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Mar. 29, 2007
As we near
the close of the highly contested Wisconsin Supreme Court race, readers are
urged to vote on Tuesday, April 3, in the Spring Election. This extremely
important race, featuring Washington County Judge Annette Ziegler and
Madison Attorney Linda Clifford, will result in a winner who will serve a
10-year term on the state’s highest court.
See
Hamilton Consulting Group’s Update for biographies on the candidates and
links to their campaign websites.
Policy Developments
Bill Would Repeal Tax Loophole
Recently announced bi-partisan legislation is aimed at reversing
the effects of a 2004 decision by the Tax Appeals Commission
commonly referred to as the Newark decision.
In that
decision, a state Tax Appeals Commission and circuit court ruling granted a
property tax exemption to the entire manufacturing facility of a company
that made cardboard from waste paper.
Under this bill, all property purchased or constructed as a waste treatment
facility and used exclusively and directly to remove, store, or cause a
physical or chemical change in industrial waste or air contaminants is
exempt from property taxes.
Fund Transfer Not Advised
The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB), in a recently released an
audit [
Highlights;
Full report] of the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund (IPFCF),
advised the Legislature against transferring $175 million from the fund as
proposed by Gov. Jim Doyle.
The Fund,
which is administered by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance,
insures participating physicians and other health care providers in
Wisconsin against medical malpractice claims that exceed the coverage limits
of their primary malpractice insurance.
Recent court
decisions and legislative action changed limits on noneconomic damages the
Fund may be required to pay. This has resulted in uncertainty, and coupled
with the long-term nature of medical malpractice claims, make it difficult
to predict the size and timing of claims that will be settled and paid from
the Fund.
Property Tax
Effects Summarized by LFB
According to a recently released report by the non-partisan Legislative
Fiscal Bureau, under provisions in the Governor's 2007-09 biennial budget
bill (SB 40) gross property tax levies would increase on a statewide basis
by an estimated 4.7 percent in 2007-08 and 5.0percent in 2008-09. Increases
in net levies of 5.3 percent in 2007-08 and 4.2 percent in 2008-09 are
estimated.
Senate Bill
40 would extend and modify the prior biennial budget's levy limits on
counties and municipalities, modify school district revenue limits, and
provide increased funding for local assistance to counties, municipalities,
and school districts.
The report
summarizes the provisions in the bill that relate to fiscal controls and
provides information on their fiscal effect. Over the next several months
the Legislature will work on the budget before passing it back to the
Governor for his signature.
LFB memo regarding property taxes.
DOT Requests Federal Appropriations
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) recently submitted over
$300 million in 2008 federal fiscal year appropriations requests to
Wisconsin’s U.S. House delegation. The entire U.S. House of Representatives
is expected to finalize 2008 appropriations requests in May or June with the
U.S. Senate to follow.
The requests provide guidance to the state’s Congressional delegation for
budgetary earmarks to help complete a variety of transportation-related
projects and initiatives. Last year, WisDOT requested over $280 million in
funding for transportation projects; however, no requests were funded in the
2007 appropriations process.
WisDOT requested over $300 million for projects and received a total of
$53.4 million in 2006.
Committee
Hearings
Assembly Committees held several hearings on Tuesday, March 27. The
Committee on Energy and Utilities held a joint hearing with the Senate
Committee on Commerce, Utilities and Rail on
SB 107 and its companion
AB 207, which would eliminate municipal cable franchises and shift the
approval process to the state.
The Assembly
Committee on Urban and Local Affairs held an informational briefing
and hearing on the Shared Revenue program, at which only invited testimony
was taken. This was followed by a public hearing on
AB 136, relating to allowing schools and local governmental units to
claim refunds of the motor vehicle fuel tax and alternate fuels tax and
making an appropriation.
The Assembly
Committee on Public Health held a public hearing Wednesday, March 28,
on
AB 85, relating to the birth defect prevention and surveillance system.
Also on
Wednesday, the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources held a public
hearing on Clearinghouse Rule 06-104, relating to the establishment of
provisions for major electric generating units in Wisconsin to comply with
the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) promulgated by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
On Thursday,
Mar. 29, the Assembly Committee on Tourism, Recreation and State
Properties will hold a hearing on
AB 45 to require children under age 12 to wear life jackets while in
boats.
Donnelly
Named Employment Relations Director
Gov. Jim Doyle recently appointed Jennifer Donnelly as Director of the
Office of State Employment Relations. Donnelly replaces Karen Timberlake,
who is now the Executive Assistant at the Department of Health and Family
Services.
Donnelly,
currently Division Administrator for Administrative Services at the
Department of Administration, oversees the Department’s personnel, financial
management and performance management activities. In January 2006, she
returned to state service after 16 years in healthcare management in the
private sector. Her previous government experience includes serving as
Executive Assistant in the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social
Services and as Chief of Staff to Senate Majority Leader Tim Cullen of
Janesville.
Federal Developments
Wisconsin SeniorCare Subject of Hearing
U.S. Senator Herb Kohl, chair of the Senate Special Committee on
Aging, held a hearing to urge the preservation of SeniorCare, a
Wisconsin program that provides low-income seniors with
affordable drug coverage.
The purpose
of the hearing was to make the case for allowing SeniorCare to continue
operating in Wisconsin, instead of replacing it with Medicare Part D, the
federal government's prescription drug program. Currently, SeniorCare is set
to end on June 30, 2007 if the Bush Administration does not grant a waiver
allowing the program to continue.
Governor
Doyle was on hand to provide testimony supporting preservation of the
program.
Political News
Record
amount raised in court race: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 26,
2007.
Well-paid judges can sacrifice to avoid conflicts of interest (opinion):
Tomah Journal, Mar. 27, 2007.
State must close tax loophole (opinion): Oshkosh Northwestern, Mar.
26, 2007.
Fight fund transfer in state budget plan (opinion): Sheboygan Press,
Mar. 26, 2007.
Clifford for Wisconsin Supreme Court (opinion): La Crosse Tribune,
Mar. 2, 2007.
High court
race nastier than usual: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 25, 2007.
Annette Ziegler: 'She was always just a real go-getter': Wisconsin
State Journal, Mar. 25, 2007.
Linda Clifford: It's 'because she makes the most sense': Wisconsin
State Journal, Mar. 25, 2007.
Assembly, Senate leadership at odds on budget priorities: Green Bay
Press-Gazette, Mar. 25, 2007.
Budget is the real ‘March Madness’ (opinion): La Crosse Tribune,
Mar. 25, 2007.
Drawing
Wisconsin's lines (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 24,
2007.
Analysis predicts 3.4% boost in taxes under Doyle proposal: Oshkosh
Northwestern, Mar. 25, 2007.
Parties hold fast to sticking points in state budget: Green Bay
Press-Gazette, Mar. 23, 2007.
Bill would
alter property tax exemption: Janesville Gazette, Mar. 23, 2007.
Audit
questions Doyle's plan to transfer from malpractice fund: Janesville
Gazette, Mar. 23, 2007.
Roessler opposes health fund transfer: Oshkosh Northwestern, Mar.
23, 2007.
Only feds see logic in this choice (opinion): Wausau Daily Herald,
Mar. 19, 2007.
No Plan B
ready if SeniorCare ends: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar. 16, 2007.
Upcoming Fundraisers
March 29
-
Sen. Mary
Lazich (R-New Berlin, Milwaukee
-
Mark
Honadel (R-South Milwaukee), South Milwaukee
April 9
April 12
For
details, go to
Hamilton Consulting Fundraiser Calendar.
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