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WLCV - A fresh look and name for a new day in conservation for Wisconsin

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019
CONTACT: Ryan Billingham, Communications Director, Wisconsin Conservation Voters, 608-208-1129 (office), 608-213-6972 (mobile/text), or [email protected]

Why Wasn't 2018 A Big Election For Women In The Wisconsin Legislature?

Women vying for public office made historic waves across the United States in the 2018 midterm elections. Wisconsin, however, didn't quite follow that national trend. Additionally, while voters elected more women to the state Assembly in 2018, the state finds itself lagging behind its Midwest neighbors.

Jeff Smith - Marsy’s Law: Do It Quick or Do It Right?

Jeff Smith

Our first week of the legislative session is off to a fast start. It appears my first legislative vote will be changing our State Constitution with a resolution called, “Marsy’s Law.”

Cancelled - Menomonie School Board Meeting and Mid-year budget hearing

Tonight's meetings are cancelled due to freezing rain. All other Menomonie School District evening events are also cancelled.

Jan. 14, 2018 - this will be the normal monthly Menomonie School District board meeting. The mid-year budget hearing will proceed the board meeting.  Schedule:

Budget Hearing: 5:00 PM

Board Meeting: 5:30 PM

Agendas and other information are attached.

LWV Sues to Prevent Enforcement of Bills Passed During Unconstitutional “Extraordinary Session” of the Legislature

MADISON—Today the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, along with five other plaintiffs,

filed a lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court challenging the enforceability of the legislation

adopted during an “extraordinary session” of the Wisconsin Legislature last month. The lawsuit

asks the court to prevent the Wisconsin Election Commission and Governor Tony Evers from

enforcing or implementing any of the provisions of the newly enacted laws. The lawsuit

Jeff Smith - Committees, Collaboration and Compromise

Senator Jeff Smith

Senate committees aren’t exactly the hottest topic to write about in state government, but it’s incredibly important for our work as legislators. Most Senate committee names seem like someone pulled the topics out of a hat and randomly strung them together to create a committee.

Statement Regarding Senator Jeff Smith’s Swearing-in

MADISON – Senator Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick) was sworn into office today as the 31st District Senator during the opening session of the 104th Wisconsin State Legislature.

Divided, but Not Broken Government

Senator Elect Jeff Smith

As I traversed western Wisconsin last year campaigning to be the new 31st District State Senator, it was clear we’ve been fortunate to have Kathleen Vinehout serve as our Senator for the last twelve years.

Final Voyage Of The Christmas Tree Ship

Decorating Christmas trees often evokes sentimental memories of years gone by. The business behind this holiday custom has deep roots in Wisconsin’s history. One story that stands out is an early 20th Century shipwreck that serves as a reminder of the often-dangerous conditions faced by those who have plied the Great Lakes' waters.

Kathleen Vinehout - Saying Goodbye

And today we also say Good By to Kathleen as a columnist.  We have run a great many of her columns over the years, and we only wish we could look forward to more of them. 

Vinehout - Conversations with Constituents

Kathleen Vinehout

“You all lie, steal and cheat,” the Sparta woman told me. I did not know her, and when I disagreed, she said “Well, you will.”

Then she smiled and handed me a piece of the chocolate bar she was eating.

The year was 2006. I was a rookie candidate passing out literature at the Butterfest parade. I don’t think I will ever forget that woman.

Wisconsin LWV Statement on Signing of Lame Duck Bills

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 14, 2018

Phone: (608) 256-0827

www.lwvwi.org

Contact: Erin Grunze, Executive Director

608-256-0827; [email protected]

Statement on the Governor’s Signing of Extraordinary Session Bills

MADISON, WI –The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin has long held that the legislature

A Long Day's Journey Into Night

Madison Capitol at Night

As Wisconsinites, we have grown used to odd political moves, late-night sessions, and closed-door policymaking. But the events of last night and the early morning are stunning. 

Lame Duck Session - where we stand

Wisconsin State Senate Floor Session

The Senate, after several hours of recess, has come back into session. Earlier in the day the Senate voted along party lines to approve 82 appointments that suddenly appeared on the floor. The Senate also voted to pass one of the three bills that remained, covering tax breaks to pass-through tax entities and funding for road construction in the state. This was considered the least controversial of the bills.

Live Streaming from the Capitol

WisEye Morning Minute: News Conference - Pre-JFC Public Hearing

Where we are now?   The Senate has amazingly re-convened after several hours, took up some amendments, at which point the Democrats decided to go into caucus to discuss the amendments. The BOTTOM video is the current live stream of the Senate session. There also apparently are plans for the Assembly to finally convene at 10 PM. 

Live stream of hearing on lame duck bills

Joint Committee on Finance

Watch here!  The stream on the wiseye.org site has been pretty unreliable, probably due to the number of people watching.  They seem to now have a live stream on YouTube which is embedded here. 

Wisconsin LWV statement on Extraordinary Session Bills

December 3, 2018
To: Joint Committee on Finance
Re: December 2018 Extraordinary Session Bills
The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin has long held that the legislature must be
responsible to the citizens. Our positions, which reflect careful grassroots research and
consensus, state that legislative leaders, committees, and members should represent the state
as a whole as well as their own districts. The legislature should make decisions that meet state

Speed and Secrecy: The Last Act

Kathleen Vinehout

If you were a legislative leader in Wisconsin, and had an opportunity to pass new laws before your party’s governor left office, what would you do? What would you fix as your last act in power?

As I face my last Senate votes, I am working hard to understand what laws my Republican colleagues choose to pass before the new Democratic Governor takes office.

League of Women Voters: Lame-duck session

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE          Contact: Erin Grunze, Executive Director
November 30, 2018     608-256-0827; [email protected]

$4 dinners at Menomonie Market

Pulled Pork Dinner

A new project at the Menomonie Market Food Co-op is the $4 dinner. Every Wednesday from 4:30 to 7:30 the Co-op offers a different $4 dinner. I go almost every week now, and it's a chance to have a wholesome, healthy, filling dinner at a low price. Take-out dinners are also available at the same price. There is a link to the dinner menu for the next few weeks below. 

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