Wisconsin Legislature
Recall Elections Key to Control of the State Senate
Submitted by Hamilton on Tue, 05/08/2012 - 9:51pmImmediately after the 2010 elections, many observers viewed the State Senate as the Republican stronghold least likely to change hands in the years to come. Yes, the Assembly Republicans had a very large partisan seat advantage, but Senate Republicans would be on the offensive and sitting in districts with wider voter margins in their favor thanks to the regularly scheduled redistricting. An already formidable 19-14 Senate margin was nearly guaranteed to increase and then solidify.
Retirements and Redistricting Shape the Fall Elections
Submitted by Hamilton on Thu, 04/26/2012 - 1:11pmAlthough the recall elections have accelerated the process and drawn the attention of election-watchers away from the general elections, the biennial fight for control of the Wisconsin legislature has quietly begun. Candidates for office this fall can now officially circulate nomination petitions.
Walker Issues Few Vetoes
Submitted by Hamilton on Wed, 04/25/2012 - 11:11amThe month after the end of the legislative floor session ends is a flurry of bill signings and last ditch efforts aimed at getting the Governor to veto particular bills. This year was no different except that the number of vetoes was significantly lower than previous years owing since both houses of the legislature and the Governor’s office are held by the same party.
A Year in Review: 2011
Submitted by Hamilton on Tue, 12/20/2011 - 11:46am
Gov. Walker’s Budget Repair Bill (Act 10): Very few will soon forget the public employee union changes contained in Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill (Act 10) and the fallout that ensued.
Mining Bill Introduced
Submitted by Hamilton on Fri, 12/09/2011 - 1:02pmThe long anticipated mining bill was released by Assembly Republicans on Thursday, Dec. 8. The 183-page bill would create new statutes to govern ferrous (iron) mining, which is currently regulated in the same manner as non-ferrous (non-iron minerals like gold or copper) mining.
This bill is a response to Gogebic Taconite's proposal to build Wisconsin’s largest ever iron mine. Proponents of the bill point to the job creation potential of the mine, while opponents worry environmental standards will be sacrificed to gain those jobs. Proponents counter that the text of the bill is the best indication so far that it is possible to retain Wisconsin’s strong environmental standards while still taking advantage of the state’s rich natural resources.
The bill will be formally introduced and receive a public hearing Wednesday, December 14 at 10 a.m. during a public hearing held by the Assembly Committee on Small Business, Jobs and the Economy. The committee will meet in Milwaukee at State Fair Park.
This article breaks the mining bill requirements into stages and provides a brief discussion of the proposed changes at each stage.
