Environmental Improvement Fund, Telecommunications for Schools, IT Consolidation, Legal Services, Property Tax, Public Works, School Levy Tax The Joint Finance Committee continues to work their way through the governor’s budget. Below are the highlights of JFC votes from this week. Read last week’s JFC actions here. Environmental Improvement Fund The Environmental Improvement Fund includes two […]
LFB: No Additional Revenue Projected
Date Fri, May. 15, 2015 - 10:25am By Hamilton
After weeks of optimistically waiting for new revenue numbers from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB), legislators were faced with the bleak reality: there is no new revenue projected for the 2015-2017 budget. In the LFB memo to the members of the Joint Finance Committee, the LFB director explained that even if there was additional revenue […]
Senate and Assembly Meet: Pass TIF and Foodshare Bills
Date Fri, May. 15, 2015 - 10:10am By Hamilton
Since the last edition of Political Tidbits, both the State Senate and State Assembly have met on the floor to pass and debate a number of bills. Last week, the Senate unanimously passed four bills that came out of the Joint Legislative Council Study Committee on Tax Increment Financing Study Committee. This includes Senate Bill […]
WEDC & WHEDA Merger Called Off
Date Fri, May. 15, 2015 - 10:08am By Hamilton
In the previous edition of Political Tidbits we detailed the just released bill draft that would merge the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) into one agency, the Forward Wisconsin Development Authority (FWDA). Last Friday, Governor Walker issued a press release requesting legislators to remove the WEDC and […]
Bills of Note: Changing the Rules
Date Fri, May. 15, 2015 - 10:05am By Hamilton
In this week’s edition of Bills of Note, we provide an update on the ride-sharing bill, a description of major reforms being circulated to change Wisconsin administrating rule-making processes, and a bill that would increase funding for law enforcement grants. Ride-Sharing Bill A bill we introduced in Bills of Note in mid-April has quickly gone […]
Sen. Farrow Resignation to Take Effect July 17
Date Fri, May. 1, 2015 - 10:42am By Hamilton
Senator Paul Farrow (R-Pewaukee) is resigning from the 33rd Senate District seat he holds as of July 17, 2015, to become Waukesha County Executive. Read his resignation letter, released today, below:
DNR’s Coolest Fish Contest
Date Fri, May. 1, 2015 - 8:58am By Hamilton
“Does a lake sturgeon beat a bowfin, a burbot beat a sauger?” The Department of Natural Resources is holding an online contest to determine which fish really is the coolest. Head to the Wisconsin DNR’s Facebook page and you can vote for your favorite fish.
National Expert on Broadband, Susan Crawford, to Visit Madison
Date Fri, May. 1, 2015 - 8:53am By Hamilton
National expert on broadband policy, Susan Crawford, will be speaking in Madison on May 11 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Monona Terrace. Crawford is well-known in Internet and technology circles and is widely regarded as the expert in broadband and telecommunications policy. She works with local leaders – mayors, chief technology officers, city […]
3M Day on the Hill
Date Fri, May. 1, 2015 - 8:51am By Hamilton
3M Company held their Wisconsin Day on the Hill recently and met with many legislators and agency personnel to discuss issues relating to manufacturing, transportation and corrections. Attendees, which included plant managers from around Wisconsin, heard presentations for Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Mark Gottlieb, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau), Shelly Harkins from the […]
Bills of Note: Mergers and the TIF Bill Package
Date Fri, May. 1, 2015 - 8:43am By Hamilton
This week in The Hamilton Consulting Group’s Bills of Note series, we provide you with an update on the status of each bill in the tax increment financing (TIF) bill package. In addition, we included an overview of the bill to merge the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) and the Wisconsin Economic Development […]