CAPiTOL EYE

State earmarks

State’s four Congressional delegation members seeks $150M in earmarks

Four members of Wisconsin’s House delegation

are requesting nearly $150 million in earmarks since both national party caucuses agreed to bring back community project funding.

Republicans banned earmarks a decade ago after retaking control of the House with some criticizing the process as wasteful and ripe for corruption. After announcing they would bring back the process, Dems also announced several rules to increase transparency. That includes a cap on how many earmarks each representative can attach to bills.

Those rules also require lawmakers to make them publicly available and to attest that none of the funds would benefit themselves or their immediate families. Earmarks are also limited to local governments or non-profits.

And as part of their efforts to cut down on allegations the earmarks are wasteful, Dems created a new rule which limits total earmark spending to 1 percent of discretionary spending, or about $15 billion.

The House Appropriations Committee will eventually vet the hundreds of requests and come up with a final list to include in the budget for 2021-2022.

Here is a summary of the amount each member requested, for a total of approximately $148.5 million: * U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan: $76 million * U.S. Rep. Ron Kind: $47.5 million * U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore: $24.1 million * U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald: $930,000

Taylor, Wanggaard confident police reforms can pass

Ahead of today’s Senate vote, a bipartisan pair of senators said they’re confident a series of police reform bills will pass both legislative chambers and get signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers.

In a Milwaukee Press Club-WisPolitics.com virtual event yesterday, Sens. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, and Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, both touted the bills as a step in the right direction on promoting transparency and accountability in policing.

“What you see is our effort to try and bring all of the different opinions together,” Taylor said of the bipartisan bills. “It’s not perfect, but I believe it’s better than where we are.”

Senators vote today on four bills that would, among other things, promote community-oriented policing and require the state Department of Justice to collect data on use-of-force incidents and produce an annual report.

Wanggaard, a former career police officer, said Wisconsin was already “pretty much the gold standard” in the country when it comes to police transparency and accountability. But he added the bills will “potentially make it a little better.”

Police reform has become a national discussion after a wave of protests and civil unrest last year calling for action after incidents like the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha.

Evers after Blake’s shooting called a special session of the Legislature to take up reform bills. And Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, established a Task Force on Racial Disparities to look into changes in statute.

Wanggaard and Taylor yesterday said they’ve worked together on these bills — and others expected later this year — since long before Floyd’s death and the task force. Taylor noted that Milwaukee and the state years ago already had their share of stories of African Americans deaths linked to police, including Dontre Hamilton and Derek Williams.

Mai Fest Saturday, May 15th 1-5pm Featuring Copper Box at Bull Falls Biergarten Upcoming Events

32551

May 19th - Times Three Band 6-9pm (T) May 23rd - Christy Anna 3-6pm (T) May 28th - Joe Stamm Band 6-9pm (B) June 8th - Spotlight Polka Band 7-9pm (T) June 11th - String Cheese Band 6-9pm (B) June 26th - Alpensterne 1-5pm (B) July 1st- Chad Brecke & Pizza Kiln 4:30-9pm July 13th - John Griener Trio 7-9pm (T) July 15th - Trigger Trippers 7-9pm (T) July 23rd - Hip Pocket 6-9pm (B) August 15th - Swingshift 1-5pm (B) August 27th - The Peoples Choice Band 6-9pm (B) September 17th - The Drovers 1-5pm (B) (B) = Biergarten (T) = Tap Room

*Food Available at all Biergarten Events* Friday Events = Fish Fry Happy Hour Tuesdays 5-7pm • Fridays 1-5pm (T)

Bull Falls Brewery 901 E. Thomas Street Wausau, WI 54403 715-842-BEER (2337) www.bullfallsbrewery.com

Manydeeds considering bid to lead Board of Regents

UW System Regent Edmund Manydeeds told WisPolitics. com he’s considering a run for board president this June.

Manydeeds, an appointee of Dem Gov. Tony Evers, said he hasn’t yet fully decided whether to put his name in the race but that he’s “thinking about it.” And as far as he knows, he’s the only appointee on the 18-member board other than Regent Vice President Mike Grebe, an appointee of former GOP Gov. Scott Walker, who’s looking to take over the leadership role.

Evers’ appointees this year for the first time in his term hold a 9-7 majority of seats over Walker appointees. The state superintendent and Wisconsin Technical College System president also hold voting positions. Regents in a board meeting last month suggested there likely would be a contested vote for president this time around.

“I’ve given the other regents a heads up that I’m thinking about it,” Manydeeds said. “But it’s not a situation where you make speeches and run around asking people to vote for you, at least that’s not the way I’m approaching it.”

Instead of actively campaigning for the board presidency, he said he’s open to speaking with any of his colleagues who have questions or are considering voting for him.

Evers appointed Manydeeds, an attorney, to the board in 2019. He also previously served on the board from 2010 to 2017 as an appointee of former Dem Gov. Jim Doyle.

Now HiriNg

1st , 2nd and 3rd shifts

There are shifts available to meet everyones schedule! 1st & 2nd shifts Monday–Friday, 3rd shift Sunday–Thursday, no problem, we will train you! Entry level positions start at 15.00/hour. 2nd and 3rd shift get a 1.00 shift differential as well as 50.00/ week perfect attendance bonus. OT available. • Paid vacation after 90 days! 401(K) with company match • Full benefits package Employee referral program Scholarship program available to employee dependents! Hiring for:

• Production Operators • CNC Benders • Robotic Welders • Press Set-up Operators • CNC Machining Centers • Quality Technician • Maintenance Technician Apply in person or email your resumes to: Hr@g3industries.com

G3 Industries, Inc.

1450 Don’s Way Kronenwetter, WI 54455

32765

Dem chair confident about 2022

State Dem Party Chair Ben Wikler said “job one” in 2022 is to reelect Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

Wikler said he is “very confident” that Evers will seek re-election.

“He’s been a spectacular leader for our state,” Wikler said in an interview aired Sunday on “UpFront,” produced in partnership with WisPolitics.com.

A first-term governor, Evers has not revealed his plans for 2022. He has indicated he wants to focus on getting the next state budget into law first.

“I am very confident that the governor is going to run for re-election, and I have tremendous faith in the people of Wisconsin to agree to a second term for a governor who has demonstrated his ability to lead in a way that’s best for our kids and best for our state,” Wikler said.

Wikler is running for another term as chairman at the virtual state Democratic Party convention next month.

“We’ve got to defeat (Republican Sen.) Ron Johnson, we have to grow Democratic strength down-ballot, and we have to build the party, and the progressive movement across our state and advocate for issues that make a difference in people’s lives, get dollars into the bank and get kids into schools,” Wikler said.

Two WI men charged in capitol riot

Two Wisconsin men have been charged with storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

According to the criminal complaint, Brandon Nelson of Dane County and Abram Markofski of La Crosse County, have been charged with, among other things: disorderly conduct; and entering and remaining in a restricted building.

The statement of facts showed the FBI on Jan. 7 received an anonymous tip that Nelson had helped storm the Capitol the day before. And during questioning, Nelson admitted he entered the building with his friend Markofski.

An FBI review of surveillance footage also highlighted images of the two inside the Capitol wearing “Make America Great Again” hats. Additionally, Google Maps records obtained via search warrant showed Markofski’s phone was at least partially inside the building between 2:15 p.m. and 3:41 p.m. on the day of the storming.

Both men after appearances in early May were released from custody on the condition they could not leave the federal Western District of Wisconsin without prior authorization and had to stay out of Washington, D.C., other than for official court business.