Child Victims Act is an effective and innovative way to protect children from sexual predators and bring pedophiles to justice.

“Whether it’s by enforcing consumer fraud laws, cracking down on crime, or defending voting rights, Josh will make Wisconsin safer and stronger as Attorney General."

MADISON - Josh Kaul, former federal prosecutor and candidate for Wisconsin Attorney General, today announced the endorsement of U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin.

"Josh Kaul is an experienced prosecutor and community leader with a proven track record of keeping communities safe and making sure their voices are heard,” said Senator Baldwin. “Whether it’s by enforcing consumer fraud laws, cracking down on crime, or defending voting rights, Josh will make Wisconsin safer and stronger as Attorney General."

Kaul thanked Senator Baldwin for her support. “From fighting to ensure that pharmaceutical companies can be held accountable when they inflate the price of life-saving medicine, to standing up for Wisconsin dairy farmers, to calling for greater urgency from our current Attorney General in addressing the backlog of untested rape kits, Senator Baldwin consistently puts Wisconsin families first,” Kaul said.

Josh Kaul served as a federal prosecutor in Baltimore, one of America’s most violent cities. There, Kaul prosecuted murderers, gang members, and drug traffickers, taking dangerous criminals off the street and making communities more secure. He grew up in Oshkosh and Fond du Lac in a family of law enforcement professionals and teachers. He is running for Attorney General in 2018.

For more information, please visit: www.joshkaul.org

Roys’ viral campaign video recognized at award ceremony in New York.

NEW YORK, NY - Last night, Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Kelda Roys won a Lilly Award for Our Girls, her groundbreaking campaign video in which she discussed passing the BPA Free Kids Act while breastfeeding her daughter.

The Lilly Awards, named for Lillian Hellman, were founded to celebrate women in the theater and to advocate for gender parity and equality. They describe 2018 winners as people who “fight back, stand up, speak loudly, and demand more for women.” At last night’s event, Roys was presented with the Mom of the Year Award, for her advocacy and helping reduce the stigma around motherhood and breastfeeding. After receiving the award, Roys was surprised onstage with a song composed in her honor by award-winning composers and parents Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who wrote the songs for the Disney hit musical "Frozen."

“I’m delighted to receive this award. I thank the Lilly Awards Foundation for this recognition and for all its efforts to increase women’s representation in theater and beyond. Thank you as well to Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez for the entertaining, witty, and spot-on song you wrote for me and mothers everywhere!

“Elections are about the future, but we don’t have to wait until ballots are cast to make a difference. Millions of people responded positively to our video showing me being both a political leader and a parent. It resonated with so many people because women all over the country relate to the multitasking that comes with parenting.

“Female candidates still face stigma, unfair double standards, and unrealistic expectations, but the good news is that in 2018, women and men are pushing back at these hollow stereotypes and powering unprecedented electoral victories for women at every level. I am glad that we were able to help challenge those stereotypes with Our Girls.”

Candidate for Governor is calling for the repeal of more than 130 state laws made in the last seven years taking away decision-making authority from local communities.

ALTOONA, WI - Wisconsin is at its best when neighbors and communities are free to shape their future together and empowered to look out for each other, which is why candidate for governor Mike McCabe is calling for the repeal of more than 130 state laws made in the last seven years taking away decision-making authority from local communities in Wisconsin.

“Local democracy has been commandeered by those currently in charge at the State Capitol. People at the local level have had governing power systematically taken away from them. Just since 2011, more than 130 laws have been made blocking local actions on just about every imaginable issue. Communities should be free to decide what’s best for them. State government should support their ability to govern themselves the way they could in 2010,” McCabe said.

State preemption laws limit or prohibit local decisions on subjects ranging from building codes and rental property inspection to school budgets and shoreline development. Elected representatives chosen by the people in local communities have had their hands tied with respect to the bidding process for local road projects, siting of animal feedlots and approval of mining projects or the construction of oil and gas pipelines. Communities are not allowed to set their own workplace standards for wages, benefits and working conditions. They can’t have a minimum wage higher than the state’s. They can’t establish their own sick leave policies. They can’t have residency requirements for local public employees. They can’t join with other communities to set up regional transit authorities. They aren’t free to put rules in place for sport shooting ranges. They don’t have a say on the weight of vehicles using their streets and roads. The list of recently imposed state restrictions goes on and on.

McCabe said the more than 130 laws infringing on local democracy made since 2011 should all be repealed, moving Wisconsin to a new, more democratic model of home rule for local communities. He also would target for repeal at least two other state laws taking away local decision-making authority that were made before 2011 – a 2003 law taking away the ability of communities to decide whether massive-scale industrial agricultural operations should be allowed to operate in their midst and a 2004 law banning communities from setting a local minimum wage above the level set by the state.

“The party in power at the Capitol always claimed to be for local control. Now they are controlling the locals. Instead of state politicians lording over communities and dictating what they can and can’t do, let the people at the local level decide for themselves,” McCabe said. “Local democracy needs to be restored.”

Provides a stark contrast to Brad Schimel who has had a radical anti-conservation agenda.

Wisconsin is putting so much road spending on a credit card instead of paying as we pave, says Candidate for Governor. Proposes better ways than Walker's current plan.

ALTOONA, WI - Wisconsin’s roads and bridges are deteriorating badly and the state needs a whole new approach to strengthening its transportation infrastructure that prioritizes fixing existing roads before expanding or building new ones and paying as we pave to end excessive borrowing, governor candidate Mike McCabe said today as he called for bringing back automatic adjustments in the gas tax for inflation to keep revenue in line with road expenses.

Of all the options available for taking care of our roads and bridges, the two worst ones – neglecting basic upkeep and relying on heavy borrowing – have been the pillars of state transportation policy for years.

“Wisconsin can’t have bad roads and a good economy. And our kids and grandkids can’t have more debt and a bright future,” McCabe said. “Decent roads and bridges are a necessity whether you live in the city or out in the country. We have to look out for each other and make sure everyone everywhere in our state can travel safely.”

“By one measure, we now have the fourth worst roads in the country. By another, Wisconsin is 49th out of 50 states in road quality. Bridges in the state have been allowed to deteriorate to their worst condition since 2003. That’s not my assessment, it’s the Federal Highway Administration’s,” he said.

Lawmakers were more than two months late in putting together the most recent state budget, and the one they came up with cut maintenance funding and road worker pay and will cause the quality of Wisconsin’s roads to further deteriorate, according to the state Department of Transportation.

“What’s even worse is Wisconsin is putting so much road spending on a credit card instead of paying as we pave. Back in 2000, only 7 cents of every dollar in Wisconsin’s road fund went to repaying debt. This year, 20 cents out of every dollar raised for roads isn’t paying for roads but rather goes for debt payments,” McCabe said, adding that under the current budget, the nonpartisan Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance estimates the portion of transportation fund revenue going to debt payments will rise to almost 24% by 2019.

“Saddling future generations with more debt is not a responsible answer to our road woes. Neither is pandering to the powerful road building industry by favoring new construction and highway expansion over basic upkeep to the point where small towns and rural areas are left with no choice but to tear up paved roads and go back to gravel because they can’t afford to keep filling the potholes,” McCabe said.

The governor and his legislative allies slapped a new fee on hybrid vehicles in their latest state budget, a move McCabe called a short-sighted and irresponsible response to what ails Wisconsin’s roads that discourages fuel conservation by punishing hybrid car ownership.

“Thriving economically and surviving ecologically means embracing a clean energy future and depending less on fossil fuels,” McCabe said. “It was a horrible mistake to turn down $800 million in federal funds for development of high-speed rail in Wisconsin. That money could have gone a long way towards bringing Wisconsin’s transportation infrastructure into the 21st Century and would have provided a great deal of employment to boot. We should explore any and all opportunities to correct the mistake that was made. We all pay federal taxes. Whenever we can, we should bring that money back to Wisconsin to help our state. We don’t get tax rebates when we turn down federal funds. What we pay just goes to help other states instead of coming back to Wisconsin.”

As for the state’s crumbling roads, McCabe said: “There are better ways. Responsible ways. Prioritize road maintenance. Fix the roads we’ve already got before expanding or building new ones. End the reckless borrowing. Pay as we pave. Bring back gas tax indexing. That policy was started in 1985 with support from both Republicans and Democrats and kept Wisconsin’s roads among the finest in the country until it was abruptly ended 20 years later and replaced with a toxic combination of neglecting upkeep and borrowing for new construction that is Wisconsin’s current approach.”

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Supporting video: Watch Here

Walker's priorities are to spend billions on his wealthy elite donors and mega corporations like Foxconn to advance his own lifelong political career.

MADISON - The following is a statement from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin's communications director Melanie Conklin on Gov. Scott Walker first ad buy in the highly competitive 2018 governor's race.

"A panicked Scott Walker is out with an ad buy before Memorial Day attempting to cover up his years of fiscal mismanagement and neglect of our state. He desperately hopes we will forget that he has puts himself and his donors first while neglecting workers, education and infrastructure.

"Walker's priorities are to spend billions on his wealthy elite donors, mega corporations like Foxconn to advance his own lifelong political career at the expense of the basic needs of our state, our small businesses and regular Wisconsinites."

Roys came in first in the gubernatorial straw poll with a commanding 30%, with Mike McCabe second at 19% and Kathleen Vinehout third with 16% of the vote.

MADISON - At the 2nd Congressional District Democratic Convention last week, Kelda Roys came in first place in the gubernatorial straw poll with a commanding 30%, despite the large field.

“Today’s results show that Wisconsin Democrats are looking for hope, optimism, and someone to vote for, not just something to vote against,” said Roys. “It’s clear that my message of restoring opportunity and fairness to our state is resonating with voters.

“As I travel across Wisconsin to share my plans for supporting families and empowering small businesses, voters in every part of the state are responding positively. People are ready to turn the page, and start expanding access to healthcare, investing in universal pre-k and paid family leave, and raising wages for Wisconsin workers.

“Wisconsinites are ready for our state to be a leader again. In every part of the state, our progressive values of opportunity and fairness are building momentum for our campaign that will carry our movement to victory in August and November.”

The results of the straw poll are as follows:

Kelda Roys - 30%

Mike McCabe - 19%

Kathleen Vinehout - 16%

Tony Evers - 12%

Dana Wachs - 10%

Andy Gronik - 4%

Mahlon Mitchell - 3%

Mike Crute - 2%

Matt Flynn - 1%

Paul Soglin - 1%

Roys was also in Tomahawk today, attending the 7th CD Democratic convention, but they did not have a straw poll. Earlier this month, she was among the top four finishers in the Racine County Dems straw poll; the party did not release numbers or rankings.

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The 2nd Congressional District includes Madison, and borders Wisconsin Dells on the North, Janesville on the east and Platteville on the west.

Billionaire Koch brothers have already spent more than $4.3M against Tammy Baldwin.

MADISON - Wisconsin Republican U.S. Senate candidates Leah Vukmir and Kevin Nicholson are vying for a new round of out-of-state billionaire admirers.

Each already bankrolled by a right-wing billionaire to call their own, Vukmir and Nicholson have for months championed Washington corruption and advocated right-wing policies that put corporate special interests first and would inflict real harm on Wisconsin and hardworking Wisconsin families.

Vukmir and Nicholson’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed: the Republicans have caught the attention of the out-of-state billionaire Koch brothers, who have already spent more than $4.3 million against Tammy Baldwin and are sponsoring tonight’s U.S. Senate candidate forum via their Americans for Prosperity front group.

Tonight’s U.S. Senate debate between Leah Vukmir and Kevin Nicholson -- who are engaged in a “unity” pledge-shredding primary characterized by deeply personal and petty attacks -- is less a debate and more an audition; a chance for Vukmir and Nicholson to show the Kochs that they’d work for them, not Wisconsin.

"Tonight, Leah Vukmir and Kevin Nicholson are auditioning for the Koch brothers -- each hoping to earn the backing of even more out-of-state billionaires,” said Brad Bainum, DPW spokesperson for the 2018 Senate race. "That’s why Vukmir and Nicholson are running hard to the right on a Koch-backed agenda that includes tax breaks for billionaires and powerful special interests at the expense of the middle-class; cuts to Social Security and Medicare; and the GOP’s disastrous plan to take away millions of Americans’ health insurance.

"Nicholson and Vukmir are all too eager to sell out Wisconsin in exchange for doing the bidding of their powerful special interest backers in the U.S. Senate."

New York Times reports heavy outside spending from corporate special interest groups and mega-donors.

MADISON - In case you missed it, a new report from the New York Times profiles the 2018 U.S. Senate race, calling it what "may become the most expensive Wisconsin Senate race ever."

On top of describing Tammy Baldwin as "the top target in the 2018 midterms," due to heavy outside spending from corporate special interest groups and mega-donors -- something Wisconsin Republicans actively brag about in the piece -- the Times story also looks at Illinois billionaire Dick Uihlein's prolific spending to buy persistently dishonest GOP Senate candidate Kevin Nicholson a U.S. Senate seat.

Here's what you need to know from the Times' story:

Tammy Baldwin "has emerged as the top target in the 2018 midterms":

"For many national Republicans, Ms. Baldwin has emerged as the top target in the 2018 midterms: Donors from outside the state are spending twice as much money on the race so far as on any other Senate contest this year, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan group that tracks money in politics. Much of the money has gone toward television and radio ads."

"The fight may become the most expensive Wisconsin Senate race ever":

"The fight may become the most expensive Wisconsin Senate race ever: An analysis by the state Democratic Party found that nearly $10 million in advertising had already aired or been purchased by outside groups against Ms. Baldwin or in favor of Mr. Nicholson. (Mr. Nicholson’s camp put the number at nearly $9 million.) At least another $3.7 million in advertising is underway sponsored by outside groups in favor of Ms. Baldwin."

Wisconsin Republicans are bragging about the outside corporate special interest money pouring into our state to buy them the election:

"“There’s going to be lots of money coming into Wisconsin.” —Republican Party of Wisconsin Chair Brad Courtney"

But hardworking Wisconsinites aren't buying out-of-state billionaires' anti-Baldwin smear campaign:

"“I hear a lot of stuff on the radio,” said Gary Buchholz, a soil technician who was part of the crowd at J & J Fireball Lanes, a local bowling alley, and plans to vote for Ms. Baldwin. “I don’t like the money that comes in from out of state, huge amounts of money trying to influence Wisconsin elections.”"

And Wisconsin Democrats are organizing earlier and more aggressively than ever before, making early grassroots investments that are already paying off:

"Partly to counter the advertising, an energized Democratic base is organizing early, determined to retain the Senate seat held by their party since 1957" "[...]" "The results of two recent Wisconsin elections in which outside spending was a factor have added to Republican worries.

In a January special election upset, a local medical examiner, a Democrat, easily defeated a Republican state legislator for a State Senate seat held by Republicans for 17 years. In that race, the Republican got help from radio and digital advertising by Americans for Prosperity, a Koch-funded group. Then, in April, in a statewide Supreme Court election, a liberal judge from Milwaukee County defeated a county circuit judge backed by conservatives. "

Still, right-wing, out-of-state billionaires like Illinois' CEO Dick Uihlein, who's bankrolling Kevin Nicholson's candidacy, aren't going to give up easily:

"In all, according to a recent Democratic Party analysis, spending by Uihlein-funded groups in favor of Mr. Nicholson and against Ms. Baldwin exceeds $5.4 million. Mr. Uihlein did not respond to a request for an interview regarding the Wisconsin Senate race."

And... last, but not least -- while he may not have much Wisconsin-based support, rest assured that Kevin Nicholson is excited by his self-described "impressive" support from an array of out-of-state, Dick Uihlein-funded groups:

"“The coalition is very impressive,” Mr. Nicholson said, reeling off a list of six groups supporting him, including four groups that have received large donations from Mr. Uihlein. “We have a lot of groups stepping in to say, ‘We’re going to help you take back that seat.’”"

Read More from the New York Times.