La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff in studio discussing the peculiar timing of a vote in the Legislature for the “Iowa model” of drawing voting maps. We also took a ton of calls on budget surplus, government priorities, and Pfaff proposals that aren’t getting committee hearings.

Began the show, though, talking about legislation Pfaff helped get passed renaming a portion of I-90 the “Ho-Chunk World War II Code Talkers Memorial Highway” in honor of the 14 WWII veterans from the Ho-Chunk Nation that have been recognized as Code Talkers. And, we discussed how these are sometimes the only things that government can do.

We then got more into the electoral college and how it’s not representing states in a totally different way — where a majority of campaign and ad money now only flows to the 50-50 states, like Wisconsin. That was a lead in to talking about the Wisconsin Supreme Court ordering new voting maps and the timing of which Republicans have now proposed a new way to draw maps. 

We also discussed the budget surplus and priorities Pfaff would like to see it used for, plus legislation he has proposed that can’t even get a committee hearing. All while the GOP in the state is voting on 14-week abortion bans, a “parental bill of rights” and this new system to drawing maps — all things the governor has already said he’d veto it.

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UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, in studio with a wild show that began intermixing potholes, rat burials and the 2011 Oktoberfest squirrel toss.

Then we got into some politics, including US House Rep. Derrick Van Orden upset and voting against the partial government funding bill, saying it's just kicking the can down the road. But what does it mean to "kick the can?"

That led to how this Congress is one of the most unproductive ever, but we do we blame for that — Democrats, who control the Senate or Republicans in charge of the House? 

Then we took a quick break from politics to talk about what seems to be an amazing restaurant subscription but wondering about the fine print. 

We ended talking about Wisconsin GOP US House Rep. Glen Grothman trying to use the federal government to pass a bill to talk about aliens — because he loved that as a kid, he said — but not in a way that seems productive.

And, speaking of unproductive, State Republicans are at odds with even being able to pass a medical marijuana bill, while Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Canada have all legalized it recreationally. 

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Adam Murphy, who we jokingly refer to as our political blowhard, joined last week, and we got into trolling on social media, the benefit of talking to both sides of the political spectrum, new Wisconsin voting maps, the not-so-productive US House, and the economy.

The conversation began with how Murphy, a Democrat, who ran for US Senate in Wisconsin, likes to get the perspective of Republicans — even meeting them at right-wing functions — and talk out issues with them.

Of course, later, we got into the standards at which we should be held and our politicians should be held, which led to a conversation about trolling on social media — where Murphy does so uniquely at former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

In between that, we talked about the GOP-led US House being one of the most unproductive in US history and why that is. We also got into “the economy” vs. the experiences of working class people.

Murphy has degrees in economics and political science from UW-Milwaukee. He’s also owns a small business, called Big Bang LLC in Milwaukee.

La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

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When it comes to local sporting events, things can sometimes be spoiled by just one or two fans. What can be done about it? Is it a problem that’s getting worse? 

Keith Jereczek has been officiating college and high school sports in the area for over a decade. He stopped in studio to talk about those interactions from an official’s perspective, while we also brought in the WIAA Assistant Director, Kate Petersen Abiad, to get her take.

We looked at these situations from a couple different perspectives, including how a school handles these interactions, what to do when it’s an athlete or coach that’s unruly and, of course, the adult fans in the crowd. 

We also talked about how difficult it is for officials, who are often held to a higher standard when dealing with these interactions, even though oftentimes it’s an another adult who is getting out of hand.

Does there need to be a change in fan culture and, if so, how does that happen?

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La Crosse County Administrator Jane Klekamp in the WIZM studio discussing the city-county homeless plan, an expansion of the co-responder units with police and the inter-generational care center the county is starting.After rounding all that up, we talked quick about the upcoming La Crosse County Board races, where 20 of the 30 seats are contested races — but no primaries.

After that, we discussed one of Thursday’s agenda items for the board’s monthly meeting, which is expanding the city of La Crosse and county’s co-responder units — which are basically a team up of mental health workers riding with a police officer.

The second half of the show consisted mostly of the city-county unveiling its plan last week to end homelessness in La Crosse, called Pathways Home. Asked Klekamp what the biggest challenges in that plan would be, as the goal is to get homelessness in the city down to functional zero by 2029.

Lastly, we discussed one of the ways the county’s Hillview Healthcare Center is being expanded with what’s called an inter-generational center, where both children and seniors are together in, essentially, a daycare.

Earlier this month, the county sought input from providers that might be interested.

It’s part of a $19.6 million renovation and expansion of what used to be a nursing home.

La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

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US House candidate, Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Katrina Shankland stopped in studio to discuss what her priorities would be in Congress, debating Derrick Van Orden and how marijuana could be handled federally. 

Shankland is one of three Democrats running, along with Rebecca Cooke and Eric Wilson. La Crosse native Tara Johnson dropped out of the race last week. Shankland also represents the 71st Assembly District in the Stevens Point area. 

And that's where we started (6:00), with Shankland talking a bit about Johnson, as the former La Crosse County Board char's absence creates a void in the county for voters to turn to. We also hit on whether Republican House Rep. Van Orden will participate in a debate this year. He refused to debate last election. 

Other things discussed included Shankland criticizing the lack of productivity out of the US House the past year and what her priorities would be, including passing a Farm Bill and fighting price gouging. We concluded talking about marijuana, as Republicans in Wisconsin proposed what would be the most restrictive medical marijuana bill in U.S.

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UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, on La Crosse’s Tara Johnson dropping out of US House race, Wisconsin’s top Republican wants government-run healthcare, and feds clamping down on those “buckle-up” highway signs.Early in the show (5:35) got into a bit of a rant about winter weather drivers in La Crosse, which led to a story about the feds clamping down on those interstate highway signs that creatively tell you to “buckle up.” Are they useless? Can they better be utilized?

After that, talked quick about a $5 million lawsuit against Hershey’s (15:30) because it didn’t put faces on its pumpkin Reece’s Peanut Butter cups, which just seems to be channeling comic Mitch Hedberg’s Kit-Kat take.

Bottom half of the show (22:00) was a lot of interesting state and local politics, including Wisconsin Assembly Leader Robin Vos not trusting private healthcare — private business — to run medical marijuana dispensaries. It very well could open the door for any Democrat to start campaigning on private health insurance being run the same way — for profit. 

We then weaved that into Vos, Wisconsin’s top Republican, facing a recall — not from Democrats — but from Republicans. That led to a conversation about the deadline for submitting new maps (32:00). Did the GOP rush in at the last minute with their version, after they argued to the state Supreme Court they didn’t have enough time to draw them?

Lastly, we talk La Crosse’s Johnson dropping out of the US House race (37:00), and how both Republican Derrick Van Orden and his opponents could do a better job at informing the public about what the House is doing.

La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

City of La Crosse homeless coordinator, Brian Sampson, in studio discussing the unveiling of a city-county plan to end homelessness called "Pathways Home." Sampson talked about the situation the city is in now, some of the things he's learned in over two years as homeless coordinator, and details in the Pathways' plan for the city to get to functional zero in ending homelessness.

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La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia in studio, discussing the presidential primary that starts Monday, Hunter Biden, involvement in local elections, Wisconsin state politics and a reset in the DC Universe. Garcia is also the 3rd US House District chair. We began the show on why people might not be running in local elections. After that, some national political talk with who's left in the GOP presidential primary as the Iowa Caucus begins, Republicans in the House with Hunter Biden and what the fed government could accomplish in 2024. After that, state politics, with Republicans rolling out a government-run medical marijuana bill and Republicans trying to recall the state's most powerful GOP member, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos. Lastly, we got into Aquaman 2, and how it's the last movie heading into a much needed reset of the DC Universe on the big screen. 

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Dr. Tom Schlesinger, the executive director of Climate Alliance for the Common Good in studio, discussing their upcoming small business workshop in La Crosse, and why it’s beneficial both environmentally and economically to make this transition. 

Climate Alliance is a La Crosse based group aimed at helping raise awareness and share solutions for individuals and organizations surrounding climate change. 

The small business workshop takes place noon-3 p.m. Jan. 18 at the La Crosse Center. Register here.

La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.