State Legislature done for year

Wisconsin governor's race

Too many candidates

GOP balks on sports betting

Wisconsin wheel taxes

A La Crosse wheel tax, why the Wisconsin Legislature is balking at sports betting, the crowded field in the Wisconsin governor’s race and the politics behind Madison politicians voting on hundreds of bills all at once — before leaving for the year.

Those are the things we threw at UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, beginning with the state Legislature now being out of session for the rest of the year after voting on a flurry of bills. They are scheduled to be in session for just 17 days in 2026 — six days in January, eight in February and three in March.

After that, Chergosky mentioned La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey making an endorsement in the U.S. House race for Wisconsin’s 3rd District, before we got into the governor’s race. Two more Democratic candidates are predicted to jump in, while Republicans only have two so far. With that, we talk about the good and bad with having so many candidates.

Next, we discussed the Legislature hesitating on legalizing sports gambling, and how backlash from conservative outlets may have played a role in the GOP backing down.

Lastly, we talked about state funding and whether La Crosse might adopt a wheel tax — something we asked the mayor about earlier this week. The Wisconsin Policy Forum predicts that half of Wisconsin municipalities will be under some kind of wheel tax by the end of next year.

We discussed how the Legislature is addressing that by moving to ban wheel taxes, while still failing to address the actual needs of cities and municipalities when it comes to funding — as La Crosse votes to close a library branch and a pool.

A La Crosse wheel tax, why the Wisconsin Legislature is balking at sports betting, the crowded field in the Wisconsin governor&rsquo;s race and the politics behind Madison politicians voting on hundreds of bills all at once &mdash; before leaving for the year.
Those are the things we threw at UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky, beginning with the state Legislature now being out of session for the rest of the year after voting on a flurry of bills. They are scheduled to be in session for just 17 days in 2026 &mdash; six days in January, eight in February and three in March.
After that, Chergosky mentioned La Crosse Mayor Shaundel Washington-Spivey making an endorsement in the U.S. House race for Wisconsin&rsquo;s 3rd District, before we got into the governor&rsquo;s race. Two more Democratic candidates are predicted to jump in, while Republicans only have two so far. With that, we talk about the good and bad with having so many candidates.
Next, we discussed the Legislature hesitating on legalizing sports gambling, and how backlash from conservative outlets may have played a role in the GOP backing down.
Lastly, we talked about state funding and whether La Crosse might adopt a wheel tax &mdash; something <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/2025/11/18/la-crosse-mayor-washington-spivey-on-sacrifices-in-passing-2026-budget-plan-on-two-closed-parks-and-downtown-revamp/">we asked the mayor about</a> earlier this week. The Wisconsin Policy Forum predicts that half of Wisconsin municipalities will be under some kind of wheel tax by the end of next year.
We discussed how the Legislature is addressing that by moving to ban wheel taxes, while still failing to address the actual needs of cities and municipalities when it comes to funding &mdash; as La Crosse votes to close a library branch and a pool.

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM's LaCrosse Talk. News and talk about the issues of the day for Western Wisconsin.

WIZM - La Crosse  Talk Interviews

WIZM’s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin.
Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at wizmnews.com and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities. Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.

WIZM&rsquo;s La Crosse Talk brings you the voices shaping Western Wisconsin. Broadcast live weekday mornings on WIZM News Talk 92.3 FM, 106.7 FM, 1410 AM, and streaming at <a href="https://www.wizmnews.com/">wizmnews.com</a> and on the WIZM app, La Crosse Talk dives into the headlines, local politics, community issues, and conversations that matter most to listeners in the Coulee Region. Hosted as part of the La Crosse Talk Morning Show, each episode features in-depth interviews with newsmakers, elected officials, experts, and everyday citizens offering real perspectives on the events and decisions impacting La Crosse and surrounding communities.&nbsp;Whether it's breaking news, civic discussions, or community stories, La Crosse Talk keeps you informed and connected to the place you call home.