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This issue of Tidbits is timed to be as
current as possible and to help set the stage
for what is “scheduled to be” the final week
of the fall economic development and job creation
floor period. The omnibus regulatory reform
bill was introduced today and referred directly
to Joint Finance which will hold a public
hearing tomorrow. Joint Finance will also
vote tomorrow on a major TIF proposal and
any other significant economic development
bills that are in the hopper or that might
surface today. There are, for example, a number
of capital investment bills which are likely
to be addressed or perhaps consolidated into
a major initiative.
In an effort to assist our readers
as the week’s events unfold, we are including
some “speculation” as to anticipated outcomes
of key legislative initiatives. There have
been and will continue to be negotiations
among legislators, between the two Houses
and between Legislative leadership and the
Administration. The scheduling committees
of the respective houses will probably meet
on short notice and as other activity dictates.
It is also quite possible that this will not
be the final week of the fall floor period
and that the session could be extended into
next week.
Tidbits will update the week’s
activities on Friday or early next week as
events dictate.
| Policy Developments |
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| Regulatory Reform Omnibus
Bill Introduced
At 10:00 this morning, the omnibus
regulatory reform bill (AB-655
and SB-313,
not yet published), entitled by its
authors as the “Job Creation Act of
2003,” was introduced and immediately
referred to the Joint Committee on
Finance. Joint Finance will hold a
public hearing on SB 313 at 10:00
am on Wednesday, November 12 in Room
412 East, State Capitol. (Please see
November
3 issue of Tidbits and
the Legislative leader’s release
for highlights of the proposal.)
The actual draft language has not
been published as of this writing.
TIF Bill Advances
On Thursday, November 6, the Senate
Economic Development, Job Creation
and Housing Committee voted unanimously
(5-0) to recommend passage of SB 305
(and trailer bill SB 306),
relating to making technical and policy
changes in the tax incremental financing
program. These bills will be referred
to the Joint Finance Committee (JFC)
today and will be voted on by JFC
and should be scheduled for full Senate
floor action on Thursday. For a more
detailed analysis of SB 305 and its
companion bill, AB 654,
see The
Hamilton Consulting Group’s Update.
In the meantime, Assembly
bills 654 and 653 were introduced
as companions to the Senate TIF bills.
The bills were referred to the Assembly
Ways & Means Committee which will
hold a public hearing at 9:30 am on
Wednesday, November 19, in Room 415
NW, State Capitol.
Legislative Action from
Last Week
Assembly:
Full Assembly Action
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SB 246.
On Tuesday, November 4, the Assembly
voted 64-35 to pass SB 246,
relating to periods in which state
agencies will act on certain applications,
approval of certain applications,
refunds of fees, and granting
rule-making authority. This bill
has frequently been referred to
as the “presumptive approval”
bill.
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AB 507.
On Tuesday, November 4, the Assembly
voted 84-15 to pass AB 507,
relating to the income and franchise
tax credit for sales tax and use
tax paid on fuel and electricity
consumed in manufacturing. NOTE:
AB 507 will have a public hearing
at 9:00 am on Wednesday before
the Senate Committee on Economic
Development. The committee is
expected to recommend concurrence
and the bill is likely to pass
the full Senate on Thursday.
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SB 234.
Also, on November 4, the Assembly
passed AB 234 relating to the
wholesale motor vehicle dealers
law.
Introduced in Assembly
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AB 636.
On Wednesday, November 5, AB 636,
relating to extending the expenditure
period and the life of Tax Incremental
District Number Two in the city
of Sturgeon Bay, was introduced
in the Assembly and referred to
the Assembly Committee on Ways
and Means. NOTE: If either SB
305 or AB 654 is passed and becomes
law, the need for AB 636 would
no longer be necessary.
Assembly Committee Activity
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AB 632.
On Thursday, November 6, the Assembly
Energy and Utilities Committee
voted unanimously in favor of
passage of AB 632,
relating to construction of electric
generating facilities and transmission
lines, and granting rule-making
authority.
Senate:
Full Senate Action
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SB 204.
On Wednesday, November 5, the
Senate unanimously voted to pass
SB 204,
relating to authorizing a health
benefit purchasing cooperative
pilot project and granting rule-making
authority. The bill passed the
Senate as amended by Senate
Substitute Amendment 1, recommended
by the Senate Committee on Health,
Children, Families, Aging and
Long Term Care. On Thursday, November
6, the Assembly passed the bill
on a voice vote; the bill now
awaits action by the Governor.
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AB 494.
Also on November 5, the Senate
concurred in on a voice vote and
sent to the Governor, AB 494 relating
to enforcement of the tobacco
settlement.
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AB 548.
On November 4, the Senate unanimously
concurred in and sent to the Governor,
AB 548 relating to placing a cap
on the amount of an appeal bond
in civil cases.
Committees:
Joint Finance Committee
The Joint Committee on
Finance met Monday, Nov. 10, at 12:00
p.m. for its quarterly s. 13.10 meeting
and to take executive action on several
bills, including:
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AB 437,
which authorizes towns to create
tax incremental financing (TIF)
districts relating to agriculture,
tourism or forestry. The committee
recommended passage 11-3 after
recommending adoption of amendments
1, 2 and 3.
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AB 516,
which provides an exemption from
the requirement to obtain air
pollution construction permits
for certain equipment at a nonmetallic
mineral processing facility. The
committee recommended passage
on a vote of 12-2.
The Joint Committee on
Finance is also expected to meet on
Wednesday, Nov. 12 to act on additional
bills relating to the Legislature's
economic development agenda. Items
that may be included are TIF and capital
investment bills (see above Tidbits
articles as well as The Hamilton Consulting
Group’s Update
on the TIF proposal, as well as
our Update
on the capital investment initiative.)
The Committee will also hold a public
hearing on the regulatory reform package,
as noted above.
Assembly Economic Development
Committee
On Tuesday, Nov. 11, the
Assembly Economic Development Committee
has scheduled a public hearing on
AB 538,
(a companion bill to SB 261) relating
to creating a qualified new business
venture tax credit and a capital gains
tax exemption regarding investments
in certified venture capital funds
and qualified new business ventures.
The bill requires a study of new Wisconsin
businesses, facilitates the development
of certain investor networks, and
excludes from taxable income gains
from a start-up technology business.
The hearing will take place at 2 p.m.,
in room 400-NE; an executive session
on this bill may follow the hearing.
(See Sept.
26 Update.)
Governor Doyle to Sign
AB 520 - Technology Zone Tax Credits
At 2:30 on Wednesday, November 12,
Governor Jim Doyle will sign AB 520
which makes significant changes in
the technology zone tax credit provisions
and expands those eligible to benefit
from this important economic development
program.
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| Federal Developments |
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| EPA May Drop CAA Suits
It was reported November 6, in a New York
Times article, that lawyers for
the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) were considering dropping current
investigations into nearly 50 alleged
power plant violations of the Clean
Air Act, due to recently adopted Clean
Air Act rules to take effect next
month, that could exempt the power
plants’ allegedly violative activity
from enforcement under the current
lawsuits. Thus far, the EPA has not
announced a formal position on the
status of the lawsuits.
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| Upcoming Fundraisers |
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| Thursday, November 13,
2003:
Monday, November 17, 2003:
-
St. Rep. Mary Williams
(R-Medford), 5:00 p.m., Phillips,
Wis.
-
St. Reps. Judy Krawczyk,
Karl Van Roy and Becky Weber (Republicans-Green
Bay), 5:30 p.m., Green Bay, Wis.
Tuesday, November 18,
2003:
Thursday, November 20,
2003:
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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 Group |
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| For Further Information |
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For
further information on these
initiatives, contact Jim Hough at
The Hamilton Consulting Group.
|
In the News |
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| Vetoes
could define Doyle's first year:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 9,
2003.
Planning
for Wisconsin's economic success:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 9
2003.
State
factories struggle: Wisconsin
State Journal, Nov. 9, 2003.
DNR chief
calls for new paradigms where business,
environment meet: Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Nov. 9 2003.
Don't
blame China for job losses (opinion):
Wisconsin State Journal, Nov. 9, 2003.
Long-term
joblessness persists: Green Bay
Press-Gazette, Nov. 9, 2003.
Fears over
privacy law compromising care:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 9,
2003.
County
may weigh in on drug debate: Racine
Journal Times, Nov. 9, 2003.
October saw
best job gains in months: Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, Nov. 8, 2003.
Lawmakers
take heat on gun vote: Appleton
Post-Crescent, Nov. 8, 2003.
Governor
vetoes marriage bill: Appleton
Post-Crescent, Nov. 8, 2003.
Speaker:
Smart Growth a 'threat': Ashland
Daily Press, Nov. 8, 2003.
Utilities
plan to sell Kewaunee nuclear plant:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 8,
2003.
Lemon
Law in 20th year: The Manitowoc
Herald Times Reporter, Nov. 7, 2003.
Job
outlook improving, Greenspan says:
The Marshfield News-Herald, Nov. 7,
2003.
Weapons
bill raises veto questions: Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, Nov. 7, 2003.
Showdown
is looming as Assembly OKs gun bill:
The Capital Times, Nov. 7, 2003.
Details of the concealed carry bill:
The Janesville Gazette, Nov. 7, 2003.
Gard claims Doyle violating law with W-2 changes:
The Janesville Gazette, Nov. 7, 2003.
State
studies drug imports: Appleton
Post-Crescent, Nov. 5, 2003.
Groundbreaking
IBM Cancer Trial Begins: Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, Nov. 5, 2003.
Mass.
Squares Off Against Tobacco Lawyers:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 5,
2003.
Legislators
worry tribes will expand mini-mart
casinos: St. Paul Pioneer Press,
Nov. 4, 2003.
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