| |
With Thanksgiving and deer hunting 2005 now behind
us, the Wisconsin Legislature returns to
a busy week of hearings and committee action
on bills that may be voted on before the
holiday recess. Governor Doyle has returned
from an apparently successful trade mission
to Europe and has several weeks to determine
a course of action for a flurry of bills
sent to him by the Legislature this fall.
The Governor is also expected to promote his economic
development agenda and to explore areas
of common ground with the Republican-controlled
Legislature. Republican leadership recently
announced its concept of “Invest Wisconsin,”
which is a comprehensive legislative package
covering six issue areas from capital investment
to civil justice reform. The package includes
bills previously introduced, some having
passed the Legislature, and bills yet to
be introduced.
In “Grow Wisconsin 2005,” Governor
Doyle has included numerous invest in Wisconsin
initiatives. As one might expect, there
are significant differences as well as areas
of common ground. The most significant difference
may be in the areas included or excluded
as part of the overall plan to stimulate
the Wisconsin economy. The debate is, however,
on the right topic - Wisconsin’s economy.
| In this Issue |
 |
| Floorperiod Scheduled for Dec. 6-15
Senate Judiciary Executive Session
Punitive Damages Bills Introduced
State Energy Policy Legislation Introduced
Other Energy Legislation
“Invest Wisconsin” Legislative Package Touted
Doyle Returns from Trade Mission
DNR Pulls Pier Rules
Gov. Orders Energy Conservation for State Agencies
Magnum Announces Second Bid for Congress |
| Policy Developments |
|
| Floorperiod Scheduled for Dec.
6-15
Both houses are scheduled
to be in session on Tuesday, December
6, to begin their next floorperiod
that is scheduled to end on December
15.
The Assembly Committee on Rules will meet in the Assembly parlor
at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday to schedule
the calendar for the Dec. 6 floor
session. The Assembly will not be
in session on Dec. 7 or Dec. 8 and
Majority Leader Mike Huebsch advised
members to be “flexible” as to potential
session days on the 13th,
14th and 15th.
The senate has not announced its
December intentions as of this time.
Monday, November 28
Tuesday, November 29
-
Assembly Committee on Judiciary, 9:00 a.m., Room 411 South,
Capitol
-
Senate Committee on Housing & Financial Institutions,
10:00 a.m., Room 201 Southeast,
Capitol
-
SB 230/AB 456
- Relating to prepayment
penalties on variable rate
residential mortgages (AB
456 passed the Assembly
95-0)
-
SB 277
- Relating to changing the
date for payment of property
taxes from escrow accounts
in limited circumstances
-
SB 448
- Relating to notice and
right to cure in residential
construction, including
remodeling
-
AB 593
- Relating to WHEDA “modernization”
Senate Judiciary Executive Session
The Senate Committee on Judiciary
will hold an executive session,
immediately following its public
hearing (on a constitutional amendment
re defining marriage), on Tuesday,
November 29 in Room 411 South, Capitol
to vote on:
-
SB 161
- Relating to civil liability
exemption from claims resulting
from weight gain or obesity
-
SB 215
- Relating to repealing the
minimum markup law for motor
vehicle fuel (currently 9.18%)
and substituting a prohibition
of sale at or below cost
-
SB 426
- Relating to Unemployment
Compensation Law changes
-
SB 450
- Relating to various construction
lien law changes
Punitive Damages Bills Introduced
In yet another legislative reaction
to a 2005 Wisconsin Supreme Court
decision, companion bills have been
introduced in the Senate (SB 447)
and Assembly (AB 843)
to heighten the standard for the
award of punitive damages in civil
cases in Wisconsin.
In March, in the high profile Mitsubishi case, the Court
interpreted a 1995-adopted legislative
standard that actually “re-interpreted
and weakened” the Legislature’s
1995 pronouncement, according to
Sen. Glenn Grothman and Rep. Mark
Gundrum, the lead authors of this
year’s legislative proposals.
State Energy Policy Legislation Introduced
On Tuesday, November 22nd,
the State Legislature’s Assembly
and Senate Energy Committees voted
to introduce a state energy policy
bill (AB 841)
that is intended to provide long-term
economic and environmental benefits
to the state. The committee action
followed public comment that signaled
broad support for the overall proposal,
while highlighting specific areas
of disagreement, which will make
the road to passage far from smooth.
The legislation, drafted from the recommendations of the Governor’s
Task Force on Energy Efficiency
and Renewables, requires the PSC
to work more closely with state
energy efficiency programs housed
in the Department of Administration.
The proposal also calls for state
government to be more energy efficient
and use more renewable energy sources.
In addition, it calls for utilities
to produce at least 10 percent of
the electricity they sell from renewable
energy sources by 2015.
Some of the major details of the bill include:
-
Increasing utilities’ generation of renewable power to 10
percent by 2015.
-
Increasing state government’s own purchase of renewable electricity
to 20 percent by 2011.
-
Upgrading state building codes to require more energy efficiency.
-
Empowering the state Public Service Commission to set targets
and funding levels for state
energy efficiency spending.
-
Creating rural energy initiatives such as use of small-scale
manure-to-energy devices, known
as anaerobic digesters, and
wind turbines.
-
Securing the state’s energy conservation funds.
Other Energy Legislation
An energy issue relating to
tax credits for vehicles that use
gasoline and ethanol mixtures as
fuel has been recommended for passage
(8-0) by the Assembly Committee
on Rural Affairs and Renewable energy
on Nov. 22. The bill, AB-809,
was referred to the Joint Committee
on Finance.
“Invest Wisconsin” Legislative Package Touted
“Invest Wisconsin” is a continuation
of the Jobs Creation package offered
last session according to a press
release issued by Sen. Ted Kanavas,
chair of the Senate Economic Development
Committee, Assembly Speaker John
Gard and Senate Majority Leader
Dale Schultz.
The package includes six “major economic development themes”
including tax relief, regulatory
reform, judicial reform, workforce
training, infrastructure enhancement
and capital investment.
Areas covered include a broadband deployment tax credit; a
package of changes covering elimination
of the capital gains tax under certain
conditions, repeal of the shareholder
wage lien statute, and a series
of changes involving securities;
an innovation tax credit modeled
after Ohio’s low-interest loan program
for innovation; and, a series of
bills currently before the Legislature.
Link
to press release and fact sheet.
Doyle Returns from Trade Mission
Gov. Jim Doyle returned recently
from a trade mission to Germany,
the Czech Republic, and Poland and
said contacts between Wisconsin
businesses and leaders in the three
countries will help grow Wisconsin’s
economy.
Governor Doyle visited several businesses with Wisconsin ties
including a Quad Graphics facility
outside Warsaw, Poland, a BadgerMeter
facility in Brno, Czech Republic,
Merck KGaA (parent of EMD Biosciences,
Madison, and Milwaukee Company,
Milwaukee) in Darmsadt, Germany,
Karl Schenck AG (parent of Schenck
AccuRate, Whitewater) in Darmsadt,
Germany, and Harley Davidson facilities
in Prague and Warsaw.
DNR Pulls Pier Rules
A recent study showing that
there are fewer piers on Wisconsin
waterways than originally estimated
was among the reasons that prompted
the Natural Resources Board to reconsider
controversial rules that would stiffen
regulation of docks.
The board unanimously voted to rescind rules it approved in
September that required one-time
permits for piers as well as individual
approval for large piers. Department
of Natural Resources staff will
rework the rules - which had not
yet been sent to the Legislature
- and bring them back to the board
for approval at its next meeting
Dec. 7.
Gov. Orders Energy Conservation for State Agencies
Gov. Doyle signed an executive
order telling state agencies to
practice energy conservation. The
policy directs agencies to hold
energy use in state-owned facilities
to the minimum level possible without
adversely affecting state facilities,
equipment, employees, visitors or
program operations.
The Governor said if no steps were taken, the state would spend
$10 million more due to higher fuel
costs.
For
more information on legislation
of interest to CTCW members, go
to the CTCW
Tracking Report. |
| Wisconsin Politics |
|
| Magnum Announces Second Bid for Congress
Former radio personality Dave
Magnum announced his plans to run
for Congress Tuesday against incumbent
U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.,
in the upcoming 2006 election.
This will be Magnum’s second bid for the Second Congressional
District of the U.S. House of Representatives.
He lost to Baldwin in the race for
the same position in 2004. |
| Federal Developments |
|
| text |
| In the News |
|
| Fixing
the burden of proof (opinion):
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov.
10, 2005.
State will
review sales tax payments: Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, Nov. 10, 2005.
Property
law defended: Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Nov. 10, 2005.
Windfall
from Asia: Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, Nov. 10, 2005.
Post-hurricane
energy recovery may take longer:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov.
9, 2005.
Senate
soothes business interests:
The Capital Times, Nov. 9, 2005.
Malpractice
caps bill goes to Doyle: Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, Nov. 9, 2005.
Assembly
panel votes to pass conceal carry
bill: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Nov. 9, 2005.
Cutbacks
in child support challenged:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov.
9, 2005.
Some
On Board OK With Falk: Wisconsin
State Journal, Nov. 9, 2005.
Bill on
abortion warnings advances:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov.
9, 2005.
Bill
puts cost of health care on agenda
(opinion): Marshfield News Herald,
Nov. 9, 2005.
State to
file complaints against hospitals:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov.
8, 2005.
Local
doctors, lawmakers at loggerheads
over malpractice caps: Ashland
Daily Press, Nov. 8, 2005.
Lawmakers
work to sink DNR's new regulations
on piers: Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Nov. 8, 2005.
It's
An Issue In The Race For Attorney
General: Wisconsin State Journal,
Nov. 8, 2005.
Falk
is in race for AG: The Capital
Times, Nov. 7, 2005.
Gov.
Doyle leading Europe trade mission:
The Capital Times, Nov. 7, 2005.
GOP
candidates visit town for Reagan
Day celebration: Ashland Daily
Press, Nov. 7, 2005. |
| Upcoming Fundraisers |
|
| Nov. 14
-
Scott Walker (R) gubernatorial candidate, Franklin
-
Rep. Sue Jeskewitz (R-Menomonie Falls), Hubertus
-
Rep. Judy Krawczyk (R-Green Bay), Green Bay
-
JB Van Hollen (R) AG candidate, Marshfield
-
Rep. John Gard (R-Peshtigo), De Pere
Nov. 15
-
Scott Walker (R) gubernatorial candidate, Waterford
-
Sen. Roger Breske (D-Eland), Madison
Nov. 16
-
Scott Walker (R) gubernatorial candidate, Milwaukee
-
Rep. John Lehman (D-Racine), Racine
Nov. 17
-
Sen. Joe Leibham (R-Sheboygan), Madison
-
Rep. John Gard (R-Peshtigo), Wausau
-
Rep. Gene Hahn (R-Cambria), Fall River
-
Pat Kreitlow (D) 23rd SD candidate, Chippewa Falls
-
Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau), Madison
-
Sen. Ron Brown (R-Eau Claire), Warrens
Nov. 18
For details, go to Hamilton
Consulting Fundraiser Calendar. |
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.
© 2005 The Hamilton
Consulting Group |
|
|
Links
|
|
