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To coincide with this issue of Tidbits, the Hamilton
Consulting Group has done an analysis of this year’s State Senate races
and candidates. While Republicans and Democrats are both exuding public
confidence that their respective parties will be in the majority following
the November election, there are only two primary contests, both involving
Democrats, that will set the final stage for the general election.
(Republicans currently hold a 19-14 majority in the upper
House.)
In what has historically been viewed as a “safe” Democratic
seat, (the 7th Senate District, South Milwaukee) incumbent
Senator Jeff Plale faces a primary challenge from Donovan Riley, a
newcomer to elected politics. The other primary involves Democrats
Christopher Danou and Kathleen Vinehout who are vying for the opportunity
to face off against incumbent Senator Ron Brown in the 31st Senate District in the Eau Claire area in western
Wisconsin.
We encourage you to view
our analysis, which breaks down the races from the one “open seat” to
Republican and Democrat “protect” districts, and those generally
considered to be “safe” seats for the respective parties. We will present
a similar analysis for the State Assembly in an upcoming
issue.
In February 2004, the chairs of the Joint Legislative Audit
Committee, Senator Carol Roessler and Representative Suzanne Jeskewitz,
requested the Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) to conduct an audit of
Wisconsin’s economic development programs. The results of the audit have
been anticipated by state and local governments as well as the economic
development and business communities. The wait ended earlier this week
when the LAB released its report and findings.
The report, which is 227 pages including appendices, is
expected to serve as the catalyst for change aimed at eliminating
confusion and duplication and increasing accountability, and the ability
to assess the success or failure of programs designed to help businesses,
and strengthen our economy. This presents a great opportunity for the
public and private sectors to work together on meaningful reforms while
reinforcing those that currently work well.
| In this Issue |
 |
State Audit Finds Need for Changes
Study Finds HIRSP in Sound Financial Position
WISTAX: State-Local Governments Spend 21.9 Percent of
Income
Governor Pushes Plan to Double Number of E-85
Pumps
Cities Receive Grants to Improve Access to Crime-Fighting and
Homeland Security Information
Wisconsin Joins Petition Requiring Disclosure of Pesticide
Ingredients
Weeklong Mercury Conference Hosted in Madison
Weeklong Mercury Conference Held in Madison
President Bush in Green Bay
for Gard Fundraiser |
| Policy Developments |
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State Audit Finds Need for Changes
A report by the
Legislative Audit Bureau [Report
Highlights] [Full
Report; PDF doc, 227 pgs.] found that the state of Wisconsin
spent approximately $152.8 million on economic development programs
from mid-2003 to mid-2005, but was unable to accurately determine
what effect economic development programs had on the economy because
of inadequate tracking.
The report stated that “agency responsibility for
administering economic development programs is fragmented, efforts
to measure and report results are limited, and no single entity is
responsible for ensuring that the programs are working toward common
policy goals.”
The Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA), a
statewide association of economic development professionals and
others dedicated to economic development, issued a press release welcoming
the opportunity to work with the Administration and the
Legislature to implement meaningful reforms and reinforce what is
already working well.
The Joint Legislative Audit Committee will hold a hearing on
the audit report on Tuesday, August 29th, in Madison.
Study Finds HIRSP in Sound Financial Position
A
Legislative Audit Bureau report [Report
Highlights] [Full
Report, PDF doc] on the state's Health Insurance Risk-Sharing
Plan (HIRSP) says the program "has maintained a sound financial
position since
FY 2002-03."
HIRSP provides medical and prescription drug insurance for
almost 19,000 policyholders who are unable to obtain coverage in the
private market or who have lost employer-sponsored group health
insurance.
According to the report, enrollment has begun to moderate
following years of double-digit increases. However, net claims costs
increased 25.5 percent during FY 2004-05, to a total $130.4 million.
That size of increase was unexpected and contributed to a $7.1
million decrease in HIRSP’s accounting balance, which showed a small
deficit of $300,000 as of June 30, 2005. The deficit appears to have
been addressed in FY 2005-06.
2005 Wisconsin Act 74 made significant changes to HIRSP.
Among the most significant is the creation of the HIRSP Authority,
which assumed oversight responsibility from DHFS on July 1, 2006.
Other significant changes include simplifying HIRSP’s complex
funding formula, providing increased flexibility for plan design,
and establishing income tax credits for insurers that pay
assessments for HIRSP.
Under Act 74, the Audit Bureau will continue to conduct
annual financial audits of HIRSP.
WISTAX: State-Local Governments Spend 21.9 Percent of
Income
State-local government expenditures claimed 21.9
percent of Wisconsin’s personal income in fiscal 2004. This was up
from 20.2 percent in 1999, according to a recent report
by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX). WISTAX, a
nonprofit, nonpartisan policy-research group based the calculations
on new figures from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Compared to other states, Wisconsin state-local spending
ranked 21st, the same as in 1999, but was down from 15th in 1994.
When state and local government expenditures are viewed separately,
state spending was 9.2 percent of income (29th highest), while local
government claimed 12.6 percent of income (6th highest).
On a per capita basis, state-local expenditures were $6,670
or 16th highest. By comparison, Wisconsin’s tax burden ranked sixth
relative to income and 12th per capita.
Governor Pushes Plan to Double Number of E-85
Pumps
In the wake of his order to suspend enforcement of the
minimum markup law on ethanol, Gov. Jim Doyle is
again asking the Legislature to provide incentives to station
owners to sell ethanol-blended fuel.
The Legislature this year debated but failed to pass a
measure that would have repealed the minimum markup law for all
fuels - a bill the governor said he would have signed into
law.
Representatives of independent gas and convenience store
retailers, who oppose the action, say that the law protects
family-owned businesses against giant retailers who could begin
selling fuel at prices that would wipe out independent retailers
across Wisconsin.
Cities Receive Grants to Improve Access to Crime-Fighting
and Homeland Security Information
Gov. Jim Doyle recently
announced that two Wisconsin law enforcement agencies have been
awarded grants to improve criminal justice and homeland security
information sharing. While the grants will be awarded to the
individual agencies, several neighboring jurisdictions will also
benefit from the grants.
The Wauwatosa Police Department was awarded $64,994 and the
Sun Prairie Police Department was awarded $72,458 through the
Wisconsin Integrated Justice Information System (WIJIS), which is
managed by the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance
(OJA).
Wisconsin Joins Petition Requiring Disclosure of Pesticide
Ingredients
A coalition of 14 states and the U.S. Virgin
Islands have petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to require pesticide
manufacturers to disclose on the label of their products all
hazardous ingredients.
EPA now requires that pesticide labels disclose only the
product’s "active" ingredients; that is, those toxic materials that
are intended to kill insects, weeds or other target organisms.
Pesticide products also contain many other "inert" ingredients.
Current EPA regulations allow the identity of almost all
"inert" ingredients to be omitted from the label based only on their
function in the product, not on their health or environmental
effects. States are pre-empted by federal law from requiring
additional labeling for pesticides.
Weeklong Mercury Conference Held in Madison
The 8th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant was
held this past week at the Monona Terrace and Convention Center in
Madison. The conference was attended by scientists, academics, and
policy-makers from more than 44 countries, as well as
representatives of industries and nongovernmental organizations
involved in mercury issues.
Bob Fassbender, of The Hamilton Consulting Group, attended
the conference and may be contacted
for further information.
For
more information on legislation of interest to CTCW members, go to
the CTCW
Tracking Report.
|
| Wisconsin Politics |
|
President Bush in Green
Bay for
Gard Fundraiser
President Bush was
in Green Bay on Thursday, making stops at Fox Valley Metal-Tech Inc.
in Ashwaubenon to give a speech
about the economy, and then to a private home in Hobart for a
Gard fundraiser.
While in Green Bay,
President Bush addressed the nation on the foiled terror plot which
took place that same day in the United Kingdom.
Rep. Gard, R-Peshtigo,
is running for the Republican nomination in the Sept. 12 primary for
the 8th Congressional District seat being vacated by Mark Green,
R-Hobart, who is running for
governor. |
| In the News |
|
Bush
touts tax reduction in Wisconsin stop: Appleton Post-Crescent,
Aug. 11, 2006.
GOP
candidates come out swinging: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug.
11, 2006.
State
health plan rebounds in 2006: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug.
11, 2006.
Sparta
to lose about 70 jobs when manufacturing plant closes: La Crosse
Tribune, Aug. 11, 2006.
Manufacturing
up in Rock, Green, Lafayette: Wisconsin State Journal, Aug. 11,
2006.
Politics
and reality on gas (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug.
11, 2006.
Ethanol
gives farmers a boost: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 10,
2006.
Doyle's
ethanol order means nothing, gas industry says: Janesville
Gazette, Aug. 10, 2006.
UW
report urges better job training: Madison Capital Times, Aug.
10, 2006.
Democrats
clash over donations: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 10, 2006.
District
8 hopefuls set alternative events: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Aug.
9, 2006.
Attorney
general candidate to launch ads: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Aug. 9, 2006.
GOP
candidate vows to be true to 7th District: Wausau Daily Herald,
Aug. 9, 2006.
Economic
grants don't always do job: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 9,
2006.
Suppliers
must think globally, leaders say: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Aug. 9, 2006.
The end of
pensions (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 9,
2006.
How much
will you pay today? Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 9,
2006.
Ethanol
not subject to mark-up laws: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Aug. 9,
2006.
Feingold
touts alternative energy sources: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram,
Aug. 9, 2006.
Minimum
markup law continues to backfire (opinion): Appleton
Post-Crescent, Aug. 8, 2006.
A
day at the pumps: 6-cent difference in prices: Lakeland Times,
Aug. 8, 2006.
Disruption
in Alaska to hit home: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 8,
2006.
The oil
monkey on our backs (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug.
8, 2006.
Federal
hybrid tax credit no deal for some taxpayers: Wisconsin State
Journal, Aug. 8, 2006.
Audit
released looking at state's economic development programs: Janesville Gazette, Aug. 8, 2006.
Focus is
on mercury emitter: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 8,
2006.
Green
proposes back-to-school 'tax holiday': Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Aug. 8, 2006.
Doyle
challenger: Spending out of control: Wausau Daily Herald, Aug.
8, 2006.
Thompson:
For a healthy diet, more fish (opinion): Wisconsin State
Journal, Aug. 7, 2006.
For more Wisconsin
News, go to Hamilton
Consulting News
Clips.
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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.
© 2006 The Hamilton Consulting Group |
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