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Dec. 3, 2004
Thanksgiving is over and the holiday
season has officially begun. Our legislative leaders are in the
process of organizing for the next legislative session and the
Administration is putting some finishing touches on the proposed
budget for the next biennium. The election of 2004 is over and the
election of 2006 has begun, as witnessed by the resignation of
Katie Boyce, most recently legislative director of the Governor’s
staff, to join “The Campaign.”
Most of us can, however, take a little bit of a breather from the stressful
decision days of a Legislature in session or an all-encompassing general
election - plus, there is all of that year-end accounting and financial
stuff to do.
We
hope that you all have an enjoyable holiday season and we will report
additional activities leading up to 2005 in a couple of weeks.
Policy Developments
Governor Announces Creation of
Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network
Gov. Doyle
recently announced the creation of the Wisconsin
Entrepreneurs’ Network (WEN), a partnership of the University of
Wisconsin System, the Wisconsin Technical College System, the
WiSys Technology Foundation, and the Agricultural Innovation
Center, which is receiving $1 million from the Wisconsin
Department of Commerce.
The
investment is part of Governor Doyle’s pledge to promote entrepreneurship
and innovation and will create an integrated statewide network to serve
entrepreneurs.
Key
services at WEN will include one-on-one consulting, educational workshops,
executive level programs, peer learning, and strategies to assess
technologies and access capital. The funding will also provide WEN with the
capability to expand its outreach in providing all of its programs and
services into all regions of the state.
The
new network is targeted to assist more than 10,000 people and contribute
more than $500 million to the state’s economy in its first year of
operation. Using a single client management system, the goal is to have WEN
members better prepared to identify, set priorities, and assist businesses
through multiple stages of development.
Wisconsin Economic Recovery Continues
Wisconsin’s economic recovery remains on course, with 1.6 percent growth
in non-farm employment expected this year and total personal income growth
projected at of 4.5%. These projections were
announced by Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) Secretary Michael L.
Morgan. Employment is expected to continue upward at a 1.8 percent rate in
2005.
The
DOR report was cautious in its predictions, given the uncertainty of
national economic conditions. “If the two federal wildcards materialize, the
U.S. and Wisconsin economies will likely suffer,” the DOR reported. The
biggest risks are associated with potential weakness in the national and
international economies.
Court Overrules PSC Order for Oak Creek Power Plant; PSC to Appeal
A Dane County Circuit Court order has vacated the Public Service
Commission approval of We Energies plans to construct two coal-fired
generators near its existing Oak Creek power plant.
Dane
County Circuit Judge David Flanagan ordered state regulators to redo the
approval process because the utility failed to provide required cost and
design information about new power transmission lines it will need to run
the $2.15 billion plant in Oak Creek.
Flanagan said the utility’s application did not include at least two
alternative sites and the company had not obtained the necessary regulatory
approvals for the project.
Noting that the court affirmed the Commission’s determination that new
generation was necessary to meet growing energy demand, PSC General Counsel
David Gilles said, “The Commission is very concerned about the effect of
construction delays on future electric reliability in Southeast Wisconsin
and on overall costs of the project.” The Commission will appeal the courts
decision.
Kewaunee Power Plant Sale Rejected
The Wisconsin Public Service Commission has rejected the proposed sale
of the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant to Virginia-based Dominion Resources,
Inc. Citing future concerns of accountability, PSC Chairperson Burnie Bridge
stated that "There is no doubt in my mind that, currently, Dominion is a
financially viable company and has the resources to safely operate the
Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant. However, that may not be true of any future
owners and Wisconsin would not have a voice in future sales of the nuclear
power plant."
State
law requires PSC approval before the two Wisconsin utilities can sell the
Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant. According to the PSC, if it would have
approved the sale of the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant, it would have become
a wholesale power plant and would be exempt from the Commission's routine
rate review process, construction approval and related state economic
regulation.
Doyle to Lead Trade Mission to Mexico
Gov. Doyle will head up a trade mission to Mexico next March 6-11. The
mission will make stops in Mexico City and Guadalajara. Doyle will open
Wisconsin pavilions at the International Machine Tool Show in Mexico City
and the Annual Convention of the National Retail Association of Mexico in
Guadalajara. The mission is being coordinated by the Departments of Commerce
and Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Governor Names Legislative Director
Governor Doyle appointed Pat Henderson as Legislative Director,
effective Dec. 1. Henderson had served as Deputy Legislative Director. He
replaced Katie Boyce who has joined the Governor’s campaign staff.
Wisconsin
Politics
Ward Named Assembly
Vice-Chair of Joint Finance
Rep. Dean Kaufert has announced the appointment of Rep. David Ward
(R-Fort Atkinson) to serve as Vice-Chair of the Joint Finance
committee for the 2005-06 session. Ward will succeed Rep. Mike
Huebsch who will become Assembly Majority Leader in January.
Schultz Names Senate Committee Chairs
Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz announced the following Republican
committee chairs for the 2005-06 Legislative session:
-
Campaign Finance Reform and Ethics: Sen. Ellis
-
Health, Children, Families, Aging and Long Term Care: Sen.Roessler
-
Job
Creation, Economic Development and Consumer Affairs: Sen. Kanavas
-
Labor and Election Process Reform: Sen.Reynolds
-
Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules: Sen. Grothman
-
Agriculture and Insurance: Sen. Kapanke
-
Education: Sen. Olsen
-
Veterans, Homeland Security, Military Affairs, Small Business and
Government Reform: Sen. Brown.
-
Energy, Utilities, Information Technology: Sen. Cowles
-
Higher Education and Tourism: Sen. Harsdorf.
-
Housing and Financial Institutions: Sen. Stepp
-
Judiciary, Corrections and Privacy: Sen. Zien
-
Natural Resources and Transportation: Sen. Kedzie
Senator Schultz has also named other Republican members to all of the above
committees including and, as previously reported, all of the members of
Joint Finance with Senator Fitzgerald as the Senate Co-Chair. Other than
Joint Finance, Senate Democrat leadership has not announced committee
assignments. Announcement of Assembly committee chairs and members is also
expected soon. A complete list of committees will be provided when all
assignments have been made.
Sen. Lazich Resigns as Assistant Majority Leader
Sen. Mary Lazich, elected to the assistant majority leader’s post just
last month, has resigned her leadership position. Senator Lazich informed
Senate Majority Leader Dale Schultz of her decision following a closed
Republican caucus this past Wednesday and made her formal announcement on
Thursday. A caucus will be held later in December to elect her successor.
Political News
Lazich resigns leadership post: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Dec. 3, 2004.
DNR proposes fee increases: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 3, 2004.
Senate leader mandates cuts: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 2, 2004.
Cost of coal plants could increase: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dec. 2,
2004.
Analysis -- We Energies loves its Oak Creek site; here's why: Racine
Journal Times, Dec. 1, 2004.
PSC to appeal Oak Creek decision: Racine Journal Times, Dec. 1, 2004.
Judge takes issue with power plant: Appleton Post-Crescent, Nov. 30,
2004.
PSC to appeal recent ruling on power plant: Appleton Post-Crescent, Nov.
30, 2004.
New rules for judges don’t go far enough (opinion): Appleton
Post-Crescent, Nov. 30, 2004.
Beware of cold truth on state tax freeze (opinion): Wisconsin Rapids
Daily Tribune, Nov. 30, 2004.
Don't believe Chicken Little stories about TABOR (opinion): Racine
Journal Times, Dec. 1, 2004.
Doyle gives boost to start-ups: Appleton Post-Crescent,
Nov. 30, 2004.
Senators to focus on job creation: Manitowoc Herald Times, Nov. 30,
2004.
State Should Join Effort To Collect Sales Taxes (opinion): Wisconsin
State Journal, Nov. 30, 2004.
A third of numbers on no-call list to drop off: Appleton Post-Crescent,
Nov. 29, 2004.
Don't privatize election oversight (opinion): Madison Capital Times,
Nov. 29, 2004.
No way to spend money (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 29,
2004.
A payoff in layoffs? Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 29, 2004.
The pork barrel polka is a delicate dance: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
Nov. 28, 2004.
State’s economy revving up at year’s end: Lakeland Times, Nov. 28, 2004.
Wind farm impact still questioned: Fond du Lac Reporter, Nov. 28, 2004.
Concerned citizens vow to fight proposed wind farm: Fond du Lac
Reporter, Nov. 28, 2004.
Aid slows, property tax grows: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov. 28,
2004.
Crashes With Deer Plague Motorists: Wisconsin State Journal, Nov. 26,
2004.
Private toll roads a path for debate: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov.
26, 2004.
Upcoming Fundraisers
Tuesday, Dec. 7
-
Sen. Ted Kanavas
(R-Brookfield), Elm Grove
-
Senate Democratic
Campaign Committee, Madison
-
Milwaukee
County
Exec Scott Walker, Milwaukee
Wednesday, Dec. 8
Monday, Dec. 13
Saturday, Dec. 18
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