WASHINGTON - Donald Trump stirred up the Wisconsin GOP primary for governor this week by encouraging a run from Sean Duffy, snubbing Rebecca Kleefisch. The aftermath of Trump’s statement has been disastrous for Kleefisch, who earlier said, “I hope that Donald Trump gets involved in this race.” Kleefisch and her campaign have yet to comment on Trump’s statement.

Here’s just a sample of what local media in Wisconsin are saying:

• Wisconsin Right Now: “President Donald Trump dropped a grenade into the middle of the Wisconsin governor’s race.”

• Wisconsin Examiner: “It seems Rebecca Kleefisch cannot get a break with her fellow Republicans … Trump’s praise and his message urging Duffy to run in a primary against Kleefisch to challenge Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, comes despite the fact that Kleefisch’s far-right stances already mimic Trump.”

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Former President Donald Trump’s plea to former congressman Sean Duffy to mount a run for governor has scrambled the race and raised the possibility of an intense Republican primary.”

• WISN 12: “Whether Duffy runs, the statement may offer a blow to other Republican campaigns, most notably former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch.”

• Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Trump’s statement could signal hurdles for Kleefisch as she works to unify the Republican grassroots with whom Trump remains popular.”

“A Donald Trump-endorsed bid from Sean Duffy would spin the Wisconsin GOP primary into chaos,” said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. “If Duffy jumps in, he and Kleefisch will be forced into a brutal battle for the far-right base. The chaotic race to the right will expose Kleefisch’s out-of-touch policies and prove that she’s radically wrong for Wisconsin.”

Wisconsin Republican has downplayed Capitol attack as a largely "peaceful protest", according to Business Insider report.

Madison, Wis., -- Ron Johnson is once again failing to do the job Wisconsin elected him to do and instead adding to the gridlock and dysfunction in D.C. Yesterday, a new report detailed how Johnson is the sole Senator responsible for  blocking the nomination of the U.S. Attorney to prosecute the individuals who attacked the Capitol on January 6th. Read more below on Johnson’s efforts to let those who broke the law and attacked the Capitol avoid prosecution:

Business Insider: Sen. Ron Johnson, who calls the Capitol attack a 'peaceful protest,' confirmed to us he's blocking Biden's choice to oversee the January 6th prosecutions

Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican who has downplayed the Capitol attack as a largely "peaceful protest," is blocking the confirmation of President Joe Biden's pick to oversee the hundreds of prosecutions stemming from the violence in Washington on January 6.

Johnson's office in a statement to Insider acknowledged his role in the "hold" on the nomination of Matt Graves, a former federal prosecutor whom Biden named in July as his choice for US attorney in Washington, DC.

[...]

On January 6, Johnson was serving as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, a platform he used during the Trump administration to spread conspiracy theories about the FBI and CIA conspiring to bring down the former president. Johnson, who is up for reelection to a third term in 2022, has in recent months said he did not feel threatened on January 6.

In a radio interview, Johnson said he would have felt more threatened if Black Lives Matter protestors had stormed the Capitol rather than Trump supporters. Johnson has also asserted without evidence that the FBI knew more about the planning before the January 6 attack than it has revealed so far.

[...]

​​"To compare the actions of people around the country protesting, mostly peacefully, for civil rights, to a violent mob seeking to overthrow the lawfully elected government is a false equivalency and downplays the very real danger that the crowd on January 6 posed to our democracy," said Chutkan, a 2014 appointee to the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

[...]

Since January, the office has spearheaded the more than 600 prosecutions that have emerged from the deadly attack on the Capitol. So far, 100 participants in the Capitol attack have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the violence on January 6.

[...]

The Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Graves' nomination in late September as part of a slate of US attorney picks. Of the seven nominees voted out of committee without objection, Graves is the only one who has yet to win confirmation.

[...]

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Recalls for Thee, But Not for Me”

WASHINGTON - The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has caught Rebecca Kleefisch flip-flopping her stance on recalls for political benefit. Kleefisch opposed a 2012 recall attempt when she was the target, but she’s now thrown her support behind a school board recall driven by far-right conspiracy theories surrounding COVID-19 restrictions and critical race theory. 

Desperate to shore up the support of Trump’s base after he snubbed Kleefisch and encouraged a run from Sean Duffy, Radical Rebecca has moved even further right since her time in the catastrophic Scott Walker administration. Kleefisch called the 2012 recall effort “a spectacle,” but she’s changed her tune now that she and her supporters serve to benefit from a recall attempt. 

In addition to amplifying extremist dog-whistles, Kleefisch’s support of the school board recall would benefit Scarlett Johnson, a far-right member of Kleefisch’s campaign leadership and school board challenger.

The Journal Sentinel reported on Kleefisch’s flip-flopping the same day that they also exposed Johnson for posting derogatory tweets, which Kleefisch has yet to condemn.

“Rebecca Kleefisch will say and do whatever it takes to win the support of Donald Trump’s far-right base, even if it means flip-flopping her stances,” said DGA Senior Communications Advisor Christina Amestoy. “Kleefisch’s support of this recall attempt only solidifies her self-serving, radical shift to the right. Wisconsinites will see right through Kleefisch’s hypocrisy and vote against her unpopular agenda next November.”

Voting against critical relief in a pandemic made worse by the GOP spreading misinformation and outright lies is bad policy and bad politics, say Dems.

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin is building back better thanks to Gov. Evers quickly distributing  American Rescue Plan funds for broadband expansion, small business relief, the tourism industry, and rural health services. This critical pandemic relief was passed by President Biden and Democrats in Congress -- and was unanimously opposed by GOP lawmakers. Despite voting against the federal relief and attempting to slow down relief distribution in the state legislature, Wisconsin Republicans are all too eager to take credit for the ARP’s clear success in Wisconsin.

In fact, some of the most vocal opponents of the bill are going as far as to take credit for the benefits funded by the ARP. Take a look at failed Congressional candidate Derrick Van Orden and Representative Tom Tiffany (WI-07):

• Van Orden called the bill a “disaster,” “wasteful” and a “bribery bill,”
• Tiffany called the bill a “trainwreck.”

Just a few months later, both Republicans hosted a round table with local business owners touting the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund provided vital funds to businesses most impacted by the pandemic. This relief was funded by -- drum roll, please -- the American Rescue Plan.

Despite Tiffany and Van Orden’s stark opposition to the deal, their communities are now using the funds to build back better from this pandemic:

• Wausau is allocating federal funding to programs addressing homelessness that will expand affordable housing programs and support local businesses,
• La Crosse is providing grants to nonprofit organizations, and
• Eau Claire allocated millions in ARP funds to their pandemic response.

The hypocrisy continues with Representative Glenn Grothman (WI-06). Grothman touted both the stimulus checks and restaurant relief funds that were funded by the American Rescue Plan despite -- you guessed it -- voting against the “tremendous influx of resources.”

“Wisconsin Republicans like state Reps. Clint Moses,  Rob Summerfield, Samantha Kerkman, and state Sen. Van Wanggaard are quick to tout the relief that Democrats provided but that their party tried to block,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler. “It turns out, voting against critical relief in a pandemic made worse by the GOP spreading misinformation and outright lies is bad policy and bad politics -- and Wisconsin families have had enough of Republicans’ obstructionism and hypocrisy. Make no mistake: every single Democrat in Congress voted for President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, and Governor Evers has implemented it -- while every single Republican voted against it. Come 2022, Wisconsinites will hold Republicans accountable at the ballot box.”

Highlight Inept Response to COVID-19

MADISON, Wis. -- The Democratic Party of Wisconsin is launching a TV ad campaign against Rebecca Kleefisch’s failure to provide a plan for combating the COVID-19 pandemic - the number one crisis facing the state and the country.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Rebecca Kleefisch has yet to release a plan to combat a contagious virus that has killed more than 8,000 Wisconsin residents.”

Rather than encourage folks to get vaccinated or wear a mask, Kleefisch has offered up a garbled laundry list of things she wouldn’t do. Kleefisch even accused Gov. Tony Evers of not following the state’s emergency response plan, but state officials debunked that lie and confirmed that Gov. Evers has used the plan as a guide.

Kleefisch has been radical and reckless with the pandemic since last year - she’s supported bogus treatments for COVID-19, attended and promoted potential super spreader events, and spoke to anti-vaccine groups.

Click here to watch the ad.

“We’re 19 months into the pandemic, thousands of Wisconsinites have died—and Rebecca Kleefisch can’t be bothered to consider how she would respond to the pandemic,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler. “Her failure to take the pandemic seriously is a slap in the face to the health care workers who have been run ragged and the thousands of Wisconsinites who have lost their loved ones. Wisconsin is worse off because of Republicans like Kleefisch who continue to be reckless and irresponsible on public health.”

Madison, Wis., -- Thursday, Senator Ron Johnson voted against funding the government, supporting a government shutdown which would slow economic growth and impact federal programs Wisconsinites care about, including potential loss in pay for essential workers like TSA, border patrol, and vaccine developers at the FDA. In response, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Senate Communications Advisor Philip Shulman released the following statement:

“Ron Johnson is too busy figuring out ways to dodge paying his fair share in taxes to care about the Wisconsinites who would suffer if he’d gotten the government shutdown he wanted. Once again, Ron Johnson is abandoning Wisconsin to instead focus on his self-serving political games.”

Wisconsin’ fifth congressional district covers Washington and Jefferson counties, most of Waukesha County, and portions of Dodge, Milwaukee, and Walworth counties.

WEST ALLIS, WI -- Jessica Katzenmeyer (D) is excited to announce her candidacy for the United States House of Representatives to represent the 5th Congressional District in the State of Wisconsin. 

“We need a government that works for the people,” said Katzenmeyer. “Our leaders who represent us should be the everyday people of our communities. As a self-employed contractor, I understand the struggle many Americans are facing. We need bold leaders with bold ideas who are not afraid to listen to different perspectives and get things done.” 

Katzenmeyer is proud and honored to be the first ever transgender congressional candidate in the history of Wisconsin. In 2020, Jessica ran for Wisconsin State Assembly with the hope of helping other Wisconsinites who know what it means to struggle. She became a leading voice in Wisconsin on LGBTQ rights as the state’s second-ever transgender candidate to run for state office, quickly gaining national recognition as an alum of the Victory Institute and being named a top-10 candidate to watch in multiple publications.

With healthcare as a priority, Katzenmeyer’s vision to move America forward focuses on expanding healthcare coverage, supporting our small businesses, and moving toward clean and sustainable infrastructure.

“It's not about the past, but how we are going to move toward a brighter future,” said Katzenmeyer. “It's a vision about how we are going to help people and have a positive impact on their lives. It's a vision of living in a country where we don’t ever have to worry about going into debt or filing for bankruptcy over medical bills. It's about a vision of living in a country operating on clean energy, breathing clean air, and drinking clean water.”

With a proud union background, Katzenmeyer worked for UPS for over 12 years, where she was an active member of Teamsters Local 344. Still serving her community, Katzenmeyer continues to volunteer with local and statewide campaigns and advocate for LGBTQ rights. She currently serves on the City of West Allis Plan Commission.

Wisconsin’ fifth congressional district covers Washington and Jefferson counties, most of Waukesha County, and portions of Dodge, Milwaukee, and Walworth counties.

The primary election will be held on August 9, 2022, with the general election on November 8, 2022.

Today, on Monday, October 4th, Katzenmeyer will be hosting a Campaign Kickoff event from 4:00-6:00 p.m. with a press conference beginning at 5:00 p.m. The event will be held at Public Table restaurant located at 5835 W. National Ave, West Allis, WI 53214.

To learn more about Jessica and her vision, please go to jessicaforwis.com. For updates, follow her at @JessicaForWis on social media.

Millionaire Senator Paid Less In Taxes Than Many Middle Class Wisconsin Families

Madison, Wis., Yesterday, a new report highlighted how Senator Ron Johnson, who made hundreds of thousands of dollars in 2017, paid the same amount in taxes as a Wisconsin family with a taxable income of $40,000. In response, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler released the following statement:

“It’s simple: struggling Wisconsin families, whom Ron Johnson tried to stop from getting much needed COVID relief and a family tax cut, should not be paying more in taxes than Ron Johnson himself. Johnson rigged the tax system to benefit himself and his biggest donors. Ron Johnson owes it to every Wisconsinite to stop his shady dealings, come clean about his self-serving antics, and end his opposition to the Build Back Better plan that would help address the unfairness in our tax system and give a break to working families.”

This isn’t the first time Johnson has gamed the system to enrich himself. Following his 2010 campaign, where he loaned himself nearly $9 million, Johnson had his company PACUR pay him $10 million in what he called “deferred compensation.” More recently, Johnson changed the 2017 GOP tax scam bill that benefitted himself and his biggest campaign donors to the tune of over $200 million dollars in a single year.

Madison, Wis. -- Despite making millions of dollars in 2017, Senator Ron Johnson paid virtually nothing in state income taxes -- and won’t tell Wisconsintes why. See more below on how Johnson avoided paying his fair share of taxes in 2017:

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Multimillionaire U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson paid a mere $2,105 in state income taxes in 2017, despite making big bucks

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson has pushed back on any suggestion that wealthy individuals, such as himself, should be paying more in income taxes.

"People should be paying their fair share," Johnson said recently on WISN-AM (1130). "But when you have the top 1% of taxpayers paying 40% of the income tax, I mean, at some point in time, you got to go, 'Well, that's got to be pretty close to their fair share, huh?'"

Good question.

But here's a better one:

How did a multimillionaire like Johnson, who makes $174,000 a year as a U.S. senator, pay only a couple of thousand dollars in state income taxes just a few years back?

To be exact, state records say Johnson, an Oshkosh Republican, paid Wisconsin a total of $2,105 in state income taxes for 2017.

For context, a married Wisconsin couple who jointly reported a taxable income of $40,000 — that is, their adjusted gross income minus all deductions and credits — would have had a 2017 state income tax bill of $2,107, two dollars more than what Johnson paid.

The state had a graduated tax rate of 4% to 7.65% in 2017.

Now consider this: In his federal financial filings, Johnson reported personal income ranging from $276,412 to $2.2 million in 2017 — on top of his Senate salary. That means he had a minimum income of $450,000 in the same year that he paid $2,105 in state income taxes.

And this: Johnson has averaged paying a little more than $60,000 a year in state income taxes to Wisconsin over the past decade — 30 times what he paid in 2017.

So why the big tax break four years ago?

A special one-year deduction? Business losses? Large charitable contributions? Or a tax break as a result of former President Donald Trump's 2017 tax bill?

Johnson's staff isn't saying.

"The senator had a smaller tax payment because he had less income to report in 2017," said Vanessa Ambrosini, a spokeswoman for Johnson.

Asked if the second-term senator would release his federal tax returns to provide some further context, Ambrosini said no.

"The senator will not be providing media with his tax returns," she said.

If Johnson decides to run for a third term, which is an open question, Ambrosini said he will provide the press with a similar level of "tax detail" as he has in the past.

It's not clear what that means. In the 2010 race, Johnson released three years of federal tax returns; he provided no returns in 2016.

"He had complied with all Senate financial disclosure requirements," Ambrosini said.

And what do those show?

His most recent report, filed in May, says Johnson had assets worth between $16.5 million and $78.1 million at the end of last year.

A big chunk of that —  between $5 million and $25 million — came from the March 2020 sale of his share of Pacur LLC, an Oshkosh-based supplier of specialty plastic packaging materials. Johnson headed the privately held company before he was elected to the Senate in 2010.

All of which is very interesting financial information on Johnson, who — you may recall — delayed and then voted against the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill earlier this year that included $1,400 stimulus checks and monthly child tax-credit payments for many Americans.

But those Senate records do not explain why he paid such a paltry sum to Wisconsin in 2017.

"Wisconsinites deserve to know what Sen. Johnson is hiding in his financial records," said Philip Shulman, a spokesman for the state Democratic Party.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel turned up his past tax payments by asking the state Department of Revenue for the state income taxes paid over the past 10 years by Johnson and all the major Democratic candidates in the 2022 race for Johnson's seat.

[...]

In 2011, Johnson's plastics firm paid him $10 million in deferred compensation shortly after Johnson poured $9 million into his campaign to defeat then-U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold.

More recently, Pro Publica reported that Johnson fought to sweeten the tax break for companies known as pass-throughs  — so-called because profits are passed through to owners — in Trump's 2017 tax bill, a move that benefited some of his biggest donors. Among the beneficiaries were Dick and Liz Uihlein of Pleasant Prairie-based packaging company Uline and Diane Hendricks of ABC Supply in Beloit.

[...]

Nicholson Is Running Campaign Ads Through His Nonprofit To Boost Political Profile