Postal Workers Protest, Affordable Care Act, State News Round-Up

Air Date:
Heard On Central Time

Affordable Care Act enrollment is beginning for the second year. We find out how to sign up and what has changed. We get our weekly review of Wisconsin news and hear from the president of the American Postal Workers Union about nationwide protests Friday.

Featured in this Show

  • Weekly News Roundup: State Democrats Elect New Leaders

    Capitol

    Image courtesy of WPT

    After Chris Larson Bows Out, Jennifer Shilling Becomes New Senate Minority Leader

    Senate Democrats this week elected Jennifer Schilling of La Crosse to be the caucus’s new minority leader.

    Shilling will replace Chris Larson, who announced on his Facebook page on Monday that he would step down as leader to “spend more time with family and (focus) on serving the community.”

    Shilling said Democrats will continue to push to increase the minimum wage and expand BadgerCare by accepting federal money.

    Capitol

    Photo: People’s World(CC-BY-NC).

    Barca Re-Elected As Minority Leader

    Rep. Peter Barca from Kenosha was re-elected to the position of minority leader in the Assembly despite a challenge from Evan Goyke from Milwaukee.

    Goyke had claimed that the Democrats’ loss of seats in the Senate signaled that a change in leadership was needed, while Barca argued that the parties attenuated position in the chamber was largely thanks to powers beyond his control.

    This will be the third straight session that Barca has held the minority leader post.

    Capitol

    Image courtesy of WPT.

    Joe Wineke Says He Might Run For Democratic Party Chairmanship

    Former Wisconsin Democratic Party chairman Joe Wineke told WPR host Joy Cardin on Thursday that he will “probably run” for his old position if current chairman Mike Tate doesn’t want to continue.

    Since the midterm election, Tate has kept a low profile, leading people to speculate about whether he’ll run again.

    The next chair will be elected by the caucus at the state party’s convention in June.

    Capitol

    Photo: Johnny Fixed Gear (CC-BY-NC-SA).

    Public Service Commission Approves Rate Change For Milwaukee Utility

    State regulators voted in favor of a proposal by the Milwaukee-based utility We Energies to increase the fixed rate it charges its customers on electricity bills.

    The utility had claimed it needed the rate change to offset higher fuel and transmission costs, inflation and power outage prevention measures. Opponents of the change had argued it would predominantly hurt low-income, elderly and energy-conscious consumers, and would also hurt the solar industry.

    Capitol

    Photo courtesy of state of Wisconsin.

    Tony Evers Requests $613 Million For Public Schools

    State Superintendent Tony Evers released the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s 2015-2017 Biennial Budget Request this week.

    The request includes a $613 million increase in state funding for the state’s K-12 public schools, and a change to the way Milwaukee’s voucher program is funded. Evers also wants to increase the limit on how much districts can raise in property taxes and state aid.

    Under current state law, no such increase is allowed, which has proved an issue for many rural districts.

  • Postal Workers Throughout Wisconsin, Nation Protest Plant Closures

    United States Postal Service workers around the country are protesting plant closures during a day of action on Friday. Wisconsin protests are planned in Madison, La Crosse, Eau Claire, and Wausau. The president of the American Postal Workers Union addresses the complaints.

  • Affordable Care Act Enrollment Set To Open For Year Two. What's Changed?

    The second annual open enrollment for health plans under the Affordable Care Act begins tomorrow. A health care expert discusses what’s different this time around, and answers questions about signing up for a plan.

  • State News Round-Up For November 14th, 2014

    WPR’s assistant news director joins us for a look at what’s making news in Wisconsin this week.

Episode Credits

  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Marika Suval Producer
  • Galen Druke Producer
  • Chris Malina Producer
  • Noah Ovshinsky Guest
  • Mark Diamondstein Guest
  • Bobby Peterson Guest