Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson in the WIZM studio for La Crosse Talk, discussing the state budget — including Prairie Springs — partisan primaries in the governor’s race, and issues like PFAS, farming and plastic waste.

Johnson (D-Shelby) is one of just a handful of Democrats who voted for the budget, which included all area Democrats — largely because the plan includes $194 million to build Phase 2 of UW-La Crosse’s Prairie Springs Science Center. Republicans had delayed that project for seven years, which initially was estimated to cost around $90 million.

After that, we discussed PFAS — forever chemicals — and then shifted to plastic waste. We also explored the growing problem of food deserts and how recent changes to SNAP programs — particularly the removal of support for initiatives that connected farmers with low-income consumers — are impacting both agriculture and access to healthy food.

Lastly, we hit on the governor’s race — whether Johnson plans to endorse a candidate — and how each party is approaching its primary. Democrats will likely have multiple candidates and the state party will not endorse in a primary. 

Meanwhile, US Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) said this week he wants GOP candidates to settle on a nominee internally, without an open primary. Regardless, the state Republican Party plans to endorse at its convention if there is a primary.