Site offers quiz to help you learn about Scott Walker's failed record as Governor.

MILWAUKEE - Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Andy Gronik released a brand new microsite www.wisconsinisinjeopardy.com Wednesday exposing Gov. Scott Walker's seven years of failure, incompetence, and corruption as Wisconsin's top executive.

"Gov. Scott Walker knows I’m the Democrat who will beat him in November, that's why he and the Wisconsin Republican Party attacked me before I became a candidate; attacked me statewide immediately upon declaring myself a candidate; and continues to attack me today with ridiculous accusations.  If Gov. Walker thinks spreading falsehoods about my friends and me will distract from his long list of failures he should think again." said gubernatorial candidate Andy Gronik. "I'll put my 35 years of business success helping struggling companies worldwide grow and create good-paying, family-sustaining jobs up against Gov. Walker's two and a half decade long political career of saying one thing and doing another."

You can view the website here.

"Gov. Walker’s policies have failed, and the people of Wisconsin have had to live with the consequences. Seven years after Walker took office our economy is stagnant - so stagnant Walker’s willing to give billions to a foreign corporation to create the appearance of competency.  Seven years after taking office our public schools have been starved of resources and our teachers humiliated - so starved and so humiliated that Walker’s now willing to try to buy his way back into public favor.  His us or them politics and willingness to sell off pieces of our state to his highest political contributors have put Wisconsin in jeopardy.  We simply cannot afford another four years of Walker as Governor. My plans create good jobs in science, technology, manufacturing, and agriculture and spur more new business starts and more small, medium and large business growth by rewarding success. My plans leverage the best ideas no matter where they come from and make life in our state better for everyone. Change is necessary and good.  I’m the change candidate who will make good things happen for all of the people of Wisconsin," concluded Gronik.

Andy Gronik Launches Microsite: WisconsinIsInJeopardy.com

Patty is the “real deal”, a hunter, an outdoor enthusiast, and has lived her entire life in western Wisconsin, observing the conservation tradition to protect our beautiful state for our kids and grandkids.

MADISON – Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters proudly endorses Patty Schachtner for Wisconsin’s Senate District 10.

The upcoming special election on Jan. 16 in SD10 provides voters one of the first major opportunities to send a message to the anti-conservation elements in Madison and Washington D.C. by electing Patty Schachtner.

Patty Schachtner is a conservationist through and through. She is a hunter, an outdoor enthusiast, and has lived her entire life in western Wisconsin, observing a simple conservation tradition: Protect our beautiful state for our kids and grandkids (of which she has nine). A community leader from St. Croix, Patty is the “real deal” for Wisconsin.

Her opponent, Adam Jarchow, has been on the Conservation Dishonor Roll twice, and has said he sees that anti-conservation title “as a badge of honor.” During the 2015-16 Legislative Session, Jarchow authored the Polluter Grab Bag, an extreme proposal that gave away public land in lakebeds for free to developers. In 2017, he voted against the common-sense Leading on Lead Bill (SB48/AB78), which gives communities more tools to replace toxic lead pipes.

“We need leaders who bring common sense solutions to the problems we face. I do that every day in my work in the community and will bring the same approach to the legislature,” Schachtner says.

Communities in the 10th District have a proud history of environmental stewardship and should have a representative like Patty Schachtner who matches those values.

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Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to electing conservation leaders, holding decision makers accountable, and encouraging lawmakers to champion conservation policies that effectively protect Wisconsin's public health and natural resources.

You can follow legislation impacting natural resources on our Conservation Vote Tracker, a real-time accountability tool that provides you with a complete picture of what conservation issues are in play and how legislators are performing: http://conservationvoters.org/vote-tracker/

Is running for the seat now held by Justice Michael Gableman, who has announced his retirement. Primary to be held February 20th, 2018 and will narrow the field to 2 in April.

MADISON, WI - Progressive candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Tim Burns filed his nomination papers for office yesterday to place his name on the spring ballot. Burns is running for the seat now held by Justice Michael Gableman, who has announced his retirement from the court. There are three candidates for the seat - Tim Burns, Rebecca Dallet and Michael Screnock. The primary will be held on February 20th, 2018 and will narrow the field to 2 candidates who will advance to the April 3rd general election.

The following is a statement from Tim Burns:

“I’m running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court because in the span of my adulthood, any equal opportunities for the children of people who struggle has disappeared in our country. It has been replaced by a system where most income and wealth goes to the top 1% and everyone else works longer and harder for less and less.

The inequity is astounding, and our rubber stamp Wisconsin Supreme Court is part of the problem. The courts are the final authority in this country, and ours has been looking out for corporations and special interests while leaving the rest of us, and our rights, behind.

I'm the progressive candidate in this race. I believe that women should be able to make their own healthcare decisions. I believe in the right to vote. I believe in strong workers movements and I believe that working people have been working longer and harder for less and less. I'm not going to apologize for those beliefs, and I'll be talking about them as I travel Wisconsin these next three months to meet with supporters.”

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Tim Burns is a partner at a law firm in Madison, WI. He is a former co-chair of the Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association. A graduate of University of Missouri-Columbia Law School, Tim is licensed in Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri. Tim's national practice focuses on making insurance companies live up to their obligations to their policyholders. Tim also serves on the national board of the American Constitution Society and he chaired the Fair and Impartial Courts Committee of the Civil Rights and Social Justice Section of the American Bar Association. Tim and his wife Pam, have chosen Middleton to raise their family. Married for over 20 years, they have three children.

Candidate for Governor Mike McCabe travels more than 37,000 miles since September to meet and listen to the people at kitchen tables and in living rooms all across the state.

DECEMBER 29, 2017 - As 2017 draws to a close, Mike McCabe’s Principle Over Party campaign for governor has traveled more than 37,000 miles just since McCabe made his candidacy official on September 12, criss-crossing Wisconsin listening to and engaging with voters in every part of the state.

There have been 82 events that have been open to the public and media, as well as 49 other stops along the way. The campaign also has held 57 neighborhood organizing meetings and volunteer trainings in communities across the state. A corps of 117 volunteers has already been assembled to help make all these grassroots activities happen, with county and zip code captains being lined up in every part of Wisconsin.

The Principle Over Party campaign is breaking the mold when it comes to endorsements, challenging the established thinking that they need to come from prominent officials, party insiders and other “VIPs.” Endorsements are instead being sought from regular people who can offer theirs on the campaign’s website at governorbluejeans.com/endorse. Mike’s candidacy has received close to 400 endorsements so far.

“Our campaign is headquartered at kitchen tables and in living rooms all across the state,” McCabe said. “I am determined to do everything in my power to offer a way out of the dismal conditions of modern-day politics. The rulebook being followed by virtually every other candidate running for office is one of the biggest reasons why people hate politics more and more and trust elected officials and our government less and less. Giving people a chance to choose a very different kind of leadership and creating a new politics starts with throwing that rulebook out the window.”

McCabe added: “Heaven knows too many people feel doomed every election to choose between what they regard as the lesser of evils. There’s no way I’m settling for being the lesser of evils.”

Despite being allowed under state law to accept donations as large as $20,000 from individuals and $86,000 from political action committees, McCabe’s Principle Over Party campaign is not taking any single donation over $200. Supporters are allowed to give more than once, but no more than a total of $1,000 for the entire campaign.

“This campaign is a 21st Century version of how Bill Proxmire won statewide elections for 30 years in Wisconsin. We’re pounding the pavement just like he did and reaching out neighbor to neighbor. And we’re also taking full advantage of social media and other online tools Prox didn’t have at his disposal when he was running,” McCabe said.

Congressman Mark Pocan says Burns will ensure our courts work for all Wisconsinites, regardless of race or income level and he will not just be another rubber stamp for Scott Walker’s agenda.

MADISON - Congressman Mark Pocan has endorsed Tim Burns for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Burns is running for the seat now held by Justice Michael Gableman, who has announced his retirement from the court. There are currently three announced candidates for the seat - Tim Burns, Rebecca Dallet and Michael Screnock. The primary will be held on February 20th, 2018 and will narrow the field to 2 candidates who will advance to the April 3rd general election.

The following is a statement from Congressman Pocan:

“2018 is our year. Democrats are energized and are working hard to lead the resistance and take back Wisconsin. That especially includes taking back our state’s highest court by electing a progressive to the bench this April.

“That is why today, I’m proud to announce my endorsement of Tim Burns for Wisconsin’s next Supreme Court Justice.

“Our courts help shape our economy and political system, and Wisconsin needs a Supreme Court Justice who will bring change to our state’s highest court. As a Justice, Tim Burns will be a champion of progressive values. He will fight to ensure our courts work for all Wisconsinites, regardless of race or income level and he will not just be another rubber stamp for Scott Walker’s agenda.

“Today, I’m asking Wisconsinites from Kenosha to Ashland, to join me in supporting Tim.”

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Tim Burns is a partner at a law firm in Madison, WI. He is a former co-chair of the Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association. A graduate of University of Missouri-Columbia Law School, Tim is licensed in Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri. Tim's national practice focuses on making insurance companies live up to their obligations to their policyholders. Tim also serves on the national board of the American Constitution Society and he chaired the Fair and Impartial Courts Committee of the Civil Rights and Social Justice Section of the American Bar Association. Tim and his wife Pam, have chosen Middleton to raise their family. Married for over 20 years, they have three children.

DPW Chair Martha Laning talks on the Democratic victory in Alabama.

MADISON -- After tonight's election of underdog Doug Jones in the Alabama Senate race, where Gov. Scott Walker, Speaker Paul Ryan, Attorney General Brad Schimel and Senator Ron Johnson refused to denounce or stop the national party they lead from attempting to prop up Roy Moore, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Martha Laning released this statement:

"American values won tonight. It was a victory of the people, unity triumphing over division. Alabama took a a stand and demonstrated to our country what really makes America great -- our unity and our principles.

"I hope Gov. Scott Walker, Speaker Paul Ryan and all the Wisconsin Republicans who silently permitted their national party's propping up of hatred, bigotry and sexism are paying attention tonight. The people of Alabama did not accept hatred and division - and neither do the people of Wisconsin."

Nicholson refused to return money from Roy Moore's top super PAC donor.

MADISON -- Brad Bainum, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson for the 2018 Senate race, issued the following statement on the United States Senate special election in Alabama:

"Tonight, Wisconsinites should be reminded of Kevin Nicholson's Roy Moore ties: Nicholson refused to return money from Roy Moore's top super PAC donor Dick Uihlein; he bragged about his support from Moore's 'master strategist' Steve Bannon; and he failed to denounce his national party's support for Roy Moore. 

"A lot of Republicans lost tonight, but perhaps no one so badly as Kevin Nicholson, who got to keep a $5,400 check from his and Roy Moore's top out-of-state puppet master, Dick Uihlein, but had to betray our Wisconsin values in the process.

"Kevin Nicholson still has a chance to disavow his and Moore's top out-of-state special interest backers, and we'd encourage him to once and for all cut ties with Bannon and Uihlein."

League of Women Voters of Wisconsin advises State on several critical matters, attends a naturalization ceremony, sees LWV-Milwaukee County volunteers in action, and plans convention.

MADISON - The Wisconsin Elections Commission is meeting today to consider several critical matters, including ballot design, agency staffing and a UW-Madison study on the impact of the photo ID requirement. In closed session the commissioners will discuss litigation and personnel matters. Here is the League’s statement, which will be delivered by Erin Grunze in the public comment period. You can watch the WEC open session meeting live on Wisconsin Eye beginning at 10AM.

The League submitted a statement yesterday to the Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections about a bill that seeks to address some problems with the current absentee ballot process. While we appreciate the intent of this legislation, our statement outlines serious problems including the fact that it creates a two-tier system in which all absentee ballots are not treated equally.

Last week two members of our state staff had the opportunity to attend a naturalization ceremony and see LWV-Milwaukee County volunteers in action as they helped new citizens register to vote in Wisconsin. Read about about this inspiring experience in a narrative written by Andrea Kaminski.

Finally, just a reminder that the 2018 LWV National Convention will take place at the Hilton Chicago, June 28-July 1, 2018. This is a great opportunity for Wisconsin Leagues to be well represented at our National Convention. Click here to see the schedule-at-a-glance, make your room reservation and follow updates on the program and speakers.

Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Urges Passage of SB 291 and SB 292. 2008 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision allowed a big box store to have their property assessed as if the store were a vacant “dark store” instead of a thriving business.

MILWAUKEE, WI – As mayors and village presidents around the state spend December 11 educating the public about dark store legislation and urging the State Senate to schedule a vote on SB 291 and SB 292, Democratic candidate for Governor Matt Flynn added his support to their collective effort.

“Without the passage of these bills, more and more of the property tax burden in Wisconsin will be shifted to homeowners,” said Flynn. “Middle class families should not be asked to shoulder any more of the tax burden.”

SB 291 and SB 292 were introduced in response to a 2008 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision that allowed a big box store to have their property assessed as if the store were a vacant “dark store” instead of a thriving business. When those business entities pay less than market rate assessment, the burden of those taxes is shifted to residential property owners, who see a tax increase. It becomes a shift of responsibility from businesses to homeowners. These two Senate bills have overwhelming, bipartisan support. SB 291 has 58 co-sponsors and SB 292 has 68 co-sponsors.

“I do not want to see homeowners face a tax increase,” Flynn remarked. “The State Senate should stop dragging its feet and schedule a vote on these two bills immediately.”

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Matt Flynn is a Navy veteran, attorney, and former Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. He attended law school at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

For additional information, visit www.ForwardWithFlynn.com.

New findings of re-opened probe into already-investigated investigation to be revealed soon, Schimel announces

MADISON -- Attorney General Brad Schimel announced Monday that an investigation supporting video footage by discredited Project Veritas, a conservative group best known for peddling conspiracy theories, will soon be done. Project Veritas’s founder James O’Keefe was recently revealed to have operated a fake sting operation with the intent of trapping news organizations to discredit survivors of sexual assault.

In April, Schimel’s DOJ investigated the video filmed by Project Veritas claiming to show allegations of voter fraud, and concluded that the videos showed no violation of Wisconsin law. Following this announcement, O’Keefe rebuked Schimel, threatening to turn his own undercover cameras on the attorney general. Schimel then contradicted the findings of his own staff and office, and announced that “it’s not the end of it,” caving to Project Veritas by reopening the probe he had just closed.

“Wisconsin deserves an attorney general who will keep our state safe,” said Martha Laning, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “Instead of doing his job, getting on top of the huge backlog of rape kits and submitting timely toxicology reports, Brad Schimel is abusing the role of the Department of Justice in a partisan witch hunt. Schimel was elected to serve and protect the people of Wisconsin, not pander to a disgraced, fringe right-wing operative.”