Capitol Notes

Officials in Milwaukee's court system have drawn the ire of Republicans in the state legislature.

Capitol Notes: What do the courts have to do with it?

Maayan Silver

Three important political stories in Wisconsin right now involve the courts, whether they're taking up lawsuits between the other branches of government or they're the subject of legislation themselves.

Milwaukeeans at or below the poverty line or on fixed incomes will have to pay higher sales taxes in the city, but many who receive less than $36,000 a year as married joint income tax filers will also see a reduction in their state taxes.

Capitol Notes: Milwaukee's sales tax hike, Wisconsin's tax breaks, what does it all mean?

Maayan Silver

This week's Capitol Notes looks at taxes: Milwaukee's vote to raise sales taxes and Evers' actions on GOP tax breaks for the wealthy in the 2023-2025 budget. How will this affect Milwaukeeans and what can we expect going forward?

The Wisconsin State Capitol building in Madison.

Capitol Notes: The sizable power of the governor's veto pen

Chuck Quirmbach

JR Ross, of WisPolitics.com, looks at how Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers might apply vetoes to the state budget.

Trump supporters protesting the November 2020 election results in southeastern Wisconsin.

Capitol Notes: the uncertain future of Wisconsin's top election official

Maayan Silver

After baseless complaints of fraud by former President Donald Trump and a tumultuous pandemic election cycle in 2020, Wisconsin Republicans have reportedly "lost confidence" in the state's top election official. JR Ross of WisPolitics.com explains the politics behind this, and what the GOP might do going forward.

Republicans on the budget committee rejected a plan to fund a new UW-Madison engineering building, and other UW system projects.

Capitol Notes: GOP version of Wisconsin's capital budget slights UW-Madison

Maayan Silver

This week's Capitol Notes digs into the partisan discord over the state's capital budget, which funds state-building projects and looks into what's next for the GOP-controlled Joint Committee on Finance as they look to finalize the budget before the end of June.

Legislators took up bills on public safety, among other topics, in the last week of April in the state capitol.

Capitol Notes: Is medical marijuana legalization possible in Wisconsin?

Maayan Silver

The end of April has been busy for state legislators, the Assembly and State Senate have been taking up bills on everything from public safety to open records, and Republicans opened the door slightly to medical marijuana.

Wisconsin's GOP legislators are already pushing forward welfare related bills after an advisory referendum on work requirements passed in the April 2023 election.

Capitol Notes: Opposing takes on guns and welfare in Wisconsin

Maayan Silver

This week's Capitol Notes looks at GOP attempts in the state Legislature to advance their positions on school safety and welfare work requirements. Democrats are not on board. Also, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin announces reelection run.

The entrance to the Wisconsin Supreme Court chambers at the State Capitol in Madison.

Capitol Notes: What's the next big thing under the dome?

Chuck Quirmbach

With the Supreme Court election over, JR Ross guides us through other big matters ahead in Madison.

A spring day in Madison, Wisconsin as passersby walk by the state capitol, where the Wisconsin Supreme Court is located. The balance of power on the court could shift after the April 4, 2023 election.

Capitol Notes: All things Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Maayan Silver

What is staggering spending telling us about the Wisconsin Supreme Court race? Where's it coming from? Who's doing it better? How is it related to the outcome?

Capitol Notes: Wisconsin Republicans try to make headway on abortion ban, get shut down

Maayan Silver

JR Ross, editor of WisPolitics.com explains why abortion law developments have been difficult for Republicans in the state.