Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) held a news conference at the state Capitol on May 23, 2013 regarding the proposal in the state budget to exempt the rent-to-own industry from the Wisconsin Consumer Act.

Representative Sondy Pope (D-Cross Plains) and Representative Chris Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) held a news conference on May 22, 2013 at the state Capitol to conclude their ‘Stop the Voucher Expansion’ petition drive and deliver signatures to Governor Walker and the Co-Chairs of the Joint Finance Committee.  They were joined by Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson, various Democratic legislators, education stakeholders and parents.

The Urban Alliance of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities held a news conference on May 22, 2013 at the Concourse Hotel in Madison to discuss Wisconsin mayors’ efforts to partner with the governor to create more jobs in Wisconsin over the next year and to discuss transportation proposals in the budget. Urban Alliance President, Mayor John Dickert of Racine, was joined by Mayor Tim Hanna of Appleton and Mayor Steven Ponto of Brookfield, .

Forward Institute held a news conference at the state Capitol to release a new study, “Wisconsin Budget Policy and Poverty in Education: A Study of the Impact of School Funding on Educational Opportunity.” The report raises questions of constitutionality and educational adequacy under previous and proposed education budgets. Further, there will be new research presented regarding the Milwaukee voucher program, DPI School Report Cards, statewide test scores, and the effects of poverty on student outcome.

On May 15, 2013, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Board Members and Democratic Legislators held a news conference to announce WEDC reforms.  Participants in the news conference include Rep. Peter Barca, Sen. Julie Lassa, Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, and Rep. Melissa Sargent.

U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (D-2nd CD) held a news conference at the state Capitol on May 13, 2013. He announced that he will introduce a Constitutional amendment which, if passed, will make voting in public elections an inalienable right for all American citizens of voting age.

The League of Municipalities held a news conference on May 8, 2013 at the state Capitol with village presidents and mayors from across the state to discuss residency issues.

On May 8, 2013, Paul Radspinner, WEDC board member and President/CEO of FluGen, Inc., held a news conference in Waukesha following the conclusion of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. special meeting called by the governor, regarding the Legislative Audit Bureau's audit released last week.

On May 7, 2013 legislative Democrats called on their colleagues across the aisle to stop action on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) budget before reforms have been passed to end the fraud, waste, and abuse at the corporation.

On May 4, 2013, at the Republican Convention in Wausau, WI, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-1st Congressional District) held a news conference and answered questions about health care, immigration, and how to balance the federal budget.

On May 4, 2013, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus held a news conference at the state convention in Wausau, WI. He answered questions about reshaping the message of the Republican Party on a National level, his thoughts on immigration laws and Republican primaries.

On May 4, 2013, U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy (R-7th Congressional District) held a news conference during the Republican Convention in Wausau, WI. He answered question on immigration, the national debt, and a recent debate with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

On May 2, 2013, Disability Rights Wisconsin and ACLU-Wisconsin held a news conference in Milwaukee about the status of the Milwaukee Parental Choice (school voucher) Program and discrimination against students with disabilities. The event will include comments by both organizations as well as Milwaukee Public Schools parents who will discuss a recent directive to Wisconsin by the U.S. Department of Justice obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

For more information about this issue, go to: http://www.aclu.org/racial-justice/aclu-callsdepartment-

justice-investigate-wisconsins-discriminatory-school-voucher and http://www.disabilityrightswi.org/archives/1608

On May 2, 2013, Governor Scott Walker (R-Wisconsin) held a news conference after speaking at the Governor's Prayer Breakfast in Milwaukee, WI.

The Joint Committee on Finance co-chairs, Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) held a news conference prior to the start of the first executive session of the Committee. The news conference was held at the state Capitol.