Political Tidbits issues from 2007

Political Tidbits issues from 2006

Political Tidbits issues from 2005

Political Tidbits issues from 2004

New Bills Supported by Plaintiffs' Bar Impact Medical Malpractice and Discovery Laws

Assembly Labor Committee Hears Bill Creating False Claims Actions

Business Groups Voice Continued Opposition to Climate Change Legislation

Legislators Unveil Measure Adding New Groundwater Regulations

DNR Proposes Greenhouse Gas "Tailoring" Rule

DNR Proposes New PM2.5 Permitting Rules

Climate Change Legislation Meets Resistance

Assembly Fails to Override Governor's Veto of DNR Secretary Bill

Payday Lending Bill Passes Assembly; Fate in Senate Uncertain

Senate Passes Bill Allowing Transfer of Traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs

EPA Announces Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan

EPA Outlines Timeline to Regulate Greenhouse Gases under Clean Air Act

Senate and Assembly Begin Hearings on Climate Change Legislation

Gov. Doyle Gives Final State of the State Address

Senate Expands Medical Liability

Assembly Committee Hears Testimony on “Gender-based Harm” Bill

Bill Extends Statute of Limitations for Intentional Torts; Headed to Governor’s Desk

Senate Passes Issue Ads Legislation

U.S. Supreme Court Issues Landmark Decision Striking Down Campaign Finance Laws

EPA Proposes Stricter Smog Rules

Senate Committee Hears Testimony on Foreclosure Bill

Assembly and Senate Committees Hold Public Hearing on Biofuels Bill

Wisconsin Supreme Court Accepts New Cases

Wisconsin Polls Show People Support Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions -- If Doing So Won't Cost Money or Jobs

U.S. Senators Unveil Climate Change Legislation

EPA Announces Plan to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions

DNR Secretary Bill Advances in Assembly

Uniform Wind Siting Bill Passes

Climate Change Legislation Likely to be Introduced by End of Year

Assembly Passes Tougher Drunk Driving Measures

Federal Government Announces Stricter Auto Fuel Efficiency Requirements

Second Circuit Court Allows States to Sue Power Plants over CO2 Emissions

EPA Sued over Granting California Greenhouse Gas Waiver

Bill Removing Governor’s Authority to Appoint DNR Secretary Stirs Controversy

Natural Resources Committees Hear Testimony on Groundwater Protection

Wisconsin Supreme Court: No Right to Jury Trial under Wisconsin’s Family or Medical Leave Act

Wisconsin Supreme Court Renders Decision in Lemon Law Case

High Court Rules on Failure to Submit Informed Consent Jury Instructions

DNR Issues Redesignation Request for Current Nonattainment Counties for the 1997 8-hour Ozone Standard

Bill Would Require Ballast Water Permits

Wind Siting Bill Advances

Biennial State Budget Bill Overview

Transportation Budget Overview

Budget Bill Modifies State Air Permit Fees

Great Lakes Compact Water Fees and Water Use Permits

Budget Bill Expands Application of Prevailing Wage

Supreme Court Upholds Dismissal of Lead Pigment Design Defect Claim

Strict Products Liability Claim Rejected by High Court

Assembly Committee Hears Testimony on Medical Malpractice Bill

Senate Eliminates Oil Franchise Fee; Replaces Transportation Funding with Increase in Capital Gains Tax

Senate Removes Liability Provisions

Other Senate Amendments to Budget Bill

Bills Advance in Legislative Committees

Assembly Democrats Amend Oil Franchise Tax

Liability Provisions Pulled from Budget

$18 Rental Car Tax to Fund Regional Transit Authority

Doyle Signs Bill Adding Punitive Damages in Employment Discrimination Cases

Advisory Group Releases Final Recommendations

Recently Introduced Legislation

U.S. Supreme Court Issues Decision Affecting Judicial Recusals

JFC Modifies Prevailing Wage Provisions

JFC Imposes Great Lakes Water Compact Fees

Additional New Fees Approved

Wisconsin Becomes Smoke Free

Gov. Doyle Signs Bill Requiring Insurers Cover Cochlear Implant

New Law Requires State Control of Milwaukee County Programs

Wisconsin Supreme Court Denies Review of Lead Paint Nuisance Case

Legislature Passes Bill to Add Damages to Discrimination Cases

Editorial Support Opposed to Changing Liability Law in the Budget Intensifies

More Bad Budget News

Smoking Ban Compromise on Fast Track

Committee Approves Film Tax Credit

Recent Legislation Signed into Law

Federal Developments

Legislative Fiscal Bureau Identifies Non-Fiscal Policy Items in the Budget Bill: JFC Co-Chairs Trim the List

Chief Justice Easily Wins Reelection; Evers Elected State Superintendent

Assembly Committee on Labor Hears Employment Discrimination Bill

Proposals See Committee Action

New Bills Introduced

Congress Introduces Climate Change Legislation

Cap-and-Trade Legislation Must Receive 60 Votes to Pass

Joint Finance Committee Hears Testimony on Budget

Statewide Papers Begin to Question Policy Provisions in Budget

Assembly Passes SB-9; Goes to Governor for Signature

Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules that Land Owner Can Receive Double Damages for Forest Fire Caused by Adjacent Landowner

Joint Finance Committee Begins Hearings on Budget

Joint Finance Committee Approves Road Spending Request

Lawmaker Unveils Paint Tax Proposal for Lead Removal

Senate Committee Hears Employment Discrimination Bill

AG Issues Informal Opinion Clarifying Scope of Open Meetings Law

EPA Proposes First National Reporting on Greenhouse Gases

EPA Holds Hearing Regarding California’s Waiver Request

Doyle Budget Would Undo Joint and Several Liability Policies
Enacted in 1995

Budget Provision to Change Law on Civil Jury Instructions

Prevailing Wage Provisions Impact Economic Development

Senate Expands Liability for Home Sellers

Joint Finance Plans Budget Hearings

Budget Adjustment Bill Signed

New Bills Introduced in Senate

Governor Unveils Budget Repair Bill – Passage Expected Next Week

Senate Passes Wage and Lien Legislation

Autism Bill Advances

Other Committee Activity

Senate Judiciary Committee Passes Tort Bill; House Committee Holds Public Hearing on Companion Bill

Federal Tobacco Tax Increase to Cut State Revenues

Federal Court Strikes Down Wisconsin’s Minimum  Markup Law

Congress Strikes Stimulus Package Deal – Total Cost is $789 Billion

Energy Company Sues New York Over Carbon Trading Compact

EPA Withdraws Petition from Supreme Court in Mercury Emissions Case

Doyle Delays Budget Message

Senate Floor Session Set for Feb. 10

Hearing on Autism Bill Scheduled

Committee Holds Hearing on SB-9

Vinehout Announces Health Insurance Legislation

Robson Proposes Change in Underage Drinking

Lawmaker to Propose Economic Development Bill

Other Legislative and Committee Activity

Rhode Island Judge Orders the State to Pay Reimbursement to Paint Companies

2009 Governor's Conference on Economic Development Held in Madison

2009 Business Day in Madison Feb. 11

Obama Expands Health Insurance Program

Senate Leaders Hope to Complete Work on Stimulus

Doyle Delivers State of the State

Assembly Passes Jobs Bills

Unemployment Legislation Passes

Two Bills Introduced to Overturn Supreme Court Decision

Judge Upholds Minimum Mark-Up Law

Governor Doyle Creates Office of Recovery and Reinvestment

Legislators to Combat Drunk Driving

Bi-Partisan Proposal Would Prevent Raids on User Fee Accounts

Committee Activity and New Legislation

Federal Developments

2009-10 Legislative Session Begins

State Democrats Introduce First Bills of Session

Hamilton Consulting is Blogging

EPA Designates Six Wisconsin Counties as Nonattainment Areas
under the Clean Air Act

EPA Issues Policy Easing Emission Regulations for New Coal-Fired Power Plants

Doyle Proposes Revised Hospital Assessment

Federal Court Reinstates Clean Air Interstate Rule

House Stimulus Package Seeks $825 Billion

Wisconsin Elections 2008 - Analysis of a Wave

Court of Appeals Upholds Jury Verdict Against City of Milwaukee

State Budget Deficit - This Time It’s Different

Senate and Assembly Caucuses Elect Their Leadership for the 2009-10 Legislative Session

DOT Announces Budget Request Imposing Tax on Oil Companies

GAB Proposes Rule Regulating Issue Ads

PSC Denies Plan for New Cassville Power Plant

Voters Reject Measures to Mandate Alternative Energy

2008 Election Results

Assembly Democrats Take Majority

Senate Holds at 18-15 Democratic Majority

DATCP’s Price Gouging Rule Finalized after Long Journey

DNR's Mercury Rule also Completes Legislative Review

Governor Doyle Recommends against Designating Wisconsin Counties Nonattainment

Ozone Season Closes with Big Surprise; but Much Work remains Undone

Midwestern Governors to Release Design for  Emissions Trading Program

Commerce Secretary: State Budget Deficit Underestimated

Wisconsin Supreme Court Provides Greater Protection to Property Owners

The Final Days: What to Watch for in the State Legislature

Congressman Dingell, Boucher Release Climate  Change Draft Legislation

CAIR May be Revived

EPA Asks Supreme Court to Review Decision in Mercury Emissions Case

State Economy to be Slow in 2008 and 09

DHS Budget Request Builds on BadgerCare Plus and Family Care

Homeland Security Report Outlines Wisconsin Emergency Preparedness

Power Plant to become Largest Biomass Plant in Midwest

$17 Million for Transportation Enhancement Projects

Wisconsin Supreme Court Accepts New Cases for 2008-09

Supreme Court on Wheels

State Polling Roundup

Bush Signs Great Lakes Compact

Bailout Bill Includes Energy Incentives/Mental Health Parity

A Hamiltonian Economic Program?

A Primary Day

Wisconsin Supreme Court Ruling Bars Tort Claims in Home Sales

Leinenkugel  Appointed as New Commerce Secretary

Hamiltonians in the News: Andy Engel and Andy Cook join Government Relations team

Open Meetings/Public Records Apply to Quasi-Governmental Corporations

Rhode Island Supreme Court Overturns Verdict against Lead Paint Companies

Wisconsin Supreme Court Finds Software System
Not Subject to Tax

Global Warming Task Force Finalizes Recommendations

Natural Resources Board Approves Mercury Reduction Rule

Wisconsin Supreme Court Asked to Resolve Lemon Law Issues

Gov. Doyle Issues Major Budget Policies for 2009-11

Wisconsin Election Overview

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Vacates EPA Interstate Pollution Rule

EPA Outlines Climate Change Strategies

Elections - Wisconsin State Legislature

No Statewide Elections in Wisconsin in 2008

Wisconsin's U.S. House Delegation

Key Dates

Incumbent Members of the Wisconsin Legislature Not Seeking Re-election

Co-chairs of Global Warming Task Force Present Proposals

Legislature Holding Special Sessions - Budget/Compact

Kreitlow and Suder to Lead Study Committee on Renewable Fuels

Organ Donation Campaign Spearheaded by WPS

Lawmakers Announce Decisions not to Run for Reelection

Farm Bill Passes U.S. House/Senate

Deficit & Budget Repair Legislation

Election of Judges/Justices - A Perspective

Rep. Kreuser Announces Candidacy for Kenosha County Executive

Hough Receives WMBA Lifetime Achievement Award

Wisconsin Legislature Passes Bills to Wrap Up Session

Budget Repair Bill/Governor’s Proposal and Assembly Action

Senate Action

Committee Action

Senate Democrats’ “Wisconsin Invests” Includes Combined Reporting

Minimum Markup Law Challenged….Again

Task Force Submits Interim Report on Global Warming

Committee Holds Public Hearing on Great Lakes Compact

Repair Bill to Address Budget Shortfall

Looking Ahead - Elections Overview – Fall 2008

Gov. Jim Doyle Delivers Sixth State of the State Address

Republicans and Economic Development

State Tax Collections Down – Revenue Shortfall Possible

Legislature Nearing End of 2007 Biennial Session

Governor Signs Several Bills into Law

Recent Senate and Committee Action

Assembly Committee Action

State Branding Bill Passes in the Assembly

Assembly Committee Hears Bill to Address Cable Disputes

State Assembly Approves AED Training and Blood Donor Initiatives

Committee Hears Testimony on New Ethanol Mandate

Seventh Circuit Certifies “All Sums” Case to Wisconsin Supreme Court

Rape Victims Bill Passes State Assembly

U.S. Representatives Endorse Wisconsin Supreme Court Candidates

The Federal Nominating Commission Recommends Five for the Pending Vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin