Ben Wikler, the Democratic Party chair of Wisconsin, talking only good things about Republicans heading into their state convention this weekend. Among topics, we discussed the Republican candidates for governor, Ron Johnson and Great Replacement theory. After that, WIZM's Brad Williams joined to discuss replacing the Hiawatha statue, as well as some history of the GOP endorsing governor candidates. Williams is also directing a Beatles musical in La Crescent that runs June 17-19 & 24-26.

Ben Wikler, the Democratic Party chair of Wisconsin, talking only good things about Republicans heading into their state convention this weekend. Among topics, we discussed the Republican candidates for governor, Ron Johnson and Great Replacement theory. After that, WIZM's Brad Williams joined to discuss replacing the Hiawatha statue, as well as some history of the GOP endorsing governor candidates. Williams is also directing a Beatles musical in La Crescent that runs June 17-19 &amp; 24-26.

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

Wisconsin Dem. Party chair Ben Wikler; Should parties endorse primary candidates?

He manages a $1.6 billion state fund with no staff and is the only Republican aside from Ron Johnson to win statewide office in the past decade. 

John Leiber, Wisconsin's state treasurer, stopped in studio to help explain why an office called state treasurer is mostly tasked with buying tech for school libraries and overseeing tens of thousands of acres of timberland.

We also got into the politics of the position, like how his office might be different under Democrat David Crowley or Republican Tom Tiffany as governor and the role of the Legislature of his position — and why he has no help.

He is running for reelection this fall against Democratic challenger Yee Leng Xiong.

Episode Highlights:


Managing $1.6 Billion: Inside Leiber’s primary duty sitting on the board that oversees state trust funds, which delivered a record $73.5 million to local school libraries.


Logging for Public Schools: Turning 77,000 acres of state timberland into direct revenue for UW scholarships and forestry programs without clear-cutting.


The Zero-Staff Reality: What happens to a constitutional office stripped of staff when the only guy working there goes to the hospital for appendicitis surgery.


Crowley vs. Tiffany Scenarios: How Leiber envisions his role shifting depending on whether a Democrat or a Republican wins the governor’s mansion.


Saudi Arabia Childhood: Leiber shares what it was like living on a compound at age 13 during the Gulf War, where local tornado sirens still trigger memories of air raid alarms.


Trapped Cash and Typos: Why $900 million in unclaimed property sits with the state, including $144,000 meant for UW-Madison that got frozen over a clerical error.

He manages a $1.6 billion state fund with no staff and is the only Republican aside from Ron Johnson to win statewide office in the past decade.&nbsp;
John Leiber, Wisconsin's state treasurer, stopped in studio to help explain why an office called state treasurer is mostly tasked with buying tech for school libraries and overseeing tens of thousands of acres of timberland.
We also got into the politics of the position, like how his office might be different under Democrat David Crowley or Republican Tom Tiffany as governor and the role of the Legislature of his position &mdash; and why he has no help.
He is running for reelection this fall against Democratic challenger Yee Leng Xiong.
Episode Highlights:
<ul>
<li>
Managing $1.6 Billion: Inside Leiber&rsquo;s primary duty sitting on the board that oversees state trust funds, which delivered a record $73.5 million to local school libraries.
</li>
<li>
Logging for Public Schools: Turning 77,000 acres of state timberland into direct revenue for UW scholarships and forestry programs without clear-cutting.
</li>
<li>
The Zero-Staff Reality: What happens to a constitutional office stripped of staff when the only guy working there goes to the hospital for appendicitis surgery.
</li>
<li>
Crowley vs. Tiffany Scenarios: How Leiber envisions his role shifting depending on whether a Democrat or a Republican wins the governor&rsquo;s mansion.
</li>
<li>
Saudi Arabia Childhood: Leiber shares what it was like living on a compound at age 13 during the Gulf War, where local tornado sirens still trigger memories of air raid alarms.
</li>
<li>
Trapped Cash and Typos: Why $900 million in unclaimed property sits with the state, including $144,000 meant for UW-Madison that got frozen over a clerical error.
</li>
</ul>

GOP State Treasurer John Leiber on Tech for Schools, 77K Acres of Timber, and Running a Zero-Staff Office

Jill Schams is getting her accordion ready as Oktoberfest nears. The Southern Bluffs music teacher and La Crosse Education Association president stopped by to debate whether the area is running low on squeeze boxes, what it takes to land a spot on the Oktoberfest Accordion Club float, and what happened when she blasted live polka in her classroom right as Superintendent Dr. Aaron Engel walked in.

Once the accordion talk settled down, Schams, the teachers’ union president, helped tackle some serious school policy — including the fight for universal free school meals, how local foundation grants fund classroom needs, the Lincoln Middle School final walkthrough, and why state budget surpluses aren't reaching local classrooms.

Episode Highlights:
Saving the Polka Tradition: Hunting down local accordion players, prepping for the Oktoberfest float, and surprising elementary kids (and the superintendent) with live polka.
School Lunch Realities: Why feeding every student should be a basic societal baseline rather than a mountain of bureaucratic paperwork.
Funding the Gap: Breaking down the heavy lifting local foundations like the La Crosse Public Education Foundation do to keep classroom grants alive.
State Budget Priorities: Why relying on short-term tax cuts and surplus funds fails to address fundamental, long-term public school funding needs.
Preserving School Memories: Taking a quick look back at Lincoln Middle School's final open house and finding ways to honor local school history before consolidation.

Jill Schams is getting her accordion ready as Oktoberfest nears. The Southern Bluffs music teacher and La Crosse Education Association president stopped by to debate whether the area is running low on squeeze boxes, what it takes to land a spot on the Oktoberfest Accordion Club float, and what happened when she blasted live polka in her classroom right as Superintendent Dr. Aaron Engel walked in.
Once the accordion talk settled down, Schams, the teachers&rsquo; union president, helped tackle some serious school policy &mdash; including the fight for universal free school meals, how local foundation grants fund classroom needs, the Lincoln Middle School final walkthrough, and why state budget surpluses aren't reaching local classrooms.
Episode Highlights:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Saving the Polka Tradition: Hunting down local accordion players, prepping for the Oktoberfest float, and surprising elementary kids (and the superintendent) with live polka.</li>
<li aria-level="1">School Lunch Realities: Why feeding every student should be a basic societal baseline rather than a mountain of bureaucratic paperwork.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Funding the Gap: Breaking down the heavy lifting local foundations like the La Crosse Public Education Foundation do to keep classroom grants alive.</li>
<li aria-level="1">State Budget Priorities: Why relying on short-term tax cuts and surplus funds fails to address fundamental, long-term public school funding needs.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Preserving School Memories: Taking a quick look back at Lincoln Middle School's final open house and finding ways to honor local school history before consolidation.</li>
</ul>

From accordions to free lunch: Teachers' union president Schams on Oktoberfest and education

Republican candidate for Wisconsin’s 95th Assembly, Cedric Schnitzler, in studio, discussing the critical agricultural and economic issues facing western Wisconsin, and issuing a direct call for the federal government to tackle soaring diesel prices.

Schnitzler, a lifelong farmer and Monroe County Board Chair, also discussed local policy and ag issues, including the push to protect groundwater, county efforts to refine data center moratoriums, and why state lawmakers need to protect local control.

Schnitzler is running against incumbent Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) in the fall elections that conclude Nov. 3.

Episode Highlights:
Federal Action on Diesel: Schnitzler calls on D.C. to take immediate action on $6 diesel, warning that soaring fuel costs are driving up prices on everything.
Data Center Moratorium: Monroe County moves to adjust its moratorium language so small business and hospital servers don't get swept up in tech regulations.
Local Control Under Siege: Schnitzler cautions that state lawmakers could strip local power over major developments, including data centers.
Forever Chemicals in Water: Why growing concerns over PFAS contamination near local waterways demand real accountability and cleaner alternatives.


Ag Supply Chain Under Pressure: How rising input costs, high fuel prices, and market shifts are impacting local producers and driving up grocery bills.


Fair-Share Farm Taxes: Why preserving agricultural use-value property assessments is critical to keeping local producers in business.

Republican candidate for Wisconsin&rsquo;s 95th Assembly, Cedric Schnitzler, in studio, discussing the critical agricultural and economic issues facing western Wisconsin, and issuing a direct call for the federal government to tackle soaring diesel prices.
Schnitzler, a lifelong farmer and Monroe County Board Chair, also discussed local policy and ag issues, including the push to protect groundwater, county efforts to refine data center moratoriums, and why state lawmakers need to protect local control.
Schnitzler is running against incumbent Jill Billings (D-La Crosse) in the fall elections that conclude Nov. 3.
Episode Highlights:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Federal Action on Diesel: Schnitzler calls on D.C. to take immediate action on $6 diesel, warning that soaring fuel costs are driving up prices on everything.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Data Center Moratorium: Monroe County moves to adjust its moratorium language so small business and hospital servers don't get swept up in tech regulations.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Local Control Under Siege: Schnitzler cautions that state lawmakers could strip local power over major developments, including data centers.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Forever Chemicals in Water: Why growing concerns over PFAS contamination near local waterways demand real accountability and cleaner alternatives.</li>
<li>
Ag Supply Chain Under Pressure: How rising input costs, high fuel prices, and market shifts are impacting local producers and driving up grocery bills.
</li>
<li>
Fair-Share Farm Taxes: Why preserving agricultural use-value property assessments is critical to keeping local producers in business.
</li>
</ul>

Wisconsin Dem. Party chair Ben Wikler; Should parties endorse primary candidates?

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