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In this update:
- Michael Best Updates
- Budget Updates
- Court Updates
- Legislative Updates
- Election Updates
- Committee Schedule
- Upcoming Events
| | MBS hosts WisDOT Sec. Boardman | | |
Michael Best Strategies hosted Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Kristina Boardman at the Madison Office on Tuesday as a part of our ‘Meet the Cabinet’ series. Secretary-designee Boardman joined Michael Best clients and colleagues to provide an overview of the Department's operations and priorities—from the DMV and road construction to the State Patrol, ports, pedestrian infrastructure, and more. She also shared highlights of upcoming major road projects and offered valuable insights into the department’s state budget request.
| | MBS welcomes Gabi Westphal to the team | |
Michael Best Strategies Wisconsin welcomes Gabi Westphal to the team as the State Government Affairs Coordinator. Before joining Michael Best, Gabi held key roles in both Washington, D.C., and Wisconsin for Congressman Bryan Steil (R-WI), where she oversaw high-level scheduling and operations, led strategic planning sessions with staff, and provided critical support on complex constituent casework involving federal agencies. She consistently engaged with senior congressional leadership, committee staff, and influential stakeholders to drive efficient workflows, facilitate legislative coordination, and ensure proactive constituent engagement.
Read Gabi's bio here.
| | Mike McCoshen sworn in as new Administrator of the GLS | | |
Mike McCoshen, brother of Strategies partner Bill McCoshen, was sworn in as the Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS), which oversees the U.S. portion of the St. Lawrence Seaway and promotes maritime trade and economic development throughout the Great Lakes region. A native of Superior, Wisconsin, he brings over 45 years of experience in maritime transportation and waterfront operations.
“I want to thank President Donald J. Trump for appointing me to this key position at the U.S. Department of Transportation,” said GLS Administrator Mike McCoshen. “I fully appreciate the importance of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System, not only to international commerce and to our national transportation system, but also to advancing America’s maritime leadership and economic vitality.”
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As of the publication time of this newsletter the Joint Committee on Finance has not yet met. The Committee was scheduled to meet in Executive Session at 10:00 am this morning to finish work on all the remaining budget papers. They have delayed their start times to 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm and now 4:00 pm. We will send out a special alert over the weekend updating on the Committee’s activity if/when they finish their work on the budget.
In addition to their work on the budget, the Committee also is scheduled to have a Section 13.10 meeting, during which the committee has authority to adjust budgetary appropriations and full-time equivalent (FTE) positions based on requests from state agencies.
One notable item during the 13.10 session is the Request for Release of Funding for the Office of Early Literacy and Literacy Programs. This request had previously been stalled due to the Governor’s partial veto of 2023 Act 100. However, earlier this week, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Governor’s partial veto was unconstitutional, as the bill was not an appropriation bill and thus not subject to a partial veto. This decision clears the way for the JFC to act on the $50 million in literacy funding.
Papers scheduled for discussion during the 13.10 meeting include:
| | SCOWIS unanimously rules Evers exceeded his partial veto authority | On June 25th, the Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously ruled Governor Evers’ partial veto of 2023 Act 100 was unconstitutional, finding the bill was not an appropriation bill and could not be changed under the governor’s partial veto power. The decision leaves the Joint Committee on Finance in control of $50 million in literacy funding. JFC leaders praised the ruling and plan to vote to distribute the funds today. Governor Evers and DPI Superintendent Jill Underly criticized the outcome, arguing that legislative obstruction has stalled needed education investments. The ruling reinforces the Legislature’s power over appropriations and limits executive authority in future budget disputes. | | Supreme Court decision in WMC Inc v. DNR | | |
In a 5–2 decision, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld the Department of Natural Resources’ authority to enforce the Spills Law without first promulgating rules to define hazardous substances, affirming the agency’s ability to regulate PFAS and similar compounds under a broad statutory interpretation. The majority held the law’s open-ended definition, covering any substance that may harm health or the environment, allows DNR the discretion to decide what qualifies as hazardous on a case-by-case basis. The Court rejected arguments that the agency must issue formal rules before applying the law and determined that the agency’s general PFAS communications are unenforceable guidance, not binding regulation.
The ruling also upheld DNR’s refusal to issue full liability waivers for PFAS contamination under the Voluntary Party Liability Exemption (VPLE) program. Under this program, property owners who complete environmental cleanups may obtain a Certificate of Completion (COC) protecting them and future owners from liability. The Court found DNR acted within its discretion by carving out PFAS from those protections, meaning landowners may remain liable for PFAS cleanup even after receiving partial COCs.
Justice Rebecca Bradley stated the decision leaves citizens “at the mercy of unelected bureaucrats empowered not only to enforce the rules, but to make them.”
Justice Protasiewicz delivered the majority opinion of the Court, joined by Chief Justice Ann Walsh Bradley and Justices Dallet, Hagedorn, and Karofsky. Justice Hagedorn also filed a separate concurring opinion. Justice Rebecca Grassl Bradley and Justice Ziegler dissented.
Please see our memo for further details: Memo
| | Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously rejects congressional redistricting petitions | | |
On June 25th, the Wisconsin Supreme Court unanimously rejected two lawsuits seeking to redraw the state’s congressional map ahead of the 2026 elections. The suits, viewed as a potential opportunity for Democrats to gain congressional seats in Wisconsin where Republicans currently hold a 6-2 advantage, were dismissed without comment in identical orders.
One petition, filed by the Campaign Legal Center, challenged the maps based on minor population deviations and the splitting of counties. The other, backed by Democratic attorney Marc Elias, argued that the maps amounted to a partisan gerrymander in violation of the Wisconsin Constitution’s guarantees of equal protection, free speech, and association.
Both lawsuits also contended that the maps were invalid because they were based on the “least change” standard adopted by the Court in 2021. In 2023, the Court struck down the state legislative maps, finding them unconstitutional. In doing so, the Court overturned the “least change” standard. The current lawsuits argued that with that standard no longer in effect, there was no basis for retaining the current congressional maps. A similar lawsuit brought by Elias in early 2024 making this same argument was also rejected. This is now the second and third time the Court has rejected congressional redistricting challenges this year. The ruling leaves Wisconsin’s current congressional map in place through the 2026 election cycle.
| | Assembly floor session recap | | |
The Assembly was on the floor on Tuesday to consider bills, including measures to expand nuclear power in the state. SB 125, passed by voice vote, requires the Public Service Commision to conduct a nuclear power siting study and report findings to the Legislature within a year. Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde (D) acknowledged nuclear energy’s potential to reduce carbon emissions but urged caution, noting public concerns about health and property values. Rep. Moore Omokunde said, “I bet if we went door-to-door in our districts today, I can almost guarantee that no one is going to want a nuclear plant sited in their backyard, for health concerns, for property value concerns. We need to have the conversation first.” Rep. Pat Snyder (R) disagreed and said, “This is something for the future. If you want the cleanest energy, then nuclear has to be included. Otherwise there’s not enough of the non-carbon energy to be able to supply the needs of this United States — especially if we move toward electric vehicles and everything that goes electric, we need this kind of energy.”
SB 124, also passed by voice vote, would establish a board to organize a 2028 nuclear energy summit in Wisconsin, aligning with the opening of UW-Madison’s new engineering building. Rep. David Steffen said the summit aims to bring international investors, innovators, educators, scientists and policymakers to Wisconsin in 2028 to discuss nuclear energy.
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Marquette University Law School Poll released a new statewide poll on Wednesday. It found that 47% of registered voters approve of President Donald Trump’s job performance, while 52% disapprove—a net -5% rating. Governor Tony Evers (D) holds a net +2% approval, with 48% approving and 46% disapproving.
The poll interviewed 873 registered Wisconsin voters between June 13-19, 2025. The margin of error is +/- 4.7 percentage points for the full sample. The partisan makeup of the sample is 36% Republican, 32% Democratic and 32% independent. The interviews were conducted online with 746 respondents and with 127 by telephone using live interviewers.
Read our full update here.
| | State Senator Brad Pfaff has endorsed Rebecca Cooke in her third bid for Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District. Sen. Pfaff ran for the seat in 2022 and was considered a possible candidate in 2026. Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge and former Eau Claire Alderperson Laura Benjamin are also seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden. In 2024, Rep. Van Orden defeated Ms. Cooke by 2.7 percentage-points. | | |
Monday, August 25th at 11:30am - Meet the Cabinet with Department of Children and Families Secretary Jeff Pertl
Invite coming soon!
We are briefly pausing “Capitol Chats” through the summer, and the series will resume in September.
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If you would like any additional information about the above topic, or if you would like to find time to discuss the above matter in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact your Michael Best Strategies contact.
Have a great day,
Wisconsin GR Team
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One South Pickney Street, Suite 700
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: 608-257-3501
Fax: 608-283-2275
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