Assistant State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor named next state superintendent

MADISON -- Governor-elect Tony Evers announced Thursday, Dec. 27 his intention to appoint current Assistant State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor as the next state superintendent following his oath of office on Jan. 7.“Carolyn is a dedicated, thoughtful leader, who puts the best interests of kids before all else,” Evers said in a news release. “She is  known and respected throughout the education community for her commitment to equity and her work to help all students reach academic success.

Governor-elect Tony Evers names picks for Transportation, Agriculture, Insurance

MADISON — Gov.-elect Tony Evers has named four more members of his Cabinet, including an advocate for raising revenue to improve the condition of Wisconsin's roads as head the state Department of Transportation.Evers announced the picks Friday.His choice to lead the Department of Transportation is Craig Thompson, the executive director of the Wisconsin Transportation Development Association.Evers also named Mark Afable as insurance commissioner, Rebecca Cameron Valcq as chairwoman of the Public Service Commission and Brad Pfaff as head of the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.That brings to eight the number of Cabinet secretaries Evers has announced to date, all this week.

Governor-elect Tony Evers picks Milwaukee leaders for top Cabinet slots

MILWAUKEE — Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers named four Milwaukee-area leaders to his Cabinet on Wednesday, Dec. 19, including a former campaign manager to Mayor Tom Barrett and a 30-year veteran of the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office."I'm thrilled to welcome these new Cabinet secretaries to the team.

Tony Evers: Wisconsin deserves better than lame-duck legislation

MADISON -- Democratic Wisconsin Gov.-elect Tony Evers is ripping Republican incumbent Scott Walker for signing lame-duck legislation that weakens the governor's office and restricts early voting.Walker signed the bills Friday in Green Bay.

Governor-elect Tony Evers names criminal justice council

MADISON — Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers has put together a council to advise him on criminal justice policy.Evers announced the make-up of the Public Safety and Criminal Justice Reform Policy Advisory Council on Monday, Dec. 10.The council includes 30 people, including former state Supreme Court justices Louis Butler and Janine Geske; Rick Raemisch, executive director of the Colorado Department of Corrections and a former Wisconsin corrections secretary; attorney Dean Strang, who defended convicted murderer Steven Avery; and several circuit court judges.Evers has said he wants to cut Wisconsin's prison population in half, end solitary confinement and give ex-convicts more help.

Governor-elect Tony Evers not optimistic Gov. Walker will veto lame-duck bills

MADISON — Wisconsin's Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers said Sunday he's not optimistic that outgoing governor Scott Walker will veto bills approved by the Republican-dominated Legislature that would limit the new governor's power.Speaking on NBC's "Meet the Press," Evers said he talked by telephone with Walker recently and appealed to him to veto the legislation, but that Walker was noncommittal.Evers, who will be sworn in Jan. 7 after narrowly defeating the two-term Republican last month, said Wisconsin voters did not elect him to fight over administrative powers with the GOP legislative majority.

Effort to weaken governor stirs separation-of-powers debate

MILWAUKEE — If Democrats sue to prevent Republicans from diluting the powers of Wisconsin's new governor and attorney general, the lawsuits will probably center on one question: Are lawmakers usurping authority that belongs to the executive branch?The legal threat arose after Republicans passed bills Wednesday that would give lawmakers leverage over actions previous governors and attorneys generals could carry out on their own.

Wisconsin GOP preparing to move ahead with limiting Democratic power

MADISON — Wisconsin Republicans are preparing to move ahead quickly on a series of lame-duck proposals designed to move the 2020 presidential primary, restrict early voting and weaken both Democratic Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul and Gov.-elect Tony Evers.A public hearing is set on the measures Monday afternoon, with a committee vote to follow immediately.

Medicaid expansion is an early goal for Governor-elect Tony Evers

MADISON — The battle over whether Wisconsin should accept federal money to expand Medicaid coverage for about 75,000 more poor people is shaping up to be an early flashpoint for Gov.-elect Tony Evers.Evers last week pledged to take his case for expansion to voters across the state — focusing on conservative areas — hoping to increase pressure on Republicans who have vowed to oppose it.

Wisconsin assembly to take up health care, roads, primary in lame duck session

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Republicans' plan for a lame-duck legislative session solidified Friday as GOP leaders confirmed they will consider bills that would move the next presidential primary date as well as deal with transportation funding and early voting.The GOP aims to hold floor debates Tuesday, which would give Republicans a final opportunity to pass legislation before Republican Gov.