Capitol Notes

The contest between the Republicans hoping to unseat Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is getting ugly. Sparks flew late last week, as state Sen. Leah Vukmir and political newcomer Kevin Nicholson met for their first debate.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett raised many eyebrows last week when he said he's thinking of running for governor -- again. It would be his fourth bid, and Gov. Walker has beaten him twice.

Speculation is swirling over who'll run for Paul Ryan's seat -- now that the longtime Wisconsin congressman has said he is not seeking reelection this fall.

The U.S. Senate race between Republican state Sen. Leah Vukmir and Delafield businessman Kevin Nicholson heated up late last week. The two will face each other in a GOP primary in August. The winner will take on Democrat Tammy Baldwin in November.

It was a wild week at the State Capitol, as Gov. Walker scrambled to get a court to overturn a Dane County judge's order that he call special elections to fill two vacant legislative seats.

After much hand-wringing, President Trump last week announced tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson and House Speaker Paul Ryan criticized the move -- calling it risky, amid fears it could spark a trade war.

Gov. Scott Walker says he opposes President Trump's idea to arm teachers. Instead, he talked last week about calling a special session to pass a comprehensive school safety agenda.

JR Ross of Wispolitics.com talks about developments in Madison each Monday with WUWM's Marti Mikkelson.

The state Senate could soon take up a sweeping welfare overhaul package. The Assembly approved it late last week and the package consists of ten different measures. One would increase work requirements for welfare recipients. Another would require drug testing and treatment for people who live in public housing.

Gov. Scott Walker continues to plug away in tax breaks for Wisconsin families. Last week, he and Assembly Republicans announced a deal for families to receive a $100 credit for each child -- and for the state sales tax to be waived the first weekend in August.

Some Republican lawmakers want to revive the I-94 east-west project in Milwaukee County. Gov. Walker didn't fund the stretch in the state budget. But, two Milwaukee area legislators have proposed putting $25 million toward it.

Gov. Scott Walker used last week's State of the State address to boast about his accomplishments in the past year. They include securing the huge Foxconn deal and pouring more money into K-12 education. And, Walker called on the state Legislature to pass a slew of welfare reform measures -- and approve a $100 per child tax credit.

Gov. Walker made headlines last week when he called for a special session to pass a number of welfare reform measures. That includes one that would require parents of children on food stamps to work, or get job training, in order to receive at least three months of benefits.

State lawmakers are holding a flurry of committee hearings this month, as they wrap up much of their work in this two-year legislative session. Then, they'll largely turn their attention to the elections this fall.

State corrections officials are busy working on plans for shuttering two troubled juvenile prisons, after Gov. Scott Walker announced the closures late last week. The announcement came as a surprise to many. Despite lengthy probes into alleged mistreatment of inmates -- and inmate attacks on staff -- Walker had been defending the corrections department and the facilities.

For this edition of Capitol Notes, we look ahead to the big Wisconsin political stories of 2018. JR Ross, of wispolitics.com, predicts Foxconn will top the headlines in this new year. The state provided $3 billion in incentives for the Taiwanese company to locate here.

For our Capitol Notes conversation today -- we examine the year in politics. One of the biggest Wisconsin stories of 2017 was Foxconn, and the state's $3 billion incentives package for the Taiwanese company to locate here.

The year is winding down, and so is activity at the State Capitol. Lawmakers will cease much of their work there in the next couple months, before turning their attention to the fall elections.

A lot of people are wondering about House Speaker Paul Ryan's future, after reports surfaced last week that he may leave Congress next year. In this week's "Capitol Notes" conversation, Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of wispolitics.com what he thinks of the scuttlebutt. He says there are some logical explanations as to why Ryan might be eyeing the exits, but there are also reasons to question the r...

Sexual harassment claims became public last week, regarding Democratic state Rep. Josh Zepnick. Two women allege Zepnick kissed them against their will. In this week's Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of wispolitics.com whether he expects to learn about more harassment complaints in Madison.

Leaders in the state Assembly -- from both parties -- stated last week that they won't release records related to claims of sexual harassment within the chamber, in order to protect victims' privacy. WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of wispolitics.com how the decision might sit with constituents.

The 2018 governor's race continues to take shape. Democrats are still entering -- or considering getting into -- the race. And, Republican incumbent Scott Walker has officially launched his re-election bid. For a look at where things stand today, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson checked in with JR Ross of wispolitics.com.

Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson broke with fellow Republican lawmakers last week. He announced he would not vote for the tax package that many in the GOP are eager to approve. This isn't the first time Johnson has separated himself from the pack.

The state agency tasked with overseeing the huge Foxconn incentives package is expected to vote on it this week. Under the deal, brokered by Gov. Walker's team, the state will give the Taiwanese electronics giant $3 billion -- and ease environmental regulations -- to help Foxconn build a massive LCD screen plant in Racine County.

Wisconsin's troubled juvenile prison, Lincoln Hills, keeps making headlines. Investigations into the state-run facility in northern Wisconsin began over two years ago, over claims that the teenage inmates were being mistreated.