Spokesperson appears to have admitted that it physically removed absentee ballot certification envelopes from the custody of the Mount Pleasant clerk.

MADISON, Wis. -- On Thursday, during a publicity stunt of a press conference about yet another “investigation” into 2020 election results, the Racine County Sheriff’s Department admitted to breaking election law when explaining their investigative methods.

During the press conference, Racine County Sgt. Michael Luell said, “At the end of our interviews at Mount Pleasant, they provided me with copies of the applications for absentee ballots, and they provided me with the ballot envelopes.”

Both state and federal law require that elections officials maintain custody over all materials associated with elections. (52 U.S.C. § 20701; Wis. Stat. §§ 7.23, 7.24.)

This includes absentee ballot certificate envelopes, which are required by Wisconsin law to accompany each and every absentee ballot cast—without a proper certification, absentee ballots cannot be counted. (Wis. Stat. §§ 6.86, 6.87.)

Despite this, the Racine County Sheriff’s Department appears to have admitted that it physically removed absentee ballot certification envelopes from the custody of the Mount Pleasant clerk. Removing these materials from the clerk’s custody violates both state and federal law.

In response, Democratic Party of Wisconsin interim Executive Director Devin Remiker issued the following statement:

“Today’s press conference was nothing more than a publicity stunt. The Racine County Sheriff’s Department has been wasting taxpayer money in an attempt to rehash discredited claims about the 2020 election results. There weren’t any charges filed or even any suggested. The press conference didn’t shed light on any election fraud, but did reveal the Racine County Sheriff’s department may have broken the law during their own farce of an investigation.

“Just last week, the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau released its election audit, and as recounts, court cases, and Trump’s own Department of Homeland Security have already proven, the LAB found the 2020 election was ‘safe and secure.’ But none of this matters to Republicans, who will go to any lengths to try to cast doubt on the 2020 election results -- including apparently breaking the law. This is yet another attempt to attack our democracy and cast doubt on a free and fair election, in which Wisconsinites elected Joe Biden.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/hmong-lao-veterans-salute-s5.jpgMoney goes to WUCMAA which serves underserved communities, including Hmong and Southeast Asian Wisconsinites

Names 26-year veteran of Oshkosh Department "First Responder of the Year".

MADISON - Tuesday, Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) welcomed Battalion Chief Mike Rutter of the Oshkosh Fire Department to the State Capitol in Madison. Rutter was selected as the 54th Assembly District's "2021 First Responder of the Year." Rutter was nominated by Rep. Hintz and the City of Oshkosh Fire Department due to his notable career and the contributions he has made to the community. Representative Hintz released the following statement on this honor:

“I am proud to recognize Battalion Chief Mike Rutter as the 54th Assembly District’s 2021 First Responder of the Year, and am honored to have the opportunity to recognize his service to the Oshkosh community before the full Assembly.

“Chief Rutter is a 26-year veteran of the Oshkosh Fire Department, who is wholly committed to bringing out the best in each of his colleagues as he prepares them to protect the public. Chief Rutter has greatly improved the safety of the Oshkosh Fire Department’s firefighters, particularly through the coordination of personal protective equipment programming.

“This honor recognizes the culmination of his dedication to his profession, and contributions to the citizens of Oshkosh. I commend Chief Rutter and all of the First Responder award recipients for their outstanding service to their communities and the state of Wisconsin.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/fishing-fly1-s5-440.jpgThe Congress allows citizens to advise the DNR Board on issues affecting hunting, fishing and conservation practices in Wisconsin.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/michael-gableman-fcj-s5.pngGableman should save Wisconsin further expense and embarrassment and wrap up his futile and distracting investigation of 2020 election, says newspaper.

Legislative leaders who are touting fairness are not adhering to these principles, says Bewley

Training designed to develop leadership skills, program analyzes a variety of public policy issues, including election security and administration, U.S.-Canada trade relations and supply chain, and the regional economy.

Lombard, Ill. – Representative Stubbs (D-Madison) was among 35 select lawmakers to complete a leadership training program that identifies and assists emerging state and provincial leaders in the Midwest.

Representative Stubbs met with fellow lawmakers from Wisconsin, 10 other Midwestern states and the Canadian province of Saskatchewan on October 1-5, in Minneapolis, for The Council of State Governments’ 26^th annual Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development (BILLD).

“The Bowhay Institute is one of the premier leadership training programs in the nation,” says Iowa Sen. Amy Sinclair, who serves as co-chair of the institute’s steering committee. “The legislatures in the region have benefited greatly from the skills their members have gained through this unique educational experience. Many of the graduates now hold leadership positions in their states.”

Legislators from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, and Wisconsin were chosen to participate through a competitive, nonpartisan selection process.

BILLD was founded in 1995 to help new legislators meet the demands of federal devolution and, in many states, term limits.  These two emerging forces have highlighted the shortage of training available for legislators, a void that BILLD aims to fill.

A program of The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Office, BILLD is held in partnership with the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Seminars are conducted by Humphrey faculty, Midwestern legislative leaders, and professional development experts. In addition to courses designed to develop leadership skills, the program analyzes a variety of public policy issues, including election security and administration, U.S.-Canada trade relations and supply chain, and the regional economy.

The program is funded through grants from foundations, organizations and corporate sponsors, as well as in-kind contributions provided by The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Office and the Humphrey School.

The Bowhay Institute for Legislative Leadership Development is named in honor of the late James Bowhay, longtime director of The Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Office. Founded in 1933, The Council of State Governments has national headquarters in Lexington, Ky., and regional offices in Atlanta, Chicago (Lombard, Ill.), New York City and Sacramento, Calif. The goal of the national, nonpartisan organization is to assist and advance state government.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/donald-trump-rally-milw-s5.jpgNon-partisan audit puts "The Big Lie" to bed, again.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/vote-47-mb5-s5.jpgPeople’s Maps Commission's Process Stands in Stark Contrast to Legislature's

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/assembly-wi-robin-vos-s450.jpgGovernor tells Republicans to “Go back to the drawing board”. Princeton Gerrymandering Project gives all three Republican maps an “F”.