Wisconsin Republicans support waiving unemployment waiting period

MADISON — Wisconsin Republican legislative leaders said for the first time Wednesday that they support temporarily waiving a one-week waiting period for people to receive unemployment benefits as part of a state aid package in response to the coronavirus pandemic.In a joint news conference, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald criticized Democratic Gov.

Wisconsin Assembly to vote on bills fighting water pollution

MADISON — A bipartisan, $10 million package of more than a dozen bills designed to combat groundwater contamination in Wisconsin is slated for approval in the state Assembly on Tuesday.The bills contain the recommendations from a water quality task force called by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos to address growing concerns about groundwater contamination in the state.

Wisconsin Republican leaders eyeing property, income tax cut

MADISON — Republican leaders of the Wisconsin Legislature said Wednesday that they are looking at using some of a state surplus to cut income and property taxes while also paying down debt, although details of what may be put forward remain in flux.Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he agreed with Senate Republicans “in general” about what taxes to cut.

Assembly leader says medical marijuana will pass someday

MADISON — Medical marijuana will not become legal in Wisconsin next year or anytime soon, despite broadening support, the state Assembly's top Republican — himself an advocate for legalization — said Thursday.“It's going to take a while,” Assembly Speaker Robin Vos told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday.

GOP to reject proposed Wisconsin state troopers pay raise

MADISON — Republicans plan to reject a contract that would give most Wisconsin state troopers a 2% pay increase because it would also increase starting salaries by more than 20%, a move advocates for the raises decried Tuesday as a slight to law enforcement.Republicans also planned to reject Gov.

Democrats push agenda Republicans have repeatedly opposed

MADISON — Democrats in the Wisconsin Legislature are pushing an agenda for the fall session that includes priorities the Republican majority has repeatedly rejected, including expanding Medicaid, raising the minimum wage and universal gun background checks.But Democratic state Rep.

New suicide prevention program recommended in Wisconsin

MADISON — A legislative task force that studied ways to prevent suicides in Wisconsin is recommending the creation of a statewide suicide prevention program with a director who would oversee the effort, according to a copy of its recommendations obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday.Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos created the bipartisan task force in March.

Senator Lena Taylor on 'red flag' bill: 'This is not a conspiracy to take guns away'

MADISON -- As Wisconsin Democrats push for Republican colleagues to support a bill that would allow a judge to seize a person's firearms if they were deemed a danger to themselves or others, Republicans and some gun owners called it a nonstarter, despite polling that shows otherwise.Democratic lawmakers introduced the bill that would allow for a person's firearms to be seized by a judge for up to a year if the person poses a threat to themselves or others."People are clearly going from zero to 1,000 -- rapidly," said Senator Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee).Senator Taylor authored the bill, and said it would work similar to domestic violence restraining orders and injunctions."This is not, by any means, a part of some conspiracy to take an individual's guns away," said Senator Taylor.

GOP sets hearing on bill to keep lottery winners secret

MADISON — Republican legislators have scheduled a hearing on a bill that would keep the names of lottery winners secret.Assembly Speaker Robin Vos introduced the bill in April on the same day 24-year-old Manuel Franco came forward to claim a $768 million Powerball prize.