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May 9, 2005

Since the last Tidbits, Governor Doyle signed the TIF Trailer bill, which had been anxiously awaited by many communities throughout the state, and vetoed school choice and voter ID bills forwarded to him by the Republican controlled Legislature. The Senate passed a bill related to changes in the product liability law in Wisconsin aimed, in part, at improving our “litigation atmosphere” ranking (from the National Chamber of Commerce) which slipped from 10th to 17th between 2004 and 2005.

(Please see the Products Liability Update on the Hamilton Consulting Group website for further information on the proposal.)

Joint Finance moved some items forward and has scheduled numerous budget issues for consideration this week.

In Sheboygan, the State Republican Party held its Annual Convention, and a straw poll offered delegates an opportunity to begin expressing preferences for candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, AG and even President. (See story below under Wisconsin Politics.)

Policy Developments

TIF Trailer Bill Becomes Law
On Monday, May 2, Governor Doyle signed into law SB-83 as 2003 Wis. Act. 6. This Act clarifies legislative intent from the landmark TIF legislation that was adopted last session. Numerous communities throughout the state have been awaiting enactment of this proposal, with the appropriate clarifications, in order to take advantage of the TIF changes adopted last session. Specifically, Act 6:

• Allows all TIDs to make expenditures for project costs up to five years before the TID’s mandatory termination date.

• Allows municipalities to take advantage of the longer expenditure period without the need to amend the project plan.

• Eliminates the “vacant land test” for the new “mixed use districts” as was done for “industrial use districts” and intended to be accomplished for both.

• Clarifies DOR’s authority where there is non-compliance with the conditions specified for mixed use districts.

• Eliminates the applicability of the 12 percent test for project plan amendments unless they are for addition of territory to ensure the ability to subtract authority, which was authorized under the new law from last session.

• Clarifies that a boundary amendment done at one time that simultaneously adds and subtracts territory will be considered as one boundary amendment counting toward the maximum limit of four allowed.

• Clarifies an issue relating to valuation on subtraction on city owned property. 

The new law, Act 6, will be published on May 16 and will go into effect on May 17 of this year.

Product Liability Bill Passes Senate
On an 18 to 14 vote, the State Senate last Tuesday passed SB 58 relating to changes in Wisconsin’s product liability law. Called “common sense” reform legislation by the Senate’s chief author, Senator Ted Kanavas, the bill has the strong support of large and small businesses and the defense trial bar. Plaintiff lawyers are its primary opponents. The bill now heads to the Assembly, where its companion bill, AB 101, authored by Assembly Majority Leader Mike Huebsch, has already been recommended for passage by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

[Please see Senator Kanavas’ press release and the Update on the Hamilton Consulting Group website for further information on the proposal.]

Senate & Assembly to Meet on May 10
Both Houses have scheduled floor calendars for Tuesday, May 10 and are not expected to meet again until May 31, allowing Joint Finance more time to work on the budget.

Joint Finance in Session Last Week & This Week
The Joint Committee on Finance met in Executive Session on Thursday, May 5 and addressed a number of issues from several state agencies, including the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Affairs (DATCP). Action included reduced Apprenticeship Program funding and positions, Rural Business Enterprise loans, consumer protection responsibilities and the Bio-Industry grant program. Not surprisingly, the Committee rejected the Governor’s proposal to transfer consumer protection responsibilities from DATCP to Justice. The Committee also rejected the Governor’s $2 million GPR Bio-Industry grant initiative and instead provided $1 million in one-time money in FY 2006 as a transfer from the agrichemical management segregated fund.

Joint finance is scheduled to meet Wednesday and Thursday, May 11 and 12. (See JFC Agenda.)

Governor Doyle Signs New Utility Construction Financing Bill
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) commended Governor Doyle for signing Senate Bill 79, a proposal to provide another financing option for the construction of power plants in Wisconsin.

The new construction financing option is one of the ideas that came out of the PSC’s Strategic Energy Assessment process. The financing approach in Senate Bill 79 is intended to result in lower cost financing with financial certainty to investors.

Governor Doyle Vetoes School Choice and Voter ID Bills
Saying that he would be willing to support a proposal to lift the Choice cap as long as it also addresses the needs of Milwaukee children who attend public schools, Gov. Doyle on April 29 vetoed AB 3 in its entirety.

Governor Doyle also vetoed Assembly Bill 63, the Voter ID Bill, citing concerns by seniors’ groups that the legislation could disenfranchise about 100,000 senior citizens who don’t have driver’s licenses or photo identification. Assembly Republicans attempted to override his veto, and failing that, introduced a Constitutional Amendment to provide for identification. The proposed constitutional amendment was referred to the committee that oversees campaigns and elections. Committee chair, Rep. Stephen Freese, R-Dodgeville, said he hopes that the proposal will move through the Assembly in the very near future.

[A proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive Legislatures and ratification by the people before it can become effective.]

“Click It or Ticket” Aimed at Boosting Seat Belt Use in Rural Wisconsin
To save lives and prevent serious injuries on rural roads, the Wisconsin State Patrol's Bureau of Transportation Safety, in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and local law enforcement agencies, will launch the "Click It or Ticket" safety belt mobilization during the month of May.

Wisconsin Politics

Green Wins Straw Poll at GOP Convention
In a WisPolitics straw poll, conducted in conjunction with the State Republican convention this past weekend, U.S. Representative Mark Green was favored by 57.4 percent of those casting votes to be the GOP candidate for Governor in 2006. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, the other announced candidate, received 42 percent of the vote, with scattered write-ins. Approximately 50 percent of the delegates and alternates present chose to vote in the straw poll.

In other straw poll voting:

• State Representative Jean Hundertmark, the only announced candidate, received 73 percent of the votes cast to 24 percent for State Senator Sheila Harsdorf for Lieutenant Governor.

• J.B. Van Hollen was favored by 84 percent to 15 percent for Paul Bucher for Attorney General

• Secretary of State Condi Rice received the highest percentage (35%) among seven listed candidates in an early look at the 2008 Republican Presidential picture. The next closest was Rudy Giuliani at 24 percent. 

Wisconsin Women in Government Holds Successful Scholarship Dinner
More than 2,000 people, Republicans and Democrats, turned out to hear Sen. Hillary Clinton speak at the annual fund-raising dinner held by Wisconsin Women in Government. Speaking to the sold-out crowd on the progress women have made, Clinton praised Wisconsin as a state that led the way for women's suffrage, ratified here in 1919. She noted that in 1921 a Wisconsin women's rights bill "made Wisconsin the first state in the union to guarantee full and equal women's rights." Observers were pleased that Senator Clinton stuck to the women’s progress theme and did not deliver an overtly political speech.

Wisconsin Women in Government is a non-partisan organization that uses money raised from the dinner to fund scholarships for women interested in pursuing a career in government.

Federal Developments

Asbestos Legislation
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and ranking minority member Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), have put a bi-partisan face on national asbestos legislation that has been a prominent issue in Congress for several years. The bill is supported by the National Association of Manufacturers, but labor is split and some insurance groups believe that the bill comes up short of their threshold for support. Additional negotiation is possible. Senator Feingold is believed to be opposed and Senator Kohl on the fence. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on the bill within the next two weeks.

Please see Talking Points prepared by the Asbestos Coalition.

Political News

Medicaid helping schools trim funding shortages: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 9, 2005.

Doyle, GOP rushing toward another crash: La Crosse Tribune, May 9, 2005.

Republicans get early start reving up 2006 campaigns: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 8, 2005.

Congress, more than Gov. Doyle, owes explanation on prescription drugs (opinion): Tomah Journal, May 8, 2005.

GOP hopefuls for governor court activists: Appleton Post-Crescent, May 8, 2005.

State Workers Say Gov, Pols Interfere: Madison Capital Times, May 4, 2005.

State budget weighs on area officials: Manitowoc Herald Times, May 5, 2005.

GOP descends on Blue Harbor: Sheboygan Press, May 5, 2005.

Leave voter ID out of state constitution (opinion): Appleton Post-Crescent, May 5, 2005.

Tighten reins on legislators at budget time (opinion): Marshfield news Herald, May 5, 2005.

Immigrants decry license bill: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 5, 2005.

Senate favors liability changes: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 4, 2005.

Automakers hoping for diesel car comeback: Marshfield News Herald, May 4, 2005.

Senate Shields Retailers From Liability Suits: Madison Capital Times, May 4, 2005.

State wants to control wage level: Appleton Post-Crescent, May 4, 2005.

GOP shifts its voter ID strategy: Appleton Post-Crescent, May 4, 2005.

Bill Calls For State To Dig Deeper On Hirings: Wisconsin State Journal, May 4, 2005.

Women's Caucus Meets `to Forge Shared Agenda': Madison Capital Times, May 4, 2005.

Kohl urges prescription drug imports: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 4, 2005.

Advocates defend morning-after pill: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 3, 2005.

Transportation secretary touts safety as #1 goal: Lakeland Times, May 3, 2005.

Green criticizes Doyle in Onalaska: La Crosse Tribune, May 3, 2005.

Assembly fails to override Doyle's veto of photo ID bill: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 3, 2005.

Assembly OKs bill to block cities from raising minimum wage: Racine Journal Times, May 3, 2005.

Study: State bicycle industry's impact more than $750 million: La Crosse Tribune, May 3, 2005.

Annexations bring jobs, economic boost: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 3, 2005.

Voter ID bill need not have disenfranchised anyone (opinion): La Crosse Tribune, May 2, 2005.

Political winds rattle W-2: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 2, 2005.

Scrutinizing Net sales tax: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 2, 2005.

Some auto parts suppliers getting a bumpy ride: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 2, 2005.

Wisconsin Women = Prosperity economic forum set for May 26: Manitowoc Herald Times, May 1, 2005.

Bank Execs Predict Solid Year: Wisconsin State Journal, May 1, 2005.

Doyle griping won’t bring state needed voter ID reform (opinion): Oshkosh Northwestern, May 1, 2005.

Meth battle may put cold medicines out of reach: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, May 1, 2005.

With expected Green entry, governor race heats up: Green Bay Press-Gazette, May 1, 2005.

Clinton brings 'rock star atmosphere' to Madison: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Apr. 30, 2005.

Wisconsin a business standout, ranking says: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Apr. 30, 2005.

Doyle vetoes school choice, voter ID bills: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Apr. 30, 2005.

Upcoming Fundraisers

Monday, May 9

• U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, Neenah

Friday, May 13

• Rep. Sheryl Albers (R-Reedsburg), New Lisbon