NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL AND AROUND WISCONSIN
|
|
AT CAPITOL, RIOTERS TEAR DOWN STATUES, ATTACK STATE SENATOR, THROW HOMEMADE BOMB INTO CITY-COUNTY BUILDING
|
Two of the iconic statues that adorn entrances to the Capitol building were torn from their pedestals and damaged. A
statue of Hans Christian Heg, a Civil War colonel who fought and died for the abolishment of slavery was beheaded before being dragged into nearby Lake Monona. The second statue, known as "
Forward," or "Lady Forward,", enshrines Wisconsin's motto, and sits at the landing of the State Street steps to the Capitol. The statue was torn from its base and left in the middle of the road.
Ground floor windows of the Capitol were also smashed. State police guarded the building from the inside and were successful in preventing any rioters from entering the building.
Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee), was taking a video with his phone when
rioters approached him and forcibly took his phone against his will, repeatedly kicked and beat him, and left him injured on the ground. He later collapsed on the Capitol lawn after trying to walk away.
Governor Evers
acknowledged the destruction on Wednesday morning; "I want to be clear: violence against any person- whether int he middle of the street in broad daylight, at home trying to sleep, going for a run, or happening upon a protest as was the case last night- is wrong."
He added; "We also cannot allow ourselves to forget the reason why these protests began: because of the murder of George Floyd, or Breonna Taylor, of the many Black lives taken before them, and because racism and structural inequality still pervade this country."
Republican lawmakers and officials blasted Governor Evers and Madison Mayor Rhodes-Conway the next day.
Republican Senator Duey Stroebel
said in a statement; "Additionally, the response from Governor Evers has been truly embarrassing. As has so often been the case, he is clearly in over his head and has no idea what he is doing. A group of legislators sent Governor Evers a letter on June 5 asking him to take action to protect public property and he has clearly failed to do so."
Congressman Tom Tiffany, who served in the Wisconsin Senate until last month when he was sworn-in to Congress, immediately called for Governor Evers' resignation.
Citing Dane County and the City of Madison's inaction, State Senator Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) vowed that the legislature would reduce the local governments' state aids by the same amount it costs to repair the damage to state property.
Devonere Johnson
has since been charged by the U.S. Attorney with extortion and other federal crimes. It is alleged by multiple business owners on State Street that during the protests over the past month, Johnson would demand free food, items, and alcohol from business owners, or threaten to have a mob burn down their business if they did not comply.
|
|
RACINE SMALL BUSINESS DENIED COVID RELIEF BECAUSE OWNERS ATTENDED RALLY IN MADISON
|
|
The owners of Dimple's Fine Imports, a small business of 21 years in downtown Racine, was denied a COVID-19 relief grant from the City of Racine because its owners traveled to Madison to protest Governor Tony Evers' Safer at Home order.
The owner, Dimple Navratil, said she was denied twice by the city. She told the Racine Journal Times that she did not think much of the denial the first time because the city told her there were not enough funds. She said she became skeptical after the second denial.
Mayor Cory Mason, a former far left wing member of the State Assembly,
released a formal statement after the media pressed him on the issue of denying the grant to Dimple's Fine Imports.
The statement reads, in full:
"As mayor, it is my duty to protect the public health of our City's residents. While I certainly support the rights of free speech and assembly, I cannot in good conscious send scarce City resources to a person or business that willingly jeopardized public health, especially when they were competing with other businesses who were not flagrantly violating safety measures. If an applicant was openly violating the statewide "Safer at Home" order and the public health emergency under which he City was operating to help mitigate the spread of coronavirus, that applicant would compete less favorably. For instance, participating in mass gatherings outside of our community, such as the rally that was held at the State Capitol- such large gatherings have been linked to cases of COVID-19 around the state- and then returning to our City, only served to put our residents at unnecessary risk and, thus, factored into the funding consideration. When it comes to disbursing discretionary funds aimed at helping businesses who were sacrificing to protect public health, the City is not going to reward business owners who took reckless behaviors that risked the health of our community."
When asked "what if" a person was attending a Black Lives Matter rally would also be a factor, the Mayor told the Journal Times, "
If you don't pay your taxes, or violate city ordinances, or disregard public health orders in a pandemic- whether that is under a conservative or liberal cause- you will not compete well against other applicants who do. It's about stopping a pandemic and protecting public health, not an ideological litmus test."
|
|
DEMOCRAT LAWMAKERS INTRODUCE 'HEALTHCARE HEROES ACT'
|
A group of Democrat lawmakers last week introduced the "Healthcare Heroes Act," aimed at supporting frontline healthcare workers in Wisconsin during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This bill provides benefits for healthcare workers -- including hazard pay, paid medical leave, and no-cost coverage for COVID-19 testing and treatment, regardless of whether the individual has insurance coverage or not.
$110 million of CARES Act funding allocated to Wisconsin has been provided to health care providers in Wisconsin, as well as $445 million in a hospital preparedness reserve fund created by Governor Evers.
"Throughout this pandemic, frontline healthcare workers have put their lives on the line to help Wisconsinites suffering from COVID-19, and to keep our nursing home residents safe," Representative Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) said in a statement. "I have heard directly from constituents who have been at the heart of our state's response to COVID-19, and it is clear that we can and should do more."
|
|
DOT: EXTENSION FOR RENEWING EXPIRED DRIVER LICENSES ENDS JULY 25
|
Drivers under the age of 60 whose driver license expired during the public health emergency have until Saturday, July 25 to get their license renewed.
Due to COVID-19, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) extended the renewal period and waved late fees for approximately 80,000 drivers whose regular license expired after March 12, 2020. However, the extension for this group of drivers is set to end on July 25, 2020. Many drivers can renew online at wisconsindmv.gov/renewDL.
"Drivers wanting to renew now have two options - renew online or visit a DMV," Wisconsin DMV Administrator Kristina Boardman said. "As the extension period comes to a close, renewing online from the comfort of our home is the most convenient way to renew and skip a trip to the DMV."
Due to elevated pandemic-related health risks for people age 60 and older, DMV granted an additional 60 days to renew their driver license. They have until September 24, 2020 to renew.
|
|
DWD: MAY LOCAL EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT DATA RELEASED
|
The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) last week released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates of unemployment and employment statistics for Wisconsin metropolitan areas, major cities and counties in Wisconsin for May 2020.
In brief, the non-seasonally adjusted data for Wisconsin shows:
Metropolitan Statistical Areas: Preliminary May 2020 unemployment rates decreased in Wisconsin's 12 metro areas over the month and increased over the year. Unemployment rates for May range from 9.1 percent in Wausau to 13.6 percent in Janesville-Beloit.
Municipalities: Preliminary May 2020 unemployment rates decreased in Wisconsin's 34 largest cities over the month and increased over the year. Unemployment rates range from 8.2 percent in Fitchburg to 17.5 percent in Superior.
Counties: Preliminary May 2020 unemployment rates decreased in 69 of Wisconsin's 72 counties over the month and increased over the year in all counties. Rates range from 7.0 percent in Taylor to 31.2 percent in Menominee.
|
|
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE BLOCKS EVERS RULE PREVENTING LANDLORDS FROM CHARGING LATE FEES
|
The Republican-controlled Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR) late last week voted to block an emergency rule set forth by Governor Evers' administration that blocked landlords from charging their tenants late fees until August.
The vote was on strict party lines.
Lawmakers said that the Governor and his administration did not have the authority to issue the rule, which was done under Executive Order, similar to the Safer at Home Order. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ultimately ruled that Evers did not have the authority to issue such an order without first going to the JCRAR committee.
One government employee from the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) told the committee that the intent of prohibiting the late fees until August was to allow tenants time to apply for assistance programs and to meet other financial obligations.
After voting down the rule, the committee then drafted legislation that would explicitly bar DATCP from re-creating the rule in the future.
|
|
WEEK 26: DWD UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS
|
Here are the latest unemployment claims numbers for Week 26:
Sunday, 3,011 (2020) vs. 657 (2019)
Monday, 6,702 (2020) vs. 1,194 (2019)
Tuesday 3,909 (2020) vs. 825 (2019)
Wednesday 6,301 (2020) vs. 632 (2019)
Thursday 4,617 (2020) vs. 677 (2019)
Friday 4,036 (2020) vs. 766 (2019)
Saturday 1,151 (2020) vs. 205 (2019)
|
|
By clicking the link, you acknowledge that it is the policy of WPT, Inc. to publish all comments that are submitted by members each week, often including broad differences of opinion within the weekly responses. Our organization values our role in fostering dialogue within our membership, but does not take responsibility for the individual views and opinions expressed herein. It is the right of WPT to remove responses that what the organization deems to be vulgar, hateful, or inflammatory language.
|
|
WEEKLY MEMBER POLL RESULTS
|
|
What do you think of the potential restructuring of the school week schedule for K-12 schools?
|
|
The thing to remember is these are only guidelines. Individual districts should be able to make that decision on their own. Northern WI is far different than Madison/Milwaukee.
We have too many employees to qualify
I am on a school board and we have already been considering this type of approach.
I think splitting class size in half, with half of the students coming for two days and the next half of students coming for 2 days may work. Then teachers can monitor progress and the children can have instruction with take home work.
Enough already, this COVID thing is being played for all its worth, time to move from horse and doggy show and open things back up, I am so sick of hearing about a "pandemic" no worse than the seasonal flu, get over it already people, we are all being played just like we are being played by the BLM rioters. We will soon look like Venezuela if just somebody, anybody, including the President, or Govenor would have some "balls" get order back into our society.
All of the DPI "recommendations" do not take into account working parents and the mental health of students
Just let them go back to school like normal it’s not like any daycares changed anything during the shutdown
Not sure how this will affect the students in the primary grades.
How are parents going to be able to schedule days off with a work? These kids need normalcy.
It makes no difference if I like it or dont - school board will do what they want
Not a good idea,, Parents will have problems getting baby sitters.
B.S.
You think our students are testing low and are behind now- wait...
Have flexible options to adjust and react.
There's got to be a better way.
There is NO pandemic.
parents that work are going to have a hard time with the shifting schedules, and compound that with multiple children.
will be a hard schedule for working parents to accomodate
Leave them all at home.
The children back to school. This age group is not in any danger from this virus!
Just get on with life as-used-to-be-normal. My goodness, I had no idea stupidity could reach this level.
Just have school like it was .. kids are at nearly ZERO risk anyway ... This is BS
|
|
What do you think of the pick of former Governor Tommy Thompson to serve as interim president of the UW System?
|
|
What could possibly go wrong? Appointing a failed governor to run a failing business.......
I do feel the minimum salary for the position is actually outrageous, no wonder our taxes are so high
He is experienced and supportive of the UW system.
Wow, nice salary?
Pick a business man that can straighten out the system, you guys forget it is OURS money you arre spending
He used smoke and mirrors to balance his last budgets, will he do that again?
hope he brings some focus on fiscal waist in the system
Former Governor Thompson has a record of doing what is great for our state. He will do the same for the University system.
He needs to cut administrative cost and employees.
AGE
Ah! Ya gotta love Tommy.
the pay is way too much!
Great choice. Tommy is perfect for the job!
|
|
Do you support a ban on the use of choke-holds and "no knock" warrants by law enforcement?
|
|
I agree with banning Choke holds but I feel it might be necessary for police to enter a building without knocking
Break up the police unions so we can get rid of bad cops. Simple plan.
Sometimes certain events require it.
Everyone should ask themselves these questions. Would it be ok if a policeman put a choke hold on me? Would it be ok with me if police entered my home without announcing themselves as police with a warrant? I answer no to both of these questions. So a ban of these procedures is good.
Police officers need all the tools and help they can get, what is it with all the videos being shown, where those being arrested DO NOT COOPERATE! If you are not going to comply with the law, face the chance that you are presumed a danger and a threat to the officer. let the police do their job, and start educating young people on how they need to respect authority, and if they feel their rights have been violated, then let's make laws to make these thing investigated. Those who are tearing down or criminally damaging public property have not been taught how to live in a civilized society. Their parents, and educators should be ashamed themselves
Why is everyone so intent on protecting criminals?
I'm okay with the no choke holds but the no knock seems like a good thing for going after drug houses?
If their life is threatened,, It should not be use ever.
What happened was atrocious. But the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of officers never use this in their entire careers. We are having a massive over reaction and we should be focusing on enabling our Police to root out the bad apples.
Yes on choke holds. No-knock warrants have their place and shouldnt be completely eliminated.
Quit throttling the police because of a minuscule amount of bad cops, this is so wrong!
Law enforcement officers need to be able to do their job which can be very dangerous for them. We need more respect in the community for the officers. The bad ones need to be replaced but the good ones need to be able to do their jobs.
police are in a tough position when trying to restrain someone not in thier right mind. they shouldn't be choking someone for an extended time, but that may be a viable option for some situations to avoid escalation
Should be rarely used.
It's easy to talk smart about limiting police if your life isn't on the line.
All police officers are getting a bad rap.
No knock warrants are important to the safety of our law enforcement
Depends on the circumstances & they should be available or permitted in rare & "last resort" situations
Evers is in over his head, poor man. Please retire him.
the police need a way to protect themselves.
|
|
Do you anticipate staying at any hotels between now and the end of the year?
|
|
once
no
I have not been traveling, but many people still need to with their work.
No, we have not
We stayed in 2 different hotels on a hiking trip in northwest Wisconsin. They followed proper cleaning protocols and safety protections. We felt completely comfortable.
No I havent
No, didn’t travel; stayed home.
Have stayed in any hotel since last year. Don't plan on it.
NO NO NO..
No. No travel. No anything.
No but so far haven't went on a trip out of the area.
Yes. Traveled back from FL. One night on the road. The motel was clean and comfortable
Will stay at a hotel in the next 30 days.
No, staying home or going camping.
No, how the hell could we? There was no where to go!!
Have not stayed at a hotel since March and do not anticipate doing so anytime soon.
Yes I have and it was totally safe
No, but I'm not a good one to be used for stats - I never go anywhere anyway.
yes
|
|
Gov. Evers has sent $80 million more to K-12 schools and universities in Wisconsin, on top of the $350 million they have already received. Good move or bad move?
|
|
Wouldn’t schools have saved some money during the stay at home order?
I will always say that it depends on how it's doled out.
I would like our schools to examine, how much they are spending on Administrators. I am for putting money into having adequate teaching staff with small class sizes.
Open the schools up
He should have opened schools instead of just floating them money
Just going to get wasted
Those areas where internet connections are poor will need it the most, especially if instruction is virtual.
School boards often spend foolishly - so I have to see how the money was actually spent.
I don't how that is possible.
Right now money is tight,, so a bad move.. he will be draining Wisconsin.
This guy is blowing money left and right. Is this even getting approved by the House/Senate? Or is he just spending it from his desk?
(Governor Evers has sole authority over how federal CARES Act dollars are spent)
They sure like spending OUR money
First it doesn't surprise me just throwing money away...our government and a good % of society needs to learn how to create a budget stick to it & save money.
There's so many other places to spend that money, the schools just keep getting it.
Quit spending the money!!!
I am not confident that the funds will be used wisely or efficiently. Not enough spent on actually educating children.
school system has gotten a lot of grant money - help the farmers
More money hasn't improved results.
Just keep throwing money at education and all schools will be wonderful-Ha HA HA!
More $ does not the education system better
We cant afford this. Our state revenue is way down because of the shutdown and this is going to bankrupt us
They have too much money now! Professors are over paid. Money is going for "frills" & over paid administrators.
You mean to tell me that no money was saved by having the schools closed since March???? And now they get $80 million more?????
What do they need it for??
He is just throwing money at his pet project
|
|
Any plans for Independence Day this year? Have your usual plans and traditions changed or stayed the same? Fireworks? BBQ? Even amid all of the uncertainty and division in our country today, what makes our nation a great place to you? Share your 4th of July thoughts and plans here!
|
|
Pretty much stayed the same. Family barbecue.
No plans
Still making decisions with family
My plans have changed greatly. We will BBQ at home.
In light of what is going on in our country, there is not much to celebrate. I'd be afraid to celebrate some mob may show up at my house and burn it down. I am troubled that when it comes to leadership in this country at this time, there seems to be NONE! I am talking about our President, our Governor, our Senators, our House of Representatives, our state legislators....No one is coming out and calling the senseless protesting and rioting in Madison, and other large cities an attack on our democracy. Their protests are not making any sense. This is what happens when you send kids "free money" from the gov't, they think they should have this all the time. Everything that happens on the 4th in my area has been cancelled, as well as everything all summer and already into the fall. People have bought into the fear the left has and wants to create. If the wrong person wins in November, we will not have worry about celebrating July 4th ever again, the new celebration date for the United States of Autonomy will be November 3rd.
Getting together with friends and NOT social distancing! :)
Stay home, a few friends / family to visit us for a cook-out.
Usual plans, staying home as this is haying season on the farm. May be able to view some of the neighbors fireworks.
Going out on the lake for fireworks.
It's all changed. No family outing, etc.
The usual, staying home. America was great and I hope it continues. Its sad that all the statue are coming down,, this is our history.
I don't want to take the chance of infecting my 4 children with autoimmune issues, type 1 diabetes, and a heart defect. No thanks.
No Plans
I am going to spend it out of town, enjoying life.
Have spent the 4th at our cabin up north for the last 15 years. Will likely do the same this year. There is no better place to live than this country. We may have unrest and protests but we have the right to protest what is wrong with this country. What can be better than that?
Usual plans. Golfing, then home to BBQ.......like most years. We never have been Fireworks people.
Will work as our business will be open. Very sad to have all the wonderful celebrations cancelled for this important day for our country. We all need to be thankful that we are able to live in this land of freedom, imperfect though it may be.
going to cottage like always - outdoor social distancing is natural!
No Plans.
Our nation is a great place because of the freedoms that we have thanks to the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and the moral precepts which at one time were held sacred.Unfortunately our freedoms are starting to slip away and we are losing our sense of right and wrong thanks to Hollywood and our universities which are brainwashing students that they can make up their own "morality"
I am not changing any of my plans
Unfortunately, I'll be too busy making my farm into a "sanctuary city" for statues of famous, politically-incorrect, formerly upstanding, respected citizens of this once great nation. I'll be clearing a fence line so the monuments and statues can sit where the trees once did. I can't wait to give a hearty "Bully!" to TR every time I pass by when cutting hay.
(Great book about TR and Taft: The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin)
I don't even think about that stupid virus anymore
Family will be my focus! Family and Country!
Yes go to our second home and stay put. Our nation is great cause of the president we have today and all the great people who serve our country.
Hit a bunch of different Wisconsin microbreweries
|
|
- Association Health Insurance
- Voluntary Employee Benefits
- Legal Services
- Property Tax Assessment Services
- Accounting Services
-
Please note: Members wishing to take advantage of benefits must be referred by WPT. Click below to learn more and begin the process today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
