For nearly two years, the Milwaukee district attorney’s John Doe probe has investigated Gov. Scott Walker’s administration during his term as Milwaukee County Executive in 2010.  Two of the most important advances in the investigation came in January when authorities arrested former Deputy Chief of Staff Kelly Rindfleisch and former… Read more »

Republican legislators are calling on Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett to release specific details about his plans for the state budget so voters can compare his plans to Gov. Scott Walker’s record over his last year in office. Joint Finance Committee Co-Chairs Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills,… Read more »

A panel of education experts offered insight into the best ways to combat the achievement gap in Madison Metropolitan School District at a community event held Monday. The Department of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Wisconsin hosted a panel discussion on the topic, worked to define the achievement… Read more »

As the Democratic primary approaches, Milwaukee Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett sat down with students at Memorial Union Thursday, saying graduates face a grim job market and that he is the strongest candidate to face Gov. Scott Walker in a recall election. During the discussion, Barrett said the… Read more »

Although newly passed legislation surrounding voter ID requirements is tied up in court, college students may still face a number of other obstacles while heading to the polls for the upcoming recall elections. The Wisconsin Women’s Network held a brown bag lunch discussion Tuesday to consider recent changes in state voting… Read more »

With the recall election primaries just one week away, a major round of campaign financing figures filed Monday shows the governor with a substantial lead in the money race against his prospective Democratic challengers. Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign leads all other candidates in the gubernatorial race, raising more than $13 million over… Read more »

During the university’s celebration of the Year of the Wisconsin Idea, experts are questioning the strength of the state’s relationship with the University of Wisconsin System and whether the public feels a growing distance from the higher education system. In a report published last month, UW political science professor Kathy… Read more »

Wisconsin legislators are calling on the U.S. Senate to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which would result in a loss of millions in funding to the state if not restored. The act provides $7.5 million in federal funding to Wisconsin each year to be used for supporting child advocacy… Read more »

Despite numbers last week showing a decrease in statewide unemployment, Wisconsin is the only state in the country to experience a statistically significant job loss throughout the last year, according to recently gathered national statistics.The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that Wisconsin lost 23,900 jobs from March 2011 to… Read more »

A group of legislators and health experts criticized U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan and its cuts to Medicare at a roundtable discussion in Madison on Monday.  At the meeting, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said Ryan’s Medicare plan cuts spending on the program for seniors by approximately 15 percent while… Read more »

Despite large cuts to the state’s education budget, Gov. Scott Walker reinstated a program to give merit raises and pay adjustments to University of Wisconsin employees and other state workers, according to a report from the Associated Press on Friday. 218 employees across nine agencies received a total of $765,195… Read more »

With elections dominating the news at the state and federal level, a top national Democratic pollster criticized aspects of political polling culture and offered his analysis on the issues surrounding recall elections. Mark Mellman of the Democratic opinion research organization The Mellman Group spoke at the Madison Club Thursday and… Read more »

Student loan debt would be completely forgiven after 10 years of public service under a proposed plan by a top federal education official, which would also strive to make the United States the number one producer of college graduates within the decade. United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan gave… Read more »

Six fake Democrats will remain on the recall election ballots after the state election board unanimously approved its staff recommendations to do so at a meeting on Tuesday. The Government Accountability Board unanimously ruled no election fraud was occurring and the board did not have the authority to decide the… Read more »

Statewide property taxes for homeowners have gone down for the first time in 12 years, which officials in the governor’s office are crediting as a ripple effect of the ending of collective bargaining for public employees.The statement from Gov. Scott Walker’s office said the tax bill for the median value home… Read more »

With recall election primaries less than three weeks away, the state Supreme Court refused to take up two lawsuits challenging the state’s voter ID law on Monday. The justices’ one-page statement announced their decision not to take up the cases but did not comment on the lawsuits filed by the… Read more »

The president of a national policy research center criticized a Wisconsin congressman’s federal budget proposal because of the cuts it will make to social welfare programs, despite the plan’s support from many Republicans.  Bob Greenstein, founder and president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, delivered the lecture in… Read more »

With the May 8 primary for the gubernatorial recall election approaching, four Democrats running in the contest against Gov. Scott Walker clashed over the best way to restore collective bargaining rights for public employee unions Wednesday night. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett; former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk; Sen. Kathleen Vinehout,… Read more »

GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum suspended his campaign in the race for the party’s presidential nomination Tuesday, making former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney the only GOP candidate likely to receive enough delegates to win the nomination. Santorum said he made the decision over the weekend and formally made his announcement… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker signed four bills relating to women’s reproductive health and pay equality without the usual public fanfare last Thursday, a move that came under fire from Democrats and advocacy groups.Walker signed the four bills into law on Thursday and announced their signing, along with 47 other bills, in a… Read more »

Recall election dates are set after the Government Accountability Board approved staff recommendations last Friday to certify the recall elections against Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four Republican state senators. Primaries will be held on May 8 followed by a general election on June 5. Following the… Read more »

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won the Wisconsin GOP primary Tuesday, and experts predict it is unlikely for any other candidate to win the Republican nomination.  Romney received 44.1 percent of the vote, closely followed by former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum with 36.9 percent. Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich lagged… Read more »

Election officials said there are still gray areas in what regulations for campaign finance will be in place for the upcoming recall elections during a meeting Tuesday morning. Government Accountability Board Director Kevin Kennedy and Mike Wittenwyler, attorney at Godfrey & Kahn and a University of Wisconsin Law School professor, led… Read more »

Members of a panel discussion held Monday said investing in a clean energy economy is crucial to bringing the country out of recession and competing on a global scale University of Wisconsin law professor Thomas Mitchell, who introduced the panelists, said a greener economy could help economically disadvantaged communities through… Read more »

Ann Romney touted her husband and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s campaign efforts for the Republican presidential nomination in a visit to Middleton Thursday, focusing on the difficulties of life on the campaign road and a need to fix the economic crisis. Ann Romney appeared early Thursday morning outside the Hubbard… Read more »

Voters will have a chance to cast their ballot for an alternative third party presidential candidate to be selected by a nonpartisan organization this November, after supporters collected nearly double the amount of signatures needed to get a candidate on the ballot. Americans Elect, a national nonpartisan organization founded for… Read more »

A women’s health group kicked off its statewide tour in Madison on Tuesday, from which they will be traveling to several cities throughout the week to educate Wisconsin women about the implications of the Affordable Care Act. Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health is making the trip because March 23 marks… Read more »

A Wisconsin firefighters union president declared his plans to run for lieutenant governor in the state recall election against current Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch on Monday, pledging to focus on creating jobs and restoring collective bargaining rights if elected. Mahlon Mitchell, 33, has been a firefighter in Madison for 15… Read more »

A conservative group launched recall efforts against two more state senators on Monday in reaction to the votes against mining reform legislation that failed to pass at the end of the legislative session. At the Government Accountability Board’s office Monday morning, two members of Citizens for Responsible Government, an organization… Read more »

At the end of the last scheduled meeting of the Senate’s session this year, Republican and Democratic senators exchanged criticisms over its failures and accomplishments. The session, which began in January 2011, saw the passage of many controversial bills, including a repeal of collective bargaining rights for public employees. Sen.… Read more »

A bill which would make sweeping changes to current tenant-landlord laws in the state was passed in a Senate session Wednesday despite protests from Democrats who said the bill opened the door for mistreatment of renters by some landlords. The bill makes a variety of changes to landlord-tenant relations, including… Read more »

Wisconsin technical colleges would gain greater flexibilities to control state funds used for training students under a bill introduced to a Senate committee on Monday. Under current law, the Technical College System Board may award a grant to a technical college to help provide skills training for students working at… Read more »

The Government Accountability Board officially authorized recall elections for four state senators at a meeting on Monday after unanimously rejecting multiple challenges to petitions brought by attorneys representing the senators. The unanimous rejection of all four formal challenges for Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau; Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine; Sen. Terry Moulton,… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker has opened a legal defense fund to help pay for the legal expenses surrounding the John Doe investigation, according to a statement released by his campaign. The statement released Friday said in order to fulfill his commitment to working with the investigation, Walker will form the legal… Read more »

A bill requiring young athletes who sustain concussions to get approval from an expert physician before returning to play will head to the Senate floor for discussion after being voted out of committee. During a Senate Committee on Public Health, Human Services and Revenue executive session Thursday, legislators voted to… Read more »

A special task force on University of Wisconsin System Restructuring unveiled its basic policy goals behind the system’s new Human Resources Design Project at the Capitol on Wednesday.  Alan Crist, UW System associate vice president for human resources, and Darrell Bazzell, UW-Madison’s vice chancellor for administration, presented before the Special… Read more »

A bill banning individuals from intentionally abusing a state employment program passed in the Senate Tuesday, despite critics who warned the bill would have negative consequences for the offender’s family. According to Wisconsin’s Department of Children and Families, the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program is available to parents of minor children… Read more »

A mining firm abolished its $1.5 billion mining project in Iron and Ashland counties late Tuesday night after frustration with the Senate’s rejection of a mining bill that would streamline regulations. Gogebic Taconite, LLC President Bill Williams issued a statement after the Senate session Tuesday that said GTAC is ending… Read more »

United States Senate Candidate Tommy Thompson advocated for the construction of the controversial Keystone Pipeline during the unveiling of his proposed federal budget plan Monday. Thompson’s RESTORE Act, or Reform Entitlements, Simplify Taxes, Overturn Regulatory Excess Act, will introduce a number of economic initiatives, including budget reform, repealing Obamacare and… Read more »

Jill Stein’s campaign celebrated the opening of her campaign headquarters in Madison on Saturday after a victory in the Wisconsin Green Party’s nominating convention, in which she captured seven of the state’s nine delegates. Stein, 62, is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and currently lives in Lexington, Mass. She… Read more »

United States Senate contender Republican Mark Neumann revealed his budget plans Wednesday, criticizing President Barack Obama’s current budget and calling on other candidates in the Senate race to release their own plans. Neumann’s five year plans cut spending by $1.36 trillion, repeal Obama’s health care law and permanently extend former… Read more »

Following months of controversy, Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill into law Wednesday making it easier for developers to build on wetlands throughout the state. Under the new law, developers proposing a project on wetlands either would have to create new wetlands equal to the amount they destroy or pay… Read more »

The criteria for recalling an elected official in future elections would become narrower under a state constitutional amendment approved by an Assembly committee on Tuesday. According to the amendment’s analysis by legislative council, the Legislature would establish a code of ethics to be used as a criteria for determining if… Read more »

Health care experts at the state and federal level hosted a forum Monday in Madison to inform the public on the new changes coming to health care programs in the state.  As part of the HealthWatch Wisconsin Conference taking place Monday and Tuesday, the first member of the panel, Wisconsin… Read more »

In what is already shaping up to be a heated national race, President Barack Obama leads all Republican candidates currently competing in the Republican National Convention primary, according to two polls released over the past two days that focus on Wisconsin’s possible role as a battleground state. The first poll,… Read more »

Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, is one of two announced Democrats running against Gov. Scott Walker in a potential recall election. Vinehout, 53, spent 10 years as a dairy farmer and 10 years teaching health administration to college students, before being elected to public office in 2006 and re-elected in 2010.… Read more »

Building on wetlands will be easier under legislation approved in the State Assembly Tuesday, despite opposition by Democrats.   According to an analysis of the bill, developers would be allowed to submit mitigation outlines, or outlines for developing on wetlands in a new area, with their permit applications. It also… Read more »

A variety of religious leaders revealed Monday an initiative which calls on the Wisconsin Legislature to reduce the state’s prison population by half by the end of 2015. The leaders, who gathered at the Capitol, presented an open letter to Gov. Scott Walker and the Legislature signed by more than… Read more »

Protestors marched down State Street and into the state House Tuesday as part of a Week of Action commemorating the 17-day occupation of the Capitol building that took place a year ago.The Capitol was captured first by a Valentine’s Day student-worker march and then by a rally led by Madison… Read more »

The Government Accountability Board revealed the previously undisclosed location of the recall petitions Monday, and considered upcoming plans for the verification process. GAB spokesperson Reid Magney said the work is being done at the State of Wisconsin Central Services Building in Madison. He also said Capitol Police are providing security… Read more »

The Government Accountability Board posted recall-targeted senators’ petition signature challenges Friday morning amid controversy about the signatures’ legitimacy. The challenges by all four senators, and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald’s formal complaints, can be found on the GAB’s website. Fitzgerald submitted a written challenge to the GAB Friday morning that… Read more »

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Gov. Scott Walker revealed in a conference Thursday a national settlement which will bring $140 million to Wisconsin to go toward damages for families affected by the foreclosure crisis. Van Hollen and Walker said Wisconsin joined a landmark $25 billion joint federal-state agreement with… Read more »

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, announced his plans to challenge more than 3,000 recall signatures as the Government Accountability Board simultaneously addressed several issues surrounding the recall petitions Tuesday. The Associated Press reported Tuesday Fitzgerald planned to challenge the legitimacy of the 3,000 signatures, which would be enough to stop… Read more »

Taxpayers throughout the country could see a more leveled rate under a proposal U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., revealed during a conference call Monday. The proposal would would ensure middle class workers do not pay a higher tax rate than those earning more than $1 million annually.  In a statement… Read more »

A new bill proposed in the Assembly would allow establishments to bring a civil lawsuit against underage drinkers in bars regardless of whether police issued a criminal citation, potentially relying on video footage or a seized ID card as evidence in court. The liquor license holder would have to prove… Read more »

Want to watch the uncut interview? Check it out.Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk is one of two Democrats who have announced a run against Gov. Scott Walker in a likely recall election.  Falk served as Dane County executive for four consecutive terms from 1996 to 2011 and ran for governor… Read more »

With a potential election to recall Gov. Scott Walker on the horizon, another state senator, Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, has emerged as a potential candidate in the race. While Vinehout has yet to announce her decision to run, Voters for Vinehout filed a campaign registration statement with the Government Accountability… Read more »

As the John Doe investigation into a number of Gov. Scott Walker’s former affiliates continued Thursday, two more former Walker aides were arrested by the Milwaukee District Attorney’s office for improper political fundraising.  The DA’s office filed complaints against two former Milwaukee County employees, Kelly Rindfleisch and Darlene Wink, for… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker delivered his State of the State address Wednesday night, emphasizing his efforts to create jobs and balance the state’s budget during his tenure as governor. Upon entering the Assembly, legislators on the Assembly floor and observers in the gallery greeted Walker with a mix of boos and… Read more »

President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address Tuesday night, emphasizing his plans for an economic revival and attacking income inequality. While Obama opened the speech with foreign policy issues like the death of Osama bin Laden and ending the Iraq War, the majority of the speech focused… Read more »

Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who recently unveiled her plans to run against the governor in a possible recall election, addressed students on campus Tuesday about her 30-year tenure in government, highlighting issues likely to be at the forefront of the campaign. Falk focused her speech on her experience… Read more »

Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign announced Tuesday it has raised more than $4.5 million in recall funding throughout the last five weeks, including millions in contributions from out-of-state donors. A statement released by spokesperson Ciara Matthews said there were 21,443 total contributions. 16,406 donations were $50 or less, representing 76.5 percent… Read more »

State lawmakers are calling for the ousting of a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice after allegations surfaced in December that several state ethics codes had been violated. A joint resolution, drafted by Rep. Kelda Helen Roys, D-Madison, said Justice Michael Gableman violated the state’s ethics codes while presiding over cases involving… Read more »

While supporters of new mining legislation say the initiative as a way to streamline Wisconsin’s iron mining permit process, the bill likely to be one of the key issues of the upcoming legislative session has vocal critics. According to the Wisconsin Legislature’s website, the mining bill was introduced to the… Read more »

With more than a million signatures in tow, recall organizers turned over the petitions gathered to trigger a recall election for Gov. Scott Walker, making it the most participated-in recall effort per capita in American history. United Wisconsin Vice Chair Ryan Lawler said the milestone marks the end of a 60-day… Read more »

The race for United States Sen. Herb Kohl’s soon-to-be vacant Senate seat is heating up with Kohl announcing his endorsement of Rep. Tammy Baldwin and Mark Neumann receiving an endorsement from Sen. Jim DeMint, R-South Carolina. A statement released from Baldwin’s campaign on Jan. 9 announced Kohl’s endorsement. The endorsement… Read more »

As the state buzzed with news of recall petitions being filed against Gov. Scott Walker, three men with ties to Walker were arrested Jan. 5 on embezzlement charges as part of an ongoing criminal investigation by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office. According to the criminal complaints filed by the… Read more »

A group of bipartisan legislators introduced a bill Monday that would increase the yearly-allotted funds to free innocent convicts up to the federal level of $50,000 per year. According to a statement released by the bill’s supporters, this would be an increase from the current compensation levels of $5,000 per… Read more »

Two Wisconsin unions filed a motion with a Madison judge Tuesday challenging the governor’s collective bargaining law and deeming it unconstitutional. According to the Dane County Clerk of Courts office, Madison Teachers Inc. and Public Employees Local 61, AFL-CIO initially brought the lawsuit against Gov. Scott Walker in August. The… Read more »

In a move that would make all forms of abortion illegal, including in cases of rape and incest, Wisconsin Republicans recently proposed an amendment to the state constitution that would extend the definition of personhood to include embryos.According to the Legislative Reference Bureau’s analysis of the bill, this amendment would… Read more »

The petition process to recall Gov. Scott Walker began Tuesday, although Democrats have yet to find a candidate to run against him. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin launched its recall campaign against Gov. Walker at midnight Monday with a variety of themed events to celebrate the effort’s kickoff. A local… Read more »

The state Assembly will meet Monday to weigh a bill that aims to give several University of Wisconsin System schools the ability to create and add differential tuition to the schools’ budgets. Differential tuition is additional tuition that is separate from base tuition level and serves to supplement student services… Read more »

The State Assembly passed a bill Tuesday to legalize alcohol sales earlier in the day, expanding the number of hours Wisconsinites can purchase alcohol each day. Under current law, a Class A liquor license allows establishments such as liquor or grocery stores to begin selling alcohol at 8 a.m.. The… Read more »

Legislation proposed in an Assembly committee’s public hearing aims to stop prosecutors and police from using their positions to take advantage of victims or witnesses after a district attorney escaped charges following a criminal investigation last fall. Several Republicans in the Legislature have already expressed support for the Crime Victim… Read more »