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Content referencing Scott Jensen

Op Ed: This Is First Liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court In Living Memory
Op Ed

This Is First Liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court In Living Memory

Media says court was liberal 15 years ago. Dead wrong. This is a radical change.

Ron Johnson Plays To Extremes in Re-Election Bid

Ron Johnson Plays To Extremes in Re-Election Bid

Polling shows Johnson's favorability and unfavorability ratings are both at or near record highs.

The State of Politics: Michels’ Cash, Trump’s Backing Pay Off
The State of Politics

Michels’ Cash, Trump’s Backing Pay Off

His victory is a defeat for Vos, Walker, and leaves tough questions for a divided party.

Campaign Cash: Jobs First Coalition Backs Republicans
Campaign Cash

Jobs First Coalition Backs Republicans

Brookfield-based conservative group has spent $2.6 million since 2010, mostly on legislators.

Fight For Fair Maps Heats Up

Fight For Fair Maps Heats Up

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

Law Forward on Supreme Court Rejection of Redistricting Rulemaking Petition
Press Release

Law Forward on Supreme Court Rejection of Redistricting Rulemaking Petition

Poland: Today, the State Supreme Court unanimously rejected a deeply flawed proposal that would have stood judicial procedures around redistricting – and only around redistricting – on their head.

Murphy’s Law: Kleefisch Spokesperson Compares Evers to Dahmer
Murphy’s Law

Kleefisch Spokesperson Compares Evers to Dahmer

The former Lt. Governor, who plans a run for governor, gets caught in controversy.

Will State Supreme Court Draw New Legislative Boundaries?

Will State Supreme Court Draw New Legislative Boundaries?

Chief Justice is leery of the court expanding its role in redistricting. Conservatives want it to be the final arbiter of new district maps.

The State of Politics: More Legislators Become Lobbyists 
The State of Politics

More Legislators Become Lobbyists 

Nygren and Shilling are the latest to take the lucrative road well-traveled.

Court Watch: 2,000 Object to Redistricting Proposal
Court Watch

2,000 Object to Redistricting Proposal

272 pages of comments compiled by Fair Maps Coalition oppose state Supreme Court drawing legislative districts.

The State of Politics: Rebecca Kleefisch Will Run for Governor
The State of Politics

Rebecca Kleefisch Will Run for Governor

Former Lt. Governor hasn’t announced, but is clearly organizing for 2022 campaign.

Op Ed: Jensen Tries to Pre-Rig Redistricting
Op Ed

Jensen Tries to Pre-Rig Redistricting

To maintain gerrymandering, neutralize governor, wants to give state Supreme Court the whip hand.

Tone deaf appointment: Steve Baas to board chair of VISIT Milwaukee
Press Release

Tone deaf appointment: Steve Baas to board chair of VISIT Milwaukee

Statement of Alderman Michael J. Murphy June 9, 2020

Plenty of Horne: Dark-Money Group Slings Mud in Comptroller Race
Plenty of Horne

Dark-Money Group Slings Mud in Comptroller Race

Group backing Rep. Jason Fields produces attack ads against his opponent, Aycha Sawa.

Op Ed: GOP Gerrymandering and School Choice
Op Ed

GOP Gerrymandering and School Choice

Republicans proclaim vouchers for minorities while seeking ways to disenfranchise their votes.

Murphy’s Law: Why Republicans Hate the Gas Tax
Murphy’s Law

Why Republicans Hate the Gas Tax

Once they promoted this user fee, now they’d rather roads fall apart. Why?

Former Lawmakers, WILL Enter Extraordinary Session Lawsuit
Press Release

Former Lawmakers, WILL Enter Extraordinary Session Lawsuit

Former Speaker, Lt. Gov., lawmakers make the case for extraordinary sessions and laws jeopardized by Dane County ruling

Murphy’s Law: Who Will Win State Budget Battle?
Murphy’s Law

Who Will Win State Budget Battle?

Right now it looks like an endless standoff. But appearances can be deceiving.

Murphy’s Law: Republicans Oppose Gerrymandering
Murphy’s Law

Republicans Oppose Gerrymandering

Voters overwhelmingly favor fair maps, yet Vos spends millions in taxes to fight this.

Op Ed: The Unique Candidacy of Mike McCabe
Op Ed

The Unique Candidacy of Mike McCabe

And why his campaign for governor is attracting an army of volunteers.

Data Wonk: Has Tide Turned Against Republicans?
Data Wonk

Has Tide Turned Against Republicans?

Last week’s elections show GOP could be vulnerable to right kind of campaign.

Campaign Cash: WMC Still Leads In Capitol Clout
Campaign Cash

WMC Still Leads In Capitol Clout

Massive spending on campaigns and lobbying by state’s biggest business group.

Campaign Cash: Construction Industry Has Huge Capitol Clout
Campaign Cash

Construction Industry Has Huge Capitol Clout

$11 million political in donations helps get policies to reduce safety measures in buildings.

Campaign Cash: Joint Finance Okays School Choice Expansion
Campaign Cash

Joint Finance Okays School Choice Expansion

Powerful voucher lobby, including Betsy DeVos, has spent millions to support state politicians.

Campaign Cash: $8.5 Million Reasons Why GOP Expanding Vouchers
Campaign Cash

$8.5 Million Reasons Why GOP Expanding Vouchers

Multi millions in campaign donations, mostly from out-of-state voucher supporters.

Campaign Cash: How MMAC Peddles Influence
Campaign Cash

How MMAC Peddles Influence

Milwaukee business group has spent $2.4 million on campaigns and lobbying.

The State of Politics: Choice Schools Still Being Debated
The State of Politics

Choice Schools Still Being Debated

New study says voucher students do better. Except on achievement.

Op Ed: We Like Suburban Segregation
Op Ed

We Like Suburban Segregation

Governments have long enabled metro area's biases.

Murphy’s Law: Bradley Foundation Breaking the Law?
Murphy’s Law

Bradley Foundation Breaking the Law?

Hacked files show foundation may violate ban on political activity.

Field Set for Private School Voucher Industry Campaign Cash Chase
Press Release

Field Set for Private School Voucher Industry Campaign Cash Chase

‘Let the Shameless Pandering Begin’ as Two Candidates for Public Schools Head Seek to Snag Financial Support of Private School Voucher Industry

Campaign Cash: Betsy DeVos Buys Influence Here
Campaign Cash

Betsy DeVos Buys Influence Here

Trump’s pick for Education Secretary and her family spent $500,000 on WI candidates.

Op Ed: Choice Schools Must Share Data
Op Ed

Choice Schools Must Share Data

Voucher advocates like Scott Jensen were wrong; parents need to know achievement data.

John Humphries Wastes No Time Pledging Allegiance to Private School Voucher Cartel
Press Release

John Humphries Wastes No Time Pledging Allegiance to Private School Voucher Cartel

Candidate Running to Oversee Wisconsin Public Schools Praises Michigan Billionaire Heiress With No Public Education Experience Who Prefers Private Schools

Campaign Cash: Who Runs the Jobs First Coalition?
Campaign Cash

Who Runs the Jobs First Coalition?

It’s spent $1 million on elections, was started by Scott Jensen, mostly targets Democrats.

Trump’s DeVos Appointment Means More School Privatization, More Failure, Less Accountability
Press Release

Trump’s DeVos Appointment Means More School Privatization, More Failure, Less Accountability

‘Being a Billionaire Whose Hobby Is Underwriting Campaigns to Steal Public School Dollars for Unaccountable Private Schools Disqualifies Her to Be Our Secretary of Education’

Private School Voucher Special Interest Group Tops $1 Million in Campaign Spending to Elect Compliant Legislators
Press Release

Private School Voucher Special Interest Group Tops $1 Million in Campaign Spending to Elect Compliant Legislators

American Federation For Children spends big to try to elect legislators who’ll keep public tax dollars flowing to less accountable private schools

Unaccountable Private School Voucher Backers Up the Ante With Six Figure TV Ad Buy to Boost Rep. Todd Novak in 51st Assembly District Race
Press Release

Unaccountable Private School Voucher Backers Up the Ante With Six Figure TV Ad Buy to Boost Rep. Todd Novak in 51st Assembly District Race

Spending campaign cash now to keep public tax dollars flowing to them later.

Murphy’s Law: Why State’s MPS Takeover Plan Died
Murphy’s Law

Why State’s MPS Takeover Plan Died

In changing state ratings to protect choice schools, Republicans ended up killing OSPP.

New Private School Voucher Scheme Surfaces as Pro-Voucher Front Group Spending to Elect Republican Legislators Tops $500,000
Press Release

New Private School Voucher Scheme Surfaces as Pro-Voucher Front Group Spending to Elect Republican Legislators Tops $500,000

Latest Effort to Quench Private School Voucher Industry’s Unslakable Thirst for Public Tax Dollars

Private Voucher School Front Group Reports Spending $500,000 in September Alone to Buy Pro-Voucher Legislature
Press Release

Private Voucher School Front Group Reports Spending $500,000 in September Alone to Buy Pro-Voucher Legislature

This Kind of Support Comes With a Price, History Shows GOP Candidates and Legislature Will Pay

Documents From Political Corruption Investigation Reveal Gov. Walker’s Allies Intentionally Made Baseless Claims of Voter Fraud to Question Election Results
Schools Challenged by Declining State Aid

Schools Challenged by Declining State Aid

State aid to schools declined by $1.1 billion under Walker; choice funding rose by 77%.

How Talk Radio Hurt The Journal Sentinel

How Talk Radio Hurt The Journal Sentinel

Sykes’ continual bashing -- allowed by corporate bosses -- badly wounded their own newspaper.

Op-Ed: Bill Would Kill Nonpartisan Accountability Board
Op-Ed

Bill Would Kill Nonpartisan Accountability Board

Proposal to replace GAB will effectively end its scrutiny of misconduct by legislators and state officials.

The State of Politics: The Explosive Growth of School Choice
The State of Politics

The Explosive Growth of School Choice

It’s grown 78% in four years, now puts 32,100 kids in private schools

The State of Politics: Legislators Move to Become Lobbyists
The State of Politics

Legislators Move to Become Lobbyists

Revolving door between governing and lobbying wide open, especially for Republicans.

House Confidential: Rep. Brostoff’s Historic East Side Condo
House Confidential

Rep. Brostoff’s Historic East Side Condo

The new assemblyman lives in an 1870s building once used for rooming houses, but now elegantly refurbished, like most of the neighborhood.

The Long Arms of Scott Jensen

The Long Arms of Scott Jensen

Former Assembly Speaker, now a school choice lobbyist, targeted six Democrats with negative ads that never mentioned the issue.

The State of Politics: School Choice Group Attacked Democrats
The State of Politics

School Choice Group Attacked Democrats

The group spent $850,000. Democratic Rep. Wright blames their late, “false” ads for her loss.

Rep. Taylor to GOP: Where’s the “aggressive” jobs agenda?
Press Release

Rep. Taylor to GOP: Where’s the “aggressive” jobs agenda?

State Rep. Chris Taylor called out Governor Scott Walker and legislative Republicans for their post-election out of the gate “aggressive” legislative agenda.

Murphy’s Law: The Lt. Governor Nobody Wanted
Murphy’s Law

The Lt. Governor Nobody Wanted

Few on Scott Walker’s team wanted Rebecca Kleefish to win or had any respect for her. Yet she could be the next governor.

House Confidential: Gary George’s Grafton Mansion
House Confidential

Gary George’s Grafton Mansion

He lives far outside Gwen Moore's congressional district, but is running for the seat anyway.

Murphy’s Law: Walker, Sykes and Belling
Murphy’s Law

Walker, Sykes and Belling

The New Republic feature story on Scott Walker and talk radio is juicy stuff. But is it true?

The State of Politics: Nine Bills That Got Killed
The State of Politics

Nine Bills That Got Killed

Why the legislature failed to pass laws on nine hot issues.

Murphy’s Law: Did Gov. Walker Have a Secret Email System?
Murphy’s Law

Did Gov. Walker Have a Secret Email System?

A Walker administration insider says some staff used private emails and personal laptops in the office.

How School Choice Got Expanded Statewide

How School Choice Got Expanded Statewide

Deal by GOP legislators and pushed by voucher lobbyists expanded it beyond Gov. Walker's proposal.

Choice Schools Leave Disabled Students Behind?

Choice Schools Leave Disabled Students Behind?

As voucher schools expand to more cities, critics complain they don't serve disabled students.

School Choice Lobby Spends $10 Million

School Choice Lobby Spends $10 Million

Choice supporters donated $2.8 million to state candidates and $7 million for electioneering activities, according to nonpartisan watchdog group.

Murphy’s Law: The Voucher Lobby
Murphy’s Law

The Voucher Lobby

Lobbying for school choice provides big money for Republicans.

How Former Lawmakers Cash In

How Former Lawmakers Cash In

16 ex-lawmakers -- including former Assembly speakers and Senate majority leaders -- make big money lobbying the legislature.

Statement from Mayor Tom Barrett Concerning the Public Service Commission Ruling on the Milwaukee Streetcar Project
Press Release

Statement from Mayor Tom Barrett Concerning the Public Service Commission Ruling on the Milwaukee Streetcar Project

We agree with comments made by two of the three Public Service Commission (PSC) members that the Streetcar project is an exercise of the City’s police power, and that it is a benefit to the public’s health, safety and welfare.

The Roundup: Burke Gets Break
The Roundup

Burke Gets Break

The Supreme Court granted a stay Friday, and Burke’s trial is postponed.

Murphy’s Law: Why Jim Ryan Could Be In Trouble
Murphy’s Law

Why Jim Ryan Could Be In Trouble

Speaking as someone who predicted the one-two finish of Scott Walker and Jim Ryan, the big surprise of the county executive race was Tyrone Dumas' strong fourth place finish, just behind Tom Nardelli.

Murphy’s Law: Has the Teacher’s Union Taken Over the GOP?
Murphy’s Law

Has the Teacher’s Union Taken Over the GOP?

It was not long ago that the state teacher's union was the designated villain for Republicans.

Murphy’s Law: Is Scott Walker Qualified To Be County Exec?
Murphy’s Law

Is Scott Walker Qualified To Be County Exec?

Rep. Scott K. Walker (R-Wauwatosa) was the first candidate to announce for county executive, and is widely considered one of the front-runners for the position.

Murphy’s Law: Is Ald. Herron Leaving Town?
Murphy’s Law

Is Ald. Herron Leaving Town?

City Hall has been rife with rumors that Ald. Terrance Herron is leaving Milwaukee.

Murphy’s Law: Ameritech Catches Political Fire From Competitors
Murphy’s Law

Ameritech Catches Political Fire From Competitors

Open up this month's Ameritech bill and you may find a surprise.

Murphy’s Law: Scott Jensen’s Big Shakedown
Murphy’s Law

Scott Jensen’s Big Shakedown

Rep. Jon Richards was feeling a little lonely.

Murphy’s Law: Is Superintendent Korte In Trouble With The School Board?
Murphy’s Law

Is Superintendent Korte In Trouble With The School Board?

At first glance, Milwaukee school superintendent Spence Korte looks like he could be on the chopping block.

Murphy’s Law: Five Budget Items the Media Has Missed
Murphy’s Law

Five Budget Items the Media Has Missed

By now, everybody knows what's in the budget right?

Murphy’s Law: Is the State Legislature Still a Men’s Club?
Murphy’s Law

Is the State Legislature Still a Men’s Club?

It was the gunfight at the Capitol corral and only men were invited.