money

Federal government releases guidelines on $350 billion in pandemic relief funds.

GOP Sends Mixed Message To Evers

Republican legislators trash his budget, then ask to meet with him.

Public Testimony Backs Evers Budget

Hearings held only in state’s smaller cities but Evers budget favored 284 to 30 by speakers.

Democrats Call for Virtual Joint Finance Hearing

Pandemic created 'significant barriers’ for many citizens who couldn’t attend in-person hearings.

The Beguiling Blandness of Devin LeMahieu

Senate majority leader is conservative but eschews the nasty style of Robin Vos.

Republicans Miffed By MPS Pandemic Aid

MPS gets 16 times more per pupil than Wauwatosa schools under federal formula awarding more to low-income students.

GOP Lawmakers Would Ignore Rules for Stimulus Money

Governor Evers has unilateral power to distribute the federal funds.

JFC Democrats: Republicans Attempt to Distract and Undermine Badger Bounceback Budget’s Investments

Statement on Wisconsin Supreme Court Decision

Erpenbach Statement on Pharmacy Benefit Manager Bill Signing

Legislature Has Dramatic Debate

Over its power, purpose, prestige... and whether Robin Vos hates Tony Evers.

MilliporeSigma expands operations in Verona

$65 million expansion will create approximately 50 full-time jobs

Medicaid Expansion is a Good Deal for Wisconsin

State would net $1 billion for healthcare coverage. Other states have seen better health outcomes after expansion.

State Would Recieve $1.25 Billion Under Medicaid Expansion

GOP gearing up to remove provision from Governor's budget, despite additional funding for expansion in latest stimulus bill.

Republican Refusal to Expand BadgerCare Could Cost State $1 Billion in Additional Funding

Rep. Robyn Vining Applauds Wisconsin Equal Rights Amendment Introduction

Where Are Act 10 Players Today?

Governor and three-fourths of legislators engaged in 2011 battle over law crushing public unions have moved on.

Legislators Advance Unemployment Fix, COVID-19 Deal

But Republicans won’t pay for new computer system Evers says is needed.

Federal COVID-19 Aid Funneled to In-Person Schools

State GOP lawmakers' plan penalizes school districts that provided virtual instruction.

PPP Business Expense Tax Break Approved by Committee

Democrats tried to narrow the tax break on expenses paid for with federal relief money.

Democrats Take Action to Protect Public Health

Vos ‘Behaving Like a Bully,’ Democrats Charge

After 10 months with no COVID-19 response bill, frustrated Democrats condemn their colleagues.

GOP Vendetta Threatens Public Health

Republicans block lifesaving health measure to spite the Governor

Senator Erpenbach’s Response to the State of the State Address

We Can’t Stop Here

After 272 Days, More COVID Relief Is Needed

Federal and State Action Needed on COVID Relief for Wisconsin

Erpenbach Responds to Vos Press Conference with No New Ideas

State Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-West Point) released the following statement in response to the Assembly GOP press conference today.

Erpenbach Applauds DHS Change in Health Care Benefits Policy for Incarcerated Individuals

Long-Sought change will help those in need of substance use recovery and treatment

We Don’t Need a Taskforce

Erpenbach Urges GOP to Make Real Change in Special Session

Erpenbach Statement on GOP Emergency

Ten Years After Act 10

Most of those who voted for it are gone. How has the Capitol changed?

Senator Erpenbach and Legislative Democrats Announce Unemployment Package

Bills would roll back barriers to UI imposed during decade of misguided anti-worker legislation

Statement from Senator Erpenbach on The People’s Maps Commission

State’s Health Care Workers Demand Hazard Pay

As COVID-19 cases rise again, Democratic bill provides increased pay, paid medical leave.

Rep. Robyn Vining Introduces Healthcare Heroes Act

GOP Lame-Duck Law Blocks COVID-19 Aid

State GOP was warned of unintended consequences to their law in 2018.

Supreme Court Case Could Affect Abortion Access in Wisconsin

The High Court weighs case that could effectively overturn Roe v. Wade.

“Tougher On Crime” Bills Make No Sense

Sen. Jon Erpenbach blasts recent "Tougher on Crime" legislation. Argues for increased education funding.

WI Assembly Votes 96-0 Passing Legislation to Hold PBMs Accountable for Rising Drug Costs and Protect Patients and Pharmacists Statewide

Wisconsin Students and Homeowners Abandoned by GOP

Republicans fail to restore education funding and ensure property tax relief

Bill Addressing High Drug Prices Advances

Assembly will take up bipartisan legislation, amendments, on Tuesday.

Voucher Programs Cutting Into Public School Funding

State Sen. Erpenbach and Rep. Pope introduce legislation requiring a referendum before state aid to school districts can be cut.

WI Assembly Committee on Health Hears Legislation to Lower Prescription Costs by Protecting Patients from Harmful PBM Practices

Senator Erpenbach’s Response to the State of the State Address

After a both successful and trying year in 2019, Governor Evers was able to deliver on promises and move the needle on many of the issues that Wisconsinites care about.

Hot Debate, Limited Action by Senate

Limited bills on homeless, clean water passed, nothing on dark stores tax loophole.

Evers Assigns “Homework” to Legislators

Urges a legislative session long enough to pass bipartisan bills on water quality, homelessness, other issues.

Democrats introduce legislation to protect taxpayers from unaccountable voucher programs

Many taxpayers have had to increase their own taxes in order to keep their public school doors open while vouchers drain the district’s resources without any transparency or accountability.

How Homeless Got Frozen Out

With no explanation, Fitzgerald stopped bipartisan bill providing grants to homeless shelters.

Senate Votes to Kill Governor Veto Power

Approves putting constitutional amendment on ballot to restrict partial veto power.

Senate Fires State Agriculture Secretary

Every Republican votes not to approve Evers appointee Brad Pfaff.

Everyone Deserves Clean Water

Evers, Democrats back a comprehensive agenda. We want to work with Republicans on this.

Good News, Bad News on State Budget

Report finds 2018-19 year had $1.7 billion surplus, but new budget will exceed projected revenues by $800 million.

Wisconsin legislators rally behind Judge Jill Karofsky for Wisconsin Supreme Court

Judge Karofsky currently serves as a criminal court judge in Dane County.

Democrats Push Medical Marijuana, Red Flag Law

Democratic legislators want to take up issues during fall legislative session.

Suicide Texting Hotline Money Finally Released

Republican-led Joint Finance Committee held up releasing funds for almost three months

Bipartisan Bill Would Legalize Medical Marijuana

But Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald strongly opposes the bill.

Too Many Wisconsinites Without Health Insurance

Evers' Health Secretary funding effort to increase number of insured.

Shilling Backs Medical Cannabis Efforts

Democrats renew efforts to legalize medical cannabis

What Polls Show About the Legislature

Voters have net positive view of Legislature but negative toward Vos, split on Fitzgerald.

Legislature Should Put Students First

Long-term school funding, teacher experience, student test scores are all down.

Kaul Says Lame Duck Law Costs Taxpayers

AG says legislative oversight stalls cases, makes lower settlements for taxpayers likely.

Democrats’ Bill Repeals Lame Duck Law

Would end new requirement that Attorney General get Legislature’s approval for lawsuits.