Scott Walker

Right Wing Group Pushes Prison Reform

State can’t afford new prison, Badger Institute notes, so policymakers should look to reforms used by other states.

Walker Defends Trump With ‘Fact Check’

The President didn't use tear gas, no siree, the former governor assures us.

Lessons from the Spring 2020 Election

Republicans opposed liberals and alleged voter fraud and neither issue resonated.

Could Floyd’s Killing Lead to State Reform?

Evers calls for long-delayed bill on deadly use of force by police to be taken up by Legislature.

Foxconn Audit Delayed Two Months

Company claims it earned a subsidy for employees hired and capital expenditures, state still analyzing data.

Evers Appoints Three New UW Regents

Effective immediately, will help shift direction of UW System policies.

GOP, Dems Battle Over Unemployment Backlog

Democrats say Walker administration failed to update the system, now it can't handle unprecedented wave of unemployment claims.

The Demise of Standardized Tests

Pandemic is speeding the decline of longtime measures of student achievement.

John Menard and Trump, Together Again

One-time friends had falling out, but now Menard will help president plan economic rebound.

State Tourism Leader Says Don’t Travel

Pandemic risk too great now, state “secretary of fun” says, but hoping for a tourism rebound.

Enbridge Energy Looks to Reroute Pipeline

Campaign donor wants to seize private property in North Woods for crude oil pipeline.

Evers Promises Three New UW Regents

“Extremely unusual” for board members with expired terms to stay on and continue voting.

Walker Opposes Bailing Out States

In a New York Times op-ed the former governor trashed state government and called for directing aid to workers.

Scott Walker Endorses Julian Bradley for 28th Senate

County Executive College Dropouts

For 20 years voters have elected college dropouts to run Milwaukee County. What gives?

State Urges Supreme Court to Keep ACA Intact

AG Kaul filed a brief as a friend-of-the-court in Supreme Court Case.

Wisconsin Politicos Respond to Safer At Home Ruling

Politicians, lobbyists and activists fall back on party line in attacking or praising decision.

Supreme Court Strikes Down “Safer at Home”

Decision goes into effect immediately. Milwaukee's order remains in effect.

Vos, Fitzgerald Cost Taxpayers Billions

Their latest mistake adds $25 million more lost to taxpayers.

Janet Bewley Is New State Senate Minority Leader

Sen. Bewley sets her sights on overcoming GOP opposition, re-taking the senate.

The Incredible Decline of Wisconsin Unions

Once one of leading states for unions, now well behind the nation.

Do Republicans Have Secret COVID-19 Plan?

Vos and Fitzgerald want high court to overrule Gov. Evers’ policies. What will their plan be?

Scott Walker Loses Again

Federal court rejects his group’s challenge of non-partisan redistricting in Michigan.

Justice Kelly Asks to ‘Unrecuse’ Himself

While running for reelection he withdrew from two election cases. Now he wants in.

Walker Says Wisconsin Should Reopen

Ex-governor tells far-right Breitbart News he’s concerned about citizens’ civil liberties.

Many Democratic Legislators Resigning

But Assembly Minority Leader Hintz seeks reelection to his post.

GOP Donor Uihlein Calls COVID-19 “Overhyped”

Liz Uihlein, co-founding of Uline, is a major Trump donor spending millions on right-wing causes.

Right-Wing Groups Linked to #ReopenWisconsin Campaign

Members of Americans for Prosperity, American Majority and John Birch Society have their hands in the campaign.

Did Republicans Doom Dan Kelly?

Many voters in red counties opposed him, perhaps in anger at being forced to vote in a pandemic.

40 Policies That Helped Pollute State

Over last decade state leaders have backed 40 actions that have harmed environment.

Environmental Enforcement Down in Midwest

New report finds declining enforcement, spending and staff in six Great Lakes states.

Republicans Suppress Their Own Voters

Because they thought even more Democrats would be discouraged. They were wrong.

Will High Court Limit Evers’ Veto Power?

Supreme Court hears arguments from conservatives targeting governor’s power.

Kelly Might Hear Voter Purge Case

Justice Dan Kelly could lift his recusal from the case now that he lost his election.

Democratic Turnout Surged in Election

High absentee voting in Milwaukee, Dane counties. State results mirrored Tammy Baldwin win in 2018.

Plastic Straw Ban Went Into Effect, Did Anyone Notice?

As of yesterday, city restaurants and bars must obey. Which is the least of their concerns.

Foxconn Squeezes Evers

Demands $45 million from the state and for what? Probably nothing.

Did Voter Backlash Defeat Kelly?

Voters angry about in-person election may have reacted by opposing Republican choice for high court.

12 Election Takeaways

How high was turnout, lawyers will be busy, girl power, streetcar wins again and a new council president?

Karofsky Easily Defeats Kelly

54-46 margin for liberal candidate in race for Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Wisconsin Working Families Party Candidates Win Key Seats Across The State

21 Winners and Losers

Beyond the candidates, what was the election about, who were the other winners and losers?

Remove Vos as NCSL President

The Scott Walker Economy

The final data on GDP, jobs, unemployment: how we did compared to nation, Midwest.

State Faces April 16 Deadline for Medicaid Money

Legislature must amend lame duck law or lose hundreds of millions in federal funds.

Lena Taylor’s Aide Suspended by WNOV

Michele Bryant accuses station’s owner of selling out to Mayor Barrett.

GOP Lame-Duck Law Blocks COVID-19 Aid

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

Dan Kelly’s Ideology Is 100% Relevant

He was appointed to maintain Republican power and will overrule legal precedents to accomplish this.

Is Dan Kelly Good for Democracy?

His legal work and rulings as Supreme Court justice show strong anti-democratic views.

Republicans Risk Public Health With Election

Refusal of Vos and Fitzgerald to postpone election could cause more disease, deaths.

Supreme Decision

Karofsky v. Kelly, stakes are high in state Supreme Court race.

Menards Accused of Price Gouging

Stores in Wisconsin and Michigan at issue, Michigan AG sends cease-and-disest letter.

Dark-Money Group Slings Mud in Comptroller Race

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

Karofsky Campaign Issues Cease and Desist Over Attack Ads

Campaign calls ads "false, baseless, and disgusting."

Poll: Bar members say Karofsky overwhelmingly more qualified

We Need Paid Sick Leave Now!

Most of the many workers laid off have no paid leave. This is a crisis.

Karofsky Wrong About State Supreme Court

Her campaign charges against the Supreme Court amount to slander.

State Surplus Will Help in Crisis

Evers veto of Republican tax cut saves expected surplus, means less financial stress.

Scott Walker Offers Mortgage Debt Plan

As governor he skipped state debt payments. Now offering a similar, unsolicited plan to nation's banks.

State Rep. Brostoff Quarantining After Coronavirus Exposure

Brostoff, the latest Wisconsin politico to be exposed to the virus, is "keeping a cool head".

State Republicans Now Love Trump

Big change from 2016, when GOP and talk radio opposed him, now 95% view him favorably.

Supreme Court Candidates Spar Over Integrity

Karofsky went after Kelly for the partisanship of his campaign and the state's high court at a debate Thursday.

Why The MPS Referendum Is Needed

The data shows MPS trails other metro area districts in per-pupil spending.

Law Cuts Notice Time for Insurance Premium Hikes

Insurance industry gave generously to legislators, Evers, Walker.

Shipbuilder Donates, Gets State Grant

Marinette Marine gives $45,000 to Democratic Governors; Evers awards $29 million grant.

Supreme Court Case Could Affect Abortion Access in Wisconsin

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

Scott Walker Battles Eric Holder

And former Wisconsin governor doesn’t do so well.

Dan Kelly’s Big Guns

Supreme Court Justice holds fundraiser at shooting gallery the day after Molson Coors shootings.

Foxconn Contract Has Huge Loophole?

“Ironclad” contract may allow company to count seasonal employees for tax credits.

Governor’s Residence Now Exhibiting Art

And the Museum of Wisconsin Art has yet another outpost in the state.

What’s Next in Voter Purge Battle?

Appeals Court overturned lower court ruling requiring purge of voter rolls. But battle far from over.

The Myth of Nonpartisan Judicial Elections

They could hardly be more partisan. Time to rethink how we elect Supreme Court members?

Did Gerrymandering Kill Medicaid Expansion?

Liberal group’s report links gerrymandering to less health coverage, more deaths from preventable causes.

Kelly, Karofsky Divide the County

Karofsky wins Milwaukee and North Shore, Kelly wins southern suburbs in high court race.

Who Will Turn Out for April Election?

There might be a far bigger Republican turnout than some expect.

Stakes Are High for Supreme Court Race

Kelly vs Karofsky will test the organizing, fundraising abilities of both parties.

State Assembly Pushing For Constitutional Convention

State GOP is pushing the legislature to join others around the country in an attempt to ratify controversial amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

It’s Kelly v. Karofsky for Supreme Court

Race could be tough: Candidates have accused each other of “corruption” and “disgusting slander”.

14 Election Winners, Losers

Beyond the ballot totals, behind the scenes, who were the other election winners and losers?

Outside Groups Spent $55,000 on High Court Race

Majority of spending opposed conservative Justice Dan Kelly.

GOP Bill Allows Guns in Churches

And other places of worship, even in school zones. Big donor NRA favors such legislation.

Kelly Leads Money Race for High Court

Conservative raised more than Fallone and Karofsky combined in Supreme Court race.

State Will See Improved Passenger Rail

Doubling daily service from St. Paul to Milwaukee and Chicago and higher speed rail to Duluth-Superior.

Tracking Four Downtown Tower Proposals

Real estate news from Walker's Point, the East Side and Near West Side caps a busy week.

My 25 Years in State Government

Walker appointee Mike Huebsch talks about Act 10, energy policy and retiring.

Pocan: ‘Building A Fair Economy for Anyone Requires Strong Labor Rights for Everyone’

$1.1 Million in Corporate Political Gifts in 2019

Total amount given to state party groups, with 78% going to Republicans.

The Republicans’ Gerrymander Scheme

The polls, the data, the legalities. How Robin Vos hopes to triumph.

Local Skepticism Grows On Foxconn’s Future

Opinions in Racine County shifting as company’s plans keep changing.

No New State Office Building Until 2022?

Bauman warns of delays for 27th St. project; Near West Side Partners plans safeguards on deal.

School Leaders Reject Ban On Indian Mascots

Proponents of policy "shocked” and “disappointed” by WI Association of School Boards’ vote.

Redistricting Fight Is One Year Away

So why are Evers and Democrats putting spotlight on it now?

BadgerCare Changes Could Drop Coverage for Poor

Changes set in motion by Walker administration could boot poor from state Medicaid program.

State Supreme Court Candidates Battle at Debate

Fallone manages to stay on the outside as Karofsky and Kelly sling mud at each other.

GOP Gerrymandering and School Choice

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

Who’s the Most Partisan?

Republican legislators suddenly embrace bipartisan peacemaking, blast Evers as partisan.

State’s ‘Hidden Deficit’ Lowest in 30 Years

Great news except… it’s still higher than in 49 other states.

Evers Signs Order for Redistricting Commission

Nonpartisan effort to avoid gerrymandering, but Republicans vow to do their own maps.

Q&A With Circuit Court Candidates Part Two

Blomme, Dedinsky and Whitney make their case for election to Branch 5. Part Two

Republicans Bash Evers Before He Speaks

Condemn governor as too partisan, but his State of State speech is mostly conciliatory.