Wisconsin Department of Corrections Problem
In what Wisconsin Eye has labeled "Cell Wars". Wisconsin Republicans have to decide what to do with two of Wisconsin's oldest prison systems. State Senator Frank Lasee (R) states that it would be a " waste to put money into a prison that was built in the late 1800's State Representative Michael Schraa (R) is contesting that his prison is older and needs more attention. Schraa represents Weapon which was built in 1854.
One plan would tear down the prison in Green Bay and build one using private contractors and lease it to the state. Under the proposal, the prison would be assessed for property taxes because it’s privately owned. Currently, the Green Bay prison is sitting on valuable land and the county is receiving no property taxes on the building because it’s government-owned. (1)
The other proposal is letting a private company own the prison but the DOC runs it. The problem is that the Wisconsin prison system is overpopulated and without a remedy, The DOC could be in trouble.
In 2001 Governor Scott McCallum re-appointed Governor Tommy Thompson's DOC Secretary John Litscher as the same position. McCallum's budget would purchase a privately owned medium security prison in Stanley, Wi. The prison had so many code violations that had to be fixed that the DOC asked the justice department if it was liable for misrepresentation. After the Ed Wall/Lincoln Hiss fiasco, GovernorScott Walker appointed John Litscher as DOC secretary.
Walker and JFC at odds on budget items
Governor Walker tweeted that he would veto the entire budget if it increased property taxes. This lands right in the middle of a fight on how to fund transportation. Add a proposal to end the state forestry property tax and fund it out of general purpose revenue ( states checkbook). Adding the funding of forests to NPR puts it at funding odds with schools, Medicaid etc. Some want to use gpr to help fund the borrowing that the state is using for transportation.
The JFC killed the governor's proposal to cut UW tuition in the 2018-19 school year and replaced it with an additional freeze. The JFC also shot down a tuition freeze on technical colleges.
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair update.
The DPW will hold their state convention and will elect a chair. The four people running are Eric Finch, Joe Donavan, Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy and Incumbent Martha Laning. It is very uncommon for an incumbent state chair to have a major challenge. The question becomes can the 2016 election be laid at the doorstep of Martha Laning. I will point out that she said that she would cast her superdelegate vote for the person who won the Wisconsin Primary.
Sadly she cast her vote for Hillary Clinton when Bernie Sanders captured 56% of Wisconsin. Now, could that have been enough to keep progressives home? Wisconsin hasn't gone red in a presidential year since 1984 and Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate seat in a presidential year since Bob Kasten in 1980.
The challenge for Bryan Kennedy is can he win over a party that has been decimated in Wisconsin. We have Tammy Baldwin and Doug Lafollette. Democrats have 13 members in the Senate and 35 members of the Assembly. Can you blame that all on Voter ID and Gerrymandering? I think Dems could at least get 2 of those seats back and get the assembly count back up to the 40s.
Groundhogs in trouble
A bill is being introduced that would legalize the hunting of groundhogs. The season would run from July to December.
Wisconsin Stock Report
Rising
State Representative Katrina Shankland (D)
After the 2016 election Shankland was appointed to serve on the minority on the budget committee.However, she has not just stood by and said no to everything. She worked out a bipartisan solution to how the state releases sex offenders. She has also been a vocal critic for High capacity wells. FYI her seat sits in Pat Testin's senate district.
Mixed:
State Senator Leah Vukmir (R)
Vukmir is a State Senator from southeastern Wisconsin. She polled 47% of the caucus for a GOP U.S. candidate at the state convention.Other candidates were polled were Kevin Nicholson, Nicole Schneider, Dale Kooyenga and Scott Fitzgerald. Some problems for Leah is She is Assistant Majority Leader if Scott Fitzgerald would have won she would most likely be next in line for leadership. She would have to give up her seat to run and by the way, Kooyenga is in her senate district.
Some other problems with Vukmir are no statewide name recognition. She represents the area that was influenced by conservative talk radio and without Charlie Sykes could she run a statewide campaign.
Falling:
Attorney General Brad Schimel (R)
Go back and look how many times I've had Schimel falling. The department of corrections has had so many issues. Schimel spent $10,000 of taxpayer money on minted coins and has a lot of rape kits that are still untested. All of this is going to be used in campaign ads next fall. Josh Kaul has already announced his candidacy for AG and he is the son of former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager.