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Dec. 1

The Legislature is “technically” back this week for its Extraordinary Session on the ‘Jobs Creation Act of 2003,’ but no floor action is expected until sometime later this month. Introduced as identical bills, AB 655 and SB 313 have Legislative leaders and the Administration involved in intense negotiations in an effort to achieve major changes to Wisconsin’s regulatory climate. Additionally, the Senate and Assembly Job Creation Committees held a joint public hearing on the bills in Madison last Wednesday (11/26) and have another hearing scheduled for Wausau this coming Wednesday (12/3) (see below). 

Due to unforeseeable timing of Extraordinary Session activity, Tidbits will continue to break from its usual Friday schedule, as circumstances dictate, in order to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information as the Extraordinary Session, and other developments, unfold.

Policy Developments

Committees Hold Hearings on Jobs Bills
On Tuesday, November 25, the Senate and Assembly Select Committees on Job Creation held a joint public hearing in Milwaukee on AB 655 and SB 313, collectively known as the “Jobs Creation Act of 2003.” (See the Legislative Fiscal Bureau’s (LFB) analysis of the two bills.) The legislation is to be the primary focus of the Legislature’s Extraordinary Session, which officially began this morning (12/1), at 9:00 a.m.

An additional joint hearing on the two bills is scheduled for 11:00 a.m., at Northcentral Technical College, 1000 W. Campus Dr, Room D10, on Wednesday, December 3 in Wausau, Wisconsin. It is not known if the Special Committees will hold additional hearings beyond the ones in Milwaukee and Wausau, but both committees and the Joint Finance Committee are expected to vote on amended versions of the two bills before they are forwarded to the full Legislature for action. Neither house is expected to act on the bills until at least next week.

Ways & Means to Vote on TIF Bills
On Wednesday, December 3, the Assembly Committee on Ways & Means will take executive action on two bills aimed at making significant changes to Wisconsin’s Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) laws. The Committee will act on the proposals (SB 305 and SB 306) as passed by the Senate in November. (Please see The Hamilton Consulting Group’s Update for an analysis of SB 305 as passed by the Senate.)

Governor Takes Action on Several Bills
On Tuesday, November 25, Governor Doyle announced he had signed the following four bills into law:

• AB 98 (as 2003 Wisconsin Act 85), relating to creating an individual and corporate income tax exemption for interest on bonds or notes issued by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) for purposes related to multifamily and elderly housing projects;

• SB 53 (as 2003 Wisconsin Act 86), relating to regulating the negotiation and collection of demand drafts;

• SB 38 (as 2003 Wisconsin Act 87), relating to limiting recovery for persons injured while committing a felony; and

• SB 29 (as 2003 Wisconsin Act 88), relating to immunity for the use of solid waste for public projects.

On the following day, November 26, Governor Doyle announced his veto of the following bills:

• AB 259, relating to eligibility for participation in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program;

• AB 260, relating to extending the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program to all private schools in Milwaukee County;

• AB 261, relating to charter schools located in a 1st class city school district;

• AB 126, relating to directing the Legislative Audit Bureau to administer a study of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program;

• AB 472 relating to the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program income limit; and

• AB 503 relating to the enrollment of the charter school established by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Legislative Audit Bureau Releases Major Highway Project Report
Recently, the Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) released a report on the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Major Highway Program. Report highlights reveal the agency’s evaluation of the Program based on the following four criteria:

• Project selection, Program expenditures, and cost increases related to the Program;

• Project costs due to state and federal environmental policies;

• Overall financing of transportation projects; and

• Wisconsin’s Program costs compared to program costs of other Midwestern states.

Legislature to Address Highway Safety in January 2004 Session
Speaker John Gard has directed the Assembly Highway Safety Committee and its Chair, Rep. Jerry Petrowski, to develop a legislative package addressing highway safety issues for legislative consideration early next year. The “comprehensive package” is expected to recommend improving conditions for the aging driver population as well as driver safety and training for the young driver population. Other targets will include driver distractions, impaired driving, speed, road design, and traffic law enforcement.

Wisconsin Cracks Down on Serving Alcohol to Underage Drinkers
On November 25, the Wisconsin Supreme Court handed down its opinion in Mark Anderson et al v. American Family Mutual Insurance. This case extends the civil liability of an individual who provides alcohol to an underage drinker if providing the alcohol was a substantial factor in causing injury to a third party, even if the injured third party is a companion underage drinker.

Simultaneously, the Legislature is considering a bill, AB 72, which would extend the criminal liability of an individual who serves alcohol to an underage drinker. (The bill would make it a felony to serve alcohol to underage drinkers who are injured or killed as a result of drinking.) Currently, Wisconsin has no criminal penalty for serving alcohol to minors. On November 25, the Assembly Committee on State Affairs held a public hearing on the bill; no executive action was taken.

Wisconsin Politics

Election Called to Fill Coggs’ Assembly Seat
On Tuesday, November 25, Governor Doyle issued an Executive Order calling for a Special Election to fill former Representative Spencer Coggs’ recently resigned 17th District Assembly seat. In a virtually uncontested election on November 18, Coggs won the 6^th District Senate seat which was previously held by State Senator Gary George. Coggs officially vacated his Assembly seat November 25 when he was sworn into the Senate.

Nomination papers for the Special Election must be filed by 5:00 p.m., December 2, in the office of the State Elections Board.

Doyle to Hold Local Government Summit
On November 20, Governor Doyle announced he will be holding a Local Government Summit on Wednesday, December 10, in Milwaukee. The summit will focus on the efficiency of local government and reduction of taxpayer burdens, among other topics.

Federal Developments

Congress Passes Medicare Reform Bill
On Tuesday, November 25, the U.S. Senate passed the major Medicare reform bill, H.R. 1 (otherwise known as the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003) ending a contentious battle to revamp the fund as strong partisan differences were debated at great length. The bill reportedly encompasses the biggest changes Medicare has seen since the program was begun in 1965. The Senate voted 54-44 to seal the deal that the House of Representatives had already passed earlier this year.

Congress to Take Up Spending Bills in December
It was reported, November 25, that the U.S. Congress had agreed to return to the floor in December to address remaining spending bills for the current fiscal year. To date, Congress has completed work on only six of the 13 spending areas it is required to address each year. Until Congress completes work on the remaining bills, federal programs will continue to operate on last year’s budget. The House is expected to return on December 8 to consolidate the remaining seven provisions into an omnibus $820 billion spending bill; the Senate is expected to reconvene the following day, December 9.

Political News

State primed to be a contender in primaries once again: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Dec. 1, 2003.

Feingold foes say money rule unfair: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 1, 2003.

Critics question merits of economic development legislation: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 1, 2003.

Protect jobs as well as environment (opinion): Marshfield News Herald, Dec. 1, 2003.

Retraining work force essential: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Dec. 1, 2003.

Wanted: a smarter work force: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Dec. 1, 2003.

State should protect ground water supply (opinion): Wisconsin State Journal, Dec. 1, 2003.

Shoreline standards topic of sessions: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Dec. 1, 2003.

Putting the brakes on violations: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 30, 2003.

Who's minding the store? (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 30, 2003.

Ellis: Time running out for reform: Appleton Post-Crescent, Nov. 30, 2003.

Open burning state's worst air polluter: Madison Capital Times, Nov. 29, 2003.

Wisconsin's traffic fatality rate reaching record numbers: Superior Daily Telegram, Nov. 28, 2003.

Gard seeks ways to cut down on road death toll: Madison Capital Times, Nov. 28, 2003.

Car safety restraints cut child's risk by far: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 27, 2003.

Bill would extend underage drinking liability: La Crosse Tribune, Nov. 26, 2003.

Clark looks to jump-start economy: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Nov. 26, 2003.

Jobs are increasing in Wisconsin: Wisconsin State Journal, Nov. 26, 2003.

Quickening economy picks up the pace: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 26, 2003.

Highway projects blow out budgets: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 26, 2003.

Oversight sought on road costs: Appleton Post-Crescent, Nov. 26, 2003.

Mother can be held liable in intoxication death: St. Paul Pioneer Press, Nov. 26, 2003.

Time for a new regulatory climate (opinion): La Crosse Tribune, Nov. 24, 2003.

Upcoming Fundraisers

Monday, Dec. 1, 2003:

• St. Rep. Steve Freese (R-Dodgeville), 5:30 p.m., Barneveld, Wis.

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003:

• Presidential Candidate John Kerry (D), 5:30 p.m., Milwaukee, Wis.

• St. Rep. Gabe Loeffelholz (R-Platteville), 6:30 p.m., Platteville Wis.

• Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee, 5:00 p.m., Milwaukee, Wis.

• St. Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), 8:00 a.m., Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003:

• St. Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), 5:00 p.m., Madison, Wis. (Please note that due to extraordinary session scheduling, this holiday gathering has been moved to the month of January. The new date for the event will be Wednesday, January 14 at the Madison Club at 5:00 p.m.)

Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003:

• St. Sen. Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield), 5:30 p.m., Milwaukee, Wis.

Monday, Dec. 8, 2003:

• Republican Party of Wisconsin, 4:15 p.m., Milwaukee, Wis.

• St. Rep. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa), 6:00 p.m., Wauwatosa, Wis.

• St. Rep. Jeff Stone (R-Greenfield), 6:00 p.m., Greendale, Wis.