Senate Will Vote to Override Property Tax Freeze Veto
In a statement made following Thursday’s budget signing, Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer (R-West Bend) announced that the Senate would vote to override the Governor’s veto of the property tax provision in the biennial budget bill.

Special Election Results In
The July 22 Special Election filled two Assembly seats (AD-21 and AD 71, respectively) vacated earlier this year by the election of Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee) and Julie Lassa (D-Plover) to the State Senate. Mark Honadel (R-South Milwaukee) defeated Al Foeckler (D-Oak Creek) in the race for the AD-21 seat, turning over a traditionally Democratic seat to the Republicans after nearly 80 years of Democrats occupying the seat. This election increased the Republican majority in the Assembly to 59-40. Honadel, a businessman, accumulated 61 percent of the vote in his victory over Foeckler, an Oak Creek alderperson and attorney. Louis John Molepske Jr. (D), a prosecutor, narrowly defeated Jackie Szehner (R), a local businesswoman, both of Stevens Point, in the race for the AD-71 seat.

Welch Takes on Feingold
On July 20, State Sen. Bob Welch (R-Redgranite) announced he would run in 2004 for a U.S. Senate seat against 12-year incumbent United States Senator Russ Feingold (D-Middleton). Sen. Feingold has one and one half years left on his second six-year term.

Gary George Recall Election
On July 22, State Rep. G. Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee) and former State Sen. Monroe Swan (D-Milwaukee) filed nomination papers to run against the current State Sen. Gary George in a recall election. The primary election is scheduled for August 19, with the general election scheduled for September 16, 2003. Only two candidates may move on from the primary to the general election. It is expected, however, that Swan’s eligibility as a candidate will invoke a challenge due to his 1980 conviction for embezzlement of federal funds, and the State constitution provision prohibiting convicted felons from holding public office. Any challenges must be filed by July 25, 2003.

Meanwhile, Sen. George has filed a lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court challenging the State Elections Board’s decision to allow the recall election to go forward, alleging that the Board was conspiring against him in its denial of his challenge to the recall petition.

Senate Forms Select Committee on Job Creation
On July 21, Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer (R-West Bend) appointed members of a new Select Committee on Job Creation. The Committee was formed to develop and oversee legislation for the fall floor period relating to growing Wisconsin’s economy. The Committee’s approach will be three-pronged, focusing on 1) regulatory reform; 2) capital/investment; and 3) infrastructure.

Sen. Panzer named Sens. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) and Cathy Stepp (R-Racine) to co-chair the Job Creation Committee. Panzer also named Sen. Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan) as a member of the Committee. So far, no Democrats have been named to the Committee, although it was reported that Sens. Robert Jauch (D-Poplar) and Chuck Chvala (D-Madison) will be appointed by Senator Minority Leader Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton). The Committee’s first meeting is scheduled for August 4, 2003, and the meeting will focus on regulatory reform.

Aging Drivers in the Spotlight
The July 16 crash involving 86-year-old Santa Monica, Calif. motorist Russell Weller, who allegedly drove his car into a crowd of people, killing 10 and injuring at least 40, has helped to focus attention on the growing population of aging drivers. The baby boomer generation will soon join the ranks of the nation’s aging drivers, and several initiatives are being developed to address the issue of enhancing safety for aging drivers while continuing to support their independence.

On July 18, State Rep. Sheldon Wasserman (D-Milwaukee) announced his intention to introduce legislation to revise the licensing requirements for select aging drivers. Additionally, the state budget earmarks some new federal highway dollars for a pilot Enhanced Mobility Program, aimed at promoting safety for aging drivers. (See the Hamilton Consulting Group’s Update on the Enhanced Mobility Pilot Program.)

DNR’s Hassett Announces Air Permit Improvement Initiative
On June 24, 2003, DNR Secretary Scott Hassett announced Wisconsin’s Air Permit Improvement Initiative, an effort to improve air permitting in Wisconsin that, said Hassett, would be one of his top priorities during the upcoming biennium. The effort will involve streamlining the permit process for Wisconsin businesses that must apply, and receive, air permits in order to construct new facilities, or operate existing facilities. Additionally, said Hassett, the effort will involve reforming Wisconsin’s “New Source Review” regulations in view of recent federal changes in this area.

SBC Aligns With EchoStar
On July 21, SBC Communications, Inc. and EchoStar Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) announced a strategic partnership for launching a new, co-sponsored television service they call the “SBC DISH Network.” The alliance will offer SBC customers (telephone services) and EchoStar customers (television services) the ability receive both of these services from a consolidated provider – the new, SBC DISH Network.

Key elements of the partnership include:

• Co-branding – the new network carries a name combination referencing both entities;

• Unified services – SBC and EchoStar customers can combine their telephone and television services into an account from one provider;

• Single bill – SBC DISH Network will provide one bill for combination services; and

• Bundling flexibilities – SBC DISH Network will offer a new multitude of services, and this offering may create more choices for customers to pick which services they’d like and which they would not like.

Also, as expected, SBC filed its application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), on July 17, to provide long distance service in Wisconsin. The FCC has 90 days to review the application and make its determination.

Alternate Clean Air Legislation Rivals Bush’s Clear Skies
On July 14, 2003, Sen. Thomas Carper (D-Del.) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) introduced a bipartisan clean air bill, S.843, otherwise being called the Clean Air Planning Act. The legislation expands upon the Bush Administration’s pending Clear Skies Act, by further reducing emissions from power plants. The Clean Air Planning Act would place more stringent limits on mercury, sulfur, and nitrogen emissions, and cap carbon dioxide emissions at 4.5 million tons/year by 2008, and 2.25 million tons/year by 2015.

Sen. Alexander’s co-sponsorship of this bill marks a break with the Bush Administration, which had had the Senator’s support for the Clear Skies Act prior to introduction of the new legislation. On July 12, Sen. Alexander announced his intention to support the new bill, as well as his intent to break with supporters of Bush’s bill, by saying ''The president's proposal is a good beginning, but it doesn't go far enough in my back yard.''

See related news articles: Alexander Breaking With ‘Clear Skies’ Plan: Jul. 13, 2003, The Tennesean; GOP Senator Faults Bush’s Clean Air Plan: Jul. 15, 2003, The Washington Post; Critics Say E.P.A. Won’t Analyze Some Clean Air Proposals: Jul. 13, 2003, The New York Times.

Monday, July 28:

• State Rep. Judy Krawczyk (R-Green Bay), Green Bay, 5:00p.m.

• State Rep. Gabe Loeffelholz (R-Platteville), Platteville, 6:00p.m.

Wednesday, July 30:

• State Rep. Terri McCormick (R-Appleton), Appleton, 5:00p.m.

Thursday, July 31:

• State Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), Milwaukee, 6:00p.m.

• State Rep. Tom Lothian (R-Williams Bay), Fontana, 6:00p.m.

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For Further Information

The governor gets it right (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 25, 2003.

Doyle vetoes GOP property tax limits: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 24, 2003.

Doyle signs budget: Janesville Gazette, July 24, 2003.

Doyle nixes property tax freeze: Appleton Post-Crescent, July 24, 2003.

Doyle to spare area projects: Green Bay Press-Gazette, July 24, 2003.

Republican Honadel snags control of 21st District: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 23, 2003.

Lawmakers build up campaign war chests: Appleton Post-Crescent, July 23, 2003.

Leibham named to state’s job creation panel: Manitowoc Herald Times, July 23, 2003.

Business spending may be looking up: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 23, 2003.

Doyle calls for more economic synergies: Madison Capital Times, July 22, 2003.

Feingold bill seeks Medicare payment equity: Green Bay Press-Gazette, July 22, 2003.

Doyle shuts door on new prisons after next year: Appleton Post-Crescent, July 22, 2003.

Doyle says he'll veto road projects: Wisconsin State Journal, July 20, 2003.

Doyle targets highway plans: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 20, 2003. I

Doyle wants $150M rainy day fund: Appleton Post-Crescent, July 20, 2003.

Welch declares Senate attempt: Appleton Post-Crescent, July 20, 2003.