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In this update:
- Legislative Updates
- Election Updates
- Committee Schedule
- Upcoming Events
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Legislature releases upcoming floor dates | |
Both chambers announced session dates for March. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu’s office has asked senators to hold March 11th and March 18th for possible upcoming floor sessions.
Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August told members the Assembly will be in session at March 13th at 12:00pm and March 18th at 11:00am. He also asked to hold March 19th and 20th for potential floor dates.
In addition, the State of the Tribes is scheduled for March 18th and will be delivered to a joint session of the legislature.
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Assembly Majority Leader Tyler August (R) appeared on ‘Upfront.’ He discussed a GOP tax cut and the upcoming budget. He said Republican lawmakers might delay passing the budget unless the tax cut is passed and signed first. "Our position as legislative Republicans has always been that money is for tax cuts, not for continued spending, not for bloating government, not for creating new government programs, so we expect that money to be used for tax cuts." Rep. August also discussed the GOP-authored education bill to restore Governor Tony Evers (D) standards that he set while he was Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction and the race next month for state Superintendent.
Watch the full interview here.
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PBM reform legislation re-introduced | |
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On Tuesday, lawmakers re-introduced a bi-partisan bill which looks to change the way pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are regulated in Wisconsin. The bill was introduced by Senate President Mary Felzkowski (R) and Representative Todd Novak (R) and is nearly identical to last session’s version of the bill which did not receive a vote in either chamber. Sen. Felzkowski noted that the only substantial change to the bill is a provision requiring PBMs reimburse pharmacies within 30 days. The bill would require several measures from PBMs including:
- A payment to pharmacies and pharmacists for at least the cost to acquire a drug, and would allow pharmacies to decline to provide a drug if they would be paid less than the cost to acquire it
- A payment to pharmacies or pharmacists for a professional dispensing fee which is, at minimum, the cost for the state to pay for the drug under the Medical Assistance Program
- Expanding pharmacy benefit plan participants’ access to more pharmacies throughout Wisconsin
- Prohibiting PBMs from using different co-pays or additional feed to incentivize use of specific pharmacies
- New restrictions on audits of pharmacists and pharmacies
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Marquette University Law School Poll released a new statewide poll on Wednesday, March 5th.
The poll found:
- An increase in President Trump’s net favorability from the October poll, going from -14% to -6%.
- Conservative state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel has a slight edge in net favorability on his opponent Susan Crawford. He was viewed favorably by 29% of respondents and unfavorably by 32%. Judge Crawford was viewed favorably by 19% of respondents and unfavorably by 23%. Meanwhile, 38% say they don’t have an opinion of Judge Schimel compared to 58% for Judge Crawford.
- Superintendent candidate Brittany Kinser had a higher net favorability than the incumbent Dr. Jill Underly. Ms. Kinser had a +3% net favorability, while Dr. Underly received -4%. A majority of respondents for both Dr. Underly (64%) and Ms. Kinser (71%) said they don’t have an opinion of the candidate.
ICYMI: For a summary of the poll from Michael Best Strategies, click here.
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The Institute for Reforming Government released a new poll finding Judge Susan Crawford leading Judge Brad Schimel in the state Supreme Court race. It found 42% of registered voters back Judge Crawford while 35% support Judge Schimel.
Pollster Scott Rasmussen and RMG Research, Inc conducted the poll for the Institute of Reforming Government. They polled 800 registered voters between February 25-28. The margin of error was +/- 3.5 percentage points. FiveThirtyEight rates RMG 2.3 stars out of three.
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Crawford launches new ads | |
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Liberal Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford released two new ads this week The first ad claims her opponent Judge Brad Schimel sued “to let insurance companies deny care for preexisting conditions.” The ad features a man with diabetes who says it really scared him when Judge Schimel sued to let insurance companies deny care for preexisting conditions, but Judge Crawford prosecuted health care fraud and will stand up to the “big insurance companies that try to rip you off, not help them do it.”
Watch the ad here.
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Judge Crawford’s second ad will run across the state and claims Judge Schimel gave a “sweet bargain to a man who sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl.” The narrator says Judge Schimel let “a sex predator loose on our kids. So why would we ever give him another chance?”
Watch the ad here.
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Schimel launches a new ad | |
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Conservative state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel is running a new ad. It features a woman who says it’s “terrifying that Susan Crawford would consider a four-year sentence appropriate for raping a child.” The woman also says she cannot wrap her head around Judge Crawford allowing a child rapist to walk free.
Watch the ad here.
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DPW launches a new campaign | |
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The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has launched a new campaign which says that conservative Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel is “bought and paid for” by billionaire Elon Musk. Chair Ben Wickler said the seven-figure campaign will include town hall events, canvassing, organizing, earned media, and paid digital advertising targeting Democrats.
The first digital ad of the campaign says that Elon Musk wants to “buy the Wisconsin Supreme Court,” and that he is “out of control and now the power hungry billionaire is unloading millions to buy the Wisconsin Supreme Court.” The ad ends by stating that Wisconsinites should “protect our last line of defense” and vote for Susan Crawford.
Watch the ad here.
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A Better Wisconsin Together releases a new ad | |
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A Better Wisconsin Together Political Fund released a new ad calling the conservative Supreme Court candidate “Extremist Brad Schimel” for supporting the 1849 abortion ban. The ad will run on broadcast and cable in the Madison and Milwaukee media markets for ten days. The narrator of the ad says, “With our rights on the line, Schimel would be the deciding vote on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. But he’s an extremist politician who puts Wisconsin women in danger.”
Watch the ad here.
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Americans for Prosperity releases digital ads | |
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Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin released new digital ads following similar scripts for the state Supreme Court race. The narrator of the ads says the future of Wisconsin is at stake on April 1st and claims liberal candidate Susan Crawford would put her “political agenda over our safety.” The ad says Wisconsin needs a fair and impartial judge like Brad Schimel to “defend our rights, keep our communities safe and protect Wisconsin values.”
Watch the ad here.
Watch another ad here.
Watch the last ad here.
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WMC Issues Mobilization Council launches new ads | |
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The WMC Issues Mobilization Council released new ads today targeting liberal Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford. The ads follow the same script featuring a sheriff each: Oconto County Sheriff Todd Skarban and Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner. The sheriffs say they cannot keep the public safe when liberal judges refuse to “actually punish violent criminals.”
Watch the ad with Sheriff Zoerner here.
Watch the ad with Sheriff Skarban here.
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Building America’s Future releases a new ad | |
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Elon Musk’s Building America’s Future released a new ad targeting Judge Susan Crawford on crime. The narrator of the ad says Judge Crawford let Curtis O’Brien walk after two years in prison for sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl multiple times. The narrator adds, “Another dangerous decision from Susan Crawford, putting all our kids at risk. She’s just wrong for Wisconsin.”
Watch the ad here.
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The Institute for Reforming Government released a new poll that shows education consultant Brittany Kinser with a slight edge over incumbent Dr. Jill Underly in the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction. The poll found 22% supported Ms. Kinser, 20% back Dr. Underly, and 58% were not sure.
Pollster Scott Rasmussen and RMG Research, Inc conducted the poll for the Institute of Reforming Government. They polled 800 registered voters between February 25-28. The margin of error was +/- 3.5 percentage points. FiveThirtyEight rates RMG 2.3 stars out of three.
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Assembly Committee on Judiciary
March 10th, 2025, 10:00am
Assembly Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency
March 11th, 2025, 11:00am
Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections
March 11th, 2025, 1:00pm
Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Veteran and Military Affairs
March 11th, 2025, 1:00pm
Senate Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development
March 12th, 2025, 10:30am
Senate Committee on Education
March 13th, 2025, 10:00am
| Capitol Insights - Monday Morning Report | Keep an eye out next Monday for our new “Capitol Insights - Monday Morning Report.” The report will provide a look at the week ahead for committee schedules, new bills, and more! | |
March 14th at 8:30am - Capitol Chats: Meet & Greet with Rep. Neylon | |
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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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