Wisconsin

Trump's speech to Congress; Wisconsin lawmakers react

Published

11 months ago

March 5, 2025

Press Room

Trump's speech to Congress; Wisconsin lawmakers react

MILWAUKEE – President Donald Trump spoke to the nation on Tuesday night, March 4.

Trump speaks to the nation

It was not the State of the Union, since that doesn’t happen in a new president’s first year. He spoke about his first 43 days in office and what’s next for the country.

US President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order that renames a wildlife sanctuary in honor of late Jocelyn Nungaray during a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. D

Big picture view:

Wisconsin was a key battleground state, as it flipped red and helped propel Trump back into the White House.

Cuts to Medicaid

Local perspective:

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.)’s guest for the president’s speech was a Milwaukee woman, who is a cancer survivor who receives Medicaid.

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

“I want to let them know: this is Medicaid. Right here. Stage 4 cancer survivor, who is willing to fight,” Renee Scherck-Meyer said. “I want to live. I want to be healthy. I want to have my health care. I’m very scared that I might not have access to my team anymore.”

A budget resolution adopted Tuesday by House Republicans called for the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion in spending. The bipartisan committee for a responsible budget said that will inevitably mean cuts to Medicaid.

The other side:

“Our social safety net programs, and an important one being Medicaid, should be there for the most vulnerable: for children, for pregnant women,” U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) said. “But we also have to make sure that we are helping individuals come off and lift their lives up and come off the programs.”

House Republicans applaud during a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Donald Trump’s primetime address Tuesday night from Capitol Hill, billed as a chronicle of his “Rene

Trump also highlighted the flurry of executive orders on things like freezing foreign aid, and stopping transgender athletes.

The president spoke about what he called “waste,” and praised Elon Musk for the Department of Government Efficiency.

Politicians respond

That’s something on the minds of Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation.

What they’re saying:

“The beginning of this Administration has been riddled with chaos,” Baldwin said. “It’s checks and balances. It’s Congress that passes budgets, that passes appropriations bills, passes laws and it’s to be the President who implements them and administers them. And that’s not happening right now.”

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android

“The proof will be in what they are able to produce when it comes to numbers,” U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.) said. “So, I’m still very hopeful that there is a dividend, that at the end of the day, the tax payers will see a reduction ultimately in their taxes as a result of the federal dollars that they’re finding that are really, completely unaccountable.”

Dig deeper:

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Communications Director Joe Oslund:

“Derrick Van Orden, Bryan Steil, and Wisconsin Republicans in DC are working with Donald Trump and Elon Musk to cut as much as $880 billion from Medicaid, dole out massive tax cuts to the rich, and attack hard-earned Social Security benefits Wisconsin seniors depend on. Nothing we heard from Donald Trump tonight changes the disastrous impact this agenda will have for Wisconsin families.”

The Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming:

“President Trump has embodied ‘promises made, promises kept.’ In just over a month since taking office, President Trump has secured the southern border, slashed millions of wasteful spending, and stood up to Hamas. Americans are grateful for President Trump delivering his America First agenda and renewing the American Dream.”

The Source: The information in this post was produced by FOX6 News.

PoliticsWisconsinNews

Source link

Related Topics:Featured news Politics us Wi

Click to comment

Wisconsin

Three bystanders hospitalized after vehicle crashes into Wisconsin building

Published

7 hours ago

February 5, 2026

Press Room

Three bystanders hospitalized after vehicle crashes into Wisconsin building

FITCHBURG, Wis. (WFRV) – Three people were hospitalized, two of whom were seriously injured, after a vehicle crashed into a building in southcentral Wisconsin on Thursday morning. A release provided by the Fitchburg Police Department states that officers were called to the 1600 block of the West Beltline Highway around 11:45 a.m. on February 5 […]

Source link

Wisconsin

Measles cases surge nationwide as Wisconsin reports two instances

Published

19 hours ago

February 5, 2026

Press Room

Measles cases surge nationwide as Wisconsin reports two instances

MADISON, Wis. (WBAY) – Measles cases are surging across the country, with at least 17 states reporting instances. Nearly 600 cases are confirmed so far this year, meaning the country saw more cases in one month than is typically recorded in an entire year, based on records since 1993.

Here in Wisconsin, two cases have been reported in Waukesha and Dane counties. More than 4,300 people combined are possible close contacts for just those two cases.

Local health officials are warning people who have not been vaccinated about the risks associated with measles. The measles virus is highly contagious and can cause serious health complications, including pneumonia, brain damage, deafness, and can even be deadly in some cases. Doctors say it’s not too late to get vaccinated.

Understanding the virus and symptoms

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world, with 1 in 4 people hospitalized for it. Doctors say symptoms don’t always show up all at once, and the illness often starts like a bad cold before other signs appear.

“And five days after symptoms start, you usually get these flat red macules, which is a rash that usually starts at the head. And it works its way down the body through the trunk to the arms and the legs,” said Dr. Cynthia Fisher, family medicine physician at ThedaCare.

Vaccination recommendations

Child immunization typically happens for babies between 12 and 15 months, with a second shot between four and six years old. Doctors say immunization is 95 percent effective in immunity for measles and helps keep yourself and others safe.

“The general population being immunized also protects our at-risk population, those who can’t get the measles vaccine for various reasons, such as being immunocompromised,” Fisher said.

The Department of Health Services says those born before 1957 are generally considered to be immune to measles. But for anyone born during or after 1957 who didn’t contract measles or receive the vaccine should receive at least one dose of the MMR vaccine.

School officials urged to stay vigilant

It’s not just parents who need to be vigilant. After two cases were reported within a week of each other — one on the UW-Madison campus and the other in the Waukesha School District — doctors say school leaders play a crucial role in identifying potential cases.

“Well, I think it’s important for educators and daycare providers also to be aware that there are measles outbreaks. And to be aware of signs and symptoms of illness that I talked about, such as the fever, the cough, especially the rash,” Fisher said.

While the virus is a concern on college campuses, UW-Madison health officials say their campus may be better prepared than some.

“Many of our students are already vaccinated. That’s less of a concern because when you’re vaccinated, you’re already well protected, and that will become less of a challenge,” said Jack Baggott, executive director of University Health Services at UW-Madison.

Source link

Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell doesn’t get his customary annual extension. AD says it was the coach’s call

Published

1 day ago

February 4, 2026

Press Room

Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell doesn’t get his customary annual extension. AD says it was the coach’s call

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell isn’t receiving the one-year contract extension that Badgers coaches typically receive on an annual basis.

The lack of an extension comes after Wisconsin went 4-8 last fall for its second consecutive losing season. Fickell’s contract still runs through the 2031 season.

Athletic director Chris McIntosh said Wednesday the decision was made at Fickell’s request. Fickell has gone 17-21 at Wisconsin after posting a 57-18 record in six seasons at Cincinnati.

“In December, shortly after the 2025 season ended, Luke Fickell requested that I not put forward a contract extension for consideration this year,” McIntosh said in a statement. “I respect his request and determined that the current terms of Luke’s contract will be maintained. Luke is completely focused on a successful 2026 campaign. There is no one more competitive than Luke, and he holds himself to the highest standards. He is committed to meeting and exceeding the expectations of everyone connected to Wisconsin — his own, the team’s, the University’s, alumni, supporters, fans, and the entire state.

“He continues to have our full support and, as we shared widely at the end of last year, Luke is making the necessary changes in the program, our Department is increasing our investment and we are aligned with campus leadership in our commitment to football success.”

The Wisconsin State Journal first reported that Fickell wasn’t receiving an extension.

Fickell originally agreed to a seven-year contract paying him an average of $7.8 million per year when Wisconsin hired him away from Cincinnati in December 2022. He had received a one-year extension following each of his first two years, including after the Badgers went 5-7 in 2024 to end a string of 22 consecutive winning seasons.

Source link