In this update:
- Administration Updates
- Legislative Updates
- Election Updates
- Fundraising Opportunities
Administration Updates
Evers’ cabinet picks receive public hearings
Public hearings were held at the committee-level this week for four of Governor Tony Evers’ cabinet nominees and a vote to recommend confirmation was taken for a fifth nominee. The nominees include DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski, DOT Secretary Craig Thompson, WEDC Secretary Missy Hughes, DNR Secretary Adam Payne, and DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld. Secretary Romanski, Secretary Hughes, and Secretary Thompson are all being reappointed to posts they held during Gov. Evers’ first term and therefore their nominations are again being submitted to the Senate for confirmation. Only WEDC Secretary Hughes’ appointment received a vote in committee, where the Economic Development and Technical Colleges Committee unanimously recommended her confirmation. Committees will vote on whether to recommend confirmation for the other four nominees in the coming weeks.
Please read Michael Best Strategies’ memo for further details on the hearings.
Watch the hearings:
- DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski
- DOT Secretary Craig Thompson
- DNR Secretary Adam Payne
- DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld
Legislative Updates
LFB releases summary of Evers’ budget proposal
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a summary of Governor Tony Evers’ 2023-25 executive budget proposal.
Republicans introduce bill adding exceptions for rape and incest to 1849 abortion ban
On Wednesday, Republican lawmakers hosted a press conference to unveil a new bill which would allow for exceptions to the state’s 1849 abortion ban in cases of rape or incest. The bill, which is authored by Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma) would additionally clarify the existing exception for the “life of the mother” that is in the ban. The bill would allow abortions when there is “a serious risk of death of the pregnant woman or of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the woman.” It additionally would allow for an abortion in which the fetus has no chance of survival outside of the uterus and for an ectopic or molar pregnancy. All abortions allowed under these exceptions are only allowed during the first trimester of a pregnancy. Republicans also are circulating a separate bill that would allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control pills and patches as part of a comprehensive effort to make abortion less prevalent.
Sen. Felzkowski stated that the proposal was drafted after conversations with constituents and medical providers as a way to provide the healthcare “industry with the assurance they need to move forward with life-saving measures.” Speaker Robin Vos (R- Rochester) said during the press conference Wednesday that he was hopeful the bill would have support from 50 members of his caucus to pass, but that he thought it would be unlikely that the bill makes it to the floor before the April 4th election. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) ruled out the Senate taking up the GOP proposal. “Further discussion on this specific proposal is unnecessary,” said Sen. LeMahieu. “The bill will not be considered on the floor of the Senate.”
Governor Tony Evers also signaled that he would not sign the legislation into law if the bill makes it to his desk. In response to the new legislation, Gov. Evers tweeted, “I won’t sign a bill that leaves Wisconsin women with fewer rights and freedoms than they had before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe.” Statements released by Democratic lawmakers also signaled opposition to the proposal. Read their statements below.
Additional Democratic Reaction
Senate Minority Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison)
“I, like the majority of Wisconsinites, believe that we must repeal the state’s 1849 criminal abortion ban and restore the rights, liberties, and freedoms that were afforded to women under Roe. There is absolutely no room for a politician in the doctor’s office of any individual. The legislation put forth by my Republican’s colleagues is both out of touch and out of line with the people of Wisconsin. The bill builds on a law that was passed over 170 years ago – before women were allowed to vote and when people were allowed to be owned for their labor. Republicans are simply flailing after suffering unexpected defeat during last year’s midterm elections, in large part because of their draconian position on abortion access. The proposed legislation is misguided and wholly inadequate. They are sorely mistaken in their hopes that it will placate Wisconsin women. Any legislation that does not provide a woman with autonomy of her own body and her own healthcare decisions is a nonstarter for my caucus. Abortion care is healthcare.”
Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine)
“Republicans have had opportunity after opportunity to restore comprehensive access to reproductive healthcare in Wisconsin and they continue to refuse to do so. This bill is a disingenuous attempt to cover up their out of touch position in advance of the April 4th election. We know that the majority of Wisconsinites support access to abortion care. Last time I checked, we are not doctors. Legislators should not be the ones dictating who can and cannot receive vital reproductive healthcare. This bill is a political stunt and the GOP knows it. We must repeal Wisconsin’s archaic 1849 abortion ban and restore comprehensive access to abortion in Wisconsin. We cannot settle for anything less.”
Senator Kelda Roys (D-Madison)
“This is a cynical, desperate ploy by Robin Vos to manipulate the media and mislead voters about the GOP’s extreme anti-choice record and plans. It’s a ‘Hail Mary’ to try to secure a permanent lock on power in Wisconsin, by electing their preferred Supreme Court candidate. No one should fall for this trick. The GOP knows how to pass bills — if this were a serious attempt, they already would have passed it anytime in the last year since it became clear that Republicans on the US Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade. Republican politicians know two things. First, the majority of Wisconsinites and Americans want to restore Roe and have abortion be safe and legal. Second, if Republicans tell the truth about their intentions to further restrict access to abortion, birth control, and infertility treatment, they will keep losing elections. Their playbook is clear: if you can’t persuade people to your position, just lie to them in the weeks leading up to an election. We saw Republicans employ this failed tactic with Tim Michels and countless other GOP politicians desperately trying to scrub their websites and walk back their decades of anti-choice comments in the weeks leading up to their shellacking in November’s election. Wisconsin voters won’t fall for it this time, either.”
Representative Lisa Subeck (D-Madison)
“This is a cynical, desperate ploy by Robin Vos to manipulate the media and mislead voters about the GOP’s extreme anti-choice record and plans. It’s a ‘Hail Mary’ to try to secure a permanent lock on power in Wisconsin, by electing their preferred Supreme Court candidate. No one should fall for this trick. The GOP knows how to pass bills — if this were a serious attempt, they already would have passed it anytime in the last year since it became clear that Republicans on the US Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade. Republican politicians know two things. First, the majority of Wisconsinites and Americans want to restore Roe and have abortion be safe and legal. Second, if Republicans tell the truth about their intentions to further restrict access to abortion, birth control, and infertility treatment, they will keep losing elections. Their playbook is clear: if you can’t persuade people to your position, just lie to them in the weeks leading up to an election. We saw Republicans employ this failed tactic with Tim Michels and countless other GOP politicians desperately trying to scrub their websites and walk back their decades of anti-choice comments in the weeks leading up to their shellacking in November’s election. Wisconsin voters won’t fall for it this time, either.”
JFC requests four cabinet secretaries testify on budget
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) has requested that four of Governor Tony Evers cabinet secretaries testify before the committee on their respective agencies budget requests and take questions from lawmakers. The agencies being called to testify include the Department of Corrections, Department of Transportation, Department of Administration, and Department of Safety and Professional Services. The letter, which is addressed to DOA Secretary Kathy Blumenfeld and signed by JFC co-chairs Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam), noted the LFB has already prepared a comprehensive summary of the executive budget and therefore the JFC does “not expect nor want, you to review each item of the budget, but rather highlight those aspects of the bill which impact your agency and its programs.”
Schedule for cabinet secretaries’ testimony
- 10 am, Tuesday, March 28 – Room 412 East, State Capitol
- Department of Corrections
- Department of Transportation
- 10 am, Thursday, March 30 – Room 412 East, State Capitol
- Department of Administration
- Department of Safety and Professional Services
Election Updates
Kelly speaks at Milwaukee Press Club
This past Tuesday, conservative Supreme Court candidate Dan Kelly spoke at the Milwaukee Press Club for a Newsmaker luncheon. Both Justice Kelly and Judge Protasiewicz were invited, but Judge Protasiewicz declined the invitation. Justice Kelly began his speech by discussing his opponent and how she appears to be campaigning as a politician, rather than a Justice. On the matter, he stated “Keeping in mind we keep these functions separated: lawmaking for the legislator, law applying for the court, if you didn’t know better, you would think she was running for a spot in the legislature.” He then discussed his opponent’s former rulings, specifically citing one in which a man raped his sleeping cousin. Justice Kelly said his opponent at sentencing said she saw in him a good man and that he wasn’t a threat to the public. “I think there is something seriously wrong in her judgment,” he said. He concluded his speech by addressing the ads that Judge Protasiewicz’s campaign has put out. He claimed one ad was slanderous because it suggested he liked the kind of crime his clients were accused of committing, stating it was “a truly stupid thing to say.”
Justice Kelly then took questions from the panel. One question asked about case recusal- specifically due to his involvement with the Republican Party. “The Republican Party was one of my clients,” said Justice Kelly. “I’m a lawyer. We have clients. Here’s the thing with lawyers and clients, lawyers don’t pick up on the politics of their clients.” When asked about a case that will likely come to the Supreme Court regarding the state’s 1849 abortion ban, the former Justice said, “The question in that case that’s going to come to the Supreme Court is not shall we or shall we not have abortion in the state of Wisconsin. The question will be: does one statute impliedly repeal a prior statute. That’s a legal question.”
Protasiewicz to only serve one term
This week, liberal Supreme Court candidate Janet Protasiewicz spoke with the Wisconsin State Journal’s editorial board on a number of topics. She first shared that if elected to the State Supreme Court, she will only serve a single, 10-year term. She said, “This is a one-time thing for me,” and cited that she is currently 60 years old. She further noted that she is opposed to term limits and said the experience and knowledge justices acquire on the job should qualify them for additional time on the court.
Judge Protasiewicz also said she wouldn’t recuse herself from cases challenging former Governor Scott Walker’s Act 10 legislation, even though she participated in marches against the legislation and signed a petition to recall Governor Walker. On the topic she stated, “I’m not committed to anything on any case, other than having an open mind and being independent and following the law. I’m very, very capable of separating my personal feelings from what the law is. … I do it every day.” When asked whether she would be a swing vote on the court, like Justice Brian Hagedorn, or a predictable member of an ideological bloc, Judge Protasiewicz said, “I don’t think anybody’s ever called me predictable. I also don’t ever do anything the easy way. I think those justices who call them as they see them and don’t vote with the bloc are the justices that people respect.”
Protasiewicz releases two new ads
This week, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz released two new ads titled “Dan Kelly: Corrupt” and “Dan Kelly: Social Security” and announced her campaign is spending another $600,000 in media buys. The first ad focuses on former Justice Kelly’s past cases involving personal ties. The ad says he ruled six times in favor of a plaintiff with which he had close ties, including taking contributions from its board. The narrator also says Kelly changed his mind about hearing one case after “pocketing $20,000 in contributions” from a family. The second ad centers around Justice Kelly’s past comments regarding social security. The narrator notes that Justice Kelly once compared the program to slavery and “insulted seniors by writing that those on Social Security are quote ‘people who have chosen to retire without sufficient assets to support themselves.'”
In response to the Corruption ad, Justice Kelly’s spokesperson Ben Voekel told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, that the cases were in 2017 to June 2019. Kelly did not start fundraising until after June 2019, so those donations would not have influenced his decisions. The story also details Justice Kelly’s affiliations with WILL.
Spending in SCOWIS race tops $30 million
Spending in the race for state Supreme Court surpassed $30 million this week according to a new count by WisPolitcs. Major paid media investments this week include $727,000 from the liberal group A Better Wisconsin Together for mail and digital ads, as well as $1.2 million from liberal Supreme Court Candidate Janet Protasiewicz. Meanwhile, conservative group Fair Courts America put $459,000 into a radio ad opposing Judge Protasiewicz while Americans for Prosperity reported $316,285 for canvassing and mailers to support former Justice Kelly. According to WisPolitics, of the $20.6 million in paid media spending post-primary, $6.2 million has been to support conservative Supreme Court candidate Dan Kelly.
WisPolitics has tracked nearly $30 million in spending overall on the race and noted that figure is likely higher since expenditures for issue ads are not reported to the state.
Habush-Sinykin releases ad
Jodi Habush-Sinykin, the Democratic candidate for the 8th Senate District Special Election, recently released her third ad of the election. The ad is focused on abortion and features Dr. Kristin Lyerly, an OB-GYN and former Democrat Assembly candidate. Dr. Lyerly states that she is worried about this election and “extreme politicians like Dan Knodl” who “think they’re entitled to make women’s medical decisions.” She further states that Representative Knodl (R-Germantown) wants to ban abortion and put doctors like herself in jail. She ends the ad by saying, “Knodl will give extremists total control of the state Senate and women’s rights in Wisconsin. The threat is real. Dan Knodl must be stopped.”
Fundraising Opportunities
A list of all upcoming fundraiser opportunities can be found by clicking the button below. For any questions or more information, please do not hesitate to contact your Michael Best Strategies contact.
