The contest between a liberal and a conservative will determine the court’s ideological tilt, which may prove consequential in disputes over ID requirements, drop boxes and noncitizen voting.
Category: Forward
Forward is a look at the week in Wisconsin government and politics from the Wisconsin Watch statehouse team.
Posted inBudget Bites
Here are four items in Gov. Tony Evers’ $119 billion budget that he hasn’t previously proposed
In the Democratic governor’s fourth budget, many proposals were previously rejected by Republicans.
Posted inBudget Bites
Here’s how Wisconsin’s state budget process works
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers unveiled his 2025-27 biennial state budget proposal. The nearly year-long process is now picking up speed, but the next two-year budget is still far from being finalized.
Posted inForward, Government, Justice & Safety
Tony Evers to propose $500 million prison overhaul, closing Green Bay facility by 2029
The plan would complete a Dane County youth facility, convert Lincoln Hills from juveniles to adults and renovate Waupun’s troubled prison
Posted inForward, Government
Trump policies come to Wisconsin in first weeks of new session
The first few weeks of the Legislature’s new session have been dominated by ideas inspired, at least in part, by President Donald Trump, as Wisconsin Republicans bring ideas pushed in Washington to Madison.
Posted inBudget Bites, Environment
Wisconsin is still sitting on $125 million for PFAS cleanup
Gov. Tony Evers is proposing more funding to clean up toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS, while offering farmers more protections.
Posted inForward, Government
Meagan Wolfe can stay on as Wisconsin’s top election official, state Supreme Court rules
The election commission administrator, a target of GOP attacks since 2020, staves off an effort to oust her after her term expired in 2023.
Posted inEducation, Forward, Government
Race for Wisconsin education chief lacks traditional conservative candidate
Overshadowed by the state Supreme Court race, the Feb. 18 primary for Wisconsin’s top education official could significantly affect the future of K-12 schools.
Posted inForward, Health & Welfare
DataWatch: Many die awaiting kidney transplants in Wisconsin, so this man donated his
People with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes make up over a quarter of those waiting for an organ transplant in Wisconsin. People needing a kidney account for nearly 80% of those on the transplant list.
Posted inForward, Government
Job satisfaction among election administrators continues to sink, survey shows
The vast majority of America’s local election administrators would not encourage their children to do the same job, and a shrinking share of them say they would be proud to tell others about their work.
Posted inForward, Government
Wisconsin’s Ben Wikler could soon lead national Democratic Party
Among the candidates vying to be the next chair of the Democratic National Committee is Wisconsin’s Ben Wikler, who has served as chair of the state Democratic Party since 2019.
Posted inBill Watch, Environment
Republican bill seeks more local control over wind, solar farms
A bill that would empower Wisconsin municipalities to block the construction of solar and wind farms in their backyards has been introduced a second time.