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Wispolitics: Vos offers to boost public school funding in return for “universal school choice”

by | Nov 11, 2022 | Legislative Update Blog, State Budget

From WisPolitics.com:

— Robin Vos, fresh off his reelection as Assembly speaker, says he’s willing to boost education funding as Tony Evers wants but would insist the guv in exchange agree to universal school choice.

Vos, R-Rochester, told reporters after yesterday’s leadership election that he hasn’t yet defined what universal choice would entail.

The state has three voucher programs for Milwaukee, Racine and statewide that include income restrictions. There is also a limit in the statewide program on the percentage of a school district’s students that can participate. That limit is scheduled to hit 10 percent in 2025-26 before there is no longer a cap.

Vos said he planned to talk to his caucus to reach consensus before engaging the Senate and possibly Evers, the former state schools superintendent. The speaker noted the Legislature sent Evers a bill this session designed to boost reading scores only for him to veto it.

“If he wants more money for schools, we have to have some reform along the way. We can’t just write a blank check,” Vos said.

GOP legislative majorities elect leaders

by | Nov 11, 2022 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue

The state Senate and state Assembly Republican legislators met to elect their leaders for the 2023-24 Legislative Session that begins in January. Legislative Democrats are expected to hold their leadership elections next week.

The results of the GOP leadership elections are below with the biggest changes in top leadership positions in the Assembly where former Majority Leader Jim Steineke did not run for reelection. (pictured: Sen. LeMahieu, Speaker Vos) (more…)

Today is Election Day, Be Sure to Vote

by | Nov 8, 2022 | Election, Legislative Update Blog, State Issue

Voters will go to the polls today to select their choices for several state Constitutional offices including Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and State Treasurer.  Voters will also decide who will be Wisconsin’s U.S. Senator for the next six years and will select the winner in each of Wisconsin’s eight congressional seats, including an open seat in the third Congressional District in Western Wisconsin.

All seats in the state Assembly and the odd-numbered seats in the state Senate are on the ballot. Voters will also decide who will fill seven open seats in the state Senate and twenty-five open seats in the state Assembly, meaning there will be seven brand-new state senators and as many as twenty-five brand new state representatives in January. (Two sitting state representatives are running in what are new seats for them due to redistricting.)

Republicans will maintain solid control over the state Legislature. However, a key question to be decided is whether Republicans can garner a two-thirds supermajority in both houses and thus be able to override a gubernatorial veto with solely GOP votes. To achieve a two-thirds majority in the state Senate, Republicans only need to pick up one seat. Republicans would need a net gain of five seats to reach two-thirds (66) of the seats in the 99-member state Assembly.

(more…)

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