State of the State Address
Gov. Jim Doyle's annual State
of the State address Tuesday night included plans for several
new initiatives, including:
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Creating a new health insurance program for
children called BadgerCare Plus.
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Creating a large, low-cost insurance pool for
Wisconsin employers designed to address the cost of catastrophic
care.
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A new financial aid package for college for 8th
graders who maintain a B average and stay out of trouble.
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An expansion of Wisconsin's Family Care
program
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An initiative aimed at helping Wisconsin capture
10 percent of the stem cell research market by 2015.
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$6 million to help people with rising heating
costs.
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$9.5 million in private venture capital for
startup businesses in northeastern Wisconsin, which has been
designated the "New North."
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A tax credit for poor parents working at least
35 hours a week designed to ensure their incomes meet the federal
poverty level of $19,350 for a family of four.
-
Outlawing the practice of "health care
dumping."
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Creating a manufacturing supply chain initiative
within existing Commerce resources to help small and medium sized
manufacturers that supply large OEM’s.
Revenue Estimate Increase
The
Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) reported this week that revenue
estimates are exceeding previous estimates by approximately $93
million. About one half of that figure is due to an increase in
estimated tax collections. The biggest increase is in estimated
lapses to the general fund, mainly under spending in MA, but almost
one half of that is offset in increased sum sufficient
appropriations.
Punitive Damage Legislation Advances/Other Judiciary
Committee Action
The Assembly Judiciary Committee has
recommended passage of AB-843,
and the Senate Judiciary Committee has recommended passage of SB-447,
both relating to the standards for the award of punitive damages in
response to the Wischer v. Mitsubishi case handed down by the
Wisconsin Supreme Court in March of last year.
Assembly Bill 843 has been scheduled for floor action in the
Assembly next Tuesday, Jan. 24.
The respective Judiciary Committees also recommended passage
of amended versions of AB-855/SB-501,
which relate to damages for frivolous claims, which would
alter Supreme Court Order 03-06 adopted last year in response to a
petition filed by plaintiff and defense lawyers and the State Bar of
Wisconsin.
AB-657,
which relates to eminent domain powers of local
governments and prohibits condemnation of property under certain
circumstances in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Kelo case, was recommended for concurrence (3-2) by the Senate
committee. The committee also recommended an amendment that would
limit the scope of the bill as it relates to condemnation powers
related to certain public utility activities.
The Senate Judiciary Committee also recommended passage of SB-425, which restricts the Department of Justice
and Attorney General’s nuisance authority, and concurrence in AB-594, which makes changes to the laws relating
to repossession of goods in consumer credit
transactions.
Malpractice Override Falls Short
The State Senate
on Thursday came up three votes short necessary to override Governor
Doyle’s veto of AB-766 that would limit pain and suffering awards to medical malpractice
victims.
With a 63-36
vote, supporters of the bill included three Democrats - Reps.
Spencer Black of Madison, Mary Hubler of Rice Lake and Amy Sue
Vruwink of Milladore.
Full Senate action on Thursday, Jan. 19,
included:
SB-450.
Construction liens - passed on voice vote.
AB-456.
Prepayment penalties on variable rate residential mortgage loans-
passed (21-12).
AB-496.
Defaults in consumer credit transactions involving motor vehicle
consumer leases or credit sales – passed.
AB-802.
Supplemental MA payments to county and municipal nursing homes –
passed (33-0).
Calendars for Tuesday, January 24.
The Assembly schedule includes:
AB-338,
relating to exemption for claims resulting from weight gain and
obesity;
AB-843,
relating to the standards for the award of punitive
damages;
AB-855,
relating to frivolous lawsuits.
The Senate schedule includes:
SB-375,
relating to tool and die liens;
AB-116,
relating to expanding the definition of industrial development
project and limiting the scope of certain
projects.
Study: Ethanol Mandate to Increase Utility Costs
A
new study
by BBC Research and Consulting found that a proposal to force
consumers to buy gasoline blended with 10 percent ethanol will drive
up utility costs in Wisconsin by $366 million – 7 percent – and
result in up to 4,000 lost jobs.
The study found that if NOx emissions increase by 2 percent
under the ethanol mandate, as predicted by the DNR, then the $366
million in utility rate hikes will be required to compensate for the
clean up.
A Senate committee heard testimony on the bill, AB-15,
on Wednesday. Governor Doyle, in his state of the state speech
Tuesday night, reiterated his support of the ethanol
requirement.
State Agencies Draft EIS for Transmission
Project
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) and
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have issued a draft
environmental impact statement on American Transmission
Company’s (ATC) application to build new transmission facilities in
Marathon, Shawano, Oconto, Waupaca and Outagamie
counties.
ATC has asked for permission to build two 345-kilovolt power
lines and one 138-kilovolt line in central and northeastern
Wisconsin and a switching station in Shawano County. The total
estimated cost of the project is approximately $257
million.
ATC must receive authority from the PSC and obtain water and
wetland permits from the DNR before construction can begin. As part
of the review process, the PSC, DNR and the Department of
Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection have worked together to
prepare a draft environmental impact statement. The draft
environmental impact statement addresses the social, cultural and
environmental impacts of the proposed project.
Midwife Licensure Bill (SB 477) Passes Senate Health
Committee
On Wednesday, Jan. 18, the Senate Health Committee
recommended SB-477 for passage as amended on a vote of 4-1 with Sens. Roesssler,
Darling, Brown and Erpenbach voting for and Sen. Carpenter voting
against. The bill relates to the licensing and regulation of
midwives and prohibits persons not so licensed and regulated from
using the midwifery title.
The Senate Committee endorsed three amendments consistent
with the three amendments adopted by the Assembly Health Committee
on the companion Assembly Bill (AB-709). See the Wisconsin
Legislative Council’s Amendment Memo.
The Assembly Bill was reported out of committee and referred
to the Joint Finance Committee on January 9. The Joint Finance
Committee has scheduled an executive session on AB 709 / SB 477 for
Wednesday, January 25.
For more
information on legislation of interest to CTCW members, go to the CTCW
Tracking Report. |
