MADISON - On Monday, Democratic nominee for Governor Tony Evers released his Government for Us agenda to put state government back to work FOR the people of Wisconsin. As Governor, Tony will ensure that the state government is a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars, upholds Wisconsin’s long tradition of transparency and accountability, and most importantly, works for the people of Wisconsin.

MADISON - Former federal prosecutor and candidate for Attorney General Josh Kaul will kick off the Justice Tour in Milwaukee on Monday with Milwaukee County Sheriff-Elect Earnell Lucas and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm.

As Wisconsin’s Attorney General, Josh Kaul will work to make Wisconsin safer and stronger than we’re on track for right now. He will respond to Wisconsin’s opioid and meth epidemic like the crisis it is: going after large-scale drug traffickers, supporting increased access to substance-abuse treatment, and holding pharmaceutical companies accountable for their role in the opioid epidemic. Josh will also work to address increased testing delays at the state crime labs and to make sure Wisconsin never sees a backlog of untested rape kits again. And as AG, Josh will be an advocate for community policing and prosecution.

WHAT: Justice Tour Kickoff

WHO: Candidate for Attorney General Josh Kaul, Sheriff-Elect Earnell Lucas and District Attorney John Chisholm

WHEN: MONDAY, October 1, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Milwaukee City Hall, 200 E Wells St

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Josh Kaul served as a federal prosecutor in Baltimore, one of America’s most violent cities. There, Kaul prosecuted murderers, gang members, and drug traffickers, taking dangerous criminals off the street and making communities more secure. He grew up in Oshkosh and Fond du Lac in a family of law enforcement professionals and teachers. He is running for Attorney General in 2018.

For more information, please visit: www.joshkaul.org

Honored to have former President's support, says Evers.

MADISON - Monday, President Obama endorsed Tony Evers for Governor and Mandela Barnes for Lt. Governor because of their positive vision for Wisconsin that will bring people together. The President released the following statement:

“Tony has spent his entire career fighting for kids in Wisconsin, first as a science teacher and now as State Superintendent, and that’s why Tony is exactly the kind of person Wisconsin needs as its next governor. Tony knows what unites us is stronger than what divides us. Tony is focused on his positive vision for Wisconsin and the issues that matter most to hard-working families like protecting people with pre-existing conditions, fixing Wisconsin’s crumbling roads and infrastructure, and fully funding public schools. Wisconsin deserves a governor who will govern with respect, experience, and who will put Wisconsin families before special interests and personal political ambitions. I’m proud to give Tony my endorsement and hope you’ll join me in supporting him to be the next governor of Wisconsin.”

“I am honored to have the endorsement of President Obama,” Evers said. “President Obama believed deeply in the ability of people coming together to solve problems and in an economy that works for all. I thank him for his support, and as Governor I’ll continue to work to expand opportunity across our state, ensure access to affordable health care and a quality public education, and to always put the people of Wisconsin first.”

In a new interview, Vukmir says she proudly worked for ALEC at the expense of Wisconsin working families.

MADISON - In a new interview, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Leah Vukmir responded to a HuffPost report that she on at least 24 occasions championed legislation inspired by model bills drafted by the corporate special interest group ALEC, telling Capitol City Sunday's Emilee Fannon that she is "proud" of her work to advance the agenda set forth by ALEC's corporate members.

"I'm proud to have been a part of [ALEC] -- I was a national chairman."

In exchange for Vukmir's work for ALEC, Vukmir collected nearly $40,000 in campaign contributions from ALEC corporate members -- a brazen quid pro quo that benefited Vukmir and her corporate backers at the expense of Wisconsin families.

Also this weekend, Vukmir again recommitted to repealing the Affordable Care Act and gutting federal protections for Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions, if she's elected, saying, "I will use my background as a nurse to once and for all replace Obamacare." 2.4 million Wisconsinites have pre-existing conditions. 

WATCH Vukmir defend her record of working for ALEC here.

Today Marks One Week Since Tony Evers Called on Walker to Pull Out of ACA Lawsuit.

MADISON - Today marks one week since Tony Evers called on Scott Walker to pull Wisconsin out of the federal lawsuit to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and its protections for the estimated 2.4 million Wisconsinites with a pre-existing condition. To mark Walker’s silence, DPW launched a new web video titled “Every Part of It” that details Scott Walker’s long record of undermining health care in Wisconsin and threatening protections for pre-existing conditions.

Watch it here or below.

Walker’s refusal to accept Evers’ challenge shouldn’t surprise anyone who has paid attention to Walker’s health care record over the last eight years. He called the ACA - the law presently protecting Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions - a “disaster” that should be repealed “lock, stock, and barrel.” During his short-lived presidential bid, he promised to repeal the ACA on day one.   

When Republicans tried to push through Graham-Cassidy last year, a law that would have undermined pre-existing conditions protections, Scott Walker called it “awesome” and a “winner all the way around.” He even floated letting insurers hike premiums for people with preexisting conditions if federal law was changed to allow it.

“Scott Walker has had a week now to show Wisconsin he’s serious about protecting people with pre-existing conditions, and all we’ve heard is crickets,” said DPW spokesperson Alex Japko. “His record is clear: Wisconsin can’t trust Scott Walker to protect health care for people with pre-existing conditions.”

Evers builds momentum as Walker sinks in polls.

MADISON, WI - Democratic candidate for governor Tony Evers continued to build strong momentum this week for his campaign while incumbent Governor Scott Walker shirked from a challenge and desperately tried to distract from his underwhelming poll numbers. Across the board, Evers pressed ahead with a positive agenda for Wisconsin while Walker refused to answer basic questions about the issues.

Let’s go through the week:

Evers’ Health Care Challenge: Kicking off the week, Evers challenged Walker to back up his words with action and drop Wisconsin from a reckless lawsuit that would eliminate pre-existing conditions protections -- the same protections Walker claims he supports. But even as experts point out that Walker’s “alternatives” would provide weaker protections, Walker himself continues to dodge the question about how to cover all 2.4 million Wisconsinites with a pre-existing condition. As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported:

Walker has not said what steps would be taken to ensure they would have coverage.

Even on the third anniversary of Walker’s failed presidential campaign which he ended for reasons of "leadership,” Walker refused to show real leadership by ignoring Tony's challenge to pull out of this dangerous lawsuit.

Evers Puts Students First: While Walker was ducking questions, Evers promoted his plan for a historic $1.4 billion increase in the education budget:

"The pendulum is swinging back to a time when we value an investment in our kids’ futures and we demand our leaders do the same...We know there’s a better way. We know it’s time for a change. And change, folks, is in the air."

Instead of cutting schools by $800 million like Walker, Evers thinks it’s time to invest in our students and put them first.

Evers Takes the Lead: In a sign of growing Tony-mentum, a new Marquette University Law School poll came out on Tuesday showing Evers with a 5 point lead over Walker, with Walker posting his worst showing ever in a Marquette poll.

The news just got worse for Walker. The poll also showed Evers with a net favorability rating of 11 points, while Scott Walker was viewed unfavorably by a majority of voters with a 7 point unfavorability gap.

Walk Away Walker Woes: Of course, Walker’s ongoing problem of convincing voters he runs a competent administration continues to be damaged . . . by former officials who served in his administration.

As a report on Wednesday put it:

As Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker fights for his political life, some of the most devastating attacks aren't coming from Democrats. They're coming from a handful of former top officials from his own administration.

Even in his own administration, folks are ready to walk away from Walker’s failed leadership.

Bottom line: From health care to education, it’s clear that Tony Evers continues to build momentum in this race, while Scott Walker has seen negative headline after negative headline as his campaign continues to stumble.

Walker refuses to withdraw from ACA lawsuit jeopardizing health care coverage for over 2 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions

Dems say the GOP and Paul Ryan are terrified of Randy Bryce.

MADISON - The following is a response from Democratic Party of Wisconsin chair Martha Laning on attack ads being run by Paul Ryan’s super PAC, Congressional Leadership Fund, in support of Bryan Steil, Ryan’s former driver, in the race for WI-01.

“These desperate attacks are exactly what Wisconsinites dislike about Washington politics. While wages remain stagnant and hardworking Wisconsinites are struggling to keep up with rising health care costs, CLF is throwing millions of dollars at a misleading smear campaign to try to put Paul Ryan’s hand-picked replacement in Congress and save the GOP from an embarrassing defeat.

“Clearly, the GOP and Paul Ryan are terrified of Randy Bryce and the grassroots energy behind him. Wisconsinites in the first congressional district have organized around Randy because he understands the struggles that come with being a working person because he’s been there himself. The same can’t be said of Bryan Steil, whose billionaire backers will stop at nothing to try to install him in Congress.”

Former Middleton School Board President says “The truth is we fired him, but an independent arbitrator gave him his job back because of a legal loophole. Instead of running false, nasty attack ads, Scott Walker should focus on his own record.”

MADISON – On Friday, Tony Evers’ campaign released a new ad responding to Scott Walker’s false, disgusting attacks regarding license revocation.

The ad features Ellen Lindgren, the former Middleton School Board President who was involved in the teacher case at the center of several Walker campaign and special interest group ads.

GOP Senate candidate Leah Vukmir backs 3 separate Republican efforts to gut anti-discrimination protections the for 2.4 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions.