Robin Vos

Pay Raise for State Workers Delayed

Legislators still haven't approved union contracts from last year.

What Is Elections Commission Thinking?

Requesting GOP legislators’ guidance on voter roll purge could corrupt process.

State Leads in Cutting Pollution Control

Funding decline of 36% from 2008-2018, biggest in U.S., Walker helped drive change.

12% of Students Feel Unsafe in School

And 5% of state teens now carry a weapon to school, study finds.

Kaul Pushes Assembly for Rape Kit Bill

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

Robin Vos Stonewalls on Public Records

John Q. Public can’t get anything from Assembly Speaker

Evers May Call Second Special Session on Guns

Republican legislators did nothing at first session, though public overwhelmingly supports preventive measures.

Legislature Passing Few Bills

Assembly and Senate seldom in session. Just 21 bills passed in 2019 while typical average is more than 300.

Two Years after the Foxconn Contract Was Signed

and Voters Still Have a Sour Taste in Their Mouths

Grothman Backs Bill on Payday Lenders

Wisconsin congressman says lenders' business model based on ‘ripping off’ customers.

GMC Board Supports Property Tax Relief, Increase Revenue for Milwaukee County

Board issues support letter calling for committee hearings for Senate Bill 471/ Assembly Bill 521

Evers, Democrats Tackle Discrimination

Executive order requires state agencies to review workplace policies, set equity goals.

Assembly Debates Christmas, er, Holiday Tree

"I don’t expect a big issue” or “holy wars”, Rep Hintz says. Wrong.

Gasp, It’s a Holiday Tree!

So says Gov. Evers about Capitol tree, with the added theme, “Celebrate Science.”

State’s Talgo Trains Still Sit Idle

Since Republicans killed deal with manufacturer, trains have sat unused in Beech Grove, Indiana. Part 6 of series.

‘Shhh! It’s a Secret…’

Legislators’ refusal to release records violates law, requires legal challenges.

$575,000 Building Helped By Streetcar

Long-vacant 1877 building on Milwaukee and Mason saw value hop partly due to streetcar.

Robin Vos Definitely Not Helping Address Climate Change Crisis He Thinks Might Exist

In Interview Between Rare October Snowstorms Assembly Speaker Acknowledges Possibility Science, Climate Change Exist

Bill Would Decriminalize Pot Possession

Democratic plan ends criminal penalties for up to 28 grams of marijuana.

Vos, Fitzgerald Scared of Gun Reforms

Scared bill could threaten reelection of some GOP legislators — and give Evers a win.

State Supreme Court Reviews Lame Duck Laws

Justices question both sides in challenge to laws reducing powers of governor, attorney general.

Evers Calls Special Session on Guns

Governor says only Vos and Fitzgerald prevent common sense gun reforms.

State Resists Immunizations

Wisconsin ranks 35th in percent of immunized children, yet bipartisan bill to address problem is stalled in committee.

7th Congressional Special Election’s Dates Set

Evers sets February 18 primary, May 12 general election for district Sean Duffy has vacated.

Gov. Evers Calls for Special Election Reforms, Announces Revised Dates for Special Election

Gov. Evers also announced that on Saturday, October 19th, he will issue a new executive order amending Executive Order #46 with revised dates for the special election in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional district.

A World Without Scott Fitzgerald

Capitol insiders wonder who will be senate majority leader if Fitzgerald wins race for Congress.

Board of Regents Picks Pandering to Right-Wing Politicians Over Protecting Students

Advances Proposal to Threaten Students With Expulsion for Protesting Hate Speech on Campus

Republicans Shamefully Tie Disability Accommodations to Power Grab

Republicans continue their embarrassing history of degrading our democracy

Free Speech Crackdown on Agenda for University of Wisconsin Board of Regents Meeting

Regents Seem More Interested in Pandering to Right-Wing Politicians Than Protecting Free Speech

Democrats Push Medical Marijuana, Red Flag Law

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

4-Year-Old Kindergarten Gets Bipartisan Support

Senate taking up bills in committee that would expand early childhood education programs.

Legislature May Debate Few Fall-Session Issues

Short fall legislative session doesn't leave a lot of room for action on major issues.

Pot Tourism in Illinois?

Could Illinois become a tourist destination for Wisconsinites that like marijuana?

Bill Would Increase Public Defender Pay

Bipartisan legislation funds merit based pay increases for public defenders.

Municipalities Calling For Mass Violence Reform

League of Wisconsin Municipalities want Gov. Evers and the legislature to work together to find solutions.

Evers Wants Gun Laws

Governor said he would call a special session if Republicans don't act.

Evers Renews Call for Red Flag Gun Law

Republican legislators say proposal violates due process rights.

What Polls Show About the Legislature

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

But Wait, There’s More. Lawyer/Lobbyist Hired by Joint Committee on Finance Previously Defended GOP Legislators in Open Records Case

Defended Top Legislative Republicans Over Allegations They Sought to Discourage Release of Public Documents

Conflicts of Interest Abound as Wisconsin Republicans Play Politics With State Settling Lawsuits

More Fallout From Wisconsin Republicans’ Post 2018 Election Loss Tantrum as Billions At Stake in Opioid Lawsuits

Alderman Donovan urges GOP legislative leaders to use caution on sales tax ask

Media alert and letter from Alderman Bob Donovan

Kaul Says Lame Duck Law Costs Taxpayers

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

From Vienna, Vos Vows to Obstruct the People’s Business

In Vacation Twitter Outburst, Assembly Speaker Promises to Keep Blocking Initiatives on Public School Funding, Student Debt Relief, Affordable Health Care, Gun Safety and More

Where Will Future Jobs Come From?

Those Labor Day think pieces offered few answers. Where do we go from here?

New Marquette Law School Poll finds Biden leading Trump in head-to-head presidential match in Wisconsin

Biden is most popular choice in the Democratic primary field, while full sample of voters split sharply by partisanship on Trump and the economy

Lame Duck Laws Hurting the State

Tying hands of Attorney General stalls 15 lawsuits, could cost taxpayers millions.

Questions Swirl Around State Budget Committee Republicans’ Hiring of Lawyer/Lobbyist at Taxpayer Expense

Republicans’ Proposed Solution to the Mess They Made is a Farce

Lame Duck Laws Opposed Overwhelmingly

Records show Legislature fielded nearly 48,000 contacts from people and 98% opposed lame duck laws.

Legislators Use Fees to Keep Records Secret

Charging citizens making open records requests means less scrutiny of government.

About Those UW Free Speech Violations

Not one violation on 26 campuses of UW Regents’ policy. But legislators want to pass tough law.

One Wisconsin Institute Opposes UW Board of Regents Latest Move to Restrict Campus Free Speech

Regents Seem More Interested in Appeasing Right-Wing Than Protecting Student Speech Rights

UW Students Oppose Free Speech Bill

Student groups say UW Regents policy already protects free speech, law not needed.

Evers, Democrats Unveil Background Checks Bill

“Universal background checks” on gun sales shouldn’t need “permission from NRA,” Evers says.

Evers Bows to Business Group

“My administration continues to support the work you’re doing,” he tells right-wing WMC.

No UW Regents at Hearing on Speech

Not one attended hearing on UW Regents policy that suspends or expels students for disrupting speeches.

Vos Echoes Trump on Disabled People

Assembly Speaker’s attitude toward wheel-chair bound legislator is truly Trumpian.

“I Don’t Have the Answer” to Mass Shootings

So says Senate leader Scott Fitzgerald, who opposes expanding background checks.

Republican State Legislators Offer White Nationalism Protection Act

With Nationalism on the Rise GOP Threatens Students Protesting Hate Speech on Campuses With Suspensions, Expulsion and Lawsuits

6 Questions for Legislators on Guns

How many state residents have guns? How many favor background checks, other laws?

Where’s Robin?

"Today at the Senate Committee on Transportation, Veterans and Military Affairs public hearing, Speaker Robin Vos didn’t even bother to testify on his own bill..."

Speaker Robin Vos’ Moral Failure

"Speaker Vos’ disregard for a colleague is frankly embarrassing."

Examining the Dark-Store Loophole

Loophole lets big box stores lower their taxes while effectively raising taxes for residents.

State Leaders Divided Over Gun Laws

In the aftermath of mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Democrats push for "red flag" laws, Republicans balk.

Will Wisconsin Become a ‘Sanctuary State’?

Rep. Cabrera pushes ban on using Wisconsin facilities to detain undocumented immigrants.

Rep. Robyn Vining Defends Colleague Rep. Anderson

"Speaker Vos has demeaned remote involvement by Rep. Anderson."

GOP Suit Slaps Kaul on Lame Duck Laws

AG contests lawsuit, calling it “attempt to undermine public safety in Wisconsin.”

Legislature Asks Wisconsin Supreme Court to Require Attorney General Kaul to Comply With Law

Kaul refusing to follow previous ruling in SEIU vs. Vos

Republicans Deny New Gerrymander Plan

Not planning to bypass governor, Fitzgerald says, but he and Vos won’t take follow-up questions.

Robin “Boss” Vos Sets New Low in How He Does Business

Assembly Speaker Refuses Workplace Accommodation for Paralyzed State Legislator

Three Year Anniversary of Victory for Voter Rights in Wisconsin

2016 Federal Court Decision in One Wisconsin Institute, et. al. v. Thomsen, et. al Paved way for Expanded Early Voting

GOP Could Bypass Evers, Gerrymander Again

Joint Resolution bill could prevent governor veto, gain second decade of gerrymandering.

Clean Drinking Water Effort Falls Short

$40 million state funding to replace lead laterals cut from budget by Republicans.

Enough of Divide-and-Conquer Politics

Once again Vos and Fitzgerald try to scapegoat Milwaukee.

Vos Previews Assembly’s Fall Agenda

Possible legislation in three areas: water quality, suicide prevention and adoption.

Evers Touts $75 Million Local Grants Fund

Competitive grants for local transportation replace state roads fund, includes mass transit.

Pot Arrests 4 Times Higher for Blacks

Statewide racial disparity in arrests for pot possession cited in Gov. Evers’ decriminalization proposal.

Gerrymandering Bill is Bipartisan

Three Republican legislators are co-sponsers of bill calling for nonpartisan redistricting.

Speaker Robin Vos Shuts Down Assembly for His Summer Vacation(s)

Special Interests and Taxpayers Will be Picking Up the Tab for Another Summer of Travel for ‘Boss‘ Vos

Bill Allows Anonymity to Lottery Winners

GOP legislators want to protect winners from harassment.

Republicans Seek to Limit Governor’s Veto

Legislators propose constitutional amendment to bar partial vetoes increasing spending.

Healthy Economy Buys New State Spending

Which helps explain budget victory being claimed by both parties.

Rules Violations Cause 40% of Prison Admissions

State figures show supervision violations, not new crimes, drive prison admissions.

Evers Uses 78 Partial Vetoes on Budget

Vetoes will help pay for $65 million more in education funding in revised budget.

State’s Loss on Federal ACA is $1.3 Billion

State loses $1.3 billion in federal funds for medical care under Republican two-year budget.

Redistricting Now Up to Citizen Action

U.S. Supreme Court decision leaves it up to voters to demand non-partisan redistricting.

Regrets, He Has a Few: Robin Vos Wanted to Do Even More for Wealthy in Wisconsin

Reflecting on State Budget, Assembly Speaker Wishes He Could Have Delivered Even More Than $1.4 Billion in Tax Giveaways for Wealthy, Corporations

Vos Wants Medical Marijuana Bill

Assembly Speaker wants to push this bill in fall. Will Senate oppose it?

7 Reasons Evers Won’t Veto Entire Budget

Why the governor won’t use the nuclear option on Republican budget.

Did Legislators Work Too Fast?

Apparently had no time to address issues like drunk driving and water pollution.

Budget Bill The Shortest in Decades

Republicans worked for “veto-proof” bill so Gov. Evers has little room to reshape legislation.

What They’re Saying: Legislators Urge Evers to Sign Budget

Statewide media tour highlights impact of The Wisconsin Budget

Statement from Legislative Leaders on the Supreme Court Ruling

Assembly Passes State Budget By 60-39

To secure Senate approval adds amendment to help a company championed by Republican senator.

Why GOP Opposes Federal Medicaid Funds

It’s cost state taxpayers $1.1 billion. Why won’t Republicans accept the money?

State Supreme Court Upholds Lame-Duck Laws

The conservative majority not persuaded by arguments that extraordinary session was unconstitutional.

Second GOP Senator Won’t Support Budget

Sen. Dave Craig won't support budget saying it spends too much. Pushing GOP closer to deadlock over budget.

Steve Nass Won’t Vote For Budget

Nass making it harder for GOP colleagues to pass their budget.

Real Estate Owners Give Republicans Millions

And GOP legislators pass a raft of laws benefiting landlords, real estate industry.

Dueling Visions of the State’s Future

5 major areas where Evers, Republicans differ on state policies, spending.

Joint Finance Committee Passes Budget

Majority Republicans rejected many Evers proposals. Minority Democrats assail GOP plan.