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Wisconsin Examiner
The future of free and fair elections in Wisconsin could hinge on the fate of Meagan Wolfe
Just prior to the long July 4th weekend, a number of dramatic events occurred regarding the future of fair and free elections in Wisconsin and specifically the immediate direction that the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC), the state agency that oversees our state’s elections, will take leading into the critical and all-important 2024 presidential election year. […] The post The future of free and fair elections in Wisconsin could hinge on the fate of Meagan Wolfe appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
As states hunt for new voters, Massachusetts adds thousands via Medicaid applications
Massachusetts saw a more-than-five-fold jump in voter registration applications through social service agencies in the last election cycle, new federal data shows. The striking increase comes after the state implemented an automatic voter registration system that includes Medicaid applicants. Any eligible voter in the state who applies for Medicaid is automatically added to the rolls, […] The post As states hunt for new voters, Massachusetts adds thousands via Medicaid applications appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Economy adds more jobs in June even as hiring slows
Although hiring inched down in June, the U.S. labor market is still showing signs of strength, with unemployment falling and earnings continuing to rise, the latest jobs report from the U.S. Department of Labor showed. The economy added 209,000 jobs as the unemployment rate fell to 3.6% from 3.7% in May. “In excess of 200,000, […] The post Economy adds more jobs in June even as hiring slows appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Dane County judge allows 1849 abortion case to move forward
A Dane County judge ruled on Friday that a case challenging Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban may continue, moving the dispute over the 19th-century law a step closer to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Judge Diane Schlipper rejected a motion by Sheboygan District Attorney Joel Urmanski, one of the three DAs named as defendants, to dismiss the […] The post Dane County judge allows 1849 abortion case to move forward appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Biden administration to crack down on ‘junk’ health insurance plans, surprise billing
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration announced new initiatives Friday that could reduce health care costs, though none will take effect immediately. The changes include a proposed rule that would reduce the amount of time short-term health insurance plans can last and require companies that offer the plans to be more transparent about what is covered […] The post Biden administration to crack down on ‘junk’ health insurance plans, surprise billing appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Tribal leaders, environmental advocates decry Enbridge appeal of Line 5 ruling
Canadian energy giant Enbridge has appealed a federal court ruling in Wisconsin. In a June 16 ruling, a federal judge in Wisconsin ordered Enbridge to shut down its Line 5 pipeline that runs through Michigan within three years and pay more than $5 million in profits to the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. […] The post Tribal leaders, environmental advocates decry Enbridge appeal of Line 5 ruling appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Republicans fuming after Evers’ vetoes: vow to ‘stand up and fight’
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) vowed that Republicans would “stand up and fight” against Gov. Tony Evers’ partial vetoes of the state budget, saying they were “trickery” and that he would look at trying to assemble the two-thirds majority needed to override Evers’ vetoes and pursue additional tax cuts. The comments by Vos come as […] The post Republicans fuming after Evers’ vetoes: vow to ‘stand up and fight’ appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Progress and problems persist at Lincoln Hills
The latest report by a court-appointed monitor on the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake juvenile correctional facilities was released Wednesday. Several improvements were highlighted in the report, including decreasing staff vacancies, a return to in-person learning for the facility’s youth and physical upgrades to the area. At the time the court-appointed monitor visited Lincoln Hills, […] The post Progress and problems persist at Lincoln Hills appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
CDC to Reduce Funding for States’ Child Vaccination Programs
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reducing funding to states for child vaccination programs, according to an agency email obtained by KFF Health News. The funding cut “is a significant change to your budget,” said the email to immunization managers, dated June 27 and signed by two CDC officials. The immunization managers who […] The post CDC to Reduce Funding for States’ Child Vaccination Programs appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Republicans declare defeat, double down on bitterness after Evers line-item vetoes their budget
Normally in politics, public officials try to put a good face on compromise, taking credit for every legislative achievement they can credibly claim. But Wisconsin Republicans are not normal. Instead of taking a victory lap after Gov. Tony Evers signed the state budget they drafted — having summarily tossed out more than 500 items Evers […] The post Republicans declare defeat, double down on bitterness after Evers line-item vetoes their budget appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Biden in South Carolina calls out Republicans who tout major legislation they opposed
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden traveled Thursday to South Carolina — home of the first-in-the-nation 2024 Democratic presidential primary as well as two GOP presidential candidates — to rebuke Republicans for voting against bills in Congress that are now providing billions in federal dollars. “All those members of Congress who voted against it, suddenly realize […] The post Biden in South Carolina calls out Republicans who tout major legislation they opposed appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Diversity, equity and inclusion practitioners push back on attempts to demonize their work
As educators and government leaders trying to address the impact of deeply embedded racism come under political fire, professionals who are engaged in that work say that it has been distorted and politicized. Attacks on what has become known as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work have been ongoing for several years, but in Wisconsin […] The post Diversity, equity and inclusion practitioners push back on attempts to demonize their work appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
States, cities turn to community organizations to battle wage theft
About five years ago, most of Minneapolis’ Subway, Little Caesars and McDonald’s franchise restaurants did not comply with city wage standards. Now workers at each of the locations that violated the law receive the required minimum wage and time off when they’re sick. This is all thanks to a co-enforcement program, where the city’s labor […] The post States, cities turn to community organizations to battle wage theft appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Federal health insurance website lags in voter registration assistance, Democrats charge
A group of U.S. Senate Democrats is pressing the Biden administration to make it easier for the millions of Americans who sign up each year for health insurance through a federal website to register to vote. The lawmakers, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., wrote in a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human […] The post Federal health insurance website lags in voter registration assistance, Democrats charge appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Gov. Evers signs budget with 51 partial vetoes
Gov. Tony Evers signed most of Wisconsin’s two-year budget passed by Republican lawmakers on Wednesday, but used his partial veto power to pare down Republican income tax cuts, protect 188 positions for the University of Wisconsin System and increase public school revenue limits for centuries. Evers said that Republicans in many ways “failed to meet […] The post Gov. Evers signs budget with 51 partial vetoes appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Judge limits Biden administration contact with social media platforms in censorship case
A federal judge on Tuesday prohibited Biden administration officials from communicating with social media platforms about “protected speech,” a ruling emerging from litigation originally filed by former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt. The ruling, by Judge Terry A. Doughty of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, granted a temporary injunction barring […] The post Judge limits Biden administration contact with social media platforms in censorship case appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
As U.S. maternal mortality rates surge, Idaho abandons panel investigating pregnancy-related deaths
On July 1, Idaho became the only state without a legal requirement or specialized committee to review maternal deaths related to pregnancy. The change comes after state lawmakers, in the midst of a national upsurge in maternal deaths, decided not to extend a sunset date for the panel set in 2019, when they established the […] The post As U.S. maternal mortality rates surge, Idaho abandons panel investigating pregnancy-related deaths appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
A conservative’s conservative on the affirmative action ruling (via ouija board)
Political parties have fundraising arms in Congress which blast out fundraising emails and press releases, the sensationalism of which are matched only by their crude oversimplification. A lot of them end up in my inbox, because every campaign cycle Nevada has a competitive Senate/House race or three. Friday I opened one from the National Republican […] The post A conservative’s conservative on the affirmative action ruling (via ouija board) appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Thanks to federal tax credits, it’s boom time in the Midwest for carbon dioxide pipelines
Thousands of miles of carbon dioxide pipelines planned in the Midwest have been spurred, in part, by a major expansion of federal tax credits in Democrats’ 2022 climate law. That could lead to billions of dollars per year in federal tax credits benefiting the powerful Midwest ethanol industry, even as the proposals create intense conflicts […] The post Thanks to federal tax credits, it’s boom time in the Midwest for carbon dioxide pipelines appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
How the right’s phony patriotism is destroying America
In his book “Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America,” best-selling author Kurt Andersen connects the marketing of nostalgia for an idealized American past to the organized campaign led by big business over the last four decades to destroy unions, public schools, progressive taxation and the middle class. Andersen’s highly readable history provides some bracing context […] The post How the right’s phony patriotism is destroying America appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
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