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During next week’s floor sessions,
both houses of the Legislature are expected to deal
with controversial bills (concealed carry, same
sex marriage) which are not on the jobs creation/economic
development agenda. Joint Finance, in the meantime,
has recommended a number of bills (see below) which
are directed at areas of “regulatory reform” and
spurring expansion, retention and attraction of
jobs via some significant tax credit changes. Some
of these proposals may be dealt with next week,
but the real focus on jobs and economic development
will occur during the floor periods to be held the
weeks of November 3 and 10. Next week, and in particular
the week of October 27, should see very extensive
committee activity on high profile proposals aimed
at improving Wisconsin’s business climate and boosting
economic activity.
| Policy Developments |
 |
| Joint Finance Supports
“Presumptive Approval” and Tax Credit Bills
The Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) met
for the better part of two days this week
and made significant recommendations to
both houses of the Legislature on proposals
that are part of the regulatory reform debate
and several bills relating to treatment
of various tax credit programs. (JFC also
took action on bills related to school choice,
charter schools and stewardship acquisitions.)
Joint Finance adopted
and recommended passage of identical Senate
and Assembly Substitute Amendments (Assembly
Substitute Amendment 1) to AB 486
and SB 246,
relating to state agency application and
permit approvals and permit deadlines. The
Substitute Amendments reconcile the differences
between the two bills, each of which previously
passed the house of origin. (AB 486 on a
vote of 67-32 on 10/2 and SB 246 on a vote
of 20-13 on 9/23.) Both bills were recommended
for passage by JFC on a 12-4 partisan vote.
SB 246 has already been scheduled for floor
action in the Assembly on Tuesday, October
21. Action on the bill as amended by Substitute
Amendment 1, by either house, will require
the bill to return to the first house for
concurrence. (For further information and
analysis on these two bills and the Substitute
Amendment, please see the LFB Papers prepared
for JFC: LFB
Paper on AB 486; LFB
Paper on SB 246; and LFB
Paper on Substitute Amendment 1.)
On an 11-4 vote, JFC also
recommended passage of AB 508, which would increase,
from 15 to 20, the number of years unused
income and franchise tax credits for sales
on fuel and electricity used in manufacturing
could be carried forward. The Committee
also adopted an amendment making various
development and technology zone tax credits
refundable beginning in taxable years after
Dec. 31, 2005. (For further information
and analysis, please see the LFB
Paper on AB 508, prepared for JFC.)
In a related action, JFC,
on a vote of 16-0, recommended passage of
AB 520 and SB 248 relating to the
method of calculating technology zone tax
credits and the certification of businesses
under the program to expand eligibility
to many entities who do not currently qualify.
(For further information and analysis on
these bills, please see the LFB
Paper prepared for JFC.) On a 12-4 vote,
the Committee also recommended AB 507 which creates a
sales tax exemption for fuel and electricity
used in manufacturing. JFC made numerous
changes, Motion 853, to the original bill.
(For further information and analysis on
AB 507, please see the LFB
Paper prepared for JFC.)
Agriculture Agenda Outlined by Governor and Assembly Republicans
Acknowledging that agriculture is a $40
billion per year industry in Wisconsin,
Gov. Jim Doyle unveiled
his agriculture agenda this week and pledged
to work with Legislative Republicans, while
visiting family farms throughout Wisconsin.
Doyle’s agricultural initiative, which is
outlined in his Grow
Wisconsin plan, will establish a state
dairy team; provide investment tax credits;
expand the dairy artisan and specialty cheese
industry; promote the Agricultural Stewardship
Initiative; expand organic food production;
and, create a Rural Finance Authority. In
addition, Doyle has called for the Legislature
to pass AB 447
and SB 204,
which create health care purchasing cooperatives
for farmers.
Rep. Al Ott (R-Forest
Junction), with other Republican legislators,
also unveiled their “Agricultural Renewal
Initiative” this week, which aims to improve
and promote the agriculture industry in
Wisconsin. The Republican initiative is
similar to Doyle’s but also includes a dairy
investment tax credit (AB 283);
ethanol production incentives; livestock
facility siting standards; permitting town
TIF’s (AB 437);
enacting a Wisconsin Cooperative Association
Act; and, premise identification for livestock. |
| Wisconsin Politics |
|
| Burke to Stand Trial
Dane County Circuit Judge Angela Bartell
ruled Monday that former State Senator Brian
Burke must stand trial on all 18 felony
charges filed against him as the result
of the Capitol caucus investigations. Burke
was charged almost a year and a half ago
with soliciting campaign contributions within
the Capitol, withholding subpoenaed documents,
and falsifying legislative per diem reports.
Gary George Recall Election Set for Tuesday
State Senator Gary George (D-Milwaukee)
will face a primary recall election on Tuesday,
October 21. On Tuesday, October 14,
the State Supreme Court denied
Sen. George’s petition for Supreme Court
supervision of the pending Court of Appeals
decision allowing the recall election to
go forward. The Supreme Court anticipated
the Court of Appeals would issue its ruling
prior to next Tuesday’s primary election.
George is being challenged
by Rep. Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee), who
is being supported by the “Committee to
Recall Gary George.” Rep. Coggs has represented
the 17th Assembly District in
Milwaukee since 1982. Since there are no
other candidates in the race for the 6th
Senate District, the winner of Tuesday’s
election is expected to win the general
election on Nov. 18.
Commerce Establishes Bureau
of Entrepreneurship
On October 14, the Wisconsin Department
of Commerce (DOC) announced
its plans to establish a Bureau of Entrepreneurship
within the agency’s Division of Business
Development. Bureau activities will include:
- Conducting
outreach to emerging technology companies
in Wisconsin;
- Assisting
Wisconsin’s efforts to win federal funds
for research and development, such as
Small Business Innovative Research Program
grants; and
- Assisting
small and start-up businesses in locating
resources and complying with state and
federal regulations
|
| Federal Developments |
|
| FCC Approves SBC Midwestern
Long-Distance Bid
On October 15, the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC)
announced
that it had approved the SBC Communications,
Inc. (SBC) application to offer long-distance
telephone services in four remaining Midwestern
states, including: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and
Wisconsin. (See SBC Wisconsin President
Paul La Schiazza’s statement
on the FCC’s October 15th ruling.)
The FCC order
grants SBC authority to provide in-region,
interLATA services in the four states, based
on the Commission’s conclusion that SBC
had taken the proper statutory steps to
open its local exchange markets in the four
states to competition.
Omnibus Spending Bill
on the Horizon?
Next Thursday, October 23, Congress’s funding
extension will run out, but several spending
bills have yet to see action. So far, Congress
has acted on only three of 13 spending bills,
leaving the remaining bills to await action
by the end of the already highly scheduled,
and nearly concluded floor period. (It was
reported that Congress may adjourn as early
as Veterans Day, in early November.)
With little time left,
and several bills to consider, some have
begun to speculate that Congress will roll
the remaining bills into an Omnibus Spending
Bill. Bills awaiting action include: the
Transportation/Treasury appropriations bill,
including $33.8 billion for highways; Agriculture;
Commerce; Justice; State; Foreign Operations;
and VA-HUD. |
| Upcoming Fundraisers |
|
| Monday, October 20, 2003:
Tuesday, October 21, 2003:
Wednesday, October 22,
2003:
|
CTCW Political Tidbits
is a weekly newsletter on Wisconsin political and
policy developments prepared for CTCW members by
The Hamilton Consulting
Group. Employees of CTCW member organizations
can subscribe at: http://www.ctcw.org/form-subscribe-tidbits.html.
To unsubscribe, go to: http://www.ctcw.org/form-unsubscribe-tidbits.html.
© 2003 The Hamilton Consulting
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| For Further Information |
|
For further
information on these initiatives,
contact Jim Hough at
The Hamilton Consulting Group.
|
In the News |
|
| Dems
prepare new property tax proposal: Manitowoc
Herald Times, Oct.
17, 2003.
Senate
Democrats offer proposal to limit tax increases:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 16, 2003.
Paper
firms could get a tax break: Appleton
Post-Crescent, Oct.
17, 2003.
Tax tweak
for manufacturers: Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Oct. 17, 2003.
Concealed
carry bill bad to the bone (opinion):
Appleton Post-Crescent, Oct. 15, 2003.
Judge
orders Burke to trial on felony counts:
Wisconsin State Journal, Oct. 14, 2003.
Department
of Commerce establishes Bureau of Enterpreneurship:
Milwaukee Business Journal, Oct. 14, 2003.
Streamlined
sales tax merits state's support (opinion):
Wisconsin State Journal, Oct. 13, 2003.
Lawmakers
still await day in court: Appleton Post-Crescent,
Oct. 13, 2003.
Businesses
forge alliance to save jobs: Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, Oct.
12, 2003.
Businesses
forge alliance to save jobs: Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, Oct.
12, 2003.
Strong
Hill lends strength to regulation, licensing:
Green Bay Press-Gazette, Oct. 12, 2003.
Democrats
looking at Chvala's seat: Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, Oct.
12, 2003.
Return
to Wisconsin program has low risk, high
reward potential (opinion): Oshkosh
Northwestern, Oct. 12, 2003.
Minnesota
corporations check out Wis.: Marshfield
News Herald, Oct.
11, 2003.
Minnesota
corporations check out Wis.: Marshfield
News Herald, Oct.
11, 2003.
Delegation
from Wisconsin to address China’s trade
practices: Manitowoc Herald Times, Oct. 10, 2003.
Delegation
from Wisconsin to address China’s trade
practices: Manitowoc Herald Times, Oct. 10, 2003. |
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