The Dueling pianos of Wisconsin's state Legislature

State Rep. Steve Doyle of Onalaska joined to talk about the fight over passing legislation in Wisconsin, which hasn't happened since April 14. After, we break down some of the proposals by the Ds and Rs in government.

The Dueling pianos of Wisconsin's state Legislature
State Rep. Steve Doyle of Onalaska joined to talk about the fight over passing legislation in Wisconsin, which hasn't happened since April 14. After, we break down some of the proposals by the Ds and Rs in government.

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

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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

The Dueling pianos of Wisconsin's state Legislature

UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio breaking down the Wisconsin governor’s debate between David Crowley and Tom Tiffany and the 3rd U.S. House District debate between Rebecca Cooke and Derrick Van Orden. 

Which candidates helped themselves, which had awkward moments, and what did we learn about their positions on taxes, spending, guns and the 2020 election?

 Chergosky also explains why the governor’s debate may have left voters wanting another round.

Before that, though, we got into a growing concern for elected officials: threats against their safety and their families. 

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway says the threats have become a factor in her decision not to seek reelection. Van Orden has described death threats that led him to move his home. How widespread is the problem, and what can be done to hold people accountable without making things worse?

We started the show with WIZM’s Brad Williams to talk about La Crosse Public Schools potential lawsuit against social media companies over claims their platforms are designed to be addictive. Williams also shares what he’s seeing on the campaign trail, with candidates and high-profile political figures making stops every day in the Coulee Region.

Topic highlights:
The governor’s debate: Why Chergosky thinks another debate — or a different format — could give voters a better look at Crowley and Tiffany.
Crowley and the Democratic Socialists: Why Crowley struggled when asked which parts of Francesca Hong’s Democratic Socialist agenda he supports.
Tiffany and the 2020 election: How his explanation involving Zuckerberg-funded election grants compares with the reasons he gave at the time for challenging the election results.
Taxes and spending: Both candidates promise to fund Wisconsin’s priorities. Chergosky examines the unanswered questions about how they would make the numbers work.
Cooke’s position on assault rifles: Why her debate answer stood out and prompted a response from Van Orden’s campaign.
Van Orden’s answer on government: What his comments about becoming more disgusted with the federal government reveal about the challenges of getting legislation passed.
Threats against elected officials: Why Rhodes-Conway says she won’t seek another term, Van Orden’s account of threats against his family, and the difficult question of how to hold perpetrators accountable.
La Crosse Schools and social media: Brad Williams explains the potential lawsuit and the legal argument that social media companies designed addictive platforms.
Williams on the campaign trail: Williams recounts a busy week of campaign appearances, including visits from members of the Trump administration and candidates running for statewide office.

UW-La Crosse political science professor Dr. Anthony Chergosky in studio breaking down the Wisconsin governor&rsquo;s debate between David Crowley and Tom Tiffany and the 3rd U.S. House District debate between Rebecca Cooke and Derrick Van Orden.&nbsp;
Which candidates helped themselves, which had awkward moments, and what did we learn about their positions on taxes, spending, guns and the 2020 election?
&nbsp;Chergosky also explains why the governor&rsquo;s debate may have left voters wanting another round.
Before that, though, we got into a growing concern for elected officials: threats against their safety and their families.&nbsp;
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway says the threats have become a factor in her decision not to seek reelection. Van Orden has described death threats that led him to move his home. How widespread is the problem, and what can be done to hold people accountable without making things worse?
We started the show with WIZM&rsquo;s Brad Williams to talk about La Crosse Public Schools potential lawsuit against social media companies over claims their platforms are designed to be addictive. Williams also shares what he&rsquo;s seeing on the campaign trail, with candidates and high-profile political figures making stops every day in the Coulee Region.
Topic highlights:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The governor&rsquo;s debate: Why Chergosky thinks another debate &mdash; or a different format &mdash; could give voters a better look at Crowley and Tiffany.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Crowley and the Democratic Socialists: Why Crowley struggled when asked which parts of Francesca Hong&rsquo;s Democratic Socialist agenda he supports.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Tiffany and the 2020 election: How his explanation involving Zuckerberg-funded election grants compares with the reasons he gave at the time for challenging the election results.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Taxes and spending: Both candidates promise to fund Wisconsin&rsquo;s priorities. Chergosky examines the unanswered questions about how they would make the numbers work.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Cooke&rsquo;s position on assault rifles: Why her debate answer stood out and prompted a response from Van Orden&rsquo;s campaign.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Van Orden&rsquo;s answer on government: What his comments about becoming more disgusted with the federal government reveal about the challenges of getting legislation passed.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Threats against elected officials: Why Rhodes-Conway says she won&rsquo;t seek another term, Van Orden&rsquo;s account of threats against his family, and the difficult question of how to hold perpetrators accountable.</li>
<li aria-level="1">La Crosse Schools and social media: Brad Williams explains the potential lawsuit and the legal argument that social media companies designed addictive platforms.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Williams on the campaign trail: Williams recounts a busy week of campaign appearances, including visits from members of the Trump administration and candidates running for statewide office.</li>
</ul>

UW-L's Chergosky breaks down debates, plus threats against elected officials

Wisconsin could bring in tens of millions of dollars a year from recreational marijuana, an issue dividing the two candidates for governor.

Adam Hoffer, director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation, was in studio to discuss the potential state revenue, how Wisconsin's gas tax compares with neighboring states, and what drivers would gain — and lose — if the tax were suspended.

Hoffer also weighs in on the debate over city taxes and spending with La Crosse facing a budget shortfall and the choices facing city leaders.

Plus, we look at the Brewers' $500 million stadium deal, why sports teams use the threat of relocation to seek public money, and how stadium developments can make money for team owners beyond the games themselves.

Hoffer also updates us on his quest to walk every road in the city, how many miles he's covered, and what he's observed along the way.

Conversation highlights:


Marijuana money: How much Wisconsin could collect from recreational marijuana, and why the final number depends on the tax rate and what gets legalized.


Gas tax holiday: Wisconsin's 32.9-cent-per-gallon tax and what happens to roads and bridges if it were suspended. .


The gas-price markup: Wisconsin's 9% minimum markup law and a proposal to suspend it to bring down prices at the pump.


The Brewers and public money: Whether taxpayers got a fair deal on the stadium funding package, why teams threaten to leave, and how surrounding real estate developments can create another revenue stream for owners.


La Crosse taxes: Hoffer's take on the city raising property taxes, as La Crosse faces a $681,000 2027 budget shortfall.

Wisconsin could bring in tens of millions of dollars a year from recreational marijuana, an issue dividing the two candidates for governor.
Adam Hoffer, director of excise tax policy at the Tax Foundation, was in studio to discuss the potential state revenue, how Wisconsin's gas tax compares with neighboring states, and what drivers would gain &mdash; and lose &mdash; if the tax were suspended.
Hoffer also weighs in on the debate over city taxes and spending with La Crosse facing a budget shortfall and the choices facing city leaders.
Plus, we look at the Brewers' $500 million stadium deal, why sports teams use the threat of relocation to seek public money, and how stadium developments can make money for team owners beyond the games themselves.
Hoffer also updates us on his quest to walk every road in the city, how many miles he's covered, and what he's observed along the way.
Conversation highlights:
<ul>
<li>
Marijuana money: How much Wisconsin could collect from recreational marijuana, and why the final number depends on the tax rate and what gets legalized.
</li>
<li>
Gas tax holiday: Wisconsin's 32.9-cent-per-gallon tax and what happens to roads and bridges if it were suspended. .
</li>
<li>
The gas-price markup: Wisconsin's 9% minimum markup law and a proposal to suspend it to bring down prices at the pump.
</li>
<li>
The Brewers and public money: Whether taxpayers got a fair deal on the stadium funding package, why teams threaten to leave, and how surrounding real estate developments can create another revenue stream for owners.
</li>
<li>
La Crosse taxes: Hoffer's take on the city raising property taxes, as La Crosse faces a $681,000 2027 budget shortfall.
</li>
</ul>

Marijuana taxes, gas prices and rehashing the Brewers’ $500 million taxpayer deal

Derrick Van Orden and Rebecca Cooke finally debated.

Did voters get the debate they deserved? It's the first one in the district for Van Orden since 2019.

William Garcia, Democratic Party chair of Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, stopped in studio to break down the matchup — from Van Orden’s attacks on Cooke to the fight over health care subsidies.

We also get into Wisconsin’s governor’s race, the state’s school funding problems and the money pouring into Republican Tom Tiffany’s campaign. 

Garcia argues that Wisconsin needs a new approach to funding public schools, while we look at how a campaign finance loophole has allowed three billionaires to funnel tens of millions of dollars toward Tiffany’s run for governor and other Republicans.

In this show:


The Cooke-Van Orden debate: Why the first debate between the candidates came with so little promotion, why Garcia wanted more debates and how he viewed their approaches to policy and personal attacks.


Van Orden’s health care vote: Garcia challenges Van Orden’s claim that he supported restoring Obamacare subsidies and explains the parliamentary maneuvering behind the vote.


Public school funding: Wisconsin’s two-thirds funding standard, declining state aid and David Crowley’s push to redesign the school funding formula.


Tiffany’s tax-cut plans: Who stands to benefit from the Republican governor candidate’s proposals — and what Wisconsin should do with its budget surplus.


Billionaire campaign cash: How a campaign finance loophole helped funnel tens of millions of dollars from three billionaires through the Republican Party to Tom Tiffany.


The data center debate: Why Garcia says Tiffany’s congressional voting record conflicts with his current position on data centers, and whether Wisconsin needs a statewide approach.


The cost of politics: How big-money campaign spending shapes elections and why Garcia says campaign finance reform requires Democrats to win more seats.


A legislator’s job: We also talk about what elected officials should be doing when the Legislature is out of session — and why public access to candidates matters.

Derrick Van Orden and Rebecca Cooke finally debated.
Did voters get the debate they deserved? It's the first one in the district for Van Orden since 2019.
William Garcia, Democratic Party chair of Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District, stopped in studio to break down the matchup &mdash; from Van Orden&rsquo;s attacks on Cooke to the fight over health care subsidies.
We also get into Wisconsin&rsquo;s governor&rsquo;s race, the state&rsquo;s school funding problems and the money pouring into Republican Tom Tiffany&rsquo;s campaign.&nbsp;
Garcia argues that Wisconsin needs a new approach to funding public schools, while we look at how a campaign finance loophole has allowed three billionaires to funnel tens of millions of dollars toward Tiffany&rsquo;s run for governor and other Republicans.
In this show:
<ul>
<li>
The Cooke-Van Orden debate: Why the first debate between the candidates came with so little promotion, why Garcia wanted more debates and how he viewed their approaches to policy and personal attacks.
</li>
<li>
Van Orden&rsquo;s health care vote: Garcia challenges Van Orden&rsquo;s claim that he supported restoring Obamacare subsidies and explains the parliamentary maneuvering behind the vote.
</li>
<li>
Public school funding: Wisconsin&rsquo;s two-thirds funding standard, declining state aid and David Crowley&rsquo;s push to redesign the school funding formula.
</li>
<li>
Tiffany&rsquo;s tax-cut plans: Who stands to benefit from the Republican governor candidate&rsquo;s proposals &mdash; and what Wisconsin should do with its budget surplus.
</li>
<li>
Billionaire campaign cash: How a campaign finance loophole helped funnel tens of millions of dollars from three billionaires through the Republican Party to Tom Tiffany.
</li>
<li>
The data center debate: Why Garcia says Tiffany&rsquo;s congressional voting record conflicts with his current position on data centers, and whether Wisconsin needs a statewide approach.
</li>
<li>
The cost of politics: How big-money campaign spending shapes elections and why Garcia says campaign finance reform requires Democrats to win more seats.
</li>
<li>
A legislator&rsquo;s job: We also talk about what elected officials should be doing when the Legislature is out of session &mdash; and why public access to candidates matters.
</li>
</ul>

The Dueling pianos of Wisconsin's state Legislature

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