Content referencing Rob Cowles
The Legislature’s Revolving Door
Lots of turnover of legislators in both parties. Why?
Feb 9th, 2026 by Steven Walters
Tom Tiffany Criticizes ‘Billionaire Loophole’ But Backed Law Creating It
U.S. Rep. and Republican candidate for governor aims to raise $40 million.
Dec 10th, 2025 by Baylor Spears
2017 Law Resulting in Long List of Outdated DNR Water Standards
Nearly 50 groundwater standards for PFAS, pesticides, metals and other compounds remain unaddressed.
Sep 5th, 2024 by Danielle Kaeding
One-Fourth of Assembly Will Be Newbies
Fair maps drawn by both parties for first time in 12 years could transform the Assembly.
Jun 3rd, 2024 by Steven Walters
Wisconsin Ranks Last In Per-Visit State Parks Funding
New Wisconsin Policy Forum report shows 69% funding drop for DNR compared to mid-1990s.
Apr 19th, 2024 by Danielle Kaeding
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
State Appeals Court Blocks DNR’s Regulation of PFAS
2-1 decision upholds lower court ruling limiting agency's authority to clean up PFAS.
Mar 6th, 2024 by Danielle Kaeding
PFAS Ban Wouldn’t Start Until 2028 Under New Bill
New legislation by western Wisconsin Democrats would ban products with added PFAS, offer alternative approach to spending state PFAS trust fund
Mar 1st, 2024 by Hope Kirwan
Evers Seeks Compromise on Republican PFAS Bill
Threatens veto of GOP plan, saying 'I'm not signing bill letting polluters off the hook.'
Feb 27th, 2024 by Danielle Kaeding
Parties Seek New Candidates in New Districts
New state legislative maps means races are the fairest and most wide open in 12 years.
Feb 26th, 2024 by Steven Walters
Legislature Passes PFAS Bill, But Evers Likely To Veto It
$125 million is set aside in trust for addressing forever chemicals, but bill would limit DNR authority.
Feb 22nd, 2024 by Danielle Kaeding
Republican Proposal Moves Forward PFAS Standards
But Democrats, DNR sought different path for forever-chemical regulation.
Feb 19th, 2024 by Danielle Kaeding
GOP Bill Addresses PFAS Pollution
Republicans support a municipal PFAS grant program, but add restrictions on state DNR.
May 17th, 2023 by Danielle Kaeding
DNR Leader Says State Budget Needs More Money For Clean Water
Republican-controlled Legislature will determine funding, with some members indicating support.
May 5th, 2023 by Danielle Kaeding
State Funding Has Plummeted For Parks, Public Lands, DNR
DNR funding down 41% in 25 years, spending on state parks lowest in U.S., study finds.
Mar 25th, 2023 by Danielle Kaeding
State Expects $25 Million Federal EPA Funds for PFAS Cleanup
$5 billion from bipartisan infrastructure law will address toxic impact of 'forever chemicals.'
Feb 18th, 2023 by Danielle Kaeding
Uncertainty Around Solar Financing Regulations Limits Wisconsin Installations
Solar developers awaiting new PSC ruling following initial ruling to allow third-party financing.
Jan 12th, 2023 by Danielle Kaeding
Report Says Information Lacking on How State Spent Federal Pandemic Funds
Legislative Audit Bureau calls for transparency on decision making by Evers administration.
Dec 19th, 2022 by Erik Gunn
Will PSC Allow Third Party Financing Of Solar Projects?
State oversight body allowed one project. Solar advocates push for general approval.
Dec 12th, 2022 by Danielle Kaeding
Residents Express Outrage At Hearing Over Plan To Hike Electric Rates 13%
We Energies proposal would increase average bill by $14 per month, more than twice original proposal.
Nov 4th, 2022 by Danielle Kaeding
Democrats Want Audit of Gableman’s 2020 Election Review
Request comes after Assembly Speaker Robin Vos called Gableman "an embarrassment."
Aug 11th, 2022 by Rich Kremer
Should Wisconsin Establish Right to Clean Water?
5 counties will have referendums on this question in November election.
Jul 31st, 2022 by Danielle Kaeding
GOP Legislators Reject Evers Tax Rebate, Approve MPS Breakup
Last day of session also passes parental bill of rights, expanded vouchers, replacing Lincoln Hills.
Mar 9th, 2022 by Shawn Johnson
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
State Still Has $1.8 Billion In Pandemic Funds
Evers update shows 60% of $4.6 billion federal relief funding has been spent or allocated.
Feb 6th, 2022 by Rob Mentzer
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
Sexual Assault Kit Bills Finally Sent to Governor
Bills aimed at preventing a future backlog took years to make it through state legislature.
Nov 19th, 2021 by Laurel White
Republicans Again Attack Wolfe, WEC
Rep. Macco calls Wolfe and elections commission “repugnant and insulting” at committee hearing.
Nov 10th, 2021 by Henry Redman
Charges Against Election Officials Are Partisan Stunt
Using unproven allegations to cause distrust of democracy.
Nov 7th, 2021 by Jay Heck
About Those Election ‘Irregularities’
Is there any truth to Republican complaints about the 2020 election?
Nov 3rd, 2021 by Bruce Murphy
Senate Targets Elections Commission
Three separate elections investigations pushing for changes. What's the likely impact?
Nov 1st, 2021 by Steven Walters
Nonpartisan State Election Review Finds No Widespread Fraud
Legislative Audit Bureau recommends changes to election laws.
Oct 22nd, 2021 by Laurel White
GOP Bill Would Allow Leasing of Solar Panels
Energy utilities in Wisconsin oppose the bill.
Oct 19th, 2021 by Danielle Kaeding
How Biden Plan Could Help State
Two intertwined bills would pay for roads, bridges, energy grid, replacing lead pipes, much more.
Sep 26th, 2021 by Erik Gunn
Democrats Lose Experience In Legislature
10 years of Republican control helps creates Legislature with less experienced Democrats.
Sep 20th, 2021 by Steven Walters
Nass Pushes Legislature to Sue UW System
Thompson, system leaders refuses to submit mask and testing rules for Republican approval.
Sep 4th, 2021 by Rich Kremer
Scott Walker’s Right, Get Vaccinated Now
As variants cause new rise in COVID-19, more Republicans urging people to get the vaccine.
Jul 27th, 2021 by Bill Kaplan
GOP Obamacare Lawsuit a Cynical Political Stunt
U.S. Supreme Court strikes down suit. Meanwhile, Vos and and state GOP obstruct Medicaid expansion.
Jun 21st, 2021 by Bill Kaplan
Where Are Act 10 Players Today?
Governor and three-fourths of legislators engaged in 2011 battle over law crushing public unions have moved on.
Mar 1st, 2021 by Steven Walters
Evers Budget Has Green Goals
Significant investment to combat climate change, protect public land.
Feb 18th, 2021 by Danielle Kaeding
GOP Lawmakers Order Audit of State’s Election System
Republicans say they are responding to constituent concerns regarding the 2020 election.
Feb 12th, 2021 by Shawn Johnson
Will Supreme Court Act on Mask Mandate?
State high court has sat on case for months, could decide fight between governor and Legislature.
Feb 6th, 2021 by Erik Gunn
GOP State Legislators Asked Pence to Not Certify Election
15 legislators signed the letter. Four of them serve on Assembly elections committee.
Jan 14th, 2021 by Melanie Conklin
EPA Requires Lead Testing for Schools, Day Cares
But fails to speed up removal of lead lines. A “heart breaking failure,” critics charge.
Dec 22nd, 2020 by Danielle Kaeding
GOP Lawmakers Strip Emergency PFAS Rule
Committee votes to eliminate targets for safe levels of the harmful forever chemical.
Dec 18th, 2020 by Danielle Kaeding
Unemployment System Audited After Pandemic Failures
Massive delays in claims, duplicate payments and an unreliable call center among issues found in report.
Dec 17th, 2020 by Erik Gunn
Green Bay Replaces Every Lead Pipe
Five-year effort replaces more than 2,000 pipes. Lambeau Field tax helped pay for it.
Oct 7th, 2020 by Megan Hart
99% of State Public Water Meets Standards
But new report finds more than 300 water systems unsafe, violate federal standards.
Sep 16th, 2020 by Danielle Kaeding
Half Of Legislative Seats Already Decided?
Probably. And why? Gerrymandering.
Aug 24th, 2020 by Steven Walters
Ten Years After Act 10
Most of those who voted for it are gone. How has the Capitol changed?
Jul 27th, 2020 by Steven Walters
272 Candidates Running for State Legislature
Highest number since 2012, many contested primaries.
Jun 7th, 2020 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
GOP Underfunds Youth Corrections Plan
Republican legislators only approved funding for four out of six new youth corrections facilities.
Feb 13th, 2020 by Laurel White
Hot Debate, Limited Action by Senate
Limited bills on homeless, clean water passed, nothing on dark stores tax loophole.
Jan 22nd, 2020 by Erik Gunn
Can State’s Energy Go Carbon Free by 2050?
Legislators and PSC leader consider Evers' 30-year goal for Wisconsin.
Jan 19th, 2020 by Miranda Suarez
Senate Debates PFAS in Firefighting Foam
Republican plan to ban it far too narrow in scope, Democrats argue.
Jan 9th, 2020 by Danielle Kaeding
Kaul Pushes Assembly for Rape Kit Bill
AG wants legislation to ensure no more backlog of untested sexual assault kits.
Dec 4th, 2019 by Melanie Conklin
Evers Pushes Action on Water Quality
After 13 public hearings across state, water quality policy proposals are being drafted.
Oct 20th, 2019 by Shamane Mills
A World Without Scott Fitzgerald
Capitol insiders wonder who will be senate majority leader if Fitzgerald wins race for Congress.
Oct 14th, 2019 by Steven Walters
Report Shows State Jobs Agency Still Fails
Audit of WEDC finds companies given tax credits and loans created only 35% of promised jobs.
May 11th, 2019 by Brady Carlson
Electric Scooters Could Return This Year
Bill working its way through state Legislature to legalize electric scooters.
May 8th, 2019 by Jeramey Jannene
Farmers, Environmentalists Applaud Water Quality Trading Bill
GOP bill would create a clearinghouse to trade credits from reducing water pollution.
Feb 28th, 2019 by Hope Kirwan
Legislature Works Overnight To Curb Evers Power
Limits on early voting, constraints on Evers campaign promise on health care.
Dec 5th, 2018 by Shawn Johnson and Laurel White
DNR Wastewater Permit Backlog Still a Problem
One year after critical audit DNR still slow to review potential municipal, industrial and agricultural pollution.
Aug 24th, 2018 by Rich Kremer
Audit Shows Big Problems at State Fair Park
Management issues, revenue shortfalls, contracts not tracked, environmental laws violated.
May 3rd, 2018 by State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout
Bill Suppresses Victim’s Mental Health Records
Defendant couldn’t request, jury couldn’t see records unless victim allows it.
Dec 19th, 2017 by Gretchen Schuldt
The Myth of DOT Mismanagement
It amounts to 2 percent of highway spending. That won’t solve roads budget deficit.
Jul 10th, 2017 by George Mitchell
A Special Bill for Special Interests
They dole out $30 million on candidates, get a bill cutting regulations on businesses.
May 4th, 2017 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
WMC Opposes Lead Pipes Bill
Business lobbyist opposes loans to homeowners to replace pipes.
Apr 20th, 2017 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Regent Nominees Gave Walker $22,550
The two nominees also gave more than $64,000 to other candidates.
Apr 3rd, 2017 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Stepp’s Slothful Style of Running DNR
Or is it a Chamber of Commerce mentality? You be the judge.
Nov 3rd, 2016 by James Rowen
Did Walker Raid Veteran’s Home Fund?
Cap Times story on nursing home shows funding was diverted while care declined.
Sep 1st, 2016 by Bruce Murphy
GAB Head Refutes Republican Attacks
Point by point, he refutes lead attacker, GOP state Sen. Leah Vukmir.
Oct 29th, 2015 by Matt Rothschild
A Tale of Three Sports Facilities
How the funding and politics varied for Lambeau Field, Miller Park and Bucks’ new arena.
Oct 26th, 2015 by Steven Walters
Why Walker Had to Cut UW Funding
His presidential ambitions left him with no other option.
Feb 10th, 2015 by Bruce Murphy
State Releasing Far More Sex Offenders
Number released from mental lockup has quadrupled, but officials say risk to residents is low. First of a three-part series.
Feb 3rd, 2014 by Nora G. Hertel
The GOP’s Young Guns
Some of the newest Assembly Republicans, including four accountants, dictated the final budget.
Jun 10th, 2013 by Steven Walters
Loading Up the Budget With Policy and Pork
In violation of his campaign promise, Walker's budget has 58 policy or non-monetary items and 15 pieces of pork.
May 15th, 2013 by Bill Lueders
