Capitol Notes

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin's campaign could get a shot in the arm, as former presidential candidate and fellow U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders stumps for her in Eauu Claire this weekend. Republicans are targeting Baldwin's seat in November and Sanders is considering another run for President himself in 2020. In this week's "Capitol Notes" conversation, WUWM's Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of wisp...

The Foxconn groundbreaking last week on Foxconn's huge LCD screen factory in Racine County was a big deal for Gov. Scott Walker. He pushed hard for the Taiwanese electronics giant to locate the plant in Wisconsin.

After months of anticipation, groundbreaking will be held Thursday on the huge Foxconn complex in Racine County. And President Trump, who advocated for the Taiwanese electronics giant to locate in Wisconsin, will be on hand for the festivities.

A group led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder worked to elect Democrats in last week's special elections in Wisconsin. One of the two open legislative seats went to a Democrat, while a Republican captured the other.

Voters in De Pere, WI will select a new state senator Tuesday. Meanwhile, voters in Lodi will choose a new member of the Assembly. Special elections are being held to fill two vacancies.

The August primary elections are coming up quickly. Yet there's still no Democratic front-runner in the Democrats' bid to prevent Republican Gov. Scott Walker from winning another term in November.

Hundreds of delegates are expected to gather in Oshkosh this weekend for the annual state Democratic Party convention. This year's focus will be on the governor's race, as more than a dozen Democratic candidates have announced their intention to run against Republican incumbent Scott Walker in November. But first, they'll have to get through a crowded Democratic primary in August.

The slate of candidates is set in special elections for two vacant seats in the state Legislature, after primaries last week. Republican Jon Plumer advanced to take on Democrat Ann Groves-Lloyd for an Assembly post, north of Madison. GOP state Rep. Andre Jacque will face Democrat Caleb Frostman, for a Green Bay area Senate seat.

After weeks of suspense, U.S. Senate hopeful Leah Vukmir won the endorsement from delegates at the Wisconsin Republican Party convention over the weekend. She snagged the party's backing from her opponent in the GOP primary -- Delafield businessman Kevin Nicholson. The two are vying for the chance to face Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin in November.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Nicholson caused a stir last week, when he refused to apologize for remarks he made regarding veterans who support the Democratic Party. A group of Republican veterans demanded an apology, after Nicholson told a local radio host he doesn't understand the "cognitive thought process" of democratic veterans.

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.