State Rep. Tara Johnson breaks down what did and didn't get done, as Legislature calls it quits for the year - WIZM 92.3FM 106.7FM 1410AM

Wisconsin state Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson in the WIZM studio for the Rick Solem Show on March 24, 2026.

Wisconsin Assembly Rep. Tara Johnson (D-Shelby) stopped in studio to help recap the work the state Legislature got done and what still needs to be accomplished -- but won't.

We began the show discussing how the Legislature is done working for the rest of 2026, despite the need for property tax relief, education and childcare funding, along with Democratic priorities like raising the minimum wage and creating a public option for healthcare.

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The latter is a recent proposal from Johnson, who describes what it means for Wisconsin to have a BadgerCare public option for health insurance.

Johnson also helps break down the final days of session, and if the state Assembly set the Senate up to fail. Last week the Senate met for one day to pass 111 bills but only got through a portion of them before calling it quits for the year. Johnson argues the Assembly didn't set the Senate up to fail, but the two branches work very differently.

She described the Assembly, run by Republican Speaker Robin Vos, as authoritarian, while characterizing the Senate GOP, led by Republican Devin LeMahieu, as anarchy.

Coincidentally enough, both Vos and LeMahieu are now retiring, which is perhaps a sign that Republicans expect a shift in power after the fall elections, as the new maps keep shaping the politics in the state.

Johnson also discussed how the governor could call the Legislature back for a special session to codify a process to create fair voting maps.

In terms of what the Legislature did get done, some of it was non-controversial and Johnson talks of these, including Gail's Law, postpartum Medicaid expansion from 60 days to a year and PFAS funding.

Others, though, like sports betting legalization and allotting $14.6 million in taxpayer dollars for the University of Wisconsin-Madison to essentially pay athletes NIL money, come with some baggage.