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

Ron Kind interview with Rick Solem

Wisconsin Democrats are preparing to take control of the state Legislature, with plans to increase shared revenue for local governments, boost school funding and expand access to health care. But where will the money come from — and how much of the state's budget surplus can they safely spend?

Adam Murphy, a Milwaukee-area business owner and former Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, weighs in on the challenges facing the incoming majority. Murphy questions how sustainable Wisconsin's current surplus really is, considers potential sources of additional revenue and makes the case that investments in education and workers can pay off for the broader economy.

Murphy also talks about how artificial intelligence is changing the work programmers do, including the growing need to understand customers rather than simply write code. There was also a quick mention of the hilarity of Palantir CEO Alex Karp now telling every media outlet he's a Democrat, days after a blue wave.

We also hit on corporate priorities and the billions companies spend buying back their own stock. Murphy argues businesses should put customers and employees ahead of shareholders, and agrees with the idea of banning stock buybacks — a question that could face Democrats in Congress.

In this conversation:


Can Democrats pay for their priorities? Shared revenue, school funding and expanded health care — and the question of whether Wisconsin can afford the agenda.


How solid is the state's surplus? Murphy's concerns about relying on corporate income and sales taxes, what happens when the economy slows, and where else the state could find money.
Paying for priorities: Potential revenue sources, education spending and raising the minimum wage.
AI and the future of business: How AI is changing the work programmers do and how businesses should serve customers.
Corporate profits and public policy: Stock buybacks, government incentives and why Murphy believes businesses should invest more in their workers.
The Brewers stadium deal: Whether public investment makes economic sense and who should benefit from development around the stadium.

Murphy is the owner of a small Wisconsin business called Big Bang LLC. He also ran for U.S. Senate and state Senate as a Democrat in Wisconsin. He holds degrees in economics and political science.

Wisconsin Democrats are preparing to take control of the state Legislature, with plans to increase shared revenue for local governments, boost school funding and expand access to health care. But where will the money come from &mdash; and how much of the state's budget surplus can they safely spend?
Adam Murphy, a Milwaukee-area business owner and former Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, weighs in on the challenges facing the incoming majority. Murphy questions how sustainable Wisconsin's current surplus really is, considers potential sources of additional revenue and makes the case that investments in education and workers can pay off for the broader economy.
Murphy also talks about how artificial intelligence is changing the work programmers do, including the growing need to understand customers rather than simply write code. There was also a quick mention of the hilarity of Palantir CEO Alex Karp now telling every media outlet he's a Democrat, days after a blue wave.
We also hit on corporate priorities and the billions companies spend buying back their own stock. Murphy argues businesses should put customers and employees ahead of shareholders, and agrees with the idea of banning stock buybacks &mdash; a question that could face Democrats in Congress.
In this conversation:
<ul>
<li>
Can Democrats pay for their priorities? Shared revenue, school funding and expanded health care &mdash; and the question of whether Wisconsin can afford the agenda.
</li>
<li>
How solid is the state's surplus? Murphy's concerns about relying on corporate income and sales taxes, what happens when the economy slows, and where else the state could find money.
</li>
<li>Paying for priorities: Potential revenue sources, education spending and raising the minimum wage.</li>
<li>AI and the future of business: How AI is changing the work programmers do and how businesses should serve customers.</li>
<li>Corporate profits and public policy: Stock buybacks, government incentives and why Murphy believes businesses should invest more in their workers.</li>
<li>The Brewers stadium deal: Whether public investment makes economic sense and who should benefit from development around the stadium.</li>
</ul>
Murphy is the owner of a small Wisconsin business called <a href="https://bigbangllc.com/">Big Bang LLC</a>. He also ran for U.S. Senate and state Senate as a Democrat in Wisconsin. He holds degrees in economics and political science.

Can Wisconsin Democrats afford their big plans?

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>

Ron Kind interview with Rick Solem

WIZM - La Crosse

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