LA CROSSE TALK PM: Wisconsin state Rep. Billings on election spending, budget surplus, Democratic representation

Wisconsin state Rep. Jill Billings of La Crosse in the WIZM studio Tuesday for La Crosse Talk PM.

La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:07 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.

Among the topics discussed included running for local office versus campaigning in state races and campaign finance, as $93 million was spent in Wisconsin from outside groups on state races, including governor.

We also hit on the lack of Democratic voices being heard — 2% of Democratic bills got a committee hearing, let alone a vote, last session — when statewide races are essentially 50-50, yet the 99 Assembly seats only have 35 Democrats.

Billings also talked out where the state will go with a projected $6.6 billion budget surplus, and we hit quickly on topics like marijuana legalization and PFAS.