(The Center Square) – One of Wisconsin’s Republican congressmen is not thrilled that state lawmakers rushed to maximize the state’s Medicaid take from Washington.
Congressman Bryan Steil on Wednesday said the hospital assessment in the new state budget shows just how easy it is to game the Medicaid system.
“To me it shows you, on the national level, how this program was ripe for abuse in the first place,” Steil said in a radio interview. “Many other states were already doing this. And so it’s really showing you that there are many aspects of this program, inside Medicaid, which shows the explosion of growth where it was ripe for abuse.”
Republican lawmakers cut a last minute deal with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to spike Wisconsin’s hospital assessment from just over 1.5% to 6% as a way to recoup more federal money for hospitals.
The head of the Wisconsin Hospital Association said the maximization effort should be worth at least $700 million per year.
“Of course Wisconsin’s going to take all the money that it can get. Every other state does the same,” Steil said. “But at the end of the day it’s taxpayer dollars. It’s why broader and bigger reforms are needed inside this program to actually drive the funds to where it’s needed, and remove excess funds being spent at a period of time when the federal government doesn’t have the resources.”
Lawmakers in Madison insist the assessment increase and Medicaid maximization will not add anyone to state Medicaid rolls.
Steil is not alone in criticizing the state’s push to get as many Medicaid dollars as possible. Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson was quick to criticize the idea as soon as the budget passed.
Steil said he hopes to be able to deal with Medicaid’s opportunities for fraud in another plan in the near future.

(The Center Square) – The 2026 Wisconsin race for governor is now rated a tossup, according to Sabato’s Crystal Ball, after Gov. Tony Evers announced he would not run for reelection.
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley entered the race since Evers’ announcement while two Republicans – Whitefish Bay Resident Bill Berrien and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann – have also announced their candidacy.
Wisconsin is one of 17 states with open governor seats in 2026, meaning an incumbent isn’t running, of the 36 overall races.
“Even if Evers got some bad press for botching his state’s roll call at last year’s Democratic National Convention, his second-term approval ratings have been generally positive and he seemed well set up for what could be a Democratic-leaning midterm,” according to the explanation of the rating change from the Center for Politics. “With that in mind, we started the race off as Leans Democratic. But, in large part because of the uncertainty that can come with open-seat contests, we are moving Wisconsin to Toss-up.”
Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany, R-7th Congressional, continues to mull a run for the seat and was quoted in the past week saying that he believes he is the best candidate if he chooses to run.
It was enough for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin to respond.
“Tom Tiffany is the world’s biggest flirt when it comes to playing footsie with a possible run for governor,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin’s Philip Shulman said in a statement. “He should calm down on the PDA with a run for guv – he is wasting everyone’s time and energy as he uses this as an opportunity to stroke his own ego and gain some relevancy.”
Berrien said that strong Republican candidates are a large reason the prediction has changed.
“The pundits and experts are recognizing the same writing on the wall that Tony Evers saw: Wisconsin is done buying what the radical Madison Democrats are selling,” Berrien said in a statement.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin lawmakers and gig workers gathered at the Capitol on Tuesday to ask Gov. Tony Evers to sign a bill that would allow gig workers to have portable benefits plans that travel with them as they do work for companies such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and more.
The bill would allow gig workers to create portable benefits options such as health care and retirement accounts, though some groups including the Wisconsin AFL-CIO have organized protests of it passing, saying they are concerned the bill would strip app-based transportation and delivery drivers of employee status and reclassify drivers as independent contractors.
Sen. Julian Bradley, R-New Berlin, said that the bill allows drivers to be the independent contractors, not full-time employees, that they want to be.
“If a company were to offer this, these drivers would lose their independent contractor status,” Bradley said.
Drivers who make $750 in a calendar year are eligible for a portable benefits account, with the company being obligated to pay 4% of the driver’s earnings in the previous quarter, minus tips, if a company contributes to the account.
“Modern workers deserve modern solutions,” said DoorDash driver Rachel Smith of New Berlin.
Bradley and Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, D–Milwaukee, said that they have not spoken to Evers about the bill.
Rep. Alex Dallman, R-Markesan, was the bill’s lead author in the Assembly.
“I think that it’s important for him to take a really good look at this,” Ortiz-Velez said. “Sit down, let’s have a chat. I feel like there’s a place for us to come to a common ground for the common good.”

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin has had 25 deaths on all-terrain and utility task off-road vehicles this year after there were two more deaths reported on Saturday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Only four of the 25 who died were wearing seatbelts on the ATV or UTV with 84% of those fatal incidents happening on UTVs.
UTVs have seatbelts for all passengers and the DNR said those can significantly reduce the risk of being ejected from the vehicle in a crash.
All UTV passengers are required to wear a seatbelt in Wisconsin.
“UTVs are designed with key safety features, like roll cages and seatbelts, that are there to protect riders in the event of a crash or rollover,” Lt. Jacob Holsclaw, Wisconsin DNR off-highway vehicle administrator, said in a statement. “But those features can only help if they’re used.”
The number of deaths on the off-road vehicles have continued to climb this summer as deaths have spanned from a 6-year-old who died in a UTV rollover on July 10 to a 97-year-old who died in a crash with a motor vehicle on April 14.
There were two deaths involving 10-year-olds driving UTVs near their home in the past three months.
Operators must be at least 16 to operate a full-size UTV in public areas in Wisconsin and ATV/UTV operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, and at least 12 years of age must complete a DNR-approved safety course.
“While these numbers are concerning, they also highlight a clear opportunity for prevention,” Holsclaw said. “Wearing a seatbelt is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stay safe while riding.”

(The Center Square) – A woman accused of driving the wrong direction on a highway while impaired and killing two teens in Dane County now is subject to an arrest detainer from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila, who DHS identified as “a criminal illegal alien from Honduras,” is charged with felony vehicular homicide, impaired driving, operating while intoxicated causing injury, knowingly operating with a revoked license and more.
Martiney-Avila is accused of killing 18-year-old Hallie Helgeson and 19-year-old Brady Heiling in the July 25 crash. DHS said that Dane County has not historically honored U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers due to sanctuary policies.
“Hallie Helgeson and Brady Heiling had their whole lives ahead of them – and they would still be alive today if it weren’t for Noelia Saray Martinez-Avila – a criminal illegal alien from Honduras. Martinez-Avila recklessly drove the wrong way on a highway while intoxicated and killed these two teens,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. “ICE has lodged an arrest detainer to remove this public safety threat from the U.S.
“Unfortunately, this sanctuary jurisdiction has a history of not honoring ICE arrest detainers often leading to the release of murderers and other heinous criminals. Under Secretary Noem, these precious victims will not be forgotten, and we will fight for justice.”
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via email that he was concerned ICE would attempt to deport Martinez-Avila before trial.
“Deporting someone before they face trial allows them to evade that accountability — it’s essentially a ‘get out of jail free’ card,” Barrett wrote to the paper.
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-7th Congressional, said that the case shows the danger of sanctuary policies.
“Sheriff Barrett called me a LIAR when I warned Dane County’s sanctuary policies put lives at risk,” Tiffany wrote on social media. “Now, two teens are dead after a repeat illegal alien offender was allowed to remain in the community. How many more Americans have to die before Democrats end this lawlessness?”
Wisconsin Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee responded to Tiffany about drunk driving laws.
“Do you know how many people are killed by US Citizens who drive drunk every year?” Larson wrote. “How many drunk driving laws have you coauthored during your time in public office?”

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s claims of large economic benefits and taxpayer benefits from its tourism spending is again being called into question by economists, including the fact that report did not include any information about tourism funding that came to the state via grats from the American Rescue Plan Act.
The report, from marketing firm Tourism Economics, was released in June with fanfare from Gov. Tony Evers heading into the biennial budget being finalized.
But 200 ARPA grands worth $12 million were not included in the report, according to Badger Institute, which quoted Texas A&M’s John Crompton as saying the reports “are created for economic boosters and take advantage of the ignorance of legislatures and the public.”
Badger Institute pointed to $72.3 million in the last state budget for tourism, nearly double what it was in the prior budget along with $72.2 million in grants for lodging businesses, $30.8 million for event venues, $22 million for local government tourism efforts, $15 million for tourism destination marketing, $10 million for movie theaters and $2.8 for minor league sports.
Crompton told Badger Institute that the numbers in the reports use flawed methodology that does not consider diverted spending from in-state travelers.
Crompton also said he believes the flawed reports will continue to be produced the same way they are today.
“They are going to keep doing what they’re doing and telling you it’s good for your state,” he told Badger Institute. “Just know that all of it — the job creation, the tax revenue, the overall economic impact — is all very suspect.”

(The Center Square) – The complaints about Wisconsin’s new state budget continue to roll in, and Milwaukee Alderman Peter Burgelis is the latest.
He told a Common Council committee the new $111 billion, two-year state budget doesn’t do enough for Milwaukee.
“Our local streets are aging faster than we can afford to repair them, and the state continues to shortchange its largest city and economic engine,” Burgelis said.
Burgelis added that 25% of Milwaukee’s roads are in poor shape, but the city is getting just 5% of the state’s general transportation money. He said Milwaukee should get at least double that.
“Ten percent of sales tax comes from Milwaukee, but we are getting half of that back for general transportation aid and state aid to municipalities to improve their local roads,” he said.
Burgelis pointed to a recent city report that puts the local road price tag at more than $750 million.
“To simply maintain existing pavement conditions, DPW estimates that $60 million annually is required. To eliminate the current backlog of poor-quality streets, the city would need a staggering $821 million, with more than $750 million needed for local and collector streets. These are the very roads most used by residents but ineligible for federal aid,” Burgelis’ statement added.
“Milwaukee’s local road network is a backbone of economic activity and daily life,” Burgelis said. “We’re left with limited funding tools and outdated state formulas that reward suburban expansion and penalize urban density.”
Burgelis said he wants to make the case to lawmakers to restructure how the state helps Milwaukee, and other local communities, pay for their roads.
“It’s time for a serious conversation in Madison about how we fund local infrastructure in a way that meets real quality of life needs,” Burgelis said. “Milwaukee cannot keep doing more with less while driving on cracked pavement.”

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s new budget will spend down most of the state’s reserves, resulting in a balance of $770.5 million on June 30, 2027.
That will be the lowest balance since 2018, according to new analysis from Wisconsin Policy Forum.
The spending is an increase of 12.4% over two years, an increase of $12.3 billion. The budget includes $111 billion in spending with $3 billion in bonds.
The budget calls for 300 fewer state employees but will result in a budget increase for staffing due to the rising costs of benefits and 3% wage increases in July 2025 and 2% in July 2026 for all state workers.
That will cost the state an additional $385.7 million over the two years from general tax revenue and $242 million from other funds, according to the analysis.
The budget calls for more funds going into the rainy-day fund, with the reserve level moving to $2.8 billion by the end of the two years, which is approximately 11.4% of the net general fund appropriations in 2027.
“That relatively strong balance could be needed, since moving forward the state could face a return to budget challenges,” the analysis said. “The state’s reserves are projected to drop for the next two years because state spending will outpace revenues in both years of the 2025-27 budget.”
The spending levels in the approved budget will lead to issues heading into the 2027-29 budget with a significant shortfall in funding that likely cannot be made up through increases in tax revenue.
“To fully close the gap, state officials will likely have to turn to measures such as spending cuts, tax increases, or further drawdowns of reserves including potentially part of the rainy-day fund,” the report says.
The budget’s income tax cut, meanwhile, will lead to up to a $190 cut from single and head of household filers and $253 for married couples if the filers have a taxable income of at least $50,480 for single filers and $67,300 for married couples filing jointly.
“In other words, this change delivers a savings of a similar dollar amount to both middle and high-income taxpayers but would not provide any savings to low-income state residents who owe little to no income taxes,” the report said. “The provision will lower state tax collections by about $320 million in each year of the two-year state budget.”

(The Center Square) – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources ended a two-week effort to trap a black bear involved in a Barron County attack after not locating the bear.
The DNR, Barron County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Department of Agriculture – Wildlife Services had game cameras and live traps on the property and trapped and released two male black bears, two yearling bears and two sows that were determined to be unrelated to the incident.
The black bear allegedly attacked 69-year-old Karen Frye in her backyard in Comstock on the early afternoon on July 12.
“After two weeks of round-the-clock surveillance on the property and no additional signs of the sow involved, our current options are exhausted,” said Randy Johnson, DNR large carnivore specialist.
Officers found a cub in a tree after the attack, which they say indicate the attack involved a sow and cub, but did not find the bear.
The DNR also found a dead female black bear nearly a mile away from the attack that had been hit by a car. But there was no evidence it was the same bear.
The DNR said there are an estimated 24,000 bear in the state and that “black bears are generally secretive, not aggressive and tend to avoid humans as much as possible but bears are sometimes known to be aggressive if cubs are present and feel threatened.”

(The Center Square) – Scott Walker is not running for governor.
Walker, who served two terms as governor, took to social media over the weekend to clarify that he’s not jumping into next year’s race.
“I’m not going to be a candidate for governor in 2026,” Walker said in his video. “I’m going to continue my work as president of Young America’s Foundation.”
Walker was first elected in 2010, then won a statewide recall race in 2012, and won his third election for governor in 2014.
He was Wisconsin’s 45th governor, and had he run again and won, he would have been the state’s 47th. That’s why Republicans in the state took special notice when he posted a picture of a MAGA hat with 45, 47 on the side.
“It really was an honor to serve as the 45th governor of this great state,” Walker said. “Looking ahead we’ve got to work even harder to make Wisconsin great again.”
Walker then said one of the keys to a Republican return to the governor’s office is the youth vote.
“When I last successfully ran for re-election, we took 47% of the vote of people aged 18-29,” Walker explained. “Eight years later, the Republican running for governor took just 30% of the vote with that group.”
That Republican was Tim Michaels. Michaels has not said if he plans to try again with a run in 2026.
With Walker out, the Republican field remains businessman Bill Berrien and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann.
Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany on Monday said he’ll decide whether he’s running within the next 60 days.
Democratic Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez announced her bid for governor last week with a video of her own. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley also said on Friday he’s running in the Democratic race to replace Gov. Tony Evers.
Next year’s race will be the first since 2010 where Wisconsin voters will not see an incumbent governor on the ballot.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley both entered the 2026 race to be the Democratic candidate for the state’s next governor after Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday that he would not be running for re-election.
The Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association issued support for Rodriguez immediately, saying “as a nurse, a mom and lieutenant governor, Sara has spent her life putting people first—fighting for affordable health care, protecting reproductive freedom, and delivering real results for working families across Wisconsin.”
Crowley, meanwhile, told reporters he was taking steps toward entering the race and that “time is of the essence” in entering the race.
Rodriguez pointed to her time as a nurse, saying she is a public health policy expert, small business owner and problem-solver for the state’s top office in her announcement.
“We are in a precarious moment in our history and we need leaders who will stand up for Wisconsin, who understand the challenges facing families here and who believe deeply in our ability to build a stronger future for our children,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “That’s why as a Wisconsinite, a daughter of a veteran and union member, a mom and your Lieutenant Governor, I’m proud to be announcing my campaign for Governor,”
Whitefish Bay Resident Bill Berrien and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann, both Republicans, were the first two candidates to announce they are running for the seat.
“Sara Rodriguez is the very embodiment of Tony Evers and the Madison Democrats’ failed record over the last six years,” Berrien said in a Friday statement. “Wisconsin cannot afford to have a continuation of the Evers’ policies that kept us stuck in reverse. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Sara Rodriguez or another one of the radical left Democrats that decide to enter this race, one thing is for certain: I plan to win.”