Republicans Go After Local Control in Milwaukee
December 30, 2015
Two Republican legislators in Wisconsin are sponsoring a bill that would prohibit towns or counties from issuing photo ID cards for their residents.
GOP Bill Seeks Income Tax Deduction for Psychiatrists
December 23, 2015
A Republican lawmaker is circulating a bill that would create an income tax deduction on up to $200,000 of a psychiatrist’s annual earnings.
Ag's Big Money and Polluted Well Water in Kewaunee County
December 22, 2015
In Kewaunee County, cows outnumber people thanks largely to factory farms. According to a recent study, one in three wells in the county failed to meet safety standards for drinking water.
Timber Industry, Environmental Group at Odds Over Forestland Tax Break Bill
December 21, 2015
The timber industry and an environmental group are at odds over GOP bills that could reduce public access and increase logging on forestland for which the owner gets a state tax break.
3 DA’s Appeal John Doe!
December 18, 2015
Your calls and emails worked!
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is reporting that the district attorneys of Dane, Iowa, and Milwaukee Counties have petitioned the Wisconsin State Supreme Court to join the John Doe II case investigating allegations that Gov. Scott Walker illegally coordinated with outside groups during the recalls.
Statement on Governor Walker Signing Bill Dismantling the GAB
December 16, 2015
Governor Walker signed Assembly Bill 388 into law today, replacing the independent Wisconsin Government Accountability Board with bipartisan elections and ethics enforcement commissions.
WDC Testimony in Opposition to Creating a Legislative Office of Inspector General
Before the Assembly Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations
December 16, 2015
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign Testimony before the Assembly Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations in opposition to creating the legislative office of inspector general (Assembly Bill 382).
Tourism Industry, Local Governments Oppose House Rental Bill
December 15, 2015
The tourism industry and local governments are lining up against a Republican bill that would prohibit communities from regulating homeowners who rent out their houses.
Open Records and Meetings Watchdog Files Complaint Against State Board
December 14, 2015
The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council filed a complaint today against a state board, accusing it of violating the state’s open meetings law when it decided that state officials do not have to retain text messages and other so-called transitory records.
Real Estate Interests Back Restrictions on Local Government Property Laws
Posted: December 14, 2015
Corrected: December 16, 2015 to change one of the bill's sponsors from Rep. Ed Brooks to Rep. Robert Brooks
The powerful real estate industry is backing a GOP bill that would strengthen the rights of landlords in disputes with tenants, and for property owners who own historic properties.
Menard Plays the Money Game in Wisconsin Politics
December 9, 2015
John Menard, the founder and owner of the Menards hardware store chain, is the richest man in Wisconsin, reportedly worth around $9 billion. And he hasn’t been afraid to throw his money around in Wisconsin politics.
Walker Administration Has $38 Million Reasons for Lax Environmental Enforcement
December 8, 2015
Former Department of Natural Resources (DNR) employees have told federal regulators that state environmental enforcement has suffered under the Walker administration because the agency is beleaguered by budget cuts and political pressure to please business.
Wisconsin State Supreme Court Out of Order on John Doe II!
December 7, 2015
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign strongly condemns the recent actions of the Wisconsin State Supreme Court in the John Doe II cases. The John Doe II prosecution revolved around credible evidence that Scott Walker or his campaign illegally coordinated with outside groups during the recalls of 2011 and 2012.
GOP Lawmakers Want to Alter Penalties for Animal Feed Violators
December 7, 2015
Republican lawmakers are seeking support for a bill that would allow the state to alter penalties for violations of animal feed regulations.
State Supreme Court Gives DAs just 14 days to Join John Doe
December 7, 2015
In a terse order late on Friday, December 4, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court gave five district attorneys just two weeks to decide whether they wanted to jump into the John Doe II case.
Open Letter Requesting DA Intervention in John Doe Case
December 3, 2015
Read the Defiant Statement of the John Doe II Prosecutor
December 2, 2015
This is the statement that John Doe II Prosecutor Francis Schmitz released today, December 2, on the State Supreme Court’s decision to can him and to not reconsider its July decision closing down the John Doe II investigation.
Justice Abrahamson Slams the Canning of the John Doe Prosecutor
December 2, 2015
The Wisconsin Supreme Court, by a vote of 4-1, today rejected a request from John Doe prosecutor Francis Schmitz to reconsider its July decision that shut down a secret investigation into alleged coordination between electioneering groups and Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign during the 2011 and 2012 recall elections.
Powerful Special Interests Back Restrictions on Land Use Regulation
December 2, 2015
Two Republican lawmakers are pushing bills that would restrict the authority of state and local governments to enforce numerous environmental, construction and other rules and standards that affect what individuals and businesses may do on their property and adjacent bodies of water.
Enbridge Considering New Pipeline Through Wisconsin
November 30, 2015
A Canadian oil company that has paid more than a billion dollars for environmental law violations and oil spill cleanups is considering a new pipeline to expand the amount of crude oil it pumps the length of Wisconsin.
Polaris Industries Backs Lower Age Limit for Rec Vehicles
November 24, 2015
A company that manufactures and markets recreational and utility vehicles is supporting bills that would let younger children use them.
Bill Would Remove Age, Weapons Restrictions in Hunting Program for Children
November 23, 2015
With the gun-deer season under way in Wisconsin, legislators are considering a bill that would allow children of any age to hunt here.
Kohler Co. Chief Contributed $40K to Walker in Recent Years
November 19, 2015
The head of a globally recognized plumbing manufacturer embroiled in a strike with about 2,000 of its unionized workers is a major contributor to Republican Gov. Scott Walker, whose anti-union policies have been a hallmark of his administration.
Love Triangle: Johnson Controls, Walker Contributions, and WEDC
November 18, 2015
Employees from Johnson Controls, which is laying off 277 employees after getting $1 million in state aid in 2014 to create nearly all of those jobs, contributed about $5,700 last year to Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s reelection campaign.
Milk Source, a Big Walker Donor, Wins in Judge’s Ruling on Wells
November 17, 2015
The huge factory dairy farm company, Milk Source, whose executives gave more than $130,000 to Gov. Scott Walker, stands to benefit from a recent court ruling on high-capacity wells. The state has no legal authority to require factory farms and businesses that want high-capacity water wells to monitor water use as a condition for granting their permits, an Outagamie County Circuit Court judge says.