☀️ Good morning!

This weekend newsletter was started as a short-term project (January to June) to follow the state budget process in the Wisconsin Legislature, and, more importantly, to explain why we should still care about a state budget, whether we follow politics regularly or not.

State government doesn’t get prime time news coverage the way action is covered in Congress and the White House. But state government determines the priorities for a big chunk of your tax dollars: education, health care, roads, natural resources, attracting jobs, and more. Our hope is that we help you appreciate the big picture of it all: Even when you don’t have kids in school, you still want our hometowns to have quality schools. Whether you’re a city dweller or a townie, you understand why the folks on the other side of the state need healthy farms and healthy downtowns. 

A state budget should be well-rounded but efficient. This week, we think that should include appreciating how higher education helps everything about our state economy be better. On Wisconsin! And Marquette. And the technical colleges. And every institution dedicated to learning, research, job creation, and exploring our shared values. Now we wait to see if legislative leaders share those same values.

At the moment, it looks like the budget process will stretch past June—and so will we! I thank you for the support that has enabled our Sunday newsletter to become an ongoing part of the UpNorthNews family.

⏮️ Last Week: Should Gov. Tony Evers run for a third term?—The tally was 70-30 saying Wisconsin needs “3-Term Tony.” This question attracted some of our most passionate responses—on both sides. 

There are fans, like Richard, who say Run: “OMG, 100% Evers should run for a 3rd term. With a national authoritarian administration in place, we need Evers’ leadership more than ever!”

There are supporters like Arla, who reject basing retirement on age alone: “Comparing him to the present president is like comparing apples and oranges!  They both are aging but one is doing so remarkably well and the other is decidedly not!”

But along with comments from Evers’ critics, there were also a number of Evers supporters who wanted to see the governor leave on a high note and pass the torch, like Barbara: “Even if one is up to the responsibility, holding leadership positions for too long leaves a terrible void of upcoming leaders.”

(FILE-Shutterstock image)

⏭️ This Week: Our question is based around one of the biggest news stories of the week.

When it comes to public funding by legislatures, the Universities of Wisconsin System is already one of the least-supported in the country (44th) after more than a decade of Republican hostility.

Gov. Tony Evers and hundreds of business leaders are calling for a significant funding increase. Republicans, meanwhile, are talking about actually cutting UW funding, despite a $4 billion state surplus.

Speaker Robin Vos said a cut is justified by an atmosphere of “political correctness” and he demands a more welcoming environment for conservative viewpoints.

Which statement is closest to your way of thinking?

🟩 A) Strong state support–We can’t keep falling behind other states if we want young families to live and work in Wisconsin. The UW is a big part of our economy and we need to stop tearing it down.

🟨 B) Stay the course–We should not be punishing universities over whether someone’s feelings are hurt. But we also don’t need a large increase. Keep pushing for other funding sources while taxpayers provide a modest increase in the next budget.

🟫 C) Make the cuts–The UW is doing fine with less state support. If they have to close campuses and end programs, we can emphasize technical colleges and tax credits to create the jobs of the future.

To answer this week’s question or to suggest a different answer, hit reply or email me directly at pat@couriernewsroom.com, and we may share it in a future newsletter or on our radio show.

(FILE – ©2020 Andy Manis) 

WATCH: For the sixth consecutive year, Gov. Tony Evers presided over the raising of the Juneteenth flag over the state capitol.

“On Juneteenth, we recognize the true end of slavery in the United States, celebrating freedom and the closure of a shameful and dark chapter in our nation’s history,” said Gov. Evers. “It is exceedingly important that, as we honor this holiday today, we renew our commitment to building a Wisconsin that works for everyone—one that is brighter, fairer, and more just and where every person is treated with dignity and respect.”

Watch my commentary on Congressman Derrick Van Orden’s immature, reckless, and frankly disqualifying social media posts in the wake of last weekend’s political violence in Minnesota. 

There’s also an observation I made about Sen. Ron Johnson’s opposition to the current version of President Trump’s “big bloated budget boondoggle.” It’s giving 2017 déjà vu.

Tune in Monday to “Mornings with Pat Kreitlow” as we visit with state Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison) to talk about how Republicans can’t get on the same page about the state budget, but also don’t want much input from Democrats like her.

Catch our show weekdays from 6-9 a.m. on our Facebook and YouTube pages as well as stations across Wisconsin thanks to our friends at Civic Media. If you can’t listen live, listen on-demand as a podcast by subscribing on Spotify.

📱 And stay up to date all day with all of our team’s work through our social media feeds, including Instagram and TikTok.

1️⃣ – Bernie Sanders for Cooke – The Vermont senator and former presidential candidate is making an early endorsement for a competitive House seat in western and central Wisconsin. In endorsing Rebecca Cooke, Sanders called her “a working class fighter who developed her populist roots in rural Western Wisconsin [who has] lived through failed policies from Washington elites and is ready to deliver tangible outcomes that working people will actually feel.” Cooke returned the compliment saying about Sanders, “Bernie really is no bullshit … remaining true to his core values that center around the working class.

2️⃣ – DPW Chair Devin Remiker – Delegates at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin convention selected Devin Remiker to be their new chair, succeeding Ben Wikler, who endorsed him ahead of last weekend’s vote. Using a ranked-choice voting method, Remiker won in the second round of voting over Joe Zepecki and William Garcia. 

3️⃣ – A Defeat for Lame Ducks – Wisconsin Supreme Court justices sided unanimously with Democratic state Attorney General Josh Kaul in a longstanding court fight over a law designed to remove some of his powers. The law, passed during a post-election lame duck session of the legislature before Kaul took office, would have required him to get approval from the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee before he could reach settlements in certain lawsuits. The justices called that a violation of the separation of powers when it comes to lawsuits involving environmental and consumer protection cases as well as cases involving the governor and other executive branch offices. 

🏁 Thanks for reading today’s update.

Have a great week.

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