Republican Wisconsin lawmakers on Tuesday rejected calls from Gov. Tony Evers and other Democrats to ask voters whether the state should continue to ban abortions, opting instead to advance a ballot question on welfare eligibility.
Author Archives: Harm Venhuizen / Associated Press
Harm Venhuizen is a state government reporter with The Associated Press in Madison, Wisconsin, primarily covering elections and voting rights. Prior to this, Venhuizen interned at Military Times. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he served as editor-in-chief of Chimes, the student paper. During his time at Chimes, he earned recognition for his investigative coverage of controversial personnel decisions, sexual assault and university employment policies against same-sex marriage. Venhuizen grew up on a small farm in rural Wisconsin, and spent a summer working as a wildfire firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service.
Posted inGovernment
Wisconsin voting groups criticize GOP election commissioner who celebrated reduced Milwaukee turnout
Black and Hispanic voters in Wisconsin’s largest city say a Republican election commissioner publicly applauding GOP strategies he credits with depressing minority turnout are a public admission of a conservative strategy in place for years.
Posted inGovernment
Wisconsin Republicans block ‘conversion therapy’ ban
Wisconsin Republicans have again allowed therapists, social workers and counselors to try to change LGBTQ clients’ gender identities and sexual orientations — a scientifically discredited practice known as conversion therapy.
Posted inGovernment
Wisconsin Republicans try to skirt vetoes, let voters decide
Republican lawmakers are moving quickly in the opening days of the legislative session to work around Wisconsin’s Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who vetoed a record number of bills from the GOP-controlled Legislature in his first term.
Posted inGovernment
Two freshmen revive Wisconsin Legislature’s socialist caucus
It’s been 90 years, but socialism is back in the Wisconsin Legislature.
Posted inGovernment
Wisconsin Republicans, Evers set to clash on budget
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans who control the state Legislature are poised to clash with newly reelected Democratic Gov. Tony Evers over tax cuts, how to fund local governments and whether to expand the private school choice program to wealthier families. But even though Evers and Republicans are on opposite sides of issues like abortion […]
Posted inGovernment
Wisconsin GOP leader wants to change military voting
The Republican leader of the Wisconsin Senate said Thursday that he is considering legislation that would change the state’s military absentee voting laws, reversing his previous position on the issue. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu’s support for taking action comes after some members of the bipartisan Wisconsin Election Commission said changes to the law could be the […]
Posted inEconomy, Government
Audit calls for transparency on Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ COVID relief spending
A nonpartisan audit released Wednesday called on Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to be more transparent about how he distributes billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
Posted inGovernment
Election nonprofit that drew GOP ire in 2020 renews grants
A nonprofit group that became a point of controversy for distributing hundreds of millions of dollars in election grants during the 2020 presidential campaign is releasing a fresh round of money to local election offices, including in states where Republican lawmakers tried to ban the practice.
Posted inGovernment
Wisconsin election officials weigh changes to military voting
Wisconsin election officials are weighing whether changes to military absentee voting are needed after a top Milwaukee election official was charged with fraud in false requests for military absentee ballots just days before the Nov. 8 election.
Posted inGovernment
Can Wisconsin Gov. Evers and GOP Legislature work together?
Can newly reelected Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and the even-more Republican Wisconsin Legislature work better over the next two years than they did the previous four? That’s the $5 billion question.
Posted inGovernment
Milwaukee elections worker fired over false ballot requests
A top Milwaukee elections official has been fired after sending falsely obtained military absentee ballots to the home of a Republican state lawmaker who has been an outspoken critic of how the 2020 election was administered, the city’s mayor said Thursday.