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This issue of Tidbits is our first election coverage of 2008.
Unless you have been on a deserted island, you are aware that the USA will
be electing a new President in November. As an even-numbered year, citizens
of Wisconsin will also be voting for State representative in all 99 Assembly
Districts and State Senator in 16 of the 33 Senate Districts. There are no
elections for Governor or Attorney General in Wisconsin until 2010.
Judicial elections, which are nonpartisan and held in April, are too
often overlooked, and yet, the election of one person to the Wisconsin
Supreme can be as significant as determining which party retains or gains
control of the respective houses of the State Legislature. Such an election
is occurring next week, April 1 when voters go to the polls to choose
between Lois Butler and Mike Gableman for a 10 year term on the state’s
highest court.
Below is a discussion of that race, including a perspective on the
process of electing (rather than appointing) judges and justices. Suffice it to
say, that the outcome of this election could tip the balance on the Court in
its approach to many key decisions.
While the regular session of the Legislature has concluded, the Governor
and the two houses are still wrestling to address the current
and projected deficit. As previously reported that are three proposals on the
table (Governor, Assembly & Senate) and a resolution is not imminent.
It is with mixed feelings that we bid adieu to Andy Franken who has been
a valued member of the Hamilton team since 2002. Andy leaves to become
President of the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance, a position that has been held
by Eric Englund for the past 22 years. Congratulations and best wishes to
Andy in his new venture and congratulations and thanks to Eric for a job
well done!
| In
this Issue |
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Deficit & Budget Repair Legislation
Election of Judges/Justices - A Perspective
Rep. Kreuser Announces Candidacy for Kenosha
County Executive
Hough Receives WMBA Lifetime Achievement Award |
| Policy Developments |
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Deficit & Budget Repair Legislation
The Legislature’s work is not done, as it continues to work in special
session to address the unexpected deficit, due primarily to a weaker than
anticipated economy. The Assembly, in the early morning of March 13 adopted
its version of a budget repair bill, which primarily relies on unspecified
cuts to state agency budgets to balance the books.
Meanwhile, the Senate, on Tuesday, March 25, adopted along party lines (18-14) amendments to
the Governor’s proposal, which includes, among other items, the combined
reporting method of taxing multi-state corporations in Wisconsin. The Senate
version also included the hospital assessment and a $13 increase on
rental car fees in Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee counties to pay for the KRM
commuter rail project.
To date, Assembly Republicans have maintained their opposition to raising
taxes to fix the budget hole. Accordingly, no quick resolution on the budget repair bill is anticipated.
For more information on legislation of interest to CTCW
members, go to the CTCW Tracking Report. |
| Wisconsin
Politics |
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Election of Judges/Justices - A Perspective
In recent years we have witnessed a new focus on the election of members
of the judiciary - particularly at the highest appellate court level - the
Supreme Court. Members of the judiciary in the federal court system -
district/trial courts, circuit/appellate courts and the U.S. Supreme Court -
are appointed rather than elected. Most, but not all, states have opted to
elect judges and justices at all levels.
There is much at stake in the election of judges, particularly to the
highest supreme, court where decisions rendered have a major impact on the
application of civil and criminal law - both substantive and procedural.
Those decisions, in turn, impact the lives of all citizens of the state. The
Wisconsin Supreme Court interprets the Constitution, applies common law
principles and determines legislative intent.
There is much at stake in Supreme Court elections. Justices and
candidates have different judicial philosophies and approach their
responsibilities differently. For example: “Should the constitution be
strictly interpreted relying on precedent and stare decisis (relying
on principles from previous decisions)?”- OR - “Should the constitution be
treated as a ‘living document’ which allows for new/revised interpretations
as times and circumstances change?” - More...
Rep. Kreuser Announces Candidacy
for Kenosha County Executive
On Tuesday, Mar. 25, Rep. Jim Kreuser officially announced his
candidacy in the special election for Kenosha County Executive.
Kreuser has served as the State
Representative from the 64th district on Kenosha County’s
northside since 1993. Since that time he has held several key
posts in the legislature where he was elected Assistant Minority
Leader in 2001 and Minority Leader in 2003. Prior to serving in
the State Legislature, Kreuser worked as the assistant to
then-Kenosha County Executive John Collins for seven years. |
| Hamiltonians
in the News |
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Hough Receives WMBA Lifetime Achievement Award
The Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers Association is presenting Hamilton's Jim
Hough with a Lifetime Achievement Award at their annual conference this
month. Jim began lobbying on behalf of WMBA in 1979 and also served as their
Executive Director from 1985 to 2001.
The mortgage banking industry was growing dramatically in
the 1980s and Jim worked with the legislature to adopt and refine
an appropriate regulatory framework for the industry. WMBA became a major player
in all legislative and DFI discussions regarding mortgage lending, laws and
regulations.
Jim worked to help ensure that the industry was not
overburdened by time consuming and costly regulation while preserving
appropriate consumer protections.
|
| In
the News |
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Third-party spending colors state Supreme Court race: Appleton Post-Crescent, Mar. 25, 2008. Groups shell out $1.5
million for television ads.
Money keeps flowing in Supreme Court race: Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Mar. 25, 2008. Butler, Gableman have raised almost $1
million.
Huebsch: No tax hike needed to fix state budget: La Crosse Tribune,
Mar. 24, 2008. Standoff could be coming as state leaders deal with a
projected budget shortfall due to the sagging economy.
Wisconsin Bar Brawl (opinion): Wall Street Journal, Mar. 24, 2008.
Justice Butler picked this election fight when he and four colleagues
decided, by judicial fiat, to make Wisconsin a national mecca for the
trial bar.
Law
enforcement backing is centerpiece of Gableman run: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 23, 2008. Those who know
Gableman as a judge and prosecutor say that he's known for being
tough on criminals but fair to all parties.
Butler touts experience as a judge, voting record on court: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 23, 2008. Those who know him
said they're impressed by his intellect and work ethic; his
fair, balanced approach to the law; and that he works well with
his fellow justices.
Governor's
selective veto at issue: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 23, 2008.
Amendment would end stitched-together phrases.
In court
race, key issues may hang in balance: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Mar. 23, 2008. On some key issues, the seat is viewed as one that could
define the balance of the court.
Voters urged to
ignore ads in Supreme Court race: Wisconsin State Journal, Mar. 23,
2008. But the race is seen as crucial to the future of the court and could
tilt the ideological balance from a 4-3 liberal-leaning majority to a 4-3
conservative-leaning majority.
Senate's budget
repair advances: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 23, 2008. Approval expected for Democrats' plan.
For more Wisconsin News, go to Hamilton Consulting News Clips. |
CTCW Political Tidbits is a 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.
© 2008 The Hamilton Consulting Group |
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