Viterbo's Keith Knutson joined us to talk Trump losing his 47th high-profile administration official, a special election in N.C. and how that relates to one coming up in Wisconsin. We also hit on gerrymandering and Constitution Day at Viterbo.

Viterbo's Keith Knutson joined us to talk Trump losing his 47th high-profile administration official, a special election in N.C. and how that relates to one coming up in Wisconsin. We also hit on gerrymandering and Constitution Day at Viterbo.

Listener conversations about the days events in and around the La Crosse area.  Weekdays from 5-6pm on WIZM 1410AM and 92.3FM

La Crosse Talk PM WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

Rick Solem talks about the days events in and around the La Crosse area. Weekdays from 5:07-6pm on 1410 WIZM

WIZM - La Crosse

In studio, Viterbo political science prof. Dr. Keith Knutson

Wisconsin Democrats are about to have all the power. In Congress, they'll have control but there's still President Donald Trump. Now, the question is whether they can deliver.

La Crosse County Democratic Party chair Wyatt Molling in studio talks about what comes after the party's big election victories — and what Democrats need to do with the power they've gained.

Democrats face competing expectations in Congress: work with President Donald Trump and Republicans to address affordability, or use their new majority to confront the administration. Molling sees a need for both, but says Democrats can't simply try to straddle the middle.

In Wisconsin, Democrats have another challenge: governing after over a decade in the minority.

Molling talks about the top priorities — a BadgerCare public option, property tax reform, struggling rural schools and hospitals, and the questions surrounding data centers. He also acknowledges that Democrats have disappointed him before — and says the party has to prove it can govern effectively.

In this conversation:


The pressure to deliver: Molling talks about the competing expectations facing Democrats in Congress and why they may have to balance cooperation with confrontation.


What Democrats can actually get done: Molling argues for putting popular standalone bills on Trump's desk and making him decide whether to sign them.


The gerrymandering fight: Should Congress pursue a nationwide ban, and what happens if Democratic-led states decide to redraw their own maps?


Wisconsin's Democratic trifecta: Molling discusses the top priorities for Democrats, after not having the Legislature since 2011.


The challenges facing rural Wisconsin: Rural schools, hospitals and small businesses face different challenges than their counterparts in larger communities. What can the new Democratic majority do about it?


Data centers and government transparency: Why Molling supports a data center moratorium and wants to prohibit public officials from signing corporate nondisclosure agreements.

Wisconsin Democrats are about to have all the power. In Congress, they'll have control but there's still President Donald Trump. Now, the question is whether they can deliver.
La Crosse County Democratic Party chair Wyatt Molling in studio talks about what comes after the party's big election victories &mdash; and what Democrats need to do with the power they've gained.
Democrats face competing expectations in Congress: work with President Donald Trump and Republicans to address affordability, or use their new majority to confront the administration. Molling sees a need for both, but says Democrats can't simply try to straddle the middle.
In Wisconsin, Democrats have another challenge: governing after over a decade in the minority.
Molling talks about the top priorities &mdash; a BadgerCare public option, property tax reform, struggling rural schools and hospitals, and the questions surrounding data centers. He also acknowledges that Democrats have disappointed him before &mdash; and says the party has to prove it can govern effectively.
In this conversation:
<ul>
<li>
The pressure to deliver: Molling talks about the competing expectations facing Democrats in Congress and why they may have to balance cooperation with confrontation.
</li>
<li>
What Democrats can actually get done: Molling argues for putting popular standalone bills on Trump's desk and making him decide whether to sign them.
</li>
<li>
The gerrymandering fight: Should Congress pursue a nationwide ban, and what happens if Democratic-led states decide to redraw their own maps?
</li>
<li>
Wisconsin's Democratic trifecta: Molling discusses the top priorities for Democrats, after not having the Legislature since 2011.
</li>
<li>
The challenges facing rural Wisconsin: Rural schools, hospitals and small businesses face different challenges than their counterparts in larger communities. What can the new Democratic majority do about it?
</li>
<li>
Data centers and government transparency: Why Molling supports a data center moratorium and wants to prohibit public officials from signing corporate nondisclosure agreements.
</li>
</ul>

La Crosse Dem chair Molling: Can Democrats deliver with all that power?

La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in studio breaking down two major issues facing the city: competing proposals for a city administrator and finalizing the 2027 budget.

The City Council takes up the administrator proposals Thursday, including the mayor's non-charter ordinance and a competing charter ordinance from council members Larry Sleznikow and Aaron Newberry. Washington-Spivey explains why he believes a city administrator could help city operations, but why he doesn't support the charter version.

Washington-Spivey also talks about his priorities as mayor and what he would do with more time if a city administrator took on some of the city's day-to-day responsibilities.

The conversation also turns to the city's budget, which is expected to be finalized Monday. The proposed property tax increase has climbed from $13.60 to $18.10 per $100,000 in assessed value since last month's discussion. We discuss the idea of using reserve funding versus raising taxes — or a combination of both.

There's also a discussion about the city's decision to end its Flock camera contract, a major Army Corps of Engineers floodplain study planned for La Crosse's north side, and a proposal to eliminate certain building permit fees. 

Topics covered:


City administrator debate: Why the mayor supports creating the position but opposes the competing charter ordinance, and how the two proposals would change the reporting structure.


2027 city budget: The proposed $18.10 property tax increase per $100,000, the mayor's plan, and Monday's final budget meeting.


Flock cameras: Why the city is ending its contract with the license plate reader company and what options might exist for a city-controlled camera system.


North side floodplain study: The Army Corps of Engineers study, which could help determine whether portions of La Crosse can be removed from the floodplain.


Building permit fees: A proposal to eliminate fees for certain window and door replacements, while retaining requirements for properties in the floodplain.

La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey in studio breaking down two major issues facing the city: competing proposals for a city administrator and finalizing the 2027 budget.
The City Council takes up the administrator proposals Thursday, including the mayor's non-charter ordinance and a competing charter ordinance from council members Larry Sleznikow and Aaron Newberry. Washington-Spivey explains why he believes a city administrator could help city operations, but why he doesn't support the charter version.
Washington-Spivey also talks about his priorities as mayor and what he would do with more time if a city administrator took on some of the city's day-to-day responsibilities.
The conversation also turns to the city's budget, which is expected to be finalized Monday. The proposed property tax increase has climbed from $13.60 to $18.10 per $100,000 in assessed value since last month's discussion. We discuss the idea of using reserve funding versus raising taxes &mdash; or a combination of both.
There's also a discussion about the city's decision to end its Flock camera contract, a major Army Corps of Engineers floodplain study planned for La Crosse's north side, and a proposal to eliminate certain building permit fees.&nbsp;
Topics covered:
<ul>
<li>
City administrator debate: Why the mayor supports creating the position but opposes the competing charter ordinance, and how the two proposals would change the reporting structure.
</li>
<li>
2027 city budget: The proposed $18.10 property tax increase per $100,000, the mayor's plan, and Monday's final budget meeting.
</li>
<li>
Flock cameras: Why the city is ending its contract with the license plate reader company and what options might exist for a city-controlled camera system.
</li>
<li>
North side floodplain study: The Army Corps of Engineers study, which could help determine whether portions of La Crosse can be removed from the floodplain.
</li>
<li>
Building permit fees: A proposal to eliminate fees for certain window and door replacements, while retaining requirements for properties in the floodplain.
</li>
</ul>

La Crosse mayor discusses city administrator debate, tax increase

La Crosse City Council president Tamra Dickinson in studio ahead of a busy stretch, including the final meeting on next year's city budget and dueling city administrator proposals. 

The city is facing a $681,000 budget gap, and a council committee last month favored raising property taxes rather than using money from the city's reserves — and those property tax numbers increased $5 since that meeting. Could the full council change course before approving the budget?

The council also has two competing proposals for creating a city administrator position — a charter ordinance authored by two council members and a non-charter proposal from Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey.

Dickinson explains why she believes the council needs more time to work through the details, what questions still need to be answered and why she favors the mayor's approach over the charter proposal.

Other things we discussed included council Districts 1-6 being up for election in April and whether Dickinson will run for a second term. We also hit on voters in the fall election approving the creation of a new city healthcare committee, what it could accomplish and how residents can get involved.

Lastly, we ended the show briefly discussing the city ending its $8,000 contract with Flock for next year.election.

Here's what we get into:

• The budget decision: Why a council committee favored raising property taxes instead of dipping into reserves to cover the $681,000 shortfall — and whether the full council could change that decision Monday.

• A bigger tax increase: The difference between the originally projected $13.60 and the revised $18.10 increase per $100,000 of property value.

• The city's reserves: How much money La Crosse has set aside and why Dickinson believes there's room to use some of it.

• Two city administrator proposals: The differences between the charter ordinance and the mayor's non-charter proposal.

• Why the rush? Dickinson questions why the council is revisiting the issue without more discussion, saying it needs to establish what the position would actually do and how it would be funded.

• Her preferred approach: Why Dickinson favors the non-charter proposal, including the ability to make future changes without needing a supermajority.

• The healthcare committee: What the newly approved committee is supposed to accomplish, who could serve and how it could help bring healthcare concerns to state and federal officials.

• Looking ahead to April: Dickinson confirms she's planning to run for reelection in the city's 1st District.

• Flock cameras: The eight license plate-reading cameras have been covered and taken out of service, eliminating an $8,000 expense from the city's budget. Could La Crosse eventually invest in its own camera system and keep control of the data?

La Crosse City Council president Tamra Dickinson in studio ahead of a busy stretch, including the final meeting on next year's city budget and dueling city administrator proposals.&nbsp;
The city is facing a $681,000 budget gap, and a council committee last month favored raising property taxes rather than using money from the city's reserves &mdash; and those property tax numbers increased $5 since that meeting. Could the full council change course before approving the budget?
The council also has two competing proposals for creating a city administrator position &mdash; a charter ordinance authored by two council members and a non-charter proposal from Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey.
Dickinson explains why she believes the council needs more time to work through the details, what questions still need to be answered and why she favors the mayor's approach over the charter proposal.
Other things we discussed included council Districts 1-6 being up for election in April and whether Dickinson will run for a second term. We also hit on voters in the fall election approving the creation of a new city healthcare committee, what it could accomplish and how residents can get involved.
Lastly, we ended the show briefly discussing the city ending its $8,000 contract with Flock for next year.election.
Here's what we get into:
&bull; The budget decision: Why a council committee favored raising property taxes instead of dipping into reserves to cover the $681,000 shortfall &mdash; and whether the full council could change that decision Monday.
&bull; A bigger tax increase: The difference between the originally projected $13.60 and the revised $18.10 increase per $100,000 of property value.
&bull; The city's reserves: How much money La Crosse has set aside and why Dickinson believes there's room to use some of it.
&bull; Two city administrator proposals: The differences between the charter ordinance and the mayor's non-charter proposal.
&bull; Why the rush? Dickinson questions why the council is revisiting the issue without more discussion, saying it needs to establish what the position would actually do and how it would be funded.
&bull; Her preferred approach: Why Dickinson favors the non-charter proposal, including the ability to make future changes without needing a supermajority.
&bull; The healthcare committee: What the newly approved committee is supposed to accomplish, who could serve and how it could help bring healthcare concerns to state and federal officials.
&bull; Looking ahead to April: Dickinson confirms she's planning to run for reelection in the city's 1st District.
&bull; Flock cameras: The eight license plate-reading cameras have been covered and taken out of service, eliminating an $8,000 expense from the city's budget. Could La Crosse eventually invest in its own camera system and keep control of the data?

In studio, Viterbo political science prof. Dr. Keith Knutson

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