La Crosse state Rep. Billings: Inside the collapsed $1.8 billion surplus deal

Adiós John Havlicek, after 31 years teaching at Central High

John Havlicek stopped in studio just days after saying adiós to the teaching profession after 31 years — 28 of those at Central High School. So, of course, we had to tell a couple of retirement stories, but also got into some of the politics surrounding education and beyond with Havlicek, who is a political activist.  Beyond education, we also discussed what he’d like to see as priorities in those running for statewide office — like governor and the Legislature. That included a public option for healthcare, the ability for anyone to participate in the state run pension retirement plan and his idea of government working for the bottom 80%. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

State Rep. Steve Doyle on data center moratoriums, Tank Creek Bridge and a surplus deal before elections

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Steve Doyle in studio discussing whether the state might get that $2 billion in budget surplus back to taxpayers before the election. We also discussed a data center moratorium, his opponent in November, one governor candidate being $30,000 in credit card debt and an update on rebuilding the Tank Creek Bridge. Earlier in the day, a news release went out from Keith Purnell, who will be Doyle’s Republican opponent in the 94th Assembly District. We got Doyle’s early take on Purnell and whether there might be a debate. In regards to the Tank Creek Bridget that sits along the Great River State Trail, and was burned by an arsonist last year, Doyle discussed when construction might happen and a potential grant coming from the federal government to cover what might be a couple million in cost. Two stories about the governor’s race involved Francesca Hong over the past few days. One, that Capital One is suing her for $30,000 in credit card debt, presumably from her restaurant going out of business during COVID. The other was from a Democratic governor candidate forum where Hong was the only member to support a one-year moratorium on data centers. Doyle also updated us on the La Crosse County Board creating a data center committee, which he will be a part of, and whether he’s heard from anyone that’s pro data center. Lastly, sticking with that topic, we talked quickly about recent comments from the Dairyland Power CEO  saying data centers are a “path to prosperity” in small communities. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

From Trump's ballroom to the deal behind Wisconsin's budget surplus with Citizen Action's Robert Kraig

We honed in on a couple of President Donald Trump's pet projects and rehashed the state's failed budget surplus deal with Citizen Action of Wisconsin's Robert Kraig.  It's hard to pick any one thing when it comes to the Trump administration, but we narrowed it down to these things: * Trump's $1.778 billion (what we call) "slush fund" * The $1 billion in taxpayer dollars for a ballroom  * The MMA fight on the White House lawn * The Iran war and prices The second half of the show consisted of the failed deal between Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and the top two Republicans in the Legislature to spend the state's $2 billion budget surplus, and all the factors that have come since. That includes the flaws in a Marquette Law School poll showing 80% agreeing with the deal, the analysis since showing it would have put the state in a budget deficit and how Republican Robin Vos wants Evers to call another special session to get it done. Roughly, the deal consisted of one year of special education funding and property tax relief, plus $300 checks and no taxes on tips/overtime. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Will Kmart come down, a pool go up and the library get sold? Mac Kiel previews committee week

Will Kmart come down, an indoor pool go up and what’s the north side library worth? Those are a few things we talked about with Mac Kiel in studio, helping preview committee week in La Crosse.  The Copper Rocks project is again going before committees. That’s the plan to tear down the old Kmart and create both a business and residential area on that lot. Will Kmart come down this summer? We also discuss selling the north side library process, where committees are looking at making the building a “surplus property” and accepting “RFPs” (requests for proposal).  In between all that, we looked at the city survey for building a $33 million indoor aquatics center through referendum. WIZM’s Brad Williams also joined to give us an update on the City Plan Commission, which had met just before the show. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

UW-L political scientist Chergosky says farewell to Fazoli's and talks WI "Democrat Drama"

No Fazoli’s, no drink refill station at McDonald’s, is ranch dressing and cheese curds a Wisconsin thing — just some of the things we utilized UW-La Crosse political science professor, Dr. Anthony Chergosky for on the Rick Solem Show on Friday. We did also talk some politics with some new revelations about the $1.8 billion budget surplus deal falling through. Chergosky called it “Democrat Drama,” with the governor being reassured by Republicans that they had the votes for it to pass. That deal, — passed overwhelmingly by the Assembly — was voted down by the all the Democrats in the state Senate, plus three Republicans, would was for no tax on tips/overtime, $300 rebate checks, lower property taxes for a year, and school funding. That deal — passed overwhelmingly in the Assembly — was voted down in the state Senate by all 15 Democrats plus three Republicans. The package would have eliminated tax on tips/overtime, provided $300 rebate checks, lowered property taxes for a year, and increased school funding for a year.   The conversation focused on the odd timing of the bill, Republicans (who control the Legislature) not having the votes, and whether it could be brought back — since legislators decided they were done legislating for the year back in April. In terms of the non-political conversation, we brought up the Fazoli's in Onalaska announcing it was closing for good last Wednesday, and we proposed what should replace it. We also went down a rabbit hole with McDonald's ending its drink refill stations for customers. That led to how people don't really go into McDonald's much anymore — except for Chergosky, who revealed his young daughter very much likes ranch dressing. Is that a Wisconsin thing?  We also discussed Google changing its search engine to basically provide AI answers, killing the SEO industry designed to get your website at the top of the page. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.