Political Tidbits

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Nov. 28, 2005

With Thanksgiving and deer hunting 2005 now behind us, the Wisconsin Legislature returns to a busy week of hearings and committee action on bills that may be voted on before the holiday recess. Governor Doyle has returned from an apparently successful trade mission to Europe and has several weeks to determine a course of action for a flurry of bills sent to him by the Legislature this fall.

The Governor is also expected to promote his economic development agenda and to explore areas of common ground with the Republican-controlled Legislature. Republican leadership recently announced its concept of “Invest Wisconsin,” which is a comprehensive legislative package covering six issue areas from capital investment to civil justice reform. The package includes bills previously introduced, some having passed the Legislature, and bills yet to be introduced.

In “Grow Wisconsin 2005,” Governor Doyle has included numerous invest in Wisconsin initiatives. As one might expect, there are significant differences as well as areas of common ground. The most significant difference may be in the areas included or excluded as part of the overall plan to stimulate the Wisconsin economy. The debate is, however, on the right topic - Wisconsin’s economy.

Policy Developments

Floorperiod Scheduled for Dec. 6-15
Both houses are scheduled to be in session on Tuesday, December 6, to begin their next floorperiod that is scheduled to end on December 15.

The Assembly Committee on Rules will meet in the Assembly parlor at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday to schedule the calendar for the Dec. 6 floor session. The Assembly will not be in session on Dec. 7 or Dec. 8 and Majority Leader Mike Huebsch advised members to be “flexible” as to potential session days on the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th. The senate has not announced its December intentions as of this time.

Monday, November 28

Senate and Assembly Committees on Insurance (Joint Hearing), 1:00 p.m., Room 412 East, Capitol
- SB 451 and AB 844 - Relating to Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan (HIRSP)

Tuesday, November 29

Assembly Committee on Judiciary, 9:00 a.m., Room 411 South, Capitol
- AB 328 - Relating to civil liability exemption for claims resulting from weight gain or obesity
Senate Committee on Housing & Financial Institutions, 10:00 a.m., Room 201 Southeast, Capitol
- SB 230/AB 456 - Relating to prepayment penalties on variable rate residential mortgages (AB 456 passed the Assembly 95-0)
- SB 277 - Relating to changing the date for payment of property taxes from escrow accounts in limited circumstances
- SB 448 - Relating to notice and right to cure in residential construction, including remodeling
- AB 593 - Relating to WHEDA “modernization”

Senate Judiciary Executive Session
The Senate Committee on Judiciary will hold an executive session, immediately following its public hearing (on a constitutional amendment re defining marriage), on Tuesday, November 29 in Room 411 South, Capitol to vote on:

SB 161 - Relating to civil liability exemption from claims resulting from weight gain or obesity
SB 215 - Relating to repealing the minimum markup law for motor vehicle fuel (currently 9.18%) and substituting a prohibition of sale at or below cost
SB 426 - Relating to Unemployment Compensation Law changes
SB 450 - Relating to various construction lien law changes

Punitive Damages Bills Introduced
In yet another legislative reaction to a 2005 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision, companion bills have been introduced in the Senate (SB 447) and Assembly (AB 843) to heighten the standard for the award of punitive damages in civil cases in Wisconsin.

In March, in the high profile Mitsubishi case, the Court interpreted a 1995-adopted legislative standard that actually “re-interpreted and weakened” the Legislature’s 1995 pronouncement, according to Sen. Glenn Grothman and Rep. Mark Gundrum, the lead authors of this year’s legislative proposals.

State Energy Policy Legislation Introduced
On Tuesday, November 22^nd, the State Legislature’s Assembly and Senate Energy Committees voted to introduce a state energy policy bill (AB 841) that is intended to provide long-term economic and environmental benefits to the state. The committee action followed public comment that signaled broad support for the overall proposal, while highlighting specific areas of disagreement, which will make the road to passage far from smooth.

The legislation, drafted from the recommendations of the Governor’s Task Force on Energy Efficiency and Renewables, requires the PSC to work more closely with state energy efficiency programs housed in the Department of Administration. The proposal also calls for state government to be more energy efficient and use more renewable energy sources. In addition, it calls for utilities to produce at least 10 percent of the electricity they sell from renewable energy sources by 2015.

Some of the major details of the bill include:

Increasing utilities’ generation of renewable power to 10 percent by 2015.
Increasing state government’s own purchase of renewable electricity to 20 percent by 2011.
Upgrading state building codes to require more energy efficiency.
Empowering the state Public Service Commission to set targets and funding levels for state energy efficiency spending.
Creating rural energy initiatives such as use of small-scale manure-to-energy devices, known as anaerobic digesters, and wind turbines.
Securing the state’s energy conservation funds.

Other Energy Legislation
An energy issue relating to tax credits for vehicles that use gasoline and ethanol mixtures as fuel has been recommended for passage (8-0) by the Assembly Committee on Rural Affairs and Renewable energy on Nov. 22. The bill, AB-809, was referred to the Joint Committee on Finance.

“Invest Wisconsin” Legislative Package Touted
“Invest Wisconsin” is a continuation of the Jobs Creation package offered last session according to a press release issued by Sen. Ted Kanavas, chair of the Senate Economic Development Committee, Assembly Speaker John Gard and Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz.

The package includes six “major economic development themes” including tax relief, regulatory reform, judicial reform, workforce training, infrastructure enhancement and capital investment.

Areas covered include a broadband deployment tax credit; a package of changes covering elimination of the capital gains tax under certain conditions, repeal of the shareholder wage lien statute, and a series of changes involving securities; an innovation tax credit modeled after Ohio’s low-interest loan program for innovation; and, a series of bills currently before the Legislature.

Link to press release and fact sheet.

Doyle Returns from Trade Mission
Gov. Jim Doyle returned recently from a trade mission to Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland and said contacts between Wisconsin businesses and leaders in the three countries will help grow Wisconsin’s economy.

Governor Doyle visited several businesses with Wisconsin ties including a Quad Graphics facility outside Warsaw, Poland, a BadgerMeter facility in Brno, Czech Republic, Merck KGaA (parent of EMD Biosciences, Madison, and Milwaukee Company, Milwaukee) in Darmsadt, Germany, Karl Schenck AG (parent of Schenck AccuRate, Whitewater) in Darmsadt, Germany, and Harley Davidson facilities in Prague and Warsaw.

DNR Pulls Pier Rules
A recent study showing that there are fewer piers on Wisconsin waterways than originally estimated was among the reasons that prompted the Natural Resources Board to reconsider controversial rules that would stiffen regulation of docks.

The board unanimously voted to rescind rules it approved in September that required one-time permits for piers as well as individual approval for large piers. Department of Natural Resources staff will rework the rules - which had not yet been sent to the Legislature - and bring them back to the board for approval at its next meeting Dec. 7.

Gov. Orders Energy Conservation for State Agencies
Gov. Doyle signed an executive order telling state agencies to practice energy conservation. The policy directs agencies to hold energy use in state-owned facilities to the minimum level possible without adversely affecting state facilities, equipment, employees, visitors or program operations.

The Governor said if no steps were taken, the state would spend $10 million more due to higher fuel costs.

Wisconsin Politics

Magnum Announces Second Bid for Congress
Former radio personality Dave Magnum announced his plans to run for Congress Tuesday against incumbent U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., in the upcoming 2006 election.

This will be Magnum’s second bid for the Second Congressional District of the U.S. House of Representatives. He lost to Baldwin in the race for the same position in 2004.

Political News

WisconsinEye may scale back: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 22, 2005.

Committee passes flexible-fuel bill: Janesville Gazette, Nov. 22, 2005.

Doyle orders state agencies to conserve energy: Janesville Gazette, Nov. 22, 2005.

Health care idea promising: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Nov. 22, 2005.

16 UW doctors to leave over Aurora transfer: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 22, 2005.

Cell phone 911: Good, but not perfect: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 21, 2005.

Room-tax plan pushes buttons: Wausau Daily Herald, Nov. 21, 2005.

GOP Should Keep Focus On Economy: Wisconsin State Journal, Nov. 21, 2005.

Lawmakers: We need to shift focus to economy, education: La Crosse Tribune, Nov. 21, 2005.

Magnum will make another run for seat: Baraboo News Republic, Nov. 20, 2005.

Election reforms are logical, prudent (opinion): Sheboygan Daily Press, Nov. 20, 2005.