FILE - In this Feb. 4, 2020 file photo, Rush Limbaugh reacts as first Lady Melania Trump, and his wife Kathryn, applaud, as President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington. Limbaugh, the talk radio host who became the voice of American conservatism, has died. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
In a potentially politically charged move, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos requested that Gov. Tony Evers lower the U.S. and Wisconsin flags on state buildings across the state in honor of conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who died Wednesday at 70 after a battle with cancer.
"While some individuals may only see him as a popular radio host, he was a pioneer in talk radio, a best-selling author and a commentator who inspired generations to become active in politics," Vos, R-Rochester, said in his request to Evers. "No doubt, there are people who did not agree with him, but there is no question that he made a lasting impact on political discourse and conservativism in our nation."
Limbaugh, who has been inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame and the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, also recently was given the presidential medal of freedom by former Republican President Donald Trump.
Vos didn't mention any connection to Wisconsin Limbaugh may have, and there doesn't appear to be one.
Limbaugh has been lauded as a towering figure in conservatism and media, but was also a highly divisive figure. He has received criticism for making derogatory comments about marginalized communities, including the LGBT community, AIDS patients and women.
Limbaugh also spread fringe conspiracy theories and lies to his listeners, including that former U.S. President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S. Limbaugh once ran a segment called "AIDS updates," where he mocked the deaths of gay men by playing the song "I'll Never Love This Way Again," something for which he later expressed regret.
An Evers spokesperson didn't respond to a request seeking comment.
The most recent executive orders Evers made to lower state flags were for former Wisconsin Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson and former fire inspector David Tomlinson, who contracted COVID-19 while on duty as a fire inspector at the Poynette-Dekorra Fire Department. Both died in December.
Capitol flag etiquette has previously proved controversial.
Republicans have previously criticized Evers for raising the gay pride flag in June of 2019, calling it "divisive."
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Big boost for UW System in budget
UW tuition would be frozen for two more years, but state funding would get its biggest boost in more than 20 years under Evers' proposal. Read more.
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Proposal seeks to reduce number of juvenile offenders in prison
The state's Lincoln Hills juvenile prison would eventually close in the governor's budget, which shifts more serious juvenile offenders to county facilities and seeks to reduce the number of less serious juvenile offenders who are incarcerated. Read more.
Funding included for initiatives to make state carbon free by 2050
To address climate change, Evers called for the state to be carbon free by 2050 in his first budget. His second budget includes funding to make that a reality. Read more.
Riley Vetterkind | Wisconsin State Journal
Capitol reporter
Riley Vetterkind covers politics and state government for the Wisconsin State Journal. He can be reached at (608) 252-6135 or rvetterkind@madison.com.
