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Sept. 5, 2003
While the
Wisconsin
Legislature is not currently in session debating major public
policy issues, there is significant buzz and activity in and
around the Capitol. Both Houses of the Legislature and the
Administration are involved in obtaining public input, research
and drafting in anticipation of a very busy and active fall
session with additional public hearings and floor debate scheduled
for September, October and November. As we have frequently
reported, the focus of our elected officials is economic
development and job creation. While attraction of new businesses
to our state is always a goal, the main focus of the upcoming
session is the retention and expansion of existing Wisconsin businesses. Among other things, expect action on regulatory reform,
capital investment, Tax Incremental Financing, tax credits and
other incentives and civil justice.
On the federal level,
transportation appropriations bills in both Houses of Congress are receiving
much attention and various items are being released regarding dollars that
are being proposed to be returned to Wisconsin. We will continue to monitor and report as these authorization bills
work their way through Congress.
Wisconsin Politics and Policy
GM Facility Moves
to Wisconsin
On Wednesday, September 5, Governor Doyle
announced that General Motors Service and Parts
Operations will build a new Parts Distribution Center (PDC) in
Hudson, Wisconsin. The announcement was made at a groundbreaking
ceremony in
Hudson.
The state has agreed to provide $1.15 million in grants to assist
the project, including an $850,000 major economic development
grant to the City of Hudson, and a $300,000 customized training
grant to train new employees on the new equipment. The new
facility will replace the existing PDC in
Edina,
Minnesota.
The facility will handle automotive replacement parts shipments to
more than 500 GM North Central Region Dealerships in seven states.
Construction of the plant is expected to be completed by fall
2004.
Wisconsin Legislators Kick-Off B.L.O.O.D. Coalition
At a September 2 press conference during the Capitol Blood Drive, a
bipartisan group of Wisconsin Legislators announced the formation of a new
Coalition known as Bipartisan Legislators Organized for Outreach to Donors,
or B.L.O.O.D. The Legislators, from across Wisconsin, joined together in an
effort to help improve the nation’s blood supply. The Coalition intends to
educate citizens on the importance of giving blood, increase constituent
awareness of blood-giving opportunities, and increase blood donor levels in
Wisconsin. Coalition members are listed in the American Red Cross
press release, issued August 27, 2003.
Product Liability
Legislation Gets Hearing
On Thursday, September 11, an initiative to change Products Liability law in
Wisconsin will
get a public hearing before the Assembly Judiciary Committee. (The hearing
is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in room 225 Northwest.) The legislation,
including
AB 317 and its Senate companion bill
SB 126, would alter existing products liability law in
Wisconsin in several
important ways. For details and analysis of the proposed legislation, see
The Hamilton Consulting Group’s
Update on this issue.
Building the New
Wisconsin
Economy
The state of the state’s economy, in addition to attracting recent surges of
attention from both the Wisconsin Legislature and the Governor’s office, has
also prompted other significant initiatives. Recently, representatives from
Wisconsin’s news media, economic development, academic, business, and labor
communities joined together to create Building The New Wisconsin Economy
(BNWE), a group committed to keeping citizens informed on upcoming
economy-building initiatives, and provoking citizen discussions on the
state’s economy. As part of its two year commitment to participate in
building the new Wisconsin economy, BNWE will begin holding forums (seven total) across
the state over the next 15 months. The first forum is scheduled for
September 16 in Wausau,
and will provide an overview of the primary areas that affect economic
development, including: people, business, capital, infrastructure, and
institutions. For further information on BNWE, including membership
profiles, upcoming forum dates, and other background information, go to the
BNWE web site at
http://bnwe.info.
Election Reform Initiatives
Get Hearing
On Wednesday, September 10, the Senate Committee on Education, Ethics and
Elections will hold a public hearing to address several bills relating to
Wisconsin state election reform. Among the bills to be heard by the
Committee that day are:
SB 76, relating to mailing, transmittal, and witnessing of absentee
ballots;
SB 79, relating to filing of financial
statements by candidates and personal campaign committees;
SB 81, relating to residency of certain election officials;
AB 116, relating to use of moneys from the Wisconsin election
campaign fund to make certain false representations;
AB 119, relating to reporting of information by nonresident registrants
under the campaign finance law;
AB 120, relating to notice regarding ineligibility to vote;
AB 121, relating to recruitment, training, certification, and
compensation of election officials;
AB 141, relating to the eligibility of employees of cities, villages,
towns, and counties to be candidates for elective public office;
AB 175, relating to mailing, transmittal, and witnessing of absentee
ballots.
Wisconsin’s Chief Justice to Lead Nation’s Chief Justices
On Wednesday, September 3, the Wisconsin Supreme Court
announced that its Chief Justice, Shirley S. Abrahamson, has been
elected to a one-year term as President of the national Conference of Chief
Justices; her term will begin in August 2004. The national Conference of
Chief Justices is an organization composed of top judicial officers from the
50 states and additional
U.S.
territories. The Conference is a forum for its members to share information,
develop educational programs, and learn about initiatives from other states.
Chief Justice Abrahamson has served on the seven-person Wisconsin Supreme
Court since 1976, and has been Chief Justice since 1996.
Federal Developments
No federal
news this week.
Political News
SeniorCare
renewal running smoothly after initial confusion: Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Sept. 5, 2003.
Environmental groups oppose utility pollution pact: Appleton
Post-Crescent, Sept. 5, 2003.
Power plant
settlement challenged: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Sept. 5, 2003.
Doyle agrees to
another tribal gambling deal: Janesville Gazette, Sept. 4, 2003.
Bill seeks Internet ID protection: Appleton Post-Crescent, Sept. 5,
2003.
Government relief is a key to growth (opinion): Wisconsin State
Journal, Sept. 4, 2003.
Build basic services to promote growth (opinion): Wisconsin State
Journal, Sept. 3, 2003.
State tax revenues just miss: Appleton Post-Crescent, Sept. 3, 2003.
Environmental groups oppose utility pollution pact: Appleton
Post-Crescent, Sept. 5, 2003.
Power plant
settlement challenged: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Sept. 5, 2003.
Opponents
of gas price law renew push for repeal: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Sept. 1, 2003.
Legal challenge needed to block Clean Air attack (opinion): Racine
Journal Times, Sept. 2, 2003.
Recycling
urged for construction waste: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Aug. 30,
2003.
Traffic stops can save lives: Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Sept.
2, 2003.
Effect of tougher drunken driving standard debated: Wausau Daily
Herald, Sept. 1, 2003.
Officials
hope tighter standard cuts drunken driving in state: Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel, Aug. 31, 200.
State keeping eyes on gaming tables: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Sept.
2, 2003.
Brainy plan will build economy (opinion): Wisconsin State Journal,
Sept. 2, 2003.
Economic forums designed for public: Wausau Daily Herald, Sept. 2,
2003.
State losing jobs as slump goes on: Wausau Daily Herald, Aug. 31,
2003.
Region plays on power in numbers: Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune,
Aug. 30, 2003.
Upcoming Fundraisers
Saturday,
September 6, 2003:
Sunday, September 7, 2003:
Monday, September 8, 2003:
Tuesday, September 9, 2003:
-
State Rep. Dean Kaufert
(R-Neenah), 5:00 p.m., Neenah, WI
-
Wis. Ct. of Appeals Judge
Charles Schudson, 5:00 p.m., Milwaukee, WI
Wednesday, September 10,
2003:
-
State Sen. Tom Reynolds
(R-West Allis), 5:30 p.m., West Allis, WI
-
State Sen. Majority
Leader Mary Panzer (R-West
Bend),
5:00 p.m., Milwaukee, WI
-
State Sen. Dave Hansen
(D-Green Bay), 5:30 p.m., Green Bay, WI
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