WisPolitics Capitol Chats

Today's Midday podcast covers former 8th Congressional District Representative Reid Ribble announcing he will join a group of about 100 former and current elected officials if they create an official breakaway party. They say the new group aims to bring in 'rational' conservatives as opposed to the 'radical' conservatives who stand with former President Trump.

Today's Midday podcast covers a sampling of bills making their way through the Legislature. The Senate advanced a series of police reform bills and the Assembly passed bills to make publicly funded sports venues play the national anthem before games and to expand school voucher eligibility.

Today's Midday podcast covers four members of Wisconsin's House delegation requesting nearly $150 million in earmarks since both national party caucuses agreed to bring back community project funding. Republicans banned earmarks a decade ago after retaking control of the House with some criticizing the process as wasteful and ripe for corruption. After announcing they would bring back the process, Dems also announced several rules to increase transparency. That includes a cap on how many earmarks each representative can attach to bills.

Today's Midday podcast covers State Dem Party Chair Ben Wikler on the latest "UpFront" program arguing that "job one" in 2022 is to reelect Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. He also says U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson could pose a threat to any Dem candidates who hope to take Johnson's seat next year.

Today's Midday podcast covers The GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee kicking off its work on Tony Evers' budget by gutting the guv's proposal, pulling more than 380 provisions and amending the document to current law spending levels as they build their own version.

Today's Midday podcast covers vaccinations starting to slow and local county health departments beginning “hand-to-hand combat” to reach herd immunity. For more of the most relevant news on the coronavirus outbreak, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin and links to top stories, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com. Sign up here: forms.gle/o8FtqTLviGJPja8C9 See the Wisconsin COVID-19 Timeline: www.wispolitics.com/wisconsin-coron…irus-resources/

Today's Midday podcast covers Wisconsin’s tourism hubs, which are expecting a flood of visitors to enjoy the state’s recreation, food and event offerings. But businesses fear they won’t have the staff to accommodate them.

Today's Midday podcast covers Vice President Kamala Harris visit to a clean energy lab at UW-Milwaukee and participation in a roundtable discussion as part of her trip to Wisconsin. GOP Reps. Tyler August, of Lake Geneva, and Jim Steineke, of Kaukauna, wrote an open letter to the vice president detailing their visit last week to the southern border and urging her to take action.

Today's Midday podcast covers Assembly co-chairs of the task force just released recommendations for improving policing and racial justice in Wisconsin. They say lawmakers will now go to work on writing the bills.

Today's Midday podcast covers the Dane County judge who voided two contracts GOP legislative leaders signed that put taxpayers on the hook for more than $1 million in legal fees, ruling lawmakers don't have the authority to retain private counsel for a redistricting suit that hasn't been filed yet.