Governor Announces Creation of Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network

Wisconsin Economic Recovery Continues

Court Overrules PSC Order for Oak Creek Power Plant; PSC to Appeal

Kewaunee Power Plant Sale Rejected

Doyle to Lead Trade Mission to Mexico

Governor Names Legislative Director

Ward Named Assembly Vice-Chair of Joint Finance

Schultz Names Senate Committee Chairs

Sen. Lazich Resigns as Assistant Majority Leader

Governor Announces Creation of Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network
Gov. Doyle recently announced the creation of the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network (WEN), a partnership of the University of Wisconsin System, the Wisconsin Technical College System, the WiSys Technology Foundation, and the Agricultural Innovation Center, which is receiving $1 million from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce.

The investment is part of Governor Doyle’s pledge to promote entrepreneurship and innovation and will create an integrated statewide network to serve entrepreneurs.

Key services at WEN will include one-on-one consulting, educational workshops, executive level programs, peer learning, and strategies to assess technologies and access capital. The funding will also provide WEN with the capability to expand its outreach in providing all of its programs and services into all regions of the state.

The new network is targeted to assist more than 10,000 people and contribute more than $500 million to the state’s economy in its first year of operation. Using a single client management system, the goal is to have WEN members better prepared to identify, set priorities, and assist businesses through multiple stages of development.

Wisconsin Economic Recovery Continues
Wisconsin’s economic recovery remains on course, with 1.6 percent growth in non-farm employment expected this year and total personal income growth projected at of 4.5%. These projections were announced by Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) Secretary Michael L. Morgan.  Employment is expected to continue upward at a 1.8 percent rate in 2005.

The DOR report was cautious in its predictions, given the uncertainty of national economic conditions. “If the two federal wildcards materialize, the U.S. and Wisconsin economies will likely suffer,” the DOR reported. The biggest risks are associated with potential weakness in the national and international economies.

Court Overrules PSC Order for Oak Creek Power Plant; PSC to Appeal
A Dane County Circuit Court order has vacated the Public Service Commission approval of We Energies plans to construct two coal-fired generators near its existing Oak Creek power plant.

Dane County Circuit Judge David Flanagan ordered state regulators to redo the approval process because the utility failed to provide required cost and design information about new power transmission lines it will need to run the $2.15 billion plant in Oak Creek.

Flanagan said the utility’s application did not include at least two alternative sites and the company had not obtained the necessary regulatory approvals for the project.

Noting that the court affirmed the Commission’s determination that new generation was necessary to meet growing energy demand, PSC General Counsel David Gilles said, “The Commission is very concerned about the effect of construction delays on future electric reliability in Southeast Wisconsin and on overall costs of the project.” The Commission will appeal the courts decision.

Kewaunee Power Plant Sale Rejected
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has rejected the proposed sale of the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant to Virginia-based Dominion Resources, Inc. Citing future concerns of accountability, PSC Chairperson Burnie Bridge stated that "There is no doubt in my mind that, currently, Dominion is a financially viable company and has the resources to safely operate the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant. However, that may not be true of any future owners and Wisconsin would not have a voice in future sales of the nuclear power plant."

State law requires PSC approval before the two Wisconsin utilities can sell the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant. According to the PSC, if it would have approved the sale of the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant, it would have become a wholesale power plant and would be exempt from the Commission's routine rate review process, construction approval and related state economic regulation.

Doyle to Lead Trade Mission to Mexico
Gov. Doyle will head up a trade mission to Mexico next March 6-11. The mission will make stops in Mexico City and Guadalajara. Doyle will open Wisconsin pavilions at the International Machine Tool Show in Mexico City and the Annual Convention of the National Retail Association of Mexico in Guadalajara. The mission is being coordinated by the Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Governor Names Legislative Director
Governor Doyle appointed Pat Henderson as Legislative Director, effective Dec. 1. Henderson had served as Deputy Legislative Director. He replaced Katie Boyce who has joined the Governor’s campaign staff.

Ward Named Assembly Vice-Chair of Joint Finance
Rep. Dean Kaufert has announced the appointment of Rep. David Ward (R-Fort Atkinson) to serve as Vice-Chair of the Joint Finance committee for the 2005-06 session. Ward will succeed Rep. Mike Huebsch who will become Assembly Majority Leader in January.

Schultz Names Senate Committee Chairs
Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz announced the following Republican committee chairs for the 2005-06 Legislative session:

• Campaign Finance Reform and Ethics: Sen. Ellis

• Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care: Sen.Roessler

• Job Creation, Economic Development and Consumer Affairs: Sen. Kanavas

• Labor and Election Process Reform: Sen.Reynolds

• Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules: Sen. Grothman

• Agriculture and Insurance: Sen. Kapanke

• Education: Sen. Olsen

• Veterans, Homeland Security, Military Affairs, Small Business and Government Reform: Sen. Brown.

• Energy, Utilities, Information Technology: Sen. Cowles

• Higher Education and Tourism: Sen. Harsdorf.

• Housing and Financial Institutions: Sen. Stepp

• Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy:  Sen. Zien

• Natural Resources and Transportation: Sen. Kedzie

Senator Schultz has also named other Republican members to all of the above committees including and, as previously reported, all of the members of Joint Finance with Senator Fitzgerald as the Senate Co-Chair. Other than Joint Finance, Senate Democrat leadership has not announced committee assignments. Announcement of Assembly committee chairs and members is also expected soon. A complete list of committees will be provided when all assignments have been made.

Sen. Lazich Resigns as Assistant Majority Leader
Sen. Mary Lazich, elected to the assistant majority leader’s post just last month, has resigned her leadership position. Senator Lazich informed Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz of her decision following a closed Republican caucus this past Wednesday and made her formal announcement on Thursday. A caucus will be held later in December to elect her successor.

Tuesday, Dec. 7

• Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), Elm Grove

• Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, Madison

• Milwaukee County Exec Scott Walker, Milwaukee

Wednesday, Dec. 8

• Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), Milwaukee

Monday, Dec. 13

• Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greenfield), Greendale

Saturday, Dec. 18

• State Senate Democratic Committee, Madison

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For Further Information

Lazich resigns leadership post: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 3, 2004.

DNR proposes fee increases: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 3, 2004.

Senate leader mandates cuts: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 2, 2004.

Cost of coal plants could increase: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 2, 2004.

Analysis -- We Energies loves its Oak Creek site; here's why: Racine Journal Times, Dec. 1, 2004.

PSC to appeal Oak Creek decision: Racine Journal Times, Dec. 1, 2004.

Judge takes issue with power plant: Appleton Post-Crescent, Nov. 30, 2004.

PSC to appeal recent ruling on power plant: Appleton Post-Crescent, Nov. 30, 2004.

New rules for judges don’t go far enough (opinion): Appleton Post-Crescent, Nov. 30, 2004.

Beware of cold truth on state tax freeze (opinion): Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Nov. 30, 2004.

Don't believe Chicken Little stories about TABOR (opinion): Racine Journal Times, Dec. 1, 2004.

Doyle gives boost to start-ups: Appleton Post-Crescent, Nov. 30, 2004.

Senators to focus on job creation: Manitowoc Herald Times, Nov. 30, 2004.

State Should Join Effort To Collect Sales Taxes (opinion): Wisconsin State Journal, Nov. 30, 2004.

A third of numbers on no-call list to drop off: Appleton Post-Crescent, Nov. 29, 2004.

Don't privatize election oversight (opinion): Madison Capital Times, Nov. 29, 2004.

No way to spend money (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 29, 2004.

A payoff in layoffs? Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 29, 2004.

The pork barrel polka is a delicate dance: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 28, 2004.

State’s economy revving up at year’s end: Lakeland Times, Nov. 28, 2004.

Wind farm impact still questioned: Fond du Lac Reporter, Nov. 28, 2004.

Concerned citizens vow to fight proposed wind farm: Fond du Lac Reporter, Nov. 28, 2004.

Aid slows, property tax grows: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 28, 2004.

Crashes With Deer Plague Motorists: Wisconsin State Journal, Nov. 26, 2004.

Private toll roads a path for debate: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 26, 2004.