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 December 13, 2002 Wisconsin
Politics
Gard Announces Staff Speaker-Elect John Gard (R-Peshtigo) announced the remainder of his legislative staff this week. In addition to Chief of Staff Mary Reid, the following will join the Speakers staff next session: Bryon Wornson, Deputy Chief of Staff; Ellen Nowak, Legal Counsel; Jeff Schoenfeldt, Policy Advisor; Steve Baas, Communications Director; and, Debbie Hochkammer. Assembly Committee Appointments Earlier this week, Speaker-Elect John Gard named the following to Chair the Assembly Standing Committees next session:
Joint Committee Co-Chairs are as follows:
Doyle Inaugural Events Governor-elect Jim Doyle’s Inaugural Committee
announced
the details of his inauguration activities this week. In the announcement, the
Inauguration Committee indicated they will partner with the Boys & Girls
Club of Wisconsin, which will sponsor the inaugural events. The Inaugural
Committee will raise money to cover the expenses of the events and the remainder
will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club. This partnership marks the first
time that inaugural events have been used to raise money for a non-profit
organization. The following inaugural events have been
scheduled:
Policy Developments Legislative Fiscal Bureau Releases Summary of Budget Requests The non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) released its summary of the 2003-05 biennial budget requests submitted by all state agencies. In the summary, the LFB reports that budget requests total $51.7 billion over the biennium for all funds, which is a $4.4 billion increase over FY 2003 base year doubled. General Purpose Revenue requests totaled just over $25 billion for the biennium, which reflects a $2.7 billion increase over base year doubled. This summary will likely serve as a tool for Governor-Elect Doyle as he prepares to craft his 2003-05 biennial budget bill. Doyle, who has indicated that he expects the state’s budget deficit to be as much as $4.3 billion by mid-2005, will have to prioritize state services and look for cuts within state government to address the fiscal crisis. Doyle has maintained that he will not raise taxes as part of the solution to the state’s budget deficit. Doyle Holds Budget Listening Sessions Governor-Elect Jim Doyle held four of six scheduled statewide budget outreach hearings. Hearings were held this week in Wausau, Appleton, Racine and Superior and hearings will take place next week in Eau Claire and La Crosse. The purpose of the statewide outreach sessions is to solicit input from the public on how to cut the state budget. Doyle has brought in legislators from both sides of the aisle to participate in the hearings to show that it will take bi-partisan cooperation to solve the state’s fiscal deficit. The outreach sessions have attracted many Wisconsin residents, with over 300 attending the Appleton session alone. Joint Finance Set to Meet The Joint Committee on Finance is scheduled to meet
under s. 13.10 Wis. Stats. on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 412 East.
The Committee has a long agenda, including agency requests for reallocation of
1.5 percent across-the-board reductions. The Committee will also take
up:
See Fiscal Bureau Papers Recently Enacted Campaign Finance Reform Struck Down This week, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled that one provision of the recently enacted campaign finance reform language was unconstitutional, thereby striking down all but one provision of the campaign finance reform measure because the language included a non-severability clause. The provision specifically ruled on by Crabb would have required political groups to register their intent with the State Elections Board 30 days before any activity for or against a candidate. The provision was deemed a prior restraint. The one provision that was not covered in the non-severability clause, and will remain in place, relates to free air time to candidates by TV stations on public access channels. A coalition represented by WMC, WEAC, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Builders Assn., Wisconsin Realtors Assn., Wisconsin Grocers Assn., and Wisconsin Broadcasters Assn. challenged the reform package in court arguing that the law violates the First Amendment by limiting free speech. Reform activists suspected the new laws would be struck down, but remained optimistic that meaningful campaign finance reform can be enacted in the next legislative session. Sens. Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) and Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) have already proposed a new campaign finance reform bill addressing the constitutionality concern that they hope will be passed next session. Doyle has indicated he will use the framework of the Ellis/Erpenbach bill to craft his own campaign finance reform proposal. Click here to view the Ellis/Erpenbach proposal. Federal
Developments
Proposal Would Offer Life Insurers Federal Charter Option House Financial Services Capital Markets Subcommittee Chairman Richard Baker, R-La., is convinced that life insurers should be given a federal chartering option but does not feel that property and casualty insurers require the same regulatory treatment, according to a report in the National Journal. A Baker spokesman said it was premature to discuss specifics of a bill before drafting begins. In an interview earlier this year, Baker said it was easier to apply the federal chartering concept to life insurance because those policies are generally uniform nationwide. Federalizing property and casualty and auto insurance lines presents a greater challenge because policies vary regionally, he said. More on Baker Transportation Committee Leaders to Seek Doubling of Highway Funds Leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will be pushing to nearly double highway spending from the existing $32 billion to $60 billion by FY09 next year. In addition, the committee will also seek to increase spending for mass transit. Committee staff members laid out these particulars to several Washington transportation interest groups. To pay for this increase in spending, the committee will propose to increase the federal gasoline tax by 2 cents from FY04 to FY09; to tie the tax to the consumer price index to account for inflation; to draw down on the interest and balance that has accumulated in the Highway Trust Fund; and, to eliminate the current 5.3-cent subsidy on ethanol-based fuel. Political
News
Wisconsin’s fiscal crisis requires straight talk: Manitowoc Herald Times, Dec. 13, 2002. Professor urges politicians to resolve problem together. Most state residents skeptical about future tax increases, poll says: Manitowoc Herald Times, Dec. 13, 2002. Survey by WisPolitics.com and Wood Communications Group. Skindrud likely to be next sergeant at arms: Wisconsin State Journal, Dec. 13, 2002. Rep. John Gard said Thursday that Skindrud is his preferred choice to succeed Denise Solie. GOP-controlled Legislature in position to reconsider death penalty: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 12, 2002. Debate over lifting 150-year ban could become sticking point between Doyle, Republicans. Residents pack room to offer budget ideas: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 12, 2002. Facing huge deficit, Doyle opens series of listening sessions Judge axes campaign finance reform package: Appleton Post-Crescent, Dec. 12, 2002. Will be reintroduced soon, without the provision the judge found objectionable. Doyle’s on track (opinion): Fond du Lac Reporter, Dec. 12, 2002. State should let citizen board pick DNR chief. Doyle polls state on spending: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Dec. 12, 2002. Area residents offer suggestions for cuts. Doyle promises deficit can be solved without raising taxes: Janesville Gazette, Dec. 12, 2002. Ideas offered by Wisconsin citizens at a Wednesday hearing in Wausau. Doyle inauguration proceeds planned for Boys & Girls Club: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Dec. 11, 2002. Inaugural committee hopes to raise $100,000 for the club. Appointment puts Kaufert in budget storm’s eye (opinion): Appleton Post-Crescent, Dec. 8, 2002. He says all the right things. Now, it’s up to him to put what he says into practice. Campaign reform takes a pounding: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 8, 2002. Lawyers toss book at McCain-Feingold. Bill could clarify open records rulings: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 8, 2002. Notification requirement would apply only to rank and file public employees. Counties association targets tax on business: Appleton Post-Crescent, Dec. 8, 2002. Renewing its push of a plan to do away with a bundle of special-interest sales tax exemptions. State's pension fund eyed for relief: Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Dec. 8, 2002. Option raised to balance state budget. Jim Doyle hits the trifecta (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 8, 2002. Doyle has chosen well in his initial appointments of the people who will staff his government. Effort still far short to recall Chvala: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Dec. 8, 2002. Still more than 10,000 signatures short of forcing a special election. Chvala: Drop all charges: Madison Capital Times, Dec. 7, 2002. Says Milwaukee DA has vendetta. For more complete coverage of breaking Wisconsin news, consider subscribing to News Clips, a free email newsletter that provides headlines and links to Wisconsin news articles from leading newspapers across the state. To order your free subscription now, go to: http://www.hamilton-consulting.com/subscribe-newsclips.html. Upcoming Fundraisers Monday, Dec. 16:
Wednesday, Dec. 18:
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