WisPolitics.com

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) identified at least two parties in the past four years as responsible for addressing #PFAS contamination the agency attributed to others, according to agency records. The records show #DNR has issued letters identifying responsible parties for PFAS contamination across 22 sites since 2020. And a WisPolitics.com review found DNR issued at least two such letters to parties even though the agency pinned the blame on others for causing the contamination. State law does not include a responsibility exemption for so-called “innocent #landowners.” A separate request for enforcement actions related to PFAS contamination found at least six notices of violations were issued over the period — two of which were sent to parties that may not have caused the #contamination. Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dJ9PUypr

Following the death of a counselor, the Wisconsin Department of Corrections has taken a more #aggressive approach to managing #youthprisoners who made perceived #threats or were violent, according to a new report. That includes confining those youths to their rooms for longer periods, while limiting socializing, showers, education with teachers, recreation time, telephone calls and visiting. The report from the federal court-appointed monitor of #LincolnHills and #CopperLake noted the impact the death of counselor #CoreyProulx has had on staff, youth and the overall climate of the facility. The monitor also noted staff “seemed less exhausted” and “did not verbally express a fear for their #safety.” Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gGcEhHnc

Outgoing state Sen. Duey Stroebel is encouraging his Senate #GOP colleagues to be skeptical of working with Terrence Wall in the upcoming legislative session. The developer told #WisPolitics #Stroebel, R-Saukville, is being “vindictive” after he sent the lawmaker a 📲 text message stating he was happy to have contributed to the lawmaker’s defeat. Wall called Stroebel a “one-man political party onto himself” who sought to block #legislation that was overwhelmingly popular with other lawmakers because of his personal preferences. Stroebel’s office 📄 hand-delivered letters to Senate GOP members last week with the warning, and a source shared a copy with WisPolitics.com. It features an image of a text message that Stroebel wrote he received from Wall the day after the Nov. 5 election. The message reads, 🔎 “Maybe next time you’ll support the team and other team members and support legislation that is good for #Wisconsin! I’m proud to have contributed to your defeat.” Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g42Cee5v

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) identified at least two parties in the past four years as responsible for addressing #PFAS contamination the agency attributed to others, according to agency records. The records show #DNR has issued letters identifying responsible parties for #PFAScontamination across 22 sites since 2020. And a WisPolitics.com review found DNR issued at least two such letters to parties even though the agency pinned the blame on others for causing the #contamination. State law does not include a responsibility exemption for so-called “innocent #landowners.” A separate request for enforcement actions related to PFAS contamination found at least six notices of #violations were issued over the period — two of which were sent to parties that may not have caused the contamination. The enforcement process involves issuing a maximum #contaminant level violation, notice of violation and enforcement conference to discuss it, as well as a plan and timeline to resolve the #pollution. Read more at https://lnkd.in/gNHKQQ9Q

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says he hopes former Wisconsin Court System / Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman is #disbarred “so he’s never allowed to practice ⚖️ law in #Wisconsin again.” Vos hired #Gableman to review the #2020election. Later, he fired him. The Wisconsin Office Of Lawyer Regulation recently filed a complaint accusing Gableman of numerous #ethical violations during his review. “As I look at what the Office of Lawyer Regulation is saying happened, it’s an embarrassment for anybody who practices law,” Vos told WISN-TV’s “#UpFront,” which is produced in partnership with WisPolitics.com. “So I certainly hope Michael Gableman loses his law license. I hope he goes back to work at Home Depot where he was working prior to working for us.” Under state rules, those who are disbarred can seek #reinstatement after five years. Also on the show: 📌 Democratic strategist Jennifer C. Holdsworth, who ran Pete #Buttigieg’s 2017 bid for Democratic National Committee chair, says the potential for Ben Wikler to enter the race could bring a new generation of #leadership to the party. 📌 The national group No Labels is set to unveil a new set of #lawmakers in Washington pledging to work across the aisle during the new Donald J. Trump administration. Read more and 🎥 watch at https://lnkd.in/gJBDKBNu

State and local 💰 #taxes in 2022 totaled 9.9% of personal income, a record low that was driven by rising #incomes, state caps on property taxes and an #incometax cut, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum. That 📉 dropped #Wisconsin to the 35th highest state and local tax burden — another all-time low. It continued a two-decade trend of Wisconsin falling down the rankings of the highest taxed states; in 2000, it ranked No. 3. The new report, though, noted local #propertytax referendums and increases in the sales taxes for #Milwaukee County and the city may halt or slow the decline. The Wisconsin Policy Forum also noted a corresponding shift in spending as the tax burden has declined. Wisconsin in 2000 ranked eighth-highest for spending on K-12 🎓 education. In 2022, it was 31st. Read more at https://lnkd.in/gxYrgzTx

📣 Let’s break down the election and what’s next for Wisconsin, Democrats, and Washington as we look toward the next session and a new Trump Administration. Join me for the next WisPolitics.com lunch and a conversation with Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin on Wednesday, December 4 in Washington, DC. Registration link: https://lnkd.in/dHfUuFD6

The Wisconsin Office Of Lawyer Regulation is accusing Michael #Gableman of lying to the public, his former client and the agency in a complaint that knocked the former #justice’s behavior during a review of the #2020election. The 75-page complaint asked the Wisconsin Court System / Wisconsin Supreme Court to sanction Gableman for 10 alleged violations of the state codes for #attorney conduct that include disrespecting a Dane County judge and opposing counsel in a hearing over an open records lawsuit against his taxpayer-funded Office of Special Counsel. The #allegations cover much of what was raised in three complaints that have been filed against Gableman over his #election review since 2022, including one by two progressive attorneys that accused him of waging “a shambolic, dishonest, and destructive campaign against #Wisconsin’s democracy at #taxpayer expense and in the guise of a public official.” Attorney Jeff Mandell, of Law Forward, shared with WisPolitics.com a letter he received from #OLR laying out how the complaint will now proceed. The Supreme Court will appoint a referee to oversee the disciplinary case. If Gableman contests any charges, there will be an evidentiary hearing. Read more at https://lnkd.in/gs7pFHFi

With all the changes coming to the #Wisconsin #Legislature, we assembled a 🔎 page listing who’s coming and going. There will be 6 new faces in the #Senate + 31 new members of the #Assembly. 🗓 Inauguration day is scheduled for Jan. 6, 2025. https://lnkd.in/giiudZ9K

Former GOP U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy is promising to help President-elect Donald J. Trump For President 2024, Inc. to “usher in a new golden age of transportation” after he was nominated to join the #cabinet. Trump late Monday announced he had tapped Duffy for U.S. Department of Transportation secretary, saying the former 7th CD lawmaker will “greatly elevate the Travel Experience for all Americans.” During his time in Congress, Duffy’s committee assignments largely focused on the financial sector. That includes the Committee on Financial Services, and he chaired the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. According to Open Secrets, Duffy lobbied on miscellaneous transportation issues while at BRG Group. In a statement, #Trump said #Duffy ”will prioritize Excellence, Competence, Competitiveness and Beauty when rebuilding America’s highways, tunnels, bridges and airports. https://lnkd.in/gAXHfzts