Heating Up In Madison

MADISON, Wis. (AP) Republican state lawmakers are making another push to

extend taxpayer subsidies to help students with special needs attend private schools. The idea was removed from Gov. Scott Walker’s budget last year in the face of strong opposition from disability rights groups and others. But four Republican lawmakers scheduled a news conference Tuesday to release their latest proposal. Families of students with special needs are speaking out about the idea, saying private schools aren’t accountable because they aren’t required to provide the same services that public schools do under federal law. Wisconsin Education Association Council, the statewide public school teachers union, also opposes special needs vouchers. Its president Betsy Kippers says lawmakers should invest in public education rather than vouchers.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) The Wisconsin Assembly is set to vote on a bill that would increase election recount fees. Currently candidates can request a free recount if the margin between them is less than half-a-percent of the votes cast. If the margin is between half-a-percent and 2 percent the requestor pays $5 per ward. If the margin is more than 2 percent the requestor pays the full cost. The Republican bill would reduce the threshold for free recounts to a quarter of a percent and raise ward fees to $25. Requestors would pay the full cost if the margin is 1 percent or greater. The Assembly is scheduled to vote on the bill Tuesday. The body was set to vote in November but minority Democrats used a procedural maneuver to delay the proceedings.