Covered a lot with Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska), including the GOP-led Legislature ending its work for the year by Feb. 19.

We looked at bills butting up against that clock to legalize recreational marijuana, ban cellphones in schools, and exempt tips from taxes — thought Pfaff would like to see that coupled with raising the minimum wage.

We also discussed the situation with ICE in Wisconsin and whether the Legislature could implement regulations, such as banning agents from wearing masks.

Additionally, Pfaff talked about passing "Bubba’s Law." Bubba’s Fund recently got funding to provide defibrillators to every childcare facility in the city of La Crosse and Pfaff now wants to see the $1 million initiative expanded statewide.

Pfaff acknowledged that many of the bills he’d like to see pass won’t move forward with Republicans keeping such a short legislative clock.

He also broke down why "no-brainer" legislation — like securing defibrillators for all state childcare facilities — likely won’t clear the GOP, nor will any kind of legal marijuana.

Covered a lot with Wisconsin state Sen. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska), including the GOP-led Legislature ending its work for the year by Feb. 19.
We looked at bills butting up against that clock to legalize recreational marijuana, ban cellphones in schools, and exempt tips from taxes &mdash; thought Pfaff would like to see that coupled with raising the minimum wage.
We also discussed the situation with ICE in Wisconsin and whether the Legislature could implement regulations, such as banning agents from wearing masks.
Additionally, Pfaff talked about passing "Bubba&rsquo;s Law." Bubba&rsquo;s Fund recently got funding to provide defibrillators to every childcare facility in the city of La Crosse and Pfaff now wants to see the $1 million initiative expanded statewide.
Pfaff acknowledged that many of the bills he&rsquo;d like to see pass won&rsquo;t move forward with Republicans keeping such a short legislative clock.
He also broke down why "no-brainer" legislation &mdash; like securing defibrillators for all state childcare facilities &mdash; likely won&rsquo;t clear the GOP, nor will any kind of legal marijuana.

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

Onalaska state Sen. Pfaff on school cellphone ban, no tax on tips vs. raising minimum wage and regulating ICE

The Wisconsin Badgers are pushing for a state funding bill that would take $14.6 million in taxpayer money to essentially help pay its players.

We tried to solve that dilemma with University of Wisconsin Athletic Director Chris McIntosh by joking that the beer sales should have been enough, but perhaps they need to move all the Badgers volleyball games to Camp Randall, where sellout crowds would surely bring in more revenue. 

McIntosh explains why even those ideas wouldn't be enough to bridge the gap.

The AD joined Friday just after the Badgers upset No. 9 Illinois in the Big Ten tournament — so that’s where we started — but the conversation quickly turned to the $20.5 million price tag now required to stay competitive in Division I sports. 

Thanks to a massive lawsuit settlement, the "pay-to-play" era is officially here, and McIntosh discusses the dilemma the university claims to have trying to satisfy the star players while keeping the less profitable sports and Olympic programs afloat.

There’s no guarantee the state Senate actually votes on the legislation this week, or that it will pass, despite sailing through the Assembly with a 95-1 vote. The Senate is only scheduled to work 1-2 days before taking the rest of 2026 off — meaning the future of the Badgers' budget is currently racing against a very short clock.

We ran McIntosh through various scenarios, weighing the positives and negatives of the bill. We covered the open records dilemma, the potential fallout if the funding stalls, plus we get into the "how we got here" context — from the transfer portal and NIL money to the court rulings that have changed college sports forever.

The Wisconsin Badgers are pushing for a state funding bill that would take $14.6 million in taxpayer money to essentially help pay its players.
We tried to solve that dilemma with University of Wisconsin Athletic Director Chris McIntosh by joking that the beer sales should have been enough, but perhaps they need to move all the Badgers volleyball games to Camp Randall, where sellout crowds would surely bring in more revenue.&nbsp;
McIntosh explains why even those ideas wouldn't be enough to bridge the gap.
The AD joined Friday just after the Badgers upset No. 9 Illinois in the Big Ten tournament &mdash; so that&rsquo;s where we started &mdash; but the conversation quickly turned to the $20.5 million price tag now required to stay competitive in Division I sports.&nbsp;
Thanks to a massive lawsuit settlement, the "pay-to-play" era is officially here, and McIntosh discusses the dilemma the university claims to have trying to satisfy the star players while keeping the less profitable sports and Olympic programs afloat.
There&rsquo;s no guarantee the state Senate actually votes on the legislation this week, or that it will pass, despite sailing through the Assembly with a 95-1 vote. The Senate is only scheduled to work 1-2 days before taking the rest of 2026 off &mdash; meaning the future of the Badgers' budget is currently racing against a very short clock.
We ran McIntosh through various scenarios, weighing the positives and negatives of the bill. We covered the open records dilemma, the potential fallout if the funding stalls, plus we get into the "how we got here" context &mdash; from the transfer portal and NIL money to the court rulings that have changed college sports forever.

Wisconsin's AD on why Badgers need $14.6 million in taxpayer money to pay players

Giving UW-Madison $14.6 million in taxpayer money to pay players, will sports gambling become legal and gas prices going up were the big topics we covered Friday with economist, Dr. Adam Hoffer.

Hofffer is the director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation and began by explaining what excise tax is — or sin taxes, like gambling, alcohol, marijuana. Another one of those excise taxes is gas, and Hoffer explained how Wisconsin’s gas prices could skyrocket because of the war in Iran — if certain Legislators had their way — but the way the state taxes gas now, makes the most sense. 

In the sports world, the Wisconsin state Senate is going to work one or two more days next week, before calling it quits for the rest of 2026. Among the flurry of bills that could get a vote, one would be on legalizing sports gambling, and Hoffer explains how that might work — and how that will immediately trigger lawsuits.

The other bill is a request from UW-Madison for $14.6 million. This money would be for “facilities” but it is a way to offset costs of Division I college now having the option to pay their players up to $20.5 million total a year. Hoffer explains some of the pros and cons for the state, the university and the taxpayer around that bill.

We also look at how the sports gambling bill could help the "paying the players" request. 

 

Giving UW-Madison $14.6 million in taxpayer money to pay players, will sports gambling become legal and gas prices going up were the big topics we covered Friday with economist, Dr. Adam Hoffer.
Hofffer is the director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation and began by explaining what excise tax is &mdash; or sin taxes, like gambling, alcohol, marijuana. Another one of those excise taxes is gas, and Hoffer explained how Wisconsin&rsquo;s gas prices could skyrocket because of the war in Iran &mdash; if certain Legislators had their way &mdash; but the way the state taxes gas now, makes the most sense.&nbsp;
In the sports world, the Wisconsin state Senate is going to work one or two more days next week, before calling it quits for the rest of 2026. Among the flurry of bills that could get a vote, one would be on legalizing sports gambling, and Hoffer explains how that might work &mdash; and how that will immediately trigger lawsuits.
The other bill is a request from UW-Madison for $14.6 million. This money would be for &ldquo;facilities&rdquo; but it is a way to offset costs of Division I college now having the option to pay their players up to $20.5 million total a year. Hoffer explains some of the pros and cons for the state, the university and the taxpayer around that bill.
We also look at how the sports gambling bill could help the "paying the players" request.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Economist Adam Hoffer on Badgers wanting $15M from taxpayers to pay athletes and legalizing sports gambling

It's the world's shortest race, but it's been going on for a long time. Saturday is 95.7 the Rock's 21st annual St. Paddy's Day .01K down Pearl Street in La Crosse. Bags from the Rock stopped by to help preview the event and tell some stories of past races. This is the type of race anyone can do, and brag about getting a coveted shirt that proves you're a runner. Registration happens online here or beginning at 3 p.m. at Brothers. The race happens at 6 p.m. and ends around 6:01 p.m. — if you take your time.

It's the world's shortest race, but it's been going on for a long time. Saturday is 95.7 the Rock's 21st annual St. Paddy's Day .01K down Pearl Street in La Crosse. Bags from the Rock stopped by to help preview the event and tell some stories of past races. This is the type of race anyone can do, and brag about getting a coveted shirt that proves you're a runner. Registration happens online here or beginning at 3 p.m. at Brothers. The race happens at 6 p.m. and ends around 6:01 p.m. &mdash; if you take your time.

Onalaska state Sen. Pfaff on school cellphone ban, no tax on tips vs. raising minimum wage and regulating ICE

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