On February 11th, the State Assembly passed AB 704 on a unanimous 99-0 vote and sent the bill to the Senate. The bill, and companion Senate Bill 539, was introduced by Legislative leadership at the request of Governor Scott Walker. The legislation would increase funding for the state highway rehabilitation program by $43,025,700 this year […]
Assembly Passes Asbestos Trust Fund Transparency
Date Thu, Mar. 20, 2014 - 12:00am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Senate on Wednesday, March 12 passed asbestos trust fund transparency legislation (AB 19). The bill passed on a party-line vote (17-16). The bill was amended and was passed by the Assembly late this week. This is a significant victory for Wisconsin businesses. This legislation forces plaintiff attorneys filing asbestos lawsuits in Wisconsin courts to […]
Senate Passes AB 19 Providing Transparency in Trust Fund Legislation
Date Wed, Mar. 12, 2014 - 12:03pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Senate on Wednesday, March 12, passed asbestos trust fund transparency legislation (AB 19). The bill passed on a party-line vote (17-16). The bill was amended and therefore needs to go back to the Assembly for final concurrence. Below is a summary of the legislation: Requires asbestos plaintiffs to disclose any and all claims […]
Legislative Update: Roundabouts, Tax Credits, and Leadership Shifts
Date Tue, Mar. 11, 2014 - 3:02pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin Rewable Energy Act Introduced Despite its sweeping policies, the Wisconsin Renewable Energy Act was recently introduced with muted fanfare and debate that reflects its likely demise. Fair to say: too late, too much, and wrong party. Introduced by Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona), Rep. Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point), and Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine), the legislation […]
Walmart Visits State Capitol
Date Mon, Mar. 10, 2014 - 12:02pm By Hamilton
Nearly 100 members of management teams and suppliers at Walmart visited the Wisconsin State Capitol this week to speak about growth in jobs in the US. Members meet with for breakfast and seminars with Walmart suppliers to discuss the current business climate and priorities for job creation. Members meet with Representative Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam). […]
Oral Argument for Voter ID Cases in Wisconsin
Date Fri, Mar. 7, 2014 - 11:36am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme court held oral argument for the Voter ID cases last week. The two cases, League of Women Voters v. Scott Walker and Milwaukee Branch of the NAACP v. Scott Walker challenge the constitutionality of the laws in Wisconsin requireing that one present a photo identification at the ballot. Tidbits covered the background […]
Nonmetallic Mining Property Rights Protection Bill
Date Fri, Mar. 7, 2014 - 11:08am By Hamilton
Senator Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) and Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) introduced legislation on February 26th that would secure legal nonconforming use rights for existing nonmetallic mining operations. The Senate bill was passed by the Senate Committee (3-2), and is now available for a vote on the Senate floor. Under current law, a zoning ordinance may not […]
Act Amending Wisconsin’s Lemon Law Goes into Effect
Date Thu, Mar. 6, 2014 - 6:11pm By Hamilton
2013 Wisconsin Act 101, which amends Wisconsin’s lemon law, went into effect on March 1. Prior to Act 101, Wisconsin notoriously had one of the worst lemon laws in the country. The law placed unreasonable and unworkable requirements on vehicle manufacturers that allows lawyers like self-proclaimed “Lemon Law King,” Vince Megna, to win outsized awards […]
Supreme Court Hears Case on Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Date Thu, Mar. 6, 2014 - 6:05pm By Hamilton
Supreme Court Hears Case Determining Scope of EPA’s Authority to Regulate Greenhouse Gas Emissions under Clean Air Act On Monday, February 24, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for the case Utility Air Regulatory Group v. Environmental Protection Agency.This is the first case since the Court’s Massachusetts v. EPA opinion to address the EPA’s authority […]
Lt. Governor Kleefisch Discusses Tax Reform Roundtables
Date Thu, Mar. 6, 2014 - 5:43pm By Hamilton
On Feb. 19th, 2014, WisconsinEye sernior producer Steve Walters hosted a Newsmakers Interview with Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch. They discussed the upcoming tax reforms in the State of Wisconsin. The interview concentrated largely on the new tax reform roundtables, which are held throughout the state to gather input from Wisconsin citizens. Kleefisch also discussed an […]