Wisconsin political news for
clients and colleagues.
Previous issues of
Political Tidbits can be found at Tidbits Archive.
Click here to begin your free subscription.
June 17, 2008
Unless you have been living in a cave for the past year and one-half, you
are well aware that our country will be electing the 44th
President of the United States in November of this year. We are certain that
the presumptive nominees - John McCain and Barack Obama - and their
respective supporters - will keep reminding us of the upcoming Presidential
election over the course of the next five months.
2008 also marks another important election year in Wisconsin with
particular focus on the balance of power in the State Legislature where the
Democrats currently control the State Senate 17 to 15 with one vacancy and
the Republicans control the State Assembly by a 52-47 margin.
This issue of Tidbits
offers a preview of positions to be
filled in Wisconsin and key election-related dates. Future issues will
include complete listing of candidates and will focus on hotly contested
races and key campaign issues.
Wisconsin
Politics
Wisconsin State Legislature
All 99 seats in the State Assembly will be filled by
election this fall as they are every two years. As noted above,
the Republicans currently have a 52 to 47 majority in the
Assembly. The Republican majority has, however, decreased in
recent elections and a fierce battle for control of the Assembly
is anticipated.
In the Senate, 16 of the 33 seats will be contested this year. Senators in
Wisconsin serve staggered four-year terms with the even-numbered districts
up this year. The Republicans were in the majority as recently as the
2005-06 session and will seek to regain control in what is viewed, however,
as an uphill battle. The current vacant seat was considered fairly safe for
the Democrats with incumbent Roger Breske (before his appointment as
Railroad Commissioner), but is now considered very competitive.
No Statewide Elections in Wisconsin in 2008
Voters in Wisconsin will not be electing a Governor, Attorney
General, Secretary of State or State Treasurer. These offices hold elections
every four years for four-year terms in non-Presidential election
even-numbered years.
The only other non-judicial constitutional officer, the State Superintendent
of Public Instruction, is a non-partisan office that is elected every four
years in an odd numbered year (the last being 2005) in the Spring election.
Neither U.S. Senate seat is on the ballot since the seats held by senators
Feingold and Kohl are up in 2010 and 2012 respectively. Roughly one-third of
the 100 members of the U.S. Senate are elected every two years to staggered
six-year terms.
Wisconsin’s U. S. House Delegation
All eight of Wisconsin’s U.S. House of Representatives Districts, like
all other seats in the 435 member body, are up for election in 2008, as is
the case every two years. All incumbents - Ryan (R-1st), Tammy
Baldwin (D-2nd), Ron Kind (D-3rd), Gwen Moore (D-4th),
Jim Sensenbrenner (R-5th), Tom Petri (R-6th), Dave
Obey (D-7th) and Steve Kagen (D-8th) are expected, or
have announced their intentions, to seek re-election.
Early indications are that the 8th District race is likely to be
the most competitive.
Key Dates
-
Nomination Papers are circulated between
June 1, 2008 and July 8, 2008.
-
The partisan Primary Election - where there
is more than one candidate in either or both parties - will be held on
Sept. 9, 2008.
-
The general election is Nov. 4, 2008, which
coincides with the presidential election and the election of members of
the U. S. House of Representatives and the U. S. Senate across the
country.
Incumbent Members of the Wisconsin Legislature Not Seeking Re-election
The following members of the State Legislature have announced that they
will not be seeking re-election this fall. We salute and thank all of these
members for their service and dedication to the people of the State of
Wisconsin. It is not an easy job!
Assembly: 11 incumbents are leaving the Assembly - six Republicans,
five Democrats. The retiring members are listed by name, party affiliation,
community and the year in which he/she was first elected.
-
Dave Travis, D-Waunakee (1978)
-
Barbara Gronemus, D-Whitehall (1982)
-
Terry Musser, R-Black River Falls (1984)
-
Frank Boyle, D-Superior (1986)
-
Gene Hahn, R-Cambria (1990)
-
Sheryl Albers, R-Reedsburg (1991)
-
Carol Owens, R-Oshkosh
(1992)
-
Jim Kreuser, D-Kenosha
(1993)
-
Sheldon Wasserman,
D-Milwaukee (1994)
-
Suzanne Jeskewitz, R-Menomonee Falls (1996)
-
Steve Wieckert, R-Appleton (1996)
(Wasserman
is running for the State Senate’s 8th District seat; Kreuser is leaving to
become Kenosha County Executive.)
Senate: Two incumbents are leaving the Senate - one Democrat and one
Republican.
-
Carol Roessler, R-Oshkosh (Elected to State
Assembly in 1982 and State Senate in 1987)
-
Roger Breske, D-Eland (1990)
(Breske was recently appointed Commissioner of Railroads.)
Policy Developments
Co-chairs of
Global Warming Task Force Present Proposals
On June 10, the
Co-Chairs of Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming presented
their proposal on issues that to date had no consensus from Task
Force members. This “strawman proposal” addresses the following
issues:
Cap and Trade. For the first 10
years, 90 percent of emission allowances should be allocated to covered
entities, not auctioned. They should not be free. Instead, a $2 per
allowance fee should be imposed.
California Cars.
Support opting into the California vehicle standards that are more
aggressive than current federal CAFE standards.
Low-Carbon Fuels Standard.
Develop a declining GHG emissions profile measured in CO2-equivalent
gram per unit of fuel energy (BTUs). The standard will be measured on a
life-cycle basis to include all emissions from fuel consumption and
production, including upstream emissions.
Early Action to Reduce Emissions.
Utilities file greenhouse gas emissions inventories, plan for voluntary
reductions with costs and impacts, and identification and analysis of
other measures that could be taken. The PSC reviews voluntary actions
and goals and utilities publicly report on progress.
Enhanced Renewable Portfolio Standard Revisions.
10 percent by 2013, 20 percent by 2020 and 25 percent by 2025; No
expiration of renewable energy credits; Expansion of what qualifies; 6
percent of the 20 percent by 2020 must come from Wisconsin-based
renewable; 10 percent of the 25 percent by 2025 must be
Wisconsin-sourced, including Great Lakes wind.
Long-Term Generation Options.
In addition to carbon capture and sequestration study, Wisconsin’s
nuclear moratorium would be modified once enhanced energy efficiency and
renewable policies are in place.
In addition to the more contentious issues which the Strawman proposes to
resolve, the Task Force has developed other policy ideas that can be found
on the
Policy Templates page and in the interim report,
A Wisconsin Strategy for Reducing Global Warming [PDF 4.8MB].
After the Co-chairs have
reviewed all comments, the Task Force will meet on June 26 to vote on a
revised Co-chairs’ proposal and then issue a Final Report in July.
Co-chair's Joint Statement [PDF 14KB]
Highlights of Strawman Proposal [PDF 20KB]
Comprehensive Strawman Proposal [PDF 86KB]
Political News
Miller making second run for assembly: Tomah Journal, June 16, 2008.
He has decided to run again in 2008 after a loss to 92nd District
Representative Terry Musser in 2006.
Corn drowns
just as global demand soars: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 16,
2008. Flooding sinks farmers’ efforts to fill food, fuel needs.
State overtime audit is troubling (opinion): Eau Claire Leader-Telegram,
June 15, 2008. Supervisors and lawmakers need to clamp down on what a
reasonable person would consider cases of excessive overtime.
Cost for proposed coal plant up 50 percent from 1st estimate:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 15, 2008. Alliant said if its Cassville
plant is approved, it will implement at least $500 million worth of
efforts to cut greenhouse-gas emissions at its current plants.
Gas stations with old-time pumps are being forced to upgrade: Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, June 15, 2008. Are difficult and expensive to upgrade.
Democrats fired up: Stevens Point Journal, June 14, 2008. Doyle,
state congressional leaders rally party delegates.
Energy savvy
up, says Johnson Controls exec: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 12,
2008. Company holds forum in Washington.
Upcoming Fundraisers
June 18
June 22
-
U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D), Milwaukee
-
U.S. Rep. Tom Petri (R), Ripon
June 23
-
Rep. Tom Nelson (D-Kaukauna), Town of Freedom
-
Lou Ann Weix (D) 90th AD candidate, Middleton
-
Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon), Middleton
-
U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R), Milwaukee
June 24
June 25
-
Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon), Middleton
-
Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), Madison
-
Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), Madison
For
details, go to
Hamilton Consulting Fundraiser Calendar.
| 
