Politics | WLUK TV

Commission allows tribe to keep grant

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:52:29 GMT

The vice chairman of the state Building Commission has decided to let a Wisconsin Chippewa tribe keep a $250,000 grant to help build a cultural center.

Plan looks to boost walleye production

Bill Miston, FOX 11 News — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:16:38 GMT

The state's walleye population is set to get a boost. The governor announced a program to expand walleye hatchery production across the state.

GOP wants rent-to-own out of budget

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:32:55 GMT

Two Republican state senators want the Legislature's finance committee to delete wording in Gov. Scott Walker's executive budget that would exempt rent-to-own businesses from Wisconsin's consumer protection laws.

Core education standards discussed

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:35:23 GMT

Critics of national education standards adopted three years ago in Wisconsin packed an informational hearing Wednesday called by a pair of legislative committees to examine the issue.

Drone use hearing set for next week

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:22:05 GMT

A bill that would prohibit law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin from using drones unless they have a search warrant or legitimate reason is up for a Capitol hearing next Wednesday.

Wis. candidates got $758K

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:27:01 GMT

A new report says the sand mining and natural gas industries have given Wisconsin candidates nearly $758,000 since 2007, with contributions spiking last year as sand mining took off in the state.

Panel OKs food stamp work requirement

Tue, 21 May 2013 23:27:20 GMT

The Legislature's budget committee has approved Gov. Scott Walker's proposal requiring that able-bodied adults on Wisconsin's food stamps program spend at least 20 hours a week working or getting trained for a job.

Panel OKs ending ballast water fees

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:30:04 GMT

The Legislature's budget committee has voted to end ballast water discharge fees for Great Lakes shipping in two years.

Committee approves sand mining plan

Tue, 21 May 2013 21:22:52 GMT

Wisconsin's budget-writing committee has approved pulling money from the state's environmental management fund to cover sand mining inspections.

Vote on ACT test requirement delayed

Tue, 21 May 2013 20:53:23 GMT

The Legislature's budget committee has delayed taking a vote on whether to have every high school junior in Wisconsin take the ACT college entrance exam.

Bargaining over benefits narrowed

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:09:41 GMT

Public safety workers could collectively bargain over their health insurance premiums but not other costs of their plan under action taken by the Legislature's budget committee.

Cmte. OKs selling of state property

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:08:31 GMT

A broad array of state properties, including prisons, university dormitories, power plants and highways, could be sold to private buyers without going through a public bidding process, under a provision approved by the Legislature's budget committee on Tuesday.

Panel votes to clamp down on retirees

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:24:39 GMT

Government employees would have to stay off the public payroll more than twice as long as is currently required under a change to state law approved by the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee on Tuesday.

Committee OKs $50 tobacco use fee

Tue, 21 May 2013 18:20:13 GMT

State workers who smoke would have to pay $50 more per month for health insurance under a Gov. Scott Walker proposal that has won approval by the Legislature's budget committee.

GAB seeks absentee voting rule changes

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:43:57 GMT

Wisconsin election officials on Tuesday agreed to ask the Legislature to revamp the state's absentee voting regulations by streamlining request deadlines, expanding electronic ballot access for overseas voters and implementing other changes.

Proposal would require state offer HSAs

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:33:20 GMT

The Legislature's budget committee has approved creating a high-deductible health insurance plan with health savings accounts for government workers in Wisconsin.

Panel considers bill limiting recalls

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:23:43 GMT

A group of municipal officials pressed Wisconsin lawmakers Tuesday to make it harder to initiate recall elections at the local level, saying it's currently too easy and that such campaigns often divide communities.

Bill aims to end mandated flu shots

Alex Ronallo, FOX 11 News — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:14:21 GMT

An area state representative has authored a bill that would make it unlawful for employers to require their employees to get the flu vaccine.

Plan looks to reduce food stamp rolls

Mon, 20 May 2013 20:03:35 GMT

A proposed work requirement for food stamps recipients in Wisconsin is projected to knock half of the people off the program.

State workers who smoke would pay fee

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:43:43 GMT

State workers who smoke would have to pay $50 more per month for health insurance under a proposal by Gov. Scott Walker.

State takes more control on const.

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:51:26 GMT

Democrats said a move to standardize erosion control rules for commercial construction sites is another effort by Republicans to take power away from local authorities.

The IRS and its tea party tempest

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:41:09 GMT

The Internal Revenue Service is feeling the sort of heat that targeted taxpayers feel from the tax agency. It's the sense that a powerful someone is breathing down your neck.

Committee moves toward immigration vote

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:32:54 GMT

The Senate Judiciary Committee is aiming this week to pass a landmark immigration bill to secure the border and offer citizenship to millions, setting up a high-stakes debate on the Senate floor.

Impact of proposed tuition freeze

Laura Smith, FOX 11 News — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:05:50 GMT

University of Wisconsin schools are facing the prospect of a two-year tuition freeze.

Cost of Medicaid plan increases

Fri, 17 May 2013 21:38:48 GMT

The cost of Gov. Scott Walker's plan to reject federally funded Medicaid expansion and instead tighten income eligibility for the program has gone up.

Walker signs layoff alternative bill

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:49:00 GMT

Gov. Scott Walker on Friday signed into law a bill creating a program that gives employers an alternative to laying off employees when work slows.

Walker signs bill benefiting Wis. Ducks

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:46:44 GMT

Gov. Scott Walker has signed into law a bill benefiting the military-style amphibious vehicle known as the Wisconsin Duck.

Bill requires annual WEDC audit

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:50:31 GMT

A bill introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers would require annual audits at Gov. Scott Walker's troubled quasi-public jobs agency, as well as put limits on terms that board members appointed by the governor serve.

Group: IRS asked about Walker recall

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:04:05 GMT

A tea party group says the Internal Revenue Service asked about its involvement in efforts to verify signatures in the effort to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker.

Redistricting case settled

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:58:49 GMT

A group of Democrats and an immigration rights organization which sued the state over redistricting have dropped their efforts to determine why Republicans failed to turn over records in the case.