Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings in the WIZM studio Monday for La Crosse Talk PM discussing some of the bills passed in the final session, including one that has La Crosse roots. We also talked how she's getting to know her new district. 

One of the bills we discussed that Billings got passed, after years of work, is named Steve's Law, after Steve Johnson. He was a Coulee Region native who lost his sight as an adult and passed away in 2019. The law helps those with disabilities make outdoor recreation more accessible.

Billings will also have a new district upon winning in November, so she talked a little about getting to know those voters by telling a story about Deke Slayton, as she went to the 100th birthday celebration in Sparta a few weekends ago.

We also discussed a couple of funning things, like whether men ever put their coats over puddles for women to walk over, do men still lead when dancing and how we don't need wait staff singing happy birthday at a restaurant. 

Oh, and how Billings is about to see her first NBA game — the Timberwolves-Cavs on Friday — so we played her some Anthony Edwards highlights. Later in the evening Edwards had what he called the best dunk of his career and also dislocated his finger — so we may have jinxed Billings' first game.

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Jill Billings in the WIZM studio Monday for La Crosse Talk PM discussing some of the bills passed in the final session, including one that has La Crosse roots. We also talked how she's getting to know her new district. 
One of the bills we discussed that Billings got passed, after years of work, is named Steve's Law, after Steve Johnson. He was a Coulee Region native who lost his sight as an adult and passed away in 2019. The law helps those with disabilities make outdoor recreation more accessible.
Billings will also have a new district upon winning in November, so she talked a little about getting to know those voters by telling a story about Deke Slayton, as she went to the 100th birthday celebration in Sparta a few weekends ago.
We also discussed a couple of funning things, like whether men ever put their coats over puddles for women to walk over, do men still lead when dancing and how we don't need wait staff singing happy birthday at a restaurant. 
Oh, and how Billings is about to see her first NBA game — the Timberwolves-Cavs on Friday — so we played her some Anthony Edwards highlights. Later in the evening Edwards had what he called the best dunk of his career and also dislocated his finger — so we may have jinxed Billings' first game.

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

La Crosse Assembly Rep. Jill Billings on outdoor laws passed, including one honoring Coulee Region native Steve Johnson, plus her new district

No Fazoli’s, no drink refill station at McDonald’s, is ranch dressing and cheese curds a Wisconsin thing — just some of the things we utilized UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky for on the Rick Solem Show on Friday.

We did also talk some politics with some new revelations about the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal falling through. Chergosky called it “Democrat Drama,” with the governor being reassured by Republicans that they had the votes for it to pass.

That deal, — passed overwhelmingly by the Assembly — was voted down by the all the Democrats in the state Senate, plus three Republicans, would was for no tax on tips/overtime, $300 rebate checks, lower property taxes for a year, and school funding.

That deal — passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly — was voted down in the state Senate by all 15 Democrats plus three Republicans. The package would have eliminated tax on tips/overtime, provided $300 rebate checks, lowered property taxes for a year, and increased school funding for a year.  

The conversation focused on the odd timing of the bill, Republicans (who control the Legislature) not having the votes, and whether it could be brought back — since legislators decided they were done legislating for the year back in April.

In terms of the non-political conversation, we brought up the Fazoli's in Onalaska announcing it was closing for good last Wednesday, and we proposed what should replace it. We also went down a rabbit hole with McDonald's ending its drink refill stations for customers. That led to how people don't really go into McDonald's much anymore — except for Chergosky, who revealed his young daughter very much likes ranch dressing. Is that a Wisconsin thing? 

We also discussed Google changing its search engine to basically provide AI answers, killing the SEO industry designed to get your website at the top of the page.

No Fazoli&rsquo;s, no drink refill station at McDonald&rsquo;s, is ranch dressing and cheese curds a Wisconsin thing &mdash; just some of the things we utilized UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky for on the Rick Solem Show on Friday.
We did also talk some politics with some new revelations about the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal falling through. Chergosky called it &ldquo;Democrat Drama,&rdquo; with the governor being reassured by Republicans that they had the votes for it to pass.
That deal, &mdash; passed overwhelmingly by the Assembly &mdash; was voted down by the all the Democrats in the state Senate, plus three Republicans, would was for no tax on tips/overtime, $300 rebate checks, lower property taxes for a year, and school funding.
That deal &mdash; passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly &mdash; was voted down in the state Senate by all 15 Democrats plus three Republicans. The package would have eliminated tax on tips/overtime, provided $300 rebate checks, lowered property taxes for a year, and increased school funding for a year. &nbsp;
The conversation focused on the odd timing of the bill, Republicans (who control the Legislature) not having the votes, and whether it could be brought back &mdash; since legislators decided they were done legislating for the year back in April.
In terms of the non-political conversation, we brought up the Fazoli's in Onalaska announcing it was closing for good last Wednesday, and we proposed what should replace it. We also went down a rabbit hole with McDonald's ending its drink refill stations for customers. That led to how people don't really go into McDonald's much anymore &mdash; except for Chergosky, who revealed his young daughter very much likes ranch dressing. Is that a Wisconsin thing?&nbsp;
We also discussed Google changing its search engine to basically provide AI answers, killing the SEO industry designed to get your website at the top of the page.

UW-L political scientist Chergosky says farewell to Fazoli's and talks WI "Democrat Drama"

A discussion about Flock cameras, the role he played in shutting down the Ridgland Farms beagle breeding facility and La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke's thoughts after his office put away Josie Dikeman for the death of a 6-year-old.

Those were the topics we covered Wednesday on the Rick Solem Show with Gruenke, who we learned has a beagle himself.

But we started with the scope of the Dikeman trial in La Crosse County, after she was convicted in the death of a 6-year-old in her care.

After that, we discussed Gruenke's role as a special prosecutor against that beagle breeding and testing facility. Why he was given the job, after the Dane County DA refused to charge Ridgland Farms. And how it all led to 1,500 of the 2,000 beagles there being freed.

Lastly, we talked Flock cameras, what they are, how they help and the issues people have with them. One of those was abuse of that info, where Gruenke talks about how governments and private businesses have a lot of our information, and how that needs to be protected.

A discussion about Flock cameras, the role he played in shutting down the Ridgland Farms beagle breeding facility and La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke's thoughts after his office put away Josie Dikeman for the death of a 6-year-old.
Those were the topics we covered Wednesday on the Rick Solem Show with Gruenke, who we learned has a beagle himself.
But we started with the scope of the Dikeman trial in La Crosse County, after she was convicted in the death of a 6-year-old in her care.
After that, we discussed Gruenke's role as a special prosecutor against that beagle breeding and testing facility. Why he was given the job, after the Dane County DA refused to charge Ridgland Farms. And how it all led to 1,500 of the 2,000 beagles there being freed.
Lastly, we talked Flock cameras, what they are, how they help and the issues people have with them. One of those was abuse of that info, where Gruenke talks about how governments and private businesses have a lot of our information, and how that needs to be protected.

Flock cams and shutting down the beagle breeding facility with La Crosse DA Tim Gruenke

Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Jill Billings could have made some big money betting on the prediction markets over the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal that fell through last week.

Now, though, that's illegal, after a Gov. Tony Evers executive order banning state employees and their families from making those types of bets.

We get into all of it with Billings (D-La Crosse) — specifically how the deal to lower property taxes, send money to schools, give out $300 rebate checks and end taxes on tips and overtime fell through. Billings talks about her process for supporting the deal, but also the specific trade-offs she wasn't happy with.

Plus, Billings tells the story about a legislator's joke that hinted to her the deal was not going to pass the state Senate — getting back to how she could have made a big bet on the deal.

We also discussed how the Legislature had just three days to vote on this $1.8 billion package, and compared that to the $500 million Milwaukee Brewers stadium funding deal that was hashed out in public for over a month. 

Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Jill Billings could have made some big money betting on the prediction markets over the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal that fell through last week.
Now, though, that's illegal, after a Gov. Tony Evers executive order banning state employees and their families from making those types of bets.
We get into all of it with Billings (D-La Crosse) &mdash; specifically how the deal to&nbsp;lower property taxes, send money to schools, give out $300 rebate checks and end taxes on tips and overtime fell through.&nbsp;Billings talks about her process for supporting the deal, but also the specific trade-offs she wasn't happy with.
Plus, Billings tells the story about a legislator's joke that hinted to her the deal was not going to pass the state Senate &mdash; getting back to how she could have made a big bet on the deal.
We also discussed how the Legislature had just three days to vote on this $1.8 billion package, and compared that to the $500 million Milwaukee Brewers stadium funding deal that was hashed out in public for&nbsp;over a month.&nbsp;

La Crosse Assembly Rep. Jill Billings on outdoor laws passed, including one honoring Coulee Region native Steve Johnson, plus her new district

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