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Jan. 23, 2004
This week’s
activities were highlighted by final legislative approval of two
major pieces of legislation that have been in the development
stages for the past 12 months, and the Governor’s State of the
State Address.
On Tuesday, January 20, the
State Senate, on a vote of 27-6, gave final legislative approval to AB 655
which makes sweeping changes to the state’s regulatory process, including
streamlining air and water permitting. The Governor wasted no time, and
signed the bill into law on Thursday, January 22, 2004. The Administration
was an integral part of the negotiation process and therefore was very
familiar with the contents of the bill, negating the need for a detailed
analysis prior to the Governor’s signature. While not without controversy,
the bill had the strong backing of the business and economic development
communities, legislative leaders, as well as the Administration, and
garnered 107 0f the 127 legislative votes cast.
Also on Tuesday, the State
Assembly gave final legislative approval (86-10) to Senate Bill 305, which
provides the most extensive and significant changes to the Tax Incremental
Financing (TIF) law since TIF was originally adopted by the
Wisconsin
Legislature in 1975. While not as high profile as AB 655, the changes
embodied in SB 305 are extremely significant to economic development efforts
at the local level.
On Wednesday, January 21,
in his State of the State Address, Governor Doyle reviewed the activities
and accomplishments of the past year and discussed some ongoing and new
initiatives for the year ahead.
Policy Developments
Doyle Signs Jobs
Bill
On January 22, Governor Doyle signed
AB 655, the highly public omnibus regulatory reform bill,
dubbed the ‘Jobs Creation Act of 2003.’ The Governor signed the
bill at noon in De Pere, Wisconsin. Earlier in the week, the
Senate voted
27-6 to pass the bill; the Assembly passed the bill
80-14 on January 13. (See the Governor’s
statement regarding Senate passage of AB 655.)
For a detailed analysis
of this substantial regulatory reform initiative, see the Hamilton
Consulting Group’s
Update on AB 655.
TIF Bill Heads to
Governor’s Office
On Tuesday, January 20, the State Assembly voted 86-10 to pass/concur in
SB 305, which makes substantial changes to Wisconsin’s Tax Incremental
Financing (TIF) program. The bill was previously passed by the Senate,
November 13, by a vote of 20-11; it will now go to the Governor for action.
For a detailed summary of
this legislative effort, please see the Hamilton Consulting Group’s
Update on this bill.
Senate Votes to Override
Veto of Concealed Carry
On Thursday, January 22, the State Senate voted
23-10 to override Governor Doyle’s Nov. 18, 2003
veto of
SB 214, dubbed the Personal Protection Act of 2003 (relating to
authorization of concealed carry of weapons).
The issue
is now in the Assembly, which has not yet scheduled an override vote, but
the matter could be taken up next week when the Assembly is back in session.
The Assembly will also need a two-thirds vote before the Governor’s veto is
overridden.
Governor Approves State
Contracts
On Wednesday, Governor Doyle
signed six senate bills ratifying state employment contracts negotiated
with the state. The contracts cover employment of an estimated 6,500 state
employees.
Changes to Product
Liability Law Receive Hearing
This morning (January 23) the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Corrections and
Privacy is holding a public hearing and possible executive session on
SB 126, relating to making several changes to the state’s product
liability law. The hearing is at
10 a.m. in room 201 SE, Capitol. Please see the Hamilton Consulting
Group’s
Update on the proposed product liability changes.
Assembly Committee to
Address Obesity Bill
On Monday, January 26, the Assembly Committee on Judiciary will hold a
public hearing on
AB 595, relating to making civil liability exemptions for claims
resulting from weight gain and obesity. The hearing is scheduled for 9:00
a.m. in room 225-NW.
Wisconsin
Politics
State of the
State Address
On January 21, Governor Doyle delivered his 2004
State of the State Address to a joint session of the state
legislature. The address focused on several topics including job
creation, education, health care and taxes.
Federal Developments
Bush Delivers State of the Union Address
On Tuesday, January 20, President Bush delivered his
State of the Union Address of 2004. His address focused
extensively on the War on Terror and rebuilding of Iraq. The
address also covered tax relief, Medicare reform, education, gay
marriage and economic development.
Supreme Court Says EPA Can
Overrule State Permitting Decisions
In a 5-4 decision, Wednesday, January 21, the United States Supreme Court
ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority,
under the Clean Air Act (CAA), to overrule a state’s decision to issue a
construction permit to a new or modified source of regulated air pollutant(s)
emissions in an attainment area. Such authority can be exercised if the EPA
shows the state permitting authority has unreasonably determined that the
source’s proposed emission control technology is in fact the Best Available
Control Technology (or BACT, the required technology standard under the CAA).
Under the Court’s ruling (Alaska
Department of Environmental Conservation v. EPA), state regulatory
agencies’ authority to make permitting decisions, under the CAA, is not
without limit.
Political News
Doyle says state recovering; health care, jobs, youth are
priorities: Wisconsin State Journal,
Jan. 22, 2004.
Doyle's agenda is a mixed bag (opinion): Wisconsin State Journal,
Jan. 22, 2004.
Senate overrides concealed weapons veto: Green Bay Press-Gazette,
Jan. 22, 2004.
Doyle pushes programs to help children, jobless: Green Bay
Press-Gazette, Jan.
22, 2004.
Area leaders respond to State of the State: La Crosse Tribune,
Jan. 22, 2004.
Priske,
Slate vie for 41st assembly seat vacated by Luther Olsen: Oshkosh
Northwestern, Jan.
22, 2004.
Doyle signs five more state worker contracts: Janesville Gazette,
Jan. 22, 2004.
Gaining a clearer economic picture: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Jan. 21, 2004.
Economy, borrowing push state to record for bankruptcies in '03:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Jan. 20, 2004.
Fewer rules for state's schools?: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Jan. 21, 2004.
Doyle's state of Wisconsin (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Jan. 21, 2004.
Budget fix aside, work remains for Doyle: Green Bay Press-Gazette,
Jan. 21, 2004.
State lawmakers stress job growth: Green Bay Press-Gazette,
Jan. 20, 2004.
Bush to raise Medicare outlays 10.6% to insurers: Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Jan. 20,
2004.
State may get $132.7M in federal spending bill: Appleton Post-Crescent,
Jan. 19, 2004.
Upcoming Fundraisers
Monday, January 26, 2004:
-
St. Rep. Judy Krawczyk (R-Green
Bay,
5:00 p.m., Green Bay, WI
-
U.S. President re-elect
George W. Bush (Cheney), 6:00 p.m., Pewaukee, WI
Tuesday, January 27, 2004:
Thursday, January 29, 2004:
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