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Nov. 3, 2003
Due to the
fluid nature of late session legislative activity, this issue of
Tidbits is both late and short. We have listed below
certain activities that have, to date, been formally scheduled for
this week. The Assembly plans to have floor sessions on Tuesday
and Wednesday of this week and Wednesday and Thursday next week.
The Senate has also planned floor sessions for Tuesday and
Wednesday of this week but has not announced the number of days it
plans to be in next week. The Organization Committees of both
houses have scheduled meetings to add to their calendars this week
and to plan for next week – the last week of the fall floor
period. Meanwhile, committee work and negotiations continue.
A major TIF
proposal is currently being circulated for co-sponsorship and is scheduled
to have a public hearing on Thursday, while an omnibus regulatory reform
package (see below) is in the final drafting stages. The Joint Finance
Committee last week reported out a capital investment proposal aimed at
increasing the availability of venture capital in Wisconsin, and the Senate
Judiciary recommended joining the Assembly in capping the amount of bond
that can be required for appeals in civil cases. Both of these bills are
expected to pass both houses in the next two weeks. Due to drafting delays
and some good faith negotiations, many of the big ticket items are likely to
receive final legislative attention at the very end of this fall floor
period. Tidbits will further update its readers at the end of this
week.
Policy Developments
Republican
Leaders Announce Regulatory Reform Package
On Thursday, October 30,
legislative and business leaders joined together to announce a
sweeping regulatory reform effort. Senate Majority Leader Mary
Panzer (R-West Bend) and Assembly Speaker John Gard (R-Peshtigo)
announced a broad legislative package aimed at creating
jobs in Wisconsin. The republican leaders announced it was their
goal to see their so-called “Job
Creation Act of 2003” pass before the end of the current floor
period.
Highlights of the Job
Creation Act include:
-
Reforming agency rule-making procedures (Chapter 227);
-
Creating the right for parties affected by a proposed agency rule to
petition the agency to prepare an Economic Impact Report on the proposed
rule;
-
Providing for DOA oversight of agency rule-making;
-
Modifying Chapter 285, which authorizes DNR’s air permit program, in order
to streamline and consolidate this program to allow for business expansion
in Wisconsin; and
-
Modifying Chapter 30, which authorizes DNR’s water permit program, to
streamline the water permit process that is currently impeding job
creation and business development.
Business leaders that
expressed support of this legislative endeavor include:
Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA),
Wisconsin Manufacturer’s and Commerce (WMC), and
Alliant Energy, among others.
Upcoming Legislative
Activity
-
Senate Floor Schedule
On Tuesday, November 4, the Senate will take up
AB 548, relating to limiting the amount of an appeal bond set by a
court in a civil action. Additionally, the Senate will take up
SB 223, relating to the reduction and recovery of damages and
admissibility of evidence in civil actions related to use or nonuse of
protective headgear by operators and passengers of motorcycles,
all-terrain vehicles, and snowmobiles.
-
Assembly Floor
Schedule
On Tuesday, November 3, the Assembly is scheduled to take up
AB 507, relating to the income and franchise tax credit for sales and
use tax paid on fuel and electricity consumed in manufacturing.
-
Joint Finance
Committee
On Thursday, November 6, the Joint Finance Committee will hold an
executive session on
AB 626, relating to an income tax and franchise tax credit for
training apprentices. The executive session is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. in
room 412-E.
-
Senate Economic
Development, Job Creation and Housing Committee
On Thursday, November 6, the Senate Economic Development, Job Creation
and Housing Committee will hold a public hearing and possible executive
session on several bills. Included bills are
LRB 3137/1, relating to technical and policy changes in the TIF
program; and LRB 3585, relating to authorizing the DOR to impose a fee to
determine or redetermine the tax incremental base of a TIF district.
-
Assembly Energy and
Utilities Committee
On Thursday, November 6, the Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee
will hold a public hearing on
AB 632, relating to construction of electric generating facilities and
transmission lines, and granting rule-making authority. The hearing is
scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. in room 415-NW.
Political News
State
biotech firms vie for more of hefty market pie: Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Nov. 3, 2003.
Tech bill good fit for small business: Marshfield News Herald, Nov.
3, 2003.
Gaming
deals may set stage for mini-casinos' expansion: Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel, Nov. 2, 2003.
Bill aims at cutting red tape on permits: Wisconsin State Journal,
Oct. 31, 2003.
GOP seeks to streamline regulations: Appleton Post-Crescent, Oct.
31, 2003.
Regulatory runaround shows need for reform (opinion): Wisconsin
State Journal, Oct. 31, 2003.
Dear State Legislators, It’s the economy, stupid (opinion): Oshkosh
Northwester, Oct. 31, 2003.
PSC
approves building coal plants: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 31,
2003.
Briggs backs
legislation on small-engine emissions: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Oct. 31, 2003.
State seeks drugs from Canada: Appleton Post-Crescent, Oct. 31,
2003.
WisconsinEye: Fair and balanced? (opinion): Wisconsin State Journal,
Oct. 31, 2003.
State's Department of Administration outlines proposed rules for TV
coverage of Legislature: Racine Journal Times, Oct. 31, 2003.
Leibham focuses on jobs: Manitowoc Herald Times, Oct. 29, 2003.
Health-care costs called a crisis: Wisconsin State Journal, Oct. 29,
2003.
Tribes'
purchase ends Crandon mine tussle: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct.
29, 2003.
Doyle proposes regulatory reform: Milwaukee Business Journal, Oct.
28, 2003.
Commerce head says state needs new businesses: Wisconsin State
Journal, Oct. 28, 2003.
Gov
urges bipartisan efforts to create jobs: Madison Capital Times, Oct.
28, 2003.
Doyle, legislators agree on power plan: Wisconsin State Journal,
Oct. 28, 2003.
Bill would
hasten new power lines: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 28, 2003.
State biotech firms employ nearly 20,000: Madison Capital Times,
Oct. 28, 2003.
New report warns of regional labor shortage by 2006: La Crosse
Tribune, Oct. 28, 2003.
Lawmaker's plan aimed at lowering high health costs: Wisconsin State
Journal, Oct. 27, 2003.
Dems to make health care key issue in '04: Milwaukee Business
Journal, Oct. 27, 2003.
Upcoming
Fundraisers
Monday, November 3, 2003:
-
“One on One” with
Republican Officials and Candidates, 6:30 p.m., Pewaukee, Wis.
-
Milwaukee
County
Republicans, 5:30 p.m., Milwaukee, Wis.
-
St. Rep. Tom Hebl (D-Sun
Prairie), 5:00 p.m., Sun Prairie, Wis.
-
St. Rep. Terri McCormick
(R-Appleton), 5:00 p.m., DePere, Wis.
Tuesday, November 4, 2003:
Wednesday, November 5, 2003:
Thursday, November 6, 2003:
Monday, November 10, 2003:
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