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April 19, 2007
The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC) has concluded its travels
around the state in receiving testimony from the “public” on the proposed
2007-09 state budget. Leaders of the two houses—from different parties—are
in the process of attempting to work out the process and logistics for
shaping its version of the proposed budget that will ultimately be presented
to the full Legislature for action. With the Republicans controlling the
Assembly and the Democrats in control of the Senate, many are predicting a
very long and tedious 2007 budget session as the Legislature grapples with
many controversial issues and approaches.
Both houses met Tuesday and are expected to be in session one day next
week. The primary focus over the near future will, however, be on the budget
and Joint Finance will take priority over other legislative activities.
Policy Developments
State Budget Hearings Have Concluded; Committee to Begin Voting Soon
The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) has concluded public
hearings on the budget, having taken public testimony on hearings throughout
the state. The committee co-chairs, Sens. Russ Decker (D-Schofield) and
Kitty Rhoades (R-Hudson), have been conferring to schedule meetings and
agenda for the committee as it attempts to craft its version of the proposed
State Budget before referring the document for final action by the full
Legislature.
With the Republicans in the majority in the Assembly and the Democrats in
charge of the Senate, JFC, with eight members from each house, is also
comprised of eight members from each party. Part of the negotiation prior to
agreeing on the schedule and agenda is to agree on which areas of the budget
proposal will start from the Governor’s proposal (requiring nine votes to
remove an item), and which areas will be treated as starting from base
(requiring nine votes to include an item).
The
Legislature Has Returned for Floor Periods on April 17 and April 24
The Assembly passed a proposed constitutional amendment (on second
consideration) that would require voters to present photo ID at the polls on
a 54-43 vote, with Dem Reps. Peggy Krusick of Milwaukee, Andy Jorgensen of
Ft. Atkinson, and Ann Hraychuck of Balsam Lake voting with Republicans
members.
Governor
Doyle vetoed legislation adopted by the Republican controlled legislature in
each of the last two sessions. While the Governor’s action is not required
on a proposed constitutional amendment, it is questionable if the Senate,
which is now under Democrat control, will support the proposed amendment. If
the Senate were to pass the proposed amendment, without change, the measure
would be presented to the electorate to determine if the constitution should
be amended.
Meanwhile,
the state Senate adjourned yesterday day while a motion was pending to pull
legislation out of committee that would end future sick leave benefits for
elected public officials. In other action, the Senate unanimously approved
all 24 appointments on the agenda including former DOA Secretary Marc
Marotta as a member of the Bradley Center Sports and Entertainment
Corporation and the re-appointments of Corrections Secretary Frank and DFI
Secretary Keating Heinemann.
Both houses
currently plan to meet again next Tuesday, April 24.
Legislative Audit Bureau Recommends Oversight for State IT Projects.
The Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB), in a report released this week,
recommends that the state create standards for planning large, high-risk IT
projects. The report was requested by legislators following a string of
stories on IT projects that were abandoned, over budget or delayed. It says
most problems occur in the planning for complex, high-risk projects.
It tallied
184 IT projects from the fiscal years 2004-06 and beginning of 2007 that
will cost an expected $291.7 million.
The Lab also
recommended that the state receive regular reports from the largely
independent University of Wisconsin System on its projects. The LAB also
says the Legislature should consider reactivating the Joint Committee on
Information Policy and Technology along with the IT Management Board.
The LAB also
found that the Department of Administration, which has large oversight over
executive branch projects, has focused "on its own troubled e-mail and
server consolidation projects."
See the
report's highlights:
http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lab/reports/07-5highlights.htm
See the
report:
http://www.legis.wisconsin.gov/lab/reports/07-5full.pdf
State-Local Tax Burden at a Record High
Wisconsin taxpayers shoulder state-local tax burdens at 12.3 percent of
income, according to a recent
report prepared by the Tax Foundation. Overall, state and local tax
burdens will fully consume 11 percent of the nation's income in 2007 - a new
record. The previous high occurred in 2005 at 10.9 percent.
According to the report, this estimate of state-local tax burdens at an
all-time high comes at a time when personal and corporate incomes have risen
for almost four consecutive years.
Extension
Requested for SeniorCare
The state has formally requested an extension to use federal funds for the
SeniorCare program through Dec. 31 as the state looks for a replacement that
"uses Medicare Part D as the primary provider of prescription drug coverage"
to Wisconsin seniors.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last week formally denied
the state's request for an extension of a waiver that allows Wisconsin to
use federal money to help fund the program. The denial by DHSS was based on
the state did not provide information needed to fully evaluate the program
and, therefore, did not meet required cost saving measures.
In denying the request, the agency offered to extend the program through the
end of this year as Wisconsin seniors transition to the federal prescription
drug program.
Governor
Doyle Formally Requests Six Month Extension of SeniorCare,
April 10, 2007
Letter
requesting extension: Kevin Hayden, secretary of the state
Department of Health and Family Services.
Senate
Committee to Hear Testimony
The Senate Committee on Public Health, Senior Issues, Long Term Care and
Privacy, will hold an information hearing on April 18 for invited speakers
only.
Testimony will be taken relating to current Wisconsin programs affecting
seniors, including SeniorCare, Wisconsin’s Elderly Benefit Specialist/Legal
Assistance Program; and, Wisconsin’s Volunteer Ombudsman Program.
Gov.
Doyle Announces Energy Policy
Gov. Doyle
recently announced new initiatives that are part of the his plan to
achieve the goal of “25 by 25” – getting 25 percent of our electricity and
25 percent of our transportation fuels from renewable sources by 2025.
Office of
Energy Independence
Gov. Doyle signed an
Executive Order creating the new Office of Energy Independence to
advance the Governor’s vision on energy policy and promote the state’s
bioindustry. The office will serve as a single-point of contact for
citizens, businesses, local units of government and non-governmental
organizations pursuing bio development, energy efficiency and energy
independence. The office will also identify federal funding opportunities
and serve as the State Energy Office, working to maintain federal
designation and funding.
Task
Force on Global Warming
Governor Doyle signed an
Executive Order creating a Task Force on Global Warming that will bring
together a prominent and diverse group of key Wisconsin business, industry,
government, energy and environment leaders to examine the effects of, and
solutions to, global warming in Wisconsin.
Credit-Trading System
To keep the cost of renewable energy down and to encourage more development
across the Midwest, the PSC is launching a market driven regional effort
with Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota and the province of
Manitoba to track and trade renewable energy credits. The Midwest Renewable
Energy Tracking System will help support and stimulate a trading market to
help these regional partners meet their renewable energy standards.
Jan Alf
Appointed Interim Director of Forward Wisconsin
On July 9th, Jan Alf will celebrate her 20th year with Forward Wisconsin,
meaning that she has been with the organization for all but two years of its
existence. Last week the Forward Board asked Jan to take over the reins of
the organization as its Interim Director.
Among other activities, Jan has served as President of the Wisconsin
Economic Development Association (WEDA) and has chaired or co-chaired the
Governor’s Conference on Economic Development since 1997.
Craig Thompson to Head Transportation Development Association
Wisconsin Counties Association legislative director Craig Thompson has been
selected to become the Executive Director of the Transportation Development
Association (TDA).
Thompson has been with the Counties Association for almost 16 years and will
be leaving to work at TDA on April 30. Thompson will replace Bob Cook, who
left the group late last year to become vice president of governmental
affairs for the engineering firm HNTB.
Commerce
Appointments
Aaron Olver and Chandra Miller Fienen have been appointed Deputy Secretary
and Executive Assistant at the Department of Commerce.
Prior to his appointment as Deputy Secretary, Olver was Senior Advisor to
Gov. Jim Doyle. Olver served as the Executive Assistant for the Department
of Commerce from 2003 to 2006. Before joining the Doyle administration,
Olver was management consultant with McKinsey and Company in Chicago, where
his practice focused on business development and growth strategy.
Olver earned a BA in Economics at UW-Madison, and completed graduate study
in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University, Oxford, UK,
where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
Miller Fienen comes to Commerce via a San Francisco law firm where she
practiced civil litigation. A Wisconsin native, Miller Fienen graduated
Macalester College, St. Paul, Minnesota and earned her J.D. from the
University of California School of Law.
Wisconsin
Politics
Former Chief Justice Nathan
Heffernan Passed Away on Friday, April 13
In 1964, former Governor John Reynolds appointed 43 year old
Nat Heffernan to the Wisconsin Supreme Court where he served
until his retirement in 1995.
At the time of his appointment to the Supreme Court, Heffernan was serving
as U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, a position to which
he was appointed to by President john F. Kennedy in 1962. Justice Heffernan
had also served as deputy Attorney General for three years after a stint in
private practice in Sheboygan where he also served as City Attorney.
Heffernan, 86, was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and the UW Law
School. He was the Chief Justice of the state’s highest court from 1983
until his retirement in 1995.
Criminal Defense Lawyers Support Jensen’s Request for a New Trial
The Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers has filed an
amicus brief on behalf of former Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen, who is
asking for a new trial based on a violation of due process. The
request is part of Jensen’s appeal relating to his conviction on
misconduct in office.
The brief contends that Jensen wasn't permitted to present a complete
defense because the court barred him from raising evidence that others had
engaged in conduct similar to what Jensen was accused of doing.
"The evidence he sought to admit was relevant and exculpatory, tending to
negate the element of specific intent to obtain a dishonest advantage,"
wrote Kathleen Quinn, a member of the Association’s board of directors.
Political News
Business must step up to share tax burden (opinion): Racine Journal
Times, Apr. 16, 2007.
Tourism chief wants to bolster state brand: Manitowoc Herald Times,
Apr. 15, 2007.
Biotech Seeks to Ease Reliance on Corn: Janesville Gazette, Apr. 15,
2007.
Edwards Proposes Greenhouse Gas Plan: Janesville Gazette, Apr. 15,
2007.
Pollution 'wake-up call' tells state to shape up: Madison Capital Times,
Apr. 15, 2007.
Finance panel gets an earful from northern Wisconsin residents:
Ashland Daily Press, Apr. 12, 2007.
Tax on Big Oil
fuels problems on many levels (opinion): Janesville Gazette, Apr. 12,
2007.
Supreme Court decision tells EPA to do its job (opinion): Appleton
Post-Crescent, Apr. 11, 2007.
Jauch proposes ban on sale of mercury products: Ashland Daily Press,
Apr. 11, 2007.
State asks to
keep SeniorCare drug program through end of year: Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Apr. 10, 2007.
Study: Price
gouging bill harmful to nation: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Apr. 10,
2007.
Corn prices are rising,
but so are expenses, risk for farmers: Janesville Gazette, Apr. 9, 2007.
DeForest plant begins producing biodiesel: Wisconsin State Journal, Apr.
9, 2007.
Task force
will look at greenhouse gas emissions in state: Janesville Gazette, Apr.
6, 2007.
Doyle highlights energy, global warming efforts: La Crosse Tribune, Apr.
6, 2007.
Doyle touts biofuels, renewables: Madison Capital Times, Apr. 5, 2007.
Proposal would
increase minimum wage each year: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Apr. 5,
2007.
Upcoming Fundraisers
April 18, 2007
April 19
April 30
For
details, go to
Hamilton Consulting Fundraiser Calendar.
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