Political Tidbits

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Mar. 19, 2004

The Legislature has adjourned the regular session, but may have some fine tuning on some bill amendments in a limited extraordinary session. The Legislature is expected to return in May to address TABOR (the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights). Below we have listed enrolled bills of interest and action by the governor on several bills. With the regular session over, and the Governor not expected to take further bill action until he returns from China at the end of March, Tidbits will also be taking a ‘Spring Break.’ Look for us to return in two weeks!

Policy Developments

Select Enrolled Bills
The following list highlights enrolled bills of interest (bills that have passed through both houses of the Legislature and await governor action).

Assembly Bills:

AB 195, relating to tax warrants and liens on property.
AB 254, relating to revisions and additions to condominium law.
AB 423, relating to changes in liability for damages caused by dogs.
AB 437, relating to granting towns limited authority to create tax incremental financing districts.
AB 508, relating to income and franchise tax credits for sales/use tax paid on fuel/electricity in manufacturing, and refundable tax credits for the zone programs.
AB 591, relating to recording and filing documents with the offices of the register of deeds and the Department of Financial Institutions.
AB 608, relating to changes to the law known as ‘Smart Growth.’
AB 728, relating to comprehensive planning by local governmental units and fees imposed by political subdivisions.
AB 730, relating to the acquisition of in-state banks and in-state bank holdings companies.
AB 792, relating to high cost mortgage lending.
AB 830, relating to funding for engineering instruction at the UW-Rock County Campus.
AB 859, relating to manufacturing extension center grants.
AB 890, relating to meetings of the board and members of nonprofit corporations.
AB 925, relating to enforcement of the one-family and two-family dwelling code in certain cities.
AB 926, relating to regulation of high capacity wells, notification of well construction, groundwater quantity management.

Senate Bills:

SB 61, the so-called ‘Green Tier’ bill (relating to environmental audits).
SB 87, relating to authority of cities and villages to annex territory and specifying boundaries for certain annexations.
SB 113, relating to review of legislative proposals and proposed agency rules impacting energy policies.
SB 218, relating to corporate boards.
SB 261, relating to creating a qualified new business venture tax credit and a capital gains tax exemption regarding investments in certified venture capital funds and qualified new business ventures, requiring a study of new Wisconsin businesses, facilitating the development of certain investor networks.
SB 272, relating to local government telecommunications utilities and public hearings for ordinances and resolutions authorizing local government cable television, telecommunications, and Internet access facilities.
SB 279, relating to licensing and education of loan originators of mortgage banks and mortgage brokers.
SB 326, relating to prohibiting any person from using the name of a state-chartered bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union, or a name that is deceptively similar to such a name, in any marketing material or solicitation.
SB 340, relating to various changes in the unemployment insurance law.
SB 384, relating to authorizing technical college districts to issue revenue bonds to provide services and facilities to businesses.
SB 428, the TIF (tax incremental financing) trailer bill.
SB 435, relating to appropriations to technical college districts for Wisconsin Advantage Jobs Training Program.
SB 471, relating to brownfield revolving loan programs.
SB 472, relating to making private insurance available to facilitate environmental cleanups.

Governor Bill Action
This week the governor acted on several enrolled bills. Below is a complete list of this week’s bill signings and vetoes; the governor is not expected to take further action on remaining enrolled bills until early April.

Signed Bills:

AB 418, relating to differential pay and accumulation of sick leave and annual leave for certain state employees activated into service in the U.S. armed forces or the U.S. public health service.
AB 409, relating to the duties of county veterans' service officers.
AB 847, relating to the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program
AB 747, relating to eligibility to attend Woodlands School, a charter school located in a 1st class city school district.
AB 417, relating to the retainage of public construction contracts.
SB 287, relating to multiple municipal local health departments in Milwaukee County.
AB 570, relating to removal of a shopping cart and providing a penalty.
AB 642, relating to qualified domestic relations orders.
AB 354, relating to the display of the United States flag by condominium owners.
AB 669, relating to making various changes in the worker's compensation law.
SB 100, relating to administrative rule making regarding small businesses, data used by administrative agencies in preparing proposed rules, increasing attorney fees, creating an Internet site for proposed rules, and creating a Small Business Regulatory Review Board.
AB 757, relating to increasing bonding authority for the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority.
AB 771, relating to directing the governor to annually proclaim February as African American History and Cultural Heritage Month.
SB 223, relating to the reduction and recovery of damages and admissibility of evidence in civil actions related to use or nonuse of protective headgear by operators and passengers of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, and snowmobiles.
AB 403, relating to regulating athlete agents, granting rule-making authority, making an appropriation, and providing penalties.
AB 247, relating to chaperoning pupils on school-sponsored trips.
SB 103, relating to criminal background investigations by the Department of Regulation and Licensing of applicants for certain professional credentials.
AB 843, relating to the issuance of debt by natural gas and electric public utilities to finance certain environmental activities.
SB 344, relating to payment of fixed annuity increases under the Wisconsin Retirement System.
SB 470, relating to the practice of physical therapist assistants.

Vetoed Bills:

AB 595, relating to civil liability exemption for claims resulting from weight gain and obesity.
SB 49, relating to expert opinion evidence.
AB 633, relating to preemption of county, city, village, or town living wage ordinances.

Remaining Spring Legislative Schedule
Although the spring floor period has ended for general business, there are a few dates remaining for particular action by the Legislature, if warranted. They are:

April 15: All enrolled bills not yet acted on will be sent to the governor. (Upon receipt, the Governor has six days to act on a bill before it becomes law automatically.)

April 27 to 29: A ‘limited business’ floorperiod, if necessary.

May 4: All enrolled bills not yet acted on will be sent to the Governor. (Upon receipt, the Governor has six days to act on a bill before it becomes law automatically.)

May 11 to 12: A floorperiod for the purpose of reviewing any gubernatorial vetoes.

May 26: All enrolled bills not yet acted on will be sent to the Governor. (Upon receipt, the Governor has six days to act on a bill before it becomes law automatically.)

Political News

Bill would help towns in land disputes: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 18, 2004.

Bill would let educators demand HIV test: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 18, 2004.

Gov. Doyle rejects minimum wage bill: Wisconsin State Journal, Mar. 17, 2004.

Doyle, lawmakers reflect on session: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 17, 2004.

Johnsrud retiring from state Assembly: La Crosse Tribune, Mar. 17, 2004.

Legislature finishes session: Janesville Gazette, Mar. 17, 2004.

GOP lawmakers want to bail out rural school district: Wisconsin State Journal, Mar. 17, 2004.

Doyle OKs bill giving state more power over voucher schools: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 17, 2004.

Doyle poised for two more vetoes: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 16, 2004.

Rep. Miller seeks Chvala's Senate seat: Madison Capital Times, Mar. 16, 2004.

Law: Lack of helmet won't cut injury awards: Madison Capital Times, Mar. 16, 2004.

New laws wrong answer on lawsuits (opinion): Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Mar. 15, 2004.

Veto bill to block wage hikes (opinion): Madison Capital Times, Mar. 14, 2004.

Senate sends Doyle bill on livestock expansion: Appleton Post-Crescent, Mar. 13, 2004. “Livestock siting is a vital issue to the future of agriculture in Wisconsin,” Doyle spokesman said.

Leaders tout changes at end of session: Manitowoc Herald Times, Mar. 13, 2004.

Time for Doyle's signature (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 13, 2004.

Plover woman named to Natural Resources Board: Stevens Point Journal, Mar. 13, 2004.

Bill allows HMOs to cut rates: Wausau Daily Herald, Mar. 12, 2004.

Upcoming Fundraisers

Thursday, March 18, 2004:

St. Sen. Robert Welch, (R-Redgranite), 5:00 p.m., Eau Claire, WI
St. Rep. Mark Pettis, (R-Hertel), 5:00 p.m., Siren, WI
St. Sen. Robert Wirch, (D-Kenosha), 5:00 p.m., Kenosha, WI

Saturday, March 20, 2004:

President George W. Bush, (R), 5:30 p.m., Ripon, WI

Monday, March 22, 2004:

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, (D-3), 5:30 p.m., LaCrosse, WI

Tuesday, March 23, 2004:

St. Sen. Robert Welch, (R-Redgranite), 5:00 p.m., Washington, D.C.

Thursday, March 25, 2004:

St. Sen. Robert Welch, (R-Redgranite), 5:00 p.m., Plymouth, WI
Tim Michels for U.S. Senate, 3:30 p.m., Appleton, WI

Saturday, March 27, 2004:

St. Sen. Robert Welch, (R-Redgranite), 5:00 p.m. Hayward WI

Sunday, March 28, 2004:

St. Sen. Robert Welch, (R-Redgranite), 5:00 p.m., Berlin, WI
Republican Party of Walworth County, 5:00 p.m., Lake Geneva, WI

Monday, March 29, 2004:

St. Sen. Robert Welch, (R-Redgranite), 8:00 a.m., Oshkosh, WI
St. Sen. Robert Welch, (R-Redgranite), Noon, Adams, WI
St. Sen. Robert Welch, (R-Redgranite), 6:00 p.m., Waukesha, WI
St. Sen. Ted Kanavas, (R-Brookfield), 6:00 p.m., Milwaukee, WI

Tuesday, March 30, 2004:

St. Sen. Robert Welch, (R-Redgranite), 5:00 p.m., Madison, WI

Wednesday, March 31, 2004:

St. Sen. Robert Welch, (R-Redgranite), 8:00 a.m., Sheboygan, WI
St. Sen. Gwendolynne Moore for U.S. Congress, (D-Milwaukee), 5:30 p.m., Milwaukee, WI
St. Sen. Robert Welch, (R-Redgranite), 5:00 p.m., Brookfield, WI