The speaker of the Assembly has placed a roadblock in front of a bill that would let sales taxes pay for public transportation in the Fox Cities area.

Tagged with: Dave Hansen Michael Ellis Regional Transit Authority RTA sales tax

By James Briggs County officials on Thursday lauded lawmakers for killing a provision that would have forced counties to use private contractors for roadwork. The state budget provision, which had been set to take effect next month, would have required ...

Tagged with: budget Daniel LeMahieu Joint Finance Committee Michael Ellis Peter Barca Wisconsin Counties Association

By Adam Wise Minutes after the state Senate’s budget hearing started Thursday, a group of protesters disrupted the proceedings with shouting. State troopers detained more than a half-dozen protesters, a few of whom locked themselves to portions of the gallery. ...

Tagged with: budget Capitol Erpenbach Glenn Grothman Michael Ellis protesters

Since the Madison protests began last month, I’ve contended that Gov. Scott Walker’s push to eliminate collective bargaining rights of state workers has not been the most troubling development of his young administration. Walker’s greatest problem – one that already ...

Tagged with: Dale Schultz Eileen Bruskewitz Michael Ellis Robin Vos Scott Walker

By James Briggs It was a curious time to be late for a meeting. Alan Fish, vice chancellor of facilities for University of Wisconsin-Madison, on Wednesday walked into the state Building Commission meeting at the Capitol after the meeting was ...

Tagged with: Alan Fish Building Commission Michael Ellis Pocan Risser University of Wisconsin System UW System

By James Briggs Gov. Scott Walker on Tuesday signaled a change in focus from job creation to managing Wisconsin’s budget. In excerpts of Walker’s State of the State speech, which were released before he was scheduled to speak late Tuesday, ...

Tagged with: economy jobs Michael Ellis Scott Walker State of the State

By James Briggs The state Legislature is moving at a brisk pace this week, pushing pieces of Gov. Scott Walker’s special session agenda closer to his desk. Walker on Monday signed his first bill, which will make contributions to health ...

Tagged with: bill Erpenbach Fred Risser Jauch jobs Legislature Michael Ellis Obama Scott Fitzgerald special session

Sen. Michael Ellis, R-Neenah, is a forceful speaker. So it pains the senator to be relegated behind a podium, directing proceedings and fulfilling his duties as Senate president. On Tuesday, though, Ellis could no longer stand back and listen to the ...

Tagged with: capitolisms Michael Ellis