The Wisconsin Conservative Coalition held its 19th legislator Town Hall on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Freedom Project Academy in Appleton. The event was moderated by Mike Janke, chair of the Fox Valley Initiative.
State Senator Andre Jacques and Assembly Representatives Joy Goeben, Nate Gustafson, and Paul Tittl were on the legislator panel at this well-attended event. The recently passed Wisconsin state budget and abortion-related issues were the main topics addressed by the panel.
The legislators agreed that the 2025–2027 budget of $114 billion continues to overspend, but felt that their GOP caucus had prevented even higher spending with an associated increase in taxation. Rep. Goeben pointed out that every Republican who voted against the budget cost taxpayers money, as those “no” votes meant Democrat votes were needed—and thus expensive compromises with Democrats also were needed.
As positive outcomes from the budget negotiations, Sen. Jacque discussed the elimination of taxes on utility bills and Rep. Goeben highlighted assistance to child-care providers. Rep. Gustafson emphasized the importance of limiting questionable building of new government offices.
The panel concurred on the need to protect current regulations on abortion, such as mandatory office visits, ultrasounds, and parental notification along with enforcing statutes disallowing interstate shipping of oral abortion medications. Pending legislation was reviewed including mandatory public school education on the human life cycle and fetal development, defining abortion to not include miscarriages and termination of ectopic pregnancies, and streamlining adoption procedures as an alternative to abortion.
Rep. Gustafson was asked about artificial intelligence and informed the audience about the large Microsoft AI center being built in Pleasant Prairie. He touched on the water and electrical impacts of AI data centers and noted Wisconsin is expected to be a leader in welcoming those facilities. Innovations in nuclear energy are expected to power this evolution. Rep. Gustafson and Rich Lukas, a professor at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, will give a more comprehensive public discussion of AI on Monday, October 6 from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, at the Freedom Project Academy in Appleton.
The Wisconsin Conservative Coalition (WCC) represents Northeast Wisconsin, promoting responsible government at all levels. Its members are the Fox Valley Initiative, Northeast Wisconsin (N.E.W.) Patriots, and Wolf River Area Patriots.
