For 37 years, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has helped protect Wisconsin’s land and water.

A program that’s been renewed every two years as part of the state budget — until now. 

Republicans in the state Legislature are letting it expire. They stripped it from the last budget to pass as a standalone bill and then never passed it out of the Senate.

We dive into what the program does, how it got started under GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson and how all the Democratic governor candidates are hoping it can be renewed next year with control of the government.

For 37 years, the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program has helped protect Wisconsin&rsquo;s land and water.
A program that&rsquo;s been renewed every two years as part of the state budget &mdash; until now.&nbsp;
Republicans in the state Legislature are letting it expire. They stripped it from the last budget to pass as a standalone bill and then never passed it out of the Senate.
We dive into what the program does, how it got started under GOP Gov. Tommy Thompson and how all the Democratic governor candidates are hoping it can be renewed next year with control of the government.

From La Crosse to Madison to D.C., La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia and WIZM's Rick Solem break down the politics impacting Wisconsinites.

From La Crosse to Madison to D.C., La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia and <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/">WIZM's</a> Rick Solem break down the politics impacting Wisconsinites.

The Democratic Voice Podcast

From La Crosse to Madison to D.C., La Crosse County Democratic Party chair William Garcia and WIZM's Rick Solem break down the politics impacting Wisconsinites.

The Democratic Voice

GOP lets Wisconsin's Knowles-Nelson program end after 37 years

Derek Van Orden is flailing in Congress and rapidly losing support from Donald Trump.

As House Republicans bail on Washington again to avoid doing their job, Wisconsin’s 3rd District Congressman finds himself isolated, underfunded, and making continuous public blunders.

We break down how Van Orden managed to insult two distinct communities outside the Capitol in a single TMZ clip, drawing direct condemnation from La Crosse's mayor, and we expose the fuzzy math behind his rural healthcare claims after he voted to slash $1 trillion from Medicaid — all after flying to Texas to suck up to Trump during a 6-minute speech.

Episode Highlights:
TMZ Blunder Sparks Outrage: Off-the-cuff Capitol comments managed to insult both Black and LGBTQ+ communities, drawing swift backlash from La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey.
The $1 Trillion Healthcare Scam: Van Orden touts a $50 billion rural hospital grant package, but hides the fact that he voted to slash $1 trillion from Medicaid.
Trump Cuts Cash, Elon Sends Scraps: Trump's Super PAC is stiffing Van Orden, leaving him to settle for a few thousand bucks in mailer scraps from Elon Musk's America PAC to keep his campaign afloat.
Punishing Hungry Families: Van Orden brags about "saving" SNAP after voting for new restrictions that cut off 30,000 district families.
Hiding from Voters: Instead of meeting constituents, Van Orden fled to a D.C. fundraiser while local Democrats connected directly with hundreds of voters at the Brad Pfaff Corn Roast.
Sneaky Campaigning on Your Dime: How Van Orden uses official, taxpayer-funded cabinet visits like RFK Jr. to cover up his lack of actual legislative work in Washington.
Massive Recess Dodge: Van Orden and House GOP leadership abruptly called off scheduled voting days to avoid a disastrous vote on impeaching Pete Hegseth.

The Democratic Voice is hosted by 3rd Congressional District Democratic Party Chair William Garcia and WIZM’s Rick Solem.

Derek Van Orden is flailing in Congress and rapidly losing support from Donald Trump.
As House Republicans bail on Washington again to avoid doing their job, Wisconsin&rsquo;s 3rd District Congressman finds himself isolated, underfunded, and making continuous public blunders.
We break down how Van Orden managed to insult two distinct communities outside the Capitol in a single TMZ clip, drawing direct condemnation from La Crosse's mayor, and we expose the fuzzy math behind his rural healthcare claims after he voted to slash $1 trillion from Medicaid &mdash; all after flying to Texas to suck up to Trump during a 6-minute speech.
Episode Highlights:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">TMZ Blunder Sparks Outrage: Off-the-cuff Capitol comments managed to insult both Black and LGBTQ+ communities, drawing swift backlash from La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The $1 Trillion Healthcare Scam: Van Orden touts a $50 billion rural hospital grant package, but hides the fact that he voted to slash $1 trillion from Medicaid.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Trump Cuts Cash, Elon Sends Scraps: Trump's Super PAC is stiffing Van Orden, leaving him to settle for a few thousand bucks in mailer scraps from Elon Musk's America PAC to keep his campaign afloat.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Punishing Hungry Families: Van Orden brags about "saving" SNAP after voting for new restrictions that cut off 30,000 district families.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Hiding from Voters: Instead of meeting constituents, Van Orden fled to a D.C. fundraiser while local Democrats connected directly with hundreds of voters at the Brad Pfaff Corn Roast.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Sneaky Campaigning on Your Dime: How Van Orden uses official, taxpayer-funded cabinet visits like RFK Jr. to cover up his lack of actual legislative work in Washington.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Massive Recess Dodge: Van Orden and House GOP leadership abruptly called off scheduled voting days to avoid a disastrous vote on impeaching Pete Hegseth.</li>
</ul>
The Democratic Voice is hosted by 3rd Congressional District Democratic Party Chair William Garcia and WIZM&rsquo;s Rick Solem.

Flailing in D.C.: Derek Van Orden is losing Trump’s cash, settling for Elon’s scraps

On this Labor Day weekend, we break down why Wisconsin could be on the cusp of a major labor union surge, while Republicans in the US House cut their month's work down to four days and focus on "trolling" bills.

With new legislative maps in play, we look at how a potential Democratic trifecta could clear the path to repeal Act 10, restore prevailing wage, and overhaul worker rights across the state.

Before we got to that, however, we open looking at what the GOP priorities are in the US House, including bills to defund universities that boycott Israel, condemning socialism/communism and e capping Supreme Court justices.

Episode Highlights:


House GOP Priorities: Republicans push symbolic floor votes on condemning socialism, Supreme Court caps and defunding universities while ignoring pocketbook issues.


Labor Day Shift: A massive coalition of state unions unites behind David Crowley for governor to push a landmark worker-rights reset.


Repealing Act 10: How overturning Scott Walker's legacy policy would restore collective bargaining rights for public sector employees.


The $15 Goal: David Crowley’s plan to raise the minimum wage and eliminate low base pay for tipped workers.


The PRO Act: How federal legislation could weaken right-to-work laws and shield workers from anti-union pressure tactics.


Contrast on Unions: A look at Tom Tiffany’s legislative track record on labor compared to current union momentum.

On this Labor Day weekend, we break down why Wisconsin could be on the cusp of a major labor union surge, while Republicans in the US House cut their month's work down to four days and focus on "trolling" bills.
With new legislative maps in play, we look at how a potential Democratic trifecta could clear the path to repeal Act 10, restore prevailing wage, and overhaul worker rights across the state.
Before we got to that, however, we open looking at what the GOP priorities are in the US House, including bills to defund universities that boycott Israel, condemning socialism/communism and e capping Supreme Court justices.
Episode Highlights:
<ul data-path-to-node="4">
<li>
House GOP Priorities: Republicans push symbolic floor votes on condemning socialism, Supreme Court caps and defunding universities while ignoring pocketbook issues.
</li>
<li>
Labor Day Shift: A massive coalition of state unions unites behind David Crowley for governor to push a landmark worker-rights reset.
</li>
<li>
Repealing Act 10: How overturning Scott Walker's legacy policy would restore collective bargaining rights for public sector employees.
</li>
<li>
The $15 Goal: David Crowley&rsquo;s plan to raise the minimum wage and eliminate low base pay for tipped workers.
</li>
<li>
The PRO Act: How federal legislation could weaken right-to-work laws and shield workers from anti-union pressure tactics.
</li>
<li>
Contrast on Unions: A look at Tom Tiffany&rsquo;s legislative track record on labor compared to current union momentum.
</li>
</ul>

House GOP wastes September, WI Dems eye union surge

Wisconsin Secretary of State and Lieutenant Governor candidate Sarah Godlewski joins for a quick-hitting dive into the state’s political landscape.

(This interview happened before Mandela Barnes dropped out of the governor's race)

Godlewski breaks down why she’s seeking the Lt. Governor’s office to serve as an effective economic partner for Wisconsin's next governor.

Drawing on her financial background as former State Treasurer, Godlewski addresses the pressing costs facing working families — from skyrocketing healthcare premiums and hospital closures in the Chippewa Valley to closing corporate tax loopholes like the "dark store" loophole.

She also talks about being 1st Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Godlewski shares why a competitive Democratic primary strengthens the ticket against extreme opponents, how the party maintains strict neutrality while building statewide infrastructure, and why the best way to listen to voters might just be a statewide supper club tour.

Wisconsin Secretary of State and Lieutenant Governor candidate Sarah Godlewski joins for a quick-hitting dive into the state&rsquo;s political landscape.
(This interview happened before Mandela Barnes dropped out of the governor's race)
Godlewski breaks down why she&rsquo;s seeking the Lt. Governor&rsquo;s office to serve as an effective economic partner for Wisconsin's next governor.
Drawing on her financial background as former State Treasurer, Godlewski addresses the pressing costs facing working families &mdash; from skyrocketing healthcare premiums and hospital closures in the Chippewa Valley to closing corporate tax loopholes like the "dark store" loophole.
She also talks about being 1st Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Godlewski shares why a competitive Democratic primary strengthens the ticket against extreme opponents, how the party maintains strict neutrality while building statewide infrastructure, and why the best way to listen to voters might just be a statewide supper club tour.

GOP lets Wisconsin's Knowles-Nelson program end after 37 years

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