MADISON, Wis. — The “to-do” list was a long one on Tuesday as lawmakers in the Wisconsin Senate met to take their final votes of the year.
That included whether to legalize online sports betting in the Badger State, which lawmakers ultimately voted 21-12 to allow, with Democrats and Republicans both for and against the measure.
“I cannot be a party to the destruction of more lives, or potential, and the manipulation of those who can least afford the havoc that expanded sports betting will wreak,” State Sen. André Jacque, R-New Franken, said during floor debate. “My vote is no.”
In the days leading up to Tuesday’s floor session, it was unclear whether the bill would get a vote. During the debate, those opposed also raised concerns about a lack of competition, as the legislation is limited to just tribes, while the senators in support believe the bill is about supporting tribal nations by authorizing something they had requested.
“Sometimes people do have gambling issues or possibly even addiction issues. But what this bill’s passage would do would start opening up those conversations, would open up the compacts, and there’s a lot that goes into that,” Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, responded.
Now, if Gov. Tony Evers signs the bill, the state’s 11 federally recognized tribes will be able to offer mobile wagering to those physically in Wisconsin.
Getting PFAS dollars out the door
Back in 2023, money was set aside in the budget to combat PFAS contamination. However, those dollars never made it out the door — at least not until Tuesday.
“This legislation is a rare bipartisan agreement on a major, controversial issue affecting nearly every Wisconsinites,” State Sen. Eric Wimberger, R-Gillett, told his colleagues. “An issue that either side could politically wedge or use as a poison pill.”
In the end, Democrats and Republicans came together to unanimously pass legislation to release $125 million to help mitigate PFAS contamination.
“On behalf of the residents of the Town of Campbell in La Crosse County [who] have been drinking bottled water for the last five years, I strongly encourage all of our colleagues to vote in the affirmative,” State Sen. Brad Pfaff, D-Onalaska, said prior to the vote.
Rubber-stamping a resolution
Lawmakers in the Senate also rubber-stamped a resolution passed by the Assembly in February that would ask voters in November whether the state’s constitution should be amended to prohibit the governor from using partial veto power to increase taxes or fees.
The move comes in the wake of Gov. Evers’ controversial 400-year veto in 2023, which boosts school revenue limits.
While the unique power has been around since 1930, Republicans have blamed the governor’s use of it for increasing property taxes.
Twists and turns
There are always a few surprises as the floor session comes to a close. Among them was a vote to make Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, known as “dreamers,” eligible for professional licenses in Wisconsin. The measure wasn’t listed on the calendar when the day began.
Once the governor puts pen to paper, that means those immigrants can be teachers, nurses, plumbers, dentists and work in other similar professions that require an occupational license.
Another unexpected moment was a retirement announcement from longtime Republican State Sen. Van Wanggaard.
Wanggaard, who represents the Racine area, is the only Republican to ever be elected to four terms as a senator in his district.