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Aug. 13, 2004
The little community of Haven,
Wisconsin and a place called Whistling Straits are the daily focus
of the golf world this week as the PGA Championship, one of the
four majors, is being played on a spectacular venue on the
Wisconsin shores of Lake Michigan. This is a tremendous boost to
the image of our state as well as to our economy.
A
recent Taxpayers Alliance study is not as optimistic on the future of
Wisconsin’s revenue projections. (See below.) The fact that the last couple
of years saw a slight increase in unemployment, the future demographics have
not changed.
This abbreviated edition of Tidbits is in consideration of the need
for a quick read (and write) as we are rightfully distracted by the
excitement generated by the events involving the world’s greatest golfers
and the attention focused on our great state.
Enjoy!
Policy Developments
Population
Slowdown to
Affect
State Income
Growth
A new
study by the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance predicts significant
demographic changes in the next 25 years. School enrollments and
the labor force will shrink. At the same time, the number of
seniors will double. A smaller workforce means a decrease in state
revenues, which are derived from income and sales tax. As noted by
WISTAX president, “Wisconsin’s
leaders, public and private, state and local, have not focused on
the problem.”
Power Plant Hearings
Complete
The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) held public hearings on
the Weston 4 project on Aug. 10, 2004. During the seven hours of the hearing
held in Mosinee, 86 persons testified, 72 in favor and 14 opposing. Among
those testifying at Tuesday’s hearing were members of the Wisconsin Economic
Development Association, which supports a strong electrical utility
infrastructure as essential to the economic viability of the state of
Wisconsin and to economy and quality of life in central
Wisconsin.
A decision by the PSCW
Commissioners is expected in fall of 2004, at which time construction is
expected to begin, with operations beginning in 2008.
DNR to Hear Comments on
Landfill Regulations
The Department of Natural Resources will hold public hearings on revisions
to rules relating to landfilling of solid waste. The proposed rule revisions
would allow the maximum width of municipal solid waste landfills to increase
by approximately two-thirds and the height by about 100 feet. The volume of
waste that could be placed in a single municipal solid waste landfill would
approximately double. The proposed rule would also allow the department to
approve adding liquids to degrade the waste faster thereby reducing the
potential long-term threat of landfills. The hearings will be held on the
following dates:
-
August 17 at
10:30 a.m.,
3911 Fish Hatchery Road,
Fitchburg
-
August 18 at 1:30 p.m.,
UW-Stevens Point, 2419 N. Point Drive, Stevens Point
Wisconsin Politics
PGA Puts
Wisconsin on
the Map
With Lake Michigan providing a sparkling backdrop, Wisconsin is in
the national spotlight with the 86th PGA tournament at
Whistling Straits in Kohler. Appearing at the tournament this
week, Governor Doyle has been promoting Wisconsin as a tourist
destination, and a great place to live, do business, and raise a
family. Wisconsin is among the nation’s leaders in the number of
golf courses available for public play, with almost 450 courses
statewide open to the public.
The PGA of America has
estimated that the economic impact of the tournament for Wisconsin will be
$75 million. As many as 45,000 people are expected to attend the tournament
daily, according to PGA officials, with as close to 315,000 people total
attending throughout the week.
Wisconsin
last hosted the PGA Championship in 1933, when the tournament was held at
the Blue Mound Country Club in Milwaukee. Governor Doyle has worked to
promote golf and golf-related tourism in Wisconsin leading up to the PGA
Championship through his "Golf
Wisconsin"
program.
George Sentenced to Four
Years; $600,000 Restitution
Last week, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa sentenced former state Senator
Gary George to four years in prison, followed by three years of supervised
release, for one count of conspiracy. The restitution order was entered this
week, ordering him to pay $613,746.36, of which 42,649.88 must go to the
Milwaukee Police Athletic League, and $571,096.48 must go to the state.
Last November, a federal
grand jury indicted George, charging him with taking hundreds of thousands
of dollars in kickbacks through a politically prominent attorney paid by OIC
and the Milwaukee Police Athletic League. George was also charged with
soliciting and accepting $115,000 in payments from a construction company
executive who received state contracts. Two months later, George pleaded
guilty to one count of conspiracy to accept illegal kickbacks of the fees
paid by OIC. U.S. His attorney has said they will appeal the sentence.
Burke Files Appeal
Former state Senator Brian Burke has asked an appeals court to dismiss
felony charges against him. Dane County Circuit Judge William Foust had
earlier thrown out five of the 18 charges against Burke, but 13 remain,
which Foust refused to dismiss. These remaining charges accuse Burke of
destroying public records and altering a document that investigators had
subpoenaed.
Four other lawmakers -
former Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala (D-Madison), former Assembly
Speaker Scott Jensen (R-Waukesha) and state Reps. Steve Foti (R-Oconomowoc)
and Bonnie Ladwig (R-Mount Pleasant) have appeals pending before the state
Supreme Court seeking to dismiss some of the charges against them.
Lengthy Sentence for Paulus
Ex-Winnebago
County
district attorney Joe Paulus was sentenced to 58 months in prison for taking
bribes. Exceeding the recommended time of 32 months, U.S. District Judge
William C. Griesbach said the corruption "undermines the system itself" to a
more serious degree than a standard sentencing chart reflects. In addition
to the prison term, Paulus was fined $5,000 and must serve a three years
supervision after release.
Political News
Economy worries state residents: Appleton Post-Crescent, Aug. 13,
2004.
Gears of
economy get machine tool sales moving: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Aug. 13, 2004.
Renewable energy task force has good recommendations (opinion): La
Crosse Tribune, Aug. 13, 2004.
Quality of health care analyzed: Wisconsin State Journal, Aug. 13,
2004.
Housing
sales boom in state, nation: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 12,
2004.
George ordered to pay $600,000: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Aug. 12, 2004.
Old folks raise new policy issues (opinion): Wisconsin State
Journal, Aug. 12, 2004.
Unwanted calls are No. 1 complaint to state: Green Bay
Press-Gazette, Aug. 12, 2004.
Fans and Whistling Straits impress PGA: Wisconsin State
Journal, Aug. 12, 2004.
Aging population will have big effect on state: Wisconsin State
Journal, Aug. 11, 2004.
State's deep in debt, like most of us (opinion): Marshfield News
Herald, Aug. 11, 2004.
Doyle
touts Supreme Court diversity: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 10,
2004.
Court conflicts call for public campaign financing (opinion):
Appleton Post-Crescent, Aug. 10, 2004.
Doyle urged to promote state products: Wisconsin State Journal, Aug.
11, 2004.
Survey finds Wisconsin residents optimistic about future: Green Bay
Press-Gazette, Aug. 11, 2004.
Nuclear
waste settlement may impact state utilities: Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Aug. 11, 2004.
Protecting
state's power prices: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 11, 2004.
Weston power plant expansion generates support: Marshfield News
Herald, Aug. 11, 2004.
Automakers
shift focus to health care crisis: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug.
10, 2004.
State basks in golfing spotlight: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Aug. 9,
2004.
Event
drives businesses: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 9, 2004.
Landfill rules make sense (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Aug. 9, 2004.
State debt doubles in decade: Wisconsin State Journal, Aug. 9, 2004.
Upcoming Fundraisers
For details, go to the
Fundraiser Calendar.
Aug. 14
Aug. 16
Aug. 17
-
Dan
Kapanke (R) 32nd SD candidate, La Crosse
-
Bob
Welch (R) US Senate, De Pere
Aug. 18
-
Rep. Jerry Petrowski (R-Wausau), Wausau
-
Bob
Welch (R) US Senate Candidate, De Forest
-
Brett Davis (R) 80th AD candidate, Madison
-
Rep. Curt Gielow (R-Mequon), Madison
Aug. 19
-
Rep. Steve Wieckert (R-Appleton), Madison
-
Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), River Hills
Aug. 20
Aug. 21
Aug. 23
Aug. 24
-
Tom Tiffany (R) 12th SD candidate,
Crivitz
-
Dan Kapanke (R) 32nd SD candidate, La
Crosse
Aug. 26
-
Dave Magnum (R) Congressional candidate, Madison
-
Bob
Welch (R) US Senate Candidate, Maple Bluff
-
U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D), West Salem
Aug. 27
Aug. 28
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