Hough, Fassbender, Osborne & Associates of Madison, Wisconsin

Wisconsin political news for clients and colleagues.

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July 3, 2003

It has been one week since the legislature adjourned for the summer (save the extraordinary sessions held this week to address AB 88, below, and one other bill, SB-77. relating to promissory notes issued by the City of Milwaukee to Milwaukee Public Schools under the Wisconsin Retirement Fund), following a lengthy and invigorating budget process. We hope that Tidbits subscribers, like us, have enjoyed the relative quiet of the past week and have taken the opportunity to catch up on work to prepare for a festive and restful holiday weekend.

Wisconsin Politics

Doyle Announces Homeland Security Website
On July 1 Gov. Doyle and Wisconsin’s Homeland Security Advisor Major General Al Wilkening announced the launching of a new state homeland security website. The site is intended to keep Wisconsin families informed as to issues of national and state security, and also will provide links to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the American Red Cross. The site can be accessed at http://emergencymanagement.wi.gov/html/homeland_security.

Policy Developments

Governor Continues to Scrutinize Budget
Gov. Jim Doyle and his policy and budget advisors continue to analyze their options before the Governor signs the 2003-05 biennial budget. He will not veto the entire package but is expected to make liberal use of his extensive item veto powers. The issue which gains the most attention and speculation regarding what the Governor will do relates to the “property tax freeze” adopted by the Legislature. The Governor is expected to sign the bill by mid-July, but could do so as early as the middle of next week. We will report the Governor’s actions as soon as the signing and veto message are released.

0.08 Blood Alcohol Content (Drunk Driving) Law Adopted by Legislature
In an extraordinary session this week, the Senate (Tuesday) adopted engrossed bill AB 88 with one amendment, lowering the legal blood alcohol concentration for a motor vehicle operator; the Assembly (Wednesday) approved SA 1 to AB 88 by a vote of 69-18. Today, Governor Doyle signed the bill, paving the way for Wisconsin to receive federal incentive money totaling approximately $2.2 million in the coming year. He congratulated both Republican and Democrat lawmakers for working together towards passage of the bill.

Wisconsin will receive the money after the bill becomes effective on September 3, 2003. During budget action, the incentive money was earmarked, by adopted motion 471, for the creation and implementation of an Enhanced Mobility pilot program for improving the safety and independence of Wisconsin’s aging driver population.

The Hamilton Group has provided a comprehensive update detailing the Enhanced Mobility Driving Pilot Program, providing background information, and listing the Coalition members responsible for developing the proposal.

Gundrum Introduces Drugged Driving Bill
On July 1, Rep. Mark Gundrum (R-New Berlin) and Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) introduced legislation meant to toughen Wisconsin’s “drugged driving” laws. Gundrum’s bill, dubbed the ‘Baby Luke’ bill, was developed to strengthen current Wisconsin law prohibiting drugged driving. (See the Reps. press release describing the bill.)

The bill would make it easier to prosecute individuals who drive while under the influence of Schedule I illegal drugs by requiring only a showing that the driver did have a Schedule I illegal drug in his or her system without any other corroborating evidence.

Public Service Commission Endorses SBC’s Bid for Wisconsin Long Distance
On July 2, the Public Service Commission (PSC) announced it had approved SBC’s application to provide long distance service in Wisconsin. SBC, formerly known in Wisconsin as Ameritech, Wisconsin Bell or Wisconsin Telephone Company, has long provided Wisconsin residents with local access. The PSC’s ruling, supporting SBC’s application to compete in the long distance market, was based on the policy of fostering more competition and, therefore, resulting in greater value for Wisconsin consumers and businesses.

Federal Developments

(Congress was not in session this week.)

Political News

Drunken driving bill OK'd: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 2, 2003

Senate OKs lower limit for alcohol: Appleton Post-Crescent, July 2, 2003.

Farm tax credit may end: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 1, 2003.

Oneidas want Doyle to cut ‘punitive’ budget provisions: Green Bay Press-Gazette, July 1, 2003.

Lawmakers to consider zero-tolerance proposal: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 1, 2003.

OK of 0.08 for drunken driving expected: Wisconsin State Journal, July 1, 2003.

New test checks for drugged drivers: Wausau Daily Herald, July 1, 2003.

Senate leaders bicker over session: Appleton Post-Crescent, June 29, 2003.

Limit will deter drunken driving (opinion): Wisconsin State Journal, June 30, 2003.