Civil Trial Counsel of Wisconsin - Political Tidbits Archive

Wisconsin political news for CTCW compiled by The Hamilton Consulting Group (Political Tidbits) is published weekly, providing Wisconsin political news for CTCW members. If you would like to receive Tidbits by e-mail every Friday, click here to subscribe.

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2003 Tidbits Archive

Issue Date	Topics Covered
December 29 , 2003	Tax Collections Exceed Expectations Small Business Regulatory Reform Advances Governor Announces 2004 Transportation Aids Legislation Would Eliminate State Estate Tax Bill Creates Technology Grant Bill Provides Liability Immunity New Senate Chief Clerk Named
December 22 , 2003	Compromise Reached on Jobs Bill Governor Doyle Completes Action on Enrolled Bills PSC Authorizes Arrowhead-Weston Transmission Line
December 15 , 2003	Governor Signs Several Bills Remaining Enrolled Bills Await Governor's Action Joint Finance to Hold Special Meeting Joint Rules Committee to Hold Hearing on TRANS 233 and Other Rules DNR Schedules Hearings for Air Permit Rule Revision Gaming Bill Introduced in Assembly Local Government Summit Held Department of Revenue Releases Tax Report Ethics Board Seeks State Prosecution of Gary George State Mourns Passing of Marcia Coggs Lautenschlager Opines on Confidentiality of LRB Drafting Materials Federal Developments
December 8 , 2003	Governor Acts on Bills Assembly Committee Recommends Passage of TIF Bills Assembly Energy Committee to Address Agency Approval of Nuclear Plants Assembly Committee Holds Capital Investment Hearing DNR to Hold Hearings on “New Source Review” Revisions Senate Committee to Hold Hearing on Minimum Wage and Obesity Bills Supreme Court Decides Wage Lien Case Circuit Court Rules Hub Airlines Property Tax Exemption Invalid Brewers Agree to Audit Three File Papers to Compete for Coggs Assembly Seat Krug Named to Joint Finance EPA Responds to State/Tribal Ozone Boundary Recommendations
December 1 , 2003	Committees Hold Hearings on Jobs Bills Ways & Means to Vote on TIF Bills Governor Takes Action on Several Bills Legislative Audit Bureau Releases Major Highway Project Report Legislature to Address Highway Safety in January 2004 Session Wisconsin Cracks Down on Serving Alcohol to Underage Drinkers Election Called to Fill Coggs’ Assembly Seat Doyle to Hold Local Government Summit Federal Developments
November 21 , 2003	Legislators Set Hearing, Create Committee for Jobs Bills Enrolled Bills of Interest Governor Signs Bills Committee Holds Hearing, Sets Executive Session for TIF Bills Governor Announces Housing Initiative Assembly Committee Approves of Smart Growth Changes Bill Would Create Committee for Court Judgments on Behalf of State Assembly Committee to Hear Broadband Bill Governor Appoints Director of Credit Unions Coggs Wins Senate Seat George Charged Wisconsin to Form Coalition Chapter to Combat Child Obesity Federal Developments
November 17 , 2003	Governor Signs Technology Zone Tax Credit Legislation Governor Signs Measure to Increase Hit-and-Run Penalties Fall Floor Period Wrap Up Senate Confirmation Action Sykes Nomination Sent to Senate
November 11 , 2003	Regulatory Reform Omnibus Bill Introduced TIF Bill Advances Legislative Action from Last Week Governor Doyle to Sign AB 520 - Technology Zone Tax Credits Citizens Group Files Suit Opposing Power Plant Wisconsin Red Cross Receives Substantial Grant EPA May Drop CAA Suits
November 3 , 2003	Republican Leaders Announce Regulatory Reform Package Upcoming Legislative Activity
October 24, 2003	Major Agreement Reached on Transportation Bonding Governor Doyle Signs Financial Modernization Legislation Civil Justice Bills Advance Joint Finance Executive Session Notice Assembly GOP Announces Health Insurance Plan Senate Passes Legislation Prohibiting Intentional Failure to Pay for Fuel Senate Passes Tax Credit Legislation George Recall Primary Results Attorney General Pushes for “No-Spam” Law Department of Veterans Affairs Names New Secretary Federal Developments
October 17, 2003	Joint Finance Supports “Presumptive Approval” and Tax Credit Bills Agriculture Agenda Outlined by Governor and Assembly Republicans Burke to Stand Trial Gary George Recall Election Set for Tuesday Commerce Establishes Bureau of Entrepreneurship Federal Developments
October 10, 2003	Joint Finance Executive Session Notice Debate Continues Over Smart Growth Repeal Forward Wisconsin Seeks Minnesota Businesses Bill Would Revamp Labor Law Study Looks at Wisconsin Property Tax Trends Governor Calls for Local Government Summit Doyle Attends Manufacturing Summit Wisconsin to Hold Economic Summit IV UW-Madison to Host Energy Policy Forum Committee Holds Marotta Confirmation Hearing Federal Developments
October 3, 2003	Appeals Court Reverses Punitive Damage Award Legislature Passes Financial Modernization/Wage Lien Bill Assembly Supports Permit Processing Bill Assembly Passes Patients Compensation Fund Bill Assembly Fails to Override Governors Voter ID veto Committee Recommends Expert Opinion Evidence Bill Former DWD Secretary to head Madison Chamber Governor Appoints Energy Task Force to Address Conservation and Renewable Power Leavitt Gets Senate Confirmation Hearing Census Bureau Releases Health Insurance Coverage Report
September 26, 2003	Senate Passes Regulatory Reform Bills Job Creation Committee Hears Capital Investment Bills Technology Zone Tax Credit Gets Legislative Action Committee Votes on Patients Compensation Fund Bill PSC Approves New Gas-Fired Power Plant in Madison Public Weighs in on We Energies Proposal ‘Baby Luke’ Bill Passes; 0.08 Goes into Effect Debate Continues Over WisconsinEye C-Span Proposal ‘Jobs With a Future’ Summit Held Doyle to Hold Manufacturing Summit Armiak New Forward Wisconsin President Two Legislators Object to DWD Secretary Gassman’s Leadership Federal Developments
September 19, 2003	Doyle Speaks at First “Building the New Wisconsin Economy” Forum DNR Names Shea New Air and Waste Administrator George Recall Date Set Supreme Court Accepts Challenge to Doyle’s Gaming Compacts WMC Report Finds Natural Gas Reliance Harmful to Economy Wisconsin Cooperative Health Care Purchasing Alliance Project Bill Would Lift Ban on Nuclear Power Plants in Wisconsin Federal Developments
September 12, 2003	Administration and Senate GOP Announce Growth Initiatives Senate GOP’s Job Creation Initiative Governor Doyle’s ‘Grow Wisconsin’ Initiative Senate Committee to Hold Hearing on Job Creation Plan Governor Announces Energy Reliability Plan Energy Company Has $2.8 Billion Plan Supreme Court To Hear Tax Exemption Case Products Liability Bill Gets Hearing Federal Judge Rules to Allow 9/11 Lawsuits Study Finds Health Care Costs Up Again
September 5, 2003	GM Facility Moves to Wisconsin Wisconsin Legislators Kick-Off B.L.O.O.D. Coalition Product Liability Legislation Gets Hearing Building the New Wisconsin Economy Election Reform Initiatives Get Hearing Wisconsin’s Chief Justice to Lead Nation’s Chief Justices
August 29, 2003	Doyle Eliminates Department of Employment Relations Interest Rate for Civil Lawsuit Judgments Job Creation Committee Hears Woes of Wisconsin’s Infrastructure Group Insurance Board Approves Premium Rates Manitowoc Area Residents Initiate Farm Lawsuit Under CAA Helmet Bill Gets Hearing Federal Developments
August 22, 2003	Doyle Issues Executive Order on Energy Joint Judiciary Hearing Draws Big Crowd George Lawsuit Will Receive No Further Delays Whitacre Will Take on Sensenbrenner Committee Rejects Mercury Rule Hearing for Bill Changing Interest Rate for Court Judgments Legislator Will Request Crack Down on Stray Voltage Senate Job Creation Committee Will Meet Again Federal Developments
August 15, 2003	Senate Property Tax Freeze Override Attempt Fails, Narrowly Property Taxes: Alternative Democrat Proposal for Relief Assembly Passed a Revised Freeze Plan George Recall Delayed Again DNR Mercury Rule Undergoes Legislative Scrutiny First Hearing for Senate Job Creation Committee Governor Signs “Pay to Play” Bill Governor Vetoes Controversial Voter ID Bill Legislators Want Focus on Road Safety Federal Developments
August 1, 2003	Legislature Will Attempt Override of Property Tax Freeze Veto Doyle Announces Interchange Repair Plan George Recall Election Stayed Recount Upholds Special Election Results Doyle Announces Grant for Manitowoc Governor Signs Single Sales Factor Job Creation Committee Hearing Fox River Cleanup Announced UW System Loses Two Top Officials Bush Cabinet Members Visit Wisconsin Prescription Drug Import Bill Passes House
July 25, 2003	Senate Will Vote to Override Property Tax Freeze Veto Special Election Results In Welch Takes on Feingold Gary George Recall Election Senate Forms Select Committee on Job Creation Aging Drivers in the Spotlight DNR’s Hassett Announces Air Permit Improvement Initiative Federal Developments
July 18, 2003	Governor Continues to Release Budget Intentions Candidates Gear Up for Heated Special Election Coggs Will Take on George in Recall Election Tommy Thompson to Lead Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers? Governor Limits Ozone Recommendation Governor Signs Utility Siting Legislation Wisconsin Liability Systems May Impact Economic Development DOT Releases Cell Phone Survey Federal Developments
July 11, 2003	Governor Announces Veto Intentions through Press Releases Election Board Votes Yes to George Recall Election Wisconsin’s Tax Burden Fourth Highest, Says New Study Proposal for Live Private Broadcast at Capitol Moved Forward By Assembly Ozone Recommendations Due Next Week Wisconsin Supreme Court Overrules Edgerton Decision Federal Developments
June 27, 2003	Extraordinary Session on Lowering Blood Alcohol Level Expected Legislature Concludes Work on Budget Special Election Primary Results Governor Introduces Economic Growth Council Key Cabinet Secretaries Confirmed by Senate Mercury Rule Adopted State High Court Upholds Stray Voltage Award Single Sales Factor Incentive Payments to Local Governments for Public Utilities Identity Theft Bill Goes to Governor, Amended Voter ID Bill Goes to Governor Supreme Court Speaks on Affirmative Action Asbestos Bill Nearing a Consensus
June 20, 2003	Senate and Assembly Approve Budget Nettles Confirmation Wisconsin Housing Preservation Corp. and WHEDA Sue Each Other Chvala Files Brief to Dismiss Four of the Criminal Counts Against Him New Ozone Nonattainment Designations Extraordinary Session Called for Economic Development Initiatives 0.08 Blood Alcohol Content Bill Nearing Federal Deadlines Asbestos Legislation Remains Contentious Competing Clean Air Legislation May Not Carry Identical Price Tags Corporate Political Contributions Still Unconstitutional, Says Supreme Court
June 13, 2003	Legislature Receives Budget Briefing Hearing on Cory Nettles Appointment Incentives to Promote Power Plant Siting Pass Utility Committees in Both Houses WMC Announces Outlook for Growth in 2003 Hearing on �Single Sales Factor� Bill Hearing on Bill Deleting Gas Tax Indexing Technology Zone Tax Credit Gets Hearing Public Hearing on Precluding Damage Suits for Injured Felons State Supreme Court Takes Back Gaming Compact Lawsuit Lautenschlager Asks Feds to Delay Approval for WE Energies U.S. Senate To Hear Class Action Fairness Act of 2003Senate Finance Committee Proposes Medicare Drug Benefit Rural Legislators Push For Gap Relief, Increased Service Senate Judiciary Plans Markup for Asbestos Litigation
June 6, 2003	Legislature Receives Budget Briefing Hearing on Cory Nettles Appointment Incentives to Promote Power Plant Sitting Pass Utility Committees in Both Houses WMC Announces Outlook for Growth in 2003 Hearing on �Single Sales Factor� Bill Hearing on Bill Deleting Gas Tax Indexing Technology Zone Tax Credit Gets Hearing Public Hearing on Precluding Damage Suits for Injured Felons State Supreme Court Takes Back Gaming Compact Lawsuit Lautenschlager Asks Feds to Delay Approval for WE Energies U.S. Senate To Hear Class Action Fairness Act of 2003 Senate Finance Committee Proposes Medicare Drug Benefit Rural Legislators Push For Gap Relief, Increased Service Senate Judiciary Plans Markup for Asbestos Litigation
May 30, 2003	Doyle Cabinet Complete with New DFI Secretary Gaming Compact Case Ends Back in State Court Lassa, Plale Elected to Senate; New Committee Assignments Legislature Approves State Employee Contracts Former Lawmaker Selected as Top Tourism Official Governor Appoints Regents Committee Headed Towards Completing Action on Budget JFC Addresses Medical Assistance through Omnibus Motion Transportation Package Endorsed by JFC Assembly Okays Bill to Lower Blood Alcohol Level Identity Theft & Environmental Audit Bills Pass Assembly Senate and Assembly Set to Meet Next Week PSC Releases PTF 2 Environmental Impact Statement Regulatory Reform Hearing Nettles Announces Commerce FEMA Program Lautenschlager Lobbies Congress on Law Enforcement Grants Senate Energy Bill Debate Will Resume After Holiday Recess Bush Signs $350 Billion Tax Cut Package, Jobless Extension Hearing on Stock Options in the House Family Leave Act for State Employees Upheld by Supreme Court New Democrat Coalition Releases Its Technology Agenda
April 29, 2003	Republican-Controlled Joint Finance Committee to Recast Doyle Budget Moving Budget Target Frustrates Legislative Leaders Doyle Approval of More Gaming Compacts Infuriates Legislators Former Gov. McCallum Pays $13,500 to Settle Ethics Board Investigation Former Senator Shibilski Abruptly Resigns Tourism Post Joint Finance Pulls Policy to Launch Budget Deliberations Joint Finance Avoids Major Items in First Week of Budget Action DOT Identifies Project Delays Assembly Committee Advances 0.08 BAC and Seatbelt Bills Natural Resources Board Adopts Air Toxics Revisions Environmental Groups Petition for CO2 Rules Energy Policy Moving Forward Senate Committee Seeks Overhaul of Tea-21's Funding System Asbestos Litigation Talks Continue Homeland Security Transportation and Commerce
March 26, 2003	Primary Election/Supreme Court Races Set for April 1 Assembly Passes Election Law "Reforms" Election Board/Courts act on Caucus Investigations Surveys Identify Citizen Concerns on War, Taxes and Gambling Domenici Releases Electricity Reform Proposal Hatch and Leahy call Asbestos Summit Class Action Reform on Committee Agenda Bankruptcy Bill Wins Passage In House Senate defeats ANWR Report: Social Security Stronger but Medicare Troubles Escalate Joint Finance Budget Hearings in Full Swing DOA Offers Budget Modifications to JFC Republicans to Target Rising Heath Care Costs Governor Capital Budget Approved (Mostly); UW Projects on Hold Governor Creates Homeland Security Council Upcoming Fundraisers In the News
February 21, 2003	Legislature goes into Extraordinary Session over Gaming Compacts Roggensack & Brunner Finalists in Supreme Court Race Legislature Passes Special Session Deficit Repair Bill Medical Liability Set for April in U.S. Senate Senator Nickles Introduces Asbestos Bill Study Points to Demand, Technology Boosting Hospital Spending Political News
February 19, 2003	Special Budget Edition Major Themes State Commitment to Education Funding Reduced Shrinking the Size of State Government Agency Elimination & Consolidation of Functions Political News Budget Documents
February 14, 2003	Legislature Sends State Employee Contracts Back for Renegotiation Joint Finance Action on Governor�s Deficit Repair Bill Rep. McCormick Circulates Government Health Insurance Reform Draft Collective Bargaining Group Insurance Board Prescription Drug Claims Experience Bid Solicitation Lawmakers Propose Association Health Plan Bill ABA Backs Class Action and Asbestos Litigation Reform Business Roundtable Proposes Climate Control Initiative H2-Grow Act Introduced Political News Upcoming Fundraisers
February 7, 2003	Gomez Tabbed to Head OCI; Other Appointments Announced State Employee Labor Unrest Rocks Capitol JFC to Hold Hearings on Budget Reduction Bill State Senate Reduces Its Budget Senate Will Address Medical Liability Reform Congressmen Say States Should Use Unspent Children's Health Funds Measure To Stop 'Unfair' Class Action Settlements Nickles - Measure to Restrict Asbestos Litigation DOE - Plan to Allow Funding Expansion for Yucca Mountain President's 2004 Budget 9.8 Million for Wisconsin's Low-Income Families Political News Upcoming Fundraisers
January 31, 2003	Doyle's First State of the State Draws Bipartisan Praise Overhaul at PSC Taking Place Other Appointments Noted Agreement Reached on Caucus Legal Fees " Pay-to-Play" Bill Passes Assembly Doyle Calls Special Session to Fix Current Deficit Republican Response; Where's the Beef? State & Local Government Task Force Submits Final Recommendations Audit Committee to Investigate DNR Air Program Johnson Offers FDIC Reform Bill Federal Bill Introduced to Fund "Do-Not-Call" List Sensenbrenner Wants Sweeping Bankruptcy Measure Class Action Reform Bill To Be Introduced Political News Upcoming Fundraisers
January 24, 2003	Doyle Calls Special Session to Address Growing Budget Deficit Doyle Inaugural Proceeds Benefit Boys & Girls Club Assembly and Senate Set to Convene Business Day in Madison Economic Impacts of Asbestos Lawsuits - $2 Billion Counties Association Protests 'First Responders' Funding Shortfall Coalition Opposes Guaranteed Issue Requirements for Private Insurance NCSL Releases State Health Care Priorities Political News Upcoming Fundraisers Upcoming Fundraisers
January 17, 2003	Doyle Names More Appointees Case to Proceed Against Foti and Jensen Assembly Committee Assignments Set Doyle to Cut $2 Billion DOA Secretary Sends Agencies Strict Directives Education Funding Critical To Budget Deliberations Identity Theft Task Force Completes Its Work " Pay to Play" on Legislative Fast Track Bush Supports Medical Liability Reform Feingold Introduces Legislation to Delay Pentagon's Data-Mining Program Bipartisan Effort to Strengthen EPA Ombudsman Political News
January 13, 2003	"New Day" Theme for Doyle Inauguration Doyle Cabinet Almost Complete Withdrawal of Unconfirmed Appointments Draws Republican Ire Doyle and Panzer Share Power on Key Appointments Doyle Authorizes Suit to Block Caucus Legal Fees Wisconsin Legislature Will Have its Own "New Day" Senate Vacancies Give Republicans Temporary 18-13 Majority Doyle Returns Agency Budget Requests Legislative Committee Assignments Session Schedule Released Controversial DNR Rules Being Finalized Fox River Cleanup Plan Released Asbestos Litigation Reform Tops Congressional Agenda Bush Unveils Stimulus Plan Environmental Initiatives Proposed Political News