The Madison-Monday Morning Report–
5-26-2025
Memorial Day 2025 - Please Remember the fallen!
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RPW : Unity is the talk – but division remains the walk.
There is a distinct division between the two wings of the Republican Party. One wing is what we refer to as the establishment and the other is the “patriot” or conservative wing. In the latest edition of the WCD I’ve tried to outline what we believe is the main cause of the divide (see the picture below). My belief is that one of the two main problems is the party leadership’s inability to allow the rank and file, “we the people” party members to choose their candidates and grassroots leaders without interference, or RPW “putting their fingers on the scale” so to speak. See the list below for just a few examples.
1. Stronger Wisconsin Fund – During the primary of 2024, RPW operatives spent close to a half a million dollars on hit pieces against republicans in good standing that were not their “preferred” candidates. NOTE: Part of that money was spent on positive pieces for RPW’s favorites.
2. The Preferred Candidate – As I reported last week, the chair of chairs election had Pete Church listed as “preferred” on the ballot. This was at the same convention that thoroughly discussed “election integrity” and “unity”.
3. Not allowing Rejani Raveendran to speak at the convention. I had several discussions with Eric Hovde prior to, including the night of the 2024 convention. I told him that his only fear should be that Rejani’s voters would boycott his election if they viewed her as being treated unfairly. I told him to make sure she got to speak. She was not allowed to speak and tens of thousands of voters went third party, and Hovde fell short while Trump won the election. NOTE: Rejani, as Chair of the Stevens Point College Republicans brought Eric to the campus to speak after the primary and fully endorsed him.
The second reason the division exists is because the party seems to serve as a “enabler” for our elected officials to significantly stray from the party platform. The Republican Party Platform is a conservative platform. Just ask the grassroots that make up the party base. Better yet, if you really want to know what the party platform is, just grab any republican’s campaign literature. Pro-life, less government, less taxes, better schools, more personal responsibility, more work requirements for welfare, family values, it’s all there. The only thing missing is ACTUAL results. There are no lower taxes, pro-life measures or better schools. NONE. The result of republican inaction is disappointing to say the least. But we have the RPW Chairman Brian Schimming running around telling the county chairs that the “incumbents must be supported”. I have not found one person who is not on the executive committee who thinks that blindly supporting ineffective incumbents is a good idea. NOTE: Barron County had their charter removed because they called out elected officials that didn’t live up to the platform.
HEARINGS
NOTE: Be sure to look at the hearings being held this week. Every week we’ll outline some important bills being heard. Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reform is being heard this week. Once again, we have not gotten a response from Sen. Felzkowski on the bill. But… we’ll await her “unity” speech that we’re sure is coming soon. 😊
Note: If there is something that we feel is a must-know item that is receiving a hearing we will point that out. Otherwise, simply follow the links provided.
There are three kinds of hearings.
1. A public hearing where the public is allowed to address bills that are being heard. The bill authors generally go first to answer questions from the committee. Lobbyists and “experts” give their thoughts as well.
2. Executive sessions are where the members of the committee vote on passage. Generally, no testimony is given during an executive session, but last-minute amendments might require explanation and clarification from the Legislative Council (lawyers who provide legal interpretations of the bill’s language).
3. Informational hearings are hearings where invited speakers give their thoughts on topics that they are familiar with. Generally, testimony is limited to invited speakers.
Monday – No hearings scheduled.
Tuesday – The Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families (this will be a Joint Hearing with the Assembly Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention) on various mental health related bills. See the notice here. The Senate Committee on Transportation and Local Government is holding a public hearing on a number of bills, including SB37 the regulation of vegetable gardens! It appears the City of Milwaukee is against vegetable gardens on private property! See the notice here. See SB37 here. The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety is holding a public hearing on a number of law-enforcement related bills. See the notice here. The Assembly Committee on State Affairs is holding an executive session on AB138, allowing jailers to work after retirement without losing their annuity, see the notice here. And a public hearing on AB269 that would allow insurance companies to provide insurance for part-time Lyft and Uber drivers. See the notice here. See AB269 here. Be sure to see click the ethic commission info here. The AFl-CIO is against it.
Wednesday – The Assembly Committee on Workforce Development, Labor, and Integrated Employment is holding a public hearing on several work-related bills. See the notice here. The Assembly Committee on Local Government is holding both an executive session and a public hearing. See the public hearing notice here. See the executive session notice here. The Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform is holding an executive session on AB180 which prohibits soda and chips from being purchased with SNAP benefits. See the notice here. See the bill here. The Senate Committee on Government Operations, Labor and Economic Development is holding a public hearing on SB280, regarding the control of the interest on coronavirus recovery funds. See the notice here. See the bill here. The bill is being fast-tracked. Notice the bill was introduced just last week. See Senator Wimberger’s press release on the bill here. The Senate Committee on Health is holding a public hearing on several good bills including Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reforms. See the notice here.
Thursday – The Assembly Committee on Financial Institutions is holding a public hearing on Clearinghouse rule 24-049 regarding sales marketing. See the notice here.
Friday – No hearings scheduled.
NOTE: It would not be feasible to discuss every bill being heard every week. If you have a particular bill you’re following, please look at the committee schedule - View the entire committee hearing schedule here - You will need to enter the current date.
Links to Savagespeaks Tutorials and other Information.
Know how to do your research – The links below contain valuable information.
Notification Service – Viewing a Bill history - Researching Budgets
As a reminder of why we must follow our government closely, read the following Substacks.
Monday Count Bill/Kevin Peterson -14 Week Abortion Bill - Wedding Barn Fiasco - Monday Count Bill Revisited - The 2020 election Revisited - Meagan Wolfe Has to Go
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Bill Savage, Editor – Wisconsin Conservative Digest
Bill Savage is a former Chief of Staff at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Current editor of the Wisconsin Conservative Digest and author of Savagespeaks.Substack.com.