Author: Scott Bauer

Governor Tony Evers outlined an ambitious agenda in his second inaugural address on January 3, calling for overturning an 1849 state law banning abortions, expanding Medicaid coverage and legalizing marijuana. While he called for working together on the priorities he outlined, many of the issues have long divided Democrats and Republicans. The GOP returns this session with even larger majorities in the state Legislature. “To take the oath as governor — an oath only 45 people have taken before me — is an extraordinary privilege. And not just because a so-called ‘boring’ former science teacher managed to end up...

Wisconsin’s natural resources board on voted unanimously on December 14to proceed with regulating so-called forever chemicals in the state’s groundwater, 10 months after a plan was scrapped under pressure from the state’s powerful business industry. The vote to move ahead with developing limits on four types of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS chemicals, came after the board in February adopted standards for surface and drinking water. Those went into effect in June. Environmental groups and residents affected by PFAS contamination spoke on December 14 in favor of moving ahead with adopting the standards. No one...

Special counsel Jack Smith has subpoenaed local election officials in Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona and Pennsylvania, asking for communications with or involving former President Donald Trump, his 2020 campaign aides and a list of allies involved in his efforts to try to overturn the results of the election. The requests, issued to Milwaukee and Dane counties in Wisconsin; Wayne County, Michigan; Maricopa County, Arizona; and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, are the first known subpoenas by Smith, who was named special counsel last month by Attorney General Merrick Garland. Smith is overseeing the Justice Department’s investigation into the presence of classified documents...