Common Cause Wisconsin executive director Jay Heck joined to talk about all things redistricting and voting, as the Wisconsin Supreme Court has made a decision in the process of map-making for the next decade. Heck has been working with the nonpartisan group for the past 27 years. 

Common Cause Wisconsin executive director Jay Heck joined to talk about all things redistricting and voting, as the Wisconsin Supreme Court has made a decision in the process of map-making for the next decade. Heck has been working with the nonpartisan group for the past 27 years.&nbsp;

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 Supreme Court makes initial decision on state map drawing

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 state Rep. Billings: Inside the collapsed $1.8 billion surplus deal

Q1: PFAS

Q2: Protecting water

Q3: Cyber attacks at UW-L, UW-EC

Q4: Protecting women's against the USSC

Q5: Protecting LGBTQ given USSC makeup.

Q6: Reigning in US Supreme Court

Q7: Van Orden lies on Medicaid.

Q8: Ensure Medicaid is helping communities

Q9: How to make healthcare affordable

Q10: Restoring SNAP, making it work better

Q11: Supporting and expanding social security

Q12: Regulations on camera systems like Flock

Q13: What to do with ICE

Q14: Citizenship for undocumented immigrants

Q15: How to create affordable housing

Q16: Helping seniors with housing

Q17: What to do about Iran conflict

Q18: US relationship with Israel

Q19: Resolving Israel-Palestine conflict

Q20: Would you restore USAID?

Q21: Making decisions

Garcia word on DVO

Final statements

The two Democratic candidates competing to face Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden this fall brought their campaigns to La Crosse on Tuesday night.

Emily Berge and Rebecca Cooke answered 22 questions during a fast-paced forum that lasted about an hour and a half. 

The event, driven by questions submitted by Democrats across Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, covered a wide array of topics, ranging from protecting clean water and immigration to funding for Medicaid and SNAP.

Among the issues raised was the current state of the U.S. Supreme Court, specifically addressing its partisan divide and how justices are appointed.

Emily Berge suggested implementing 18-year term limits for the high court, followed by a system where new justices are selected every two years.

"President Trump, he's appointed three justices to the court and I think Biden did, he appointed one,” Berge told the audience at the Concordia Ballroom. “And so every two years would allow a more — though there's probably still be some holes — but it would allow more regular appointments and more fairness and equality that way." 

Cooke agreed with the call for term limits but focused her response on tightening the ethical guidelines for the bench.

"Creating a code of ethics for justices,” Cooke said. “II think you've seen an incredible culture of corruption on the Supreme Court. The way that folks have been lining their pockets with special interest dollars from all sorts of people to be influenced to the way that they're voting — or that they're ruling on cases."

The candidates were also asked about what Congress can do to help with affordable housing and support homeowners in Wisconsin.

Cooke emphasized leveraging federal grants to spark new construction.

"Things that I can be supportive of in Congress,” Cooke said, “is that I can advocate for more federal community black grants, which incentivize developers to build affordable housing, making it, again, more affordable for them to build,so that we can get working families there."

Berge talked about the benefits of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), but also stressed maximizing existing federal channels.

"But we do need funds, so we can do that though through HUD, through CDBG funding, which is Community Development Block Grant,” Berge said. “And right now, what the city of Eau Claire does, is that hands out to a lot of nonprofits, but we can do it for — if we had more. We have almost $1 million through CDBG funding — but if we had more funds, we could spread out that, uh, to for more solutions."

While the primary for this race is scheduled for August, voters will have a few more opportunities to hear the candidates debate. Before the August vote, the pair will square off in two more forums — one in Platteville on June 18, followed by an Eau Claire forum July 16.

The two Democratic candidates competing to face Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden this fall brought their campaigns to La Crosse on Tuesday night.
Emily Berge and Rebecca Cooke answered 22 questions during a fast-paced forum that lasted about an hour and a half.&nbsp;
The event, driven by questions submitted by Democrats across Wisconsin&rsquo;s 3rd Congressional District, covered a wide array of topics, ranging from protecting clean water and immigration to funding for Medicaid and SNAP.
Among the issues raised was the current state of the U.S. Supreme Court, specifically addressing its partisan divide and how justices are appointed.
Emily Berge suggested implementing 18-year term limits for the high court, followed by a system where new justices are selected every two years.
"President Trump, he's appointed three justices to the court and I think Biden did, he appointed one,&rdquo; Berge told the audience at the Concordia Ballroom. &ldquo;And so every two years would allow a more &mdash; though there's probably still be some holes &mdash; but it would allow more regular appointments and more fairness and equality that way."&nbsp;
Cooke agreed with the call for term limits but focused her response on tightening the ethical guidelines for the bench.
"Creating a code of ethics for justices,&rdquo; Cooke said. &ldquo;II think you've seen an incredible culture of corruption on the Supreme Court. The way that folks have been lining their pockets with special interest dollars from all sorts of people to be influenced to the way that they're voting &mdash; or that they're ruling on cases."
The candidates were also asked about what Congress can do to help with affordable housing and support homeowners in Wisconsin.
Cooke emphasized leveraging federal grants to spark new construction.
"Things that I can be supportive of in Congress,&rdquo; Cooke said, &ldquo;is that I can advocate for more federal community black grants, which incentivize developers to build affordable housing, making it, again, more affordable for them to build,so that we can get working families there."
Berge talked about the benefits of accessory dwelling units (ADUs), but also stressed maximizing existing federal channels.
"But we do need funds, so we can do that though through HUD, through CDBG funding, which is Community Development Block Grant,&rdquo; Berge said. &ldquo;And right now, what the city of Eau Claire does, is that hands out to a lot of nonprofits, but we can do it for &mdash; if we had more. We have almost $1 million through CDBG funding &mdash; but if we had more funds, we could spread out that, uh, to for more solutions."
While the primary for this race is scheduled for August, voters will have a few more opportunities to hear the candidates debate. Before the August vote, the pair will square off in two more forums &mdash; one in Platteville on June 18, followed by an Eau Claire forum July 16.

Wisconsin Supreme Court makes initial decision on state map drawing

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