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June 11, 2009

Wisconsin Politics

Assembly Democrats' vote could raise gas prices: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 11, 2009. Groups representing grocery stores, convenience stores, small businesses and others said the changes were a compromise that significantly improved Doyle's plan.

Debate heats up on Wisconsin budget: Appleton Post-Crescent, June 11, 2009. After publicity, Dems restore Justice budget before today's vote.

Democrats drop liability law change from budget: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 10, 2009. Assembly Democrats decided Wednesday that they wouldn't rewrite Wisconsin's liability laws as part of the state budget.

Democrats roll back proposed expansion of liability: Wisconsin State Journal, June 10, 2009. Assembly Democrats have eliminated a controversial provision from the 2009-11 budget plan that would have expanded liability in civil damage cases.

Lawmakers hiding pets in budget (opinion): Wausau Daily Herald, June 10, 2009. Comb all this nonsense out of this budget. Then pass legislation that tries to rein in this abuse. If it isn't directly related to spending, it doesn't belong in the budget. Period.

Sparks fly over liability shift: Kenosha News, June 10, 2009. Measure on car insurance prompts protests as well.

Assembly leader sees no major budget changes: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, June 9, 2009. Comments come as pressure intensified from the business community and special interests who say they are hurt by the Democratic-written plan.

Serious flaws in state budget (opinion): Beloit Daily News, June 9, 2009. These kind of policy issues have no business being buried in the budget. They are major changes with large implications that deserve transparency, debate and full public input. Partisan payoffs do not belong in the budget, especially at a time when Wisconsin’s citizens are in deep trouble.

Heavy lifting, please (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 8, 2009. The budget bill should be more than a consideration of party and ideology.

The state budget is bad bet for Wisconsin's future (opinion): Wisconsin State Journal, June 7, 2009. In Wisconsin, the worries ought to be compounded by a 2009-11 budget plan that blindly assumes the future will be rosy.

State budget could affect homeowners, drivers, phone users: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 7, 2009. Democrats, Republicans clash over proposal with wide-ranging impact on state residents.

Dave Zweifel's Plain Talk: Dems should dump budget's policy items: Madison Capital Times, June 7, 2009. If the Democrats who are now in control of the Legislature really cared about open and clean government, as they claim to, they'd jettison these unrelated items from the budget on the floors of the Senate and Assembly this week.

Prune the policy from Wisconsin's state budget plan (opinion): Wisconsin State Journal, June 5, 2009. Evidence for these policies should be openly debated, and the public should have the opportunity to hold lawmakers accountable for a specific vote. The policies should not slip through when a vote on the budget is taken.

Assembly Democrats to hold fund-raiser during budget deliberations, despite ban: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 5, 2009. The Assembly plans to take up the budget Wednesday. Assembly Democrats plan to attend the fund-raiser five days later.

Economic Development

State's business executives call recession biggest challenge: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 11, 2009. Many expect job cuts in the next year, as well as lower wage increases and less spending on training.

Midwestern winemakers seek label of their own: TwinCities.com, June 11, 2009. If it's approved, it would be the largest designated winemaking region in the country

Businesses opposed to Wisconsin budget sign petitions: Green Bay Press-Gazette, June 9, 2009. The signers listed 14 items they opposed, including higher income taxes for households earning more than $300,000, raising the capital gains tax, changing the state’s liability laws and requiring higher minimum car insurance coverage.

Energy

'States are jockeying' for clean-tech growth: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 11, 2009. As a result, “public policy matters” when it comes to boosting a state’s standing with the clean-tech sector.

Wind turbines could be on Great Lakes in 3 years: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 10, 2009. Experts believe wind speeds are much faster over large bodies of water than over land, with parts of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior having stronger winds than Iowa and Minnesota, two of the leading states in generation of wind power.

State's wind-power opportunities blowing away: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 7, 2009. In 2008, Wisconsin witnessed both the windfall of economic promise and blowback, as the growing wind industry experienced growing pains.

Eco-friendly energies need more federal help: Green Bay Press-Gazette, June 7, 2009. Public policy actions at local, state and federal levels increasingly have favored wind and solar, among other sustainable energy sources. Yet more can and should be done.

Environment

Doyle announces funds for hybrid buses in Point: Stevens Point Journal, June 11, 2009. The projects include $1.57 million for three hybrid buses, $27,000 for three wheelchair lifts for buses and $340,000 for support equipment.

DNR issues proposed shoreline zoning changes: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 10, 2009. If approved, the regulations would be the first major revision of zoning rules along lakes, rivers and streams in more than 35 years.

Governors set greenhouse gas goals: Daily Reporter, June 9, 2009. The plan calls for a nearly 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2020, with an 80 percent reduction by 2050.

Minnesota, 5 other Midwestern states draft carbon reduction plan: TwinCities.com, June 8, 2009. The group charged by six Midwestern governors to come up with an emissions cap-and-trade system is recommending aggressive reduction goals that could bring big changes to a region that relies heavily on coal and manufacturing.

Education

Oshkosh schools face millions in cuts under proposed state budget: Oshkosh Northwestern, June 11, 2009. The net result for Oshkosh would mean about $3.5 million less in revenue from the state, which would have to be made up with budget cuts or higher property taxes.

UW buildings big part of state budget: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, June 8, 2009. The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee has approved 36 major UW System building projects, including new residence halls, state-of-the-art research laboratories and academic buildings.

Health

Health care priorities (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 10, 2009. Cover everyone, reward cost control and figure out a way to pay for it all. That's what should be on the president's agenda as he comes to Green Bay to talk about reform.

Transportation

Gov. Jim Doyle unveils funding for cab program: Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, June 11, 2009. Wisconsin Rapids will receive $44,800 for its low-income transportation assistance program as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Midwest high-speed rail plan appears on track: Madison Capital Times, June 10, 2009. The Obama administration is dropping hints that a proposed Midwest high-speed rail network connecting Minneapolis, Madison and Chicago has a good chance of landing part of the $8 billion in federal stimulus earmarked for passenger trains.

Tougher drunken-driving laws would cost millions: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 7, 2009. More felony charges would cost the criminal justice system millions of dollars - to hire judges, district attorneys and more Crime Lab workers who read blood tests.

Other

Anheuser-Busch to launch Bud Light Golden Wheat: Madison Capital Times, June 11, 2009. The beer giant aims to keep growing the momentum of its best-selling brand by tapping into the growing wheat segment.

‘New Chrysler’ will abide state lemon law: La Crosse Tribune, June 9, 200. The state’s Department of Justice — which shepherded the consumer protection effort in 1982-83 — said this week the "New Chrysler" company will meet states’ lemon law conditions.

Legislature's proposal for landfill fees could cost Janesville and its residents: Janesville Gazette, June 8, 2009. A proposed increase in state landfill fees could force Janesville to consider charging residents for garbage collection. Even though the city owns the landfill, it could owe an additional $127,000 if Wisconsin legislators increase tipping fees.

Jet Ski business deserves a chance: Racine Journal Times, June 8, 2009. Racine needs to embrace its big, blue tourist magnet. The more options it can offer on Lake Michigan, the more popular the city will become as a destination.

Don't change liquor license provision (opinion): Ashland Daily Press, June 8, 2009. Applying for a license isn't an undue burden for organizations planning fundraisers. The cost is usually minimal and it provides groups with clear guidelines.