Bipartisan legislation to create a new “Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Trail” through Wisconsin will be on the floor of the Assembly next week, where it is expected to pass. Assembly Bill 512/Senate Bill 384, introduced by Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville), Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine), and Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), will direct the Department of […]
Legislation Would Support New Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Trail
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:40am By Hamilton
Legislature Running Out of Time
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:26am By Hamilton
The legislative session is quickly winding down and legislators are rushing to get their bills done before they head home for campaign season. Just this week 34 committee hearings and meetings were held in the capitol. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has repeatedly said the Assembly will wrap up its work in February. State representatives will […]
Legislation to Allow Out-of-State Companies to Purchase Water & Sewer Utilities Advances
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:24am By Hamilton
A bill (AB 554/SB 432) that creates a process for out-of-state utility companies to purchase or lease sewer utilities in Wisconsin is advancing through the legislature. Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and Senator Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) introduced the legislation in December. The Assembly passed AB 554 on a voice vote in January. Last week, […]
U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble Announces Retirement
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:21am By Hamilton
U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble announced his decision not to seek reelection to the 8th Congressional District, which covers large areas of northeast Wisconsin. Elected to the House of Representatives in 2010, Ribble had previously announced he would not serve for longer than eight years, so a retirement announcement was not expected until 2018. Rep. Ribble […]
Don’t Forget to Vote! Supreme Court Primary – Feb. 16
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:19am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court Primary will be held on Tuesday, February 16. Incumbent Rebecca Bradley, Joseph Donald and Joanne Kloppenburg will face off to determine the top two candidates who will advance to the April 5 general election. The winner of the general election earns a 10 year term to replace Justice N. Patrick Crooks, […]
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of FERC
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:18am By Hamilton
On January 25, 2016 the Supreme Court decided the case FERC v. Electric Power Supply Association. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has authority under the Federal Power Act (FPA) to regulate the wholesale interstate transmission and sale of electricity. FERC enacted an order which attempted to incentivize a reduction in energy consumption by retail […]
Win, Lose, Draw: Iowa Caucus 2016
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:16am By Hamilton
Up until now, the presidential election has been all poll numbers and speculation, but now we finally have our first results from the 2016 Iowa caucus on Monday night. In the Republican caucus, Sen. Ted Cruz “won,” although he only earned one more delegate than Donald Trump and Sen. Marco Rubio, who came in second […]
#GiveADamn
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:15am By Hamilton
Super Bowl week is finally here! It’s hard to believe that it’s been 50 years since the start of this great American tradition. We also know people like to enjoy the game with good friends and great beers, which makes it an important time to talk about responsible drinking. Budweiser will be using advertising’s […]
Collateral Source Bill Passes Committee
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:12am By Hamilton
Companion bills, Assembly Bill 539/Senate Bill 405, introduced by Senator Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Representative Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin), would allow evidence of payments to be submitted as evidence in personal injury or underinsured motorist cases when a jury must decide on the reasonable value of a claim. The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public […]
Bills to Overturn Nuclear Moratorium Get Hearings
Date Fri, Jan. 22, 2016 - 11:46am By Hamilton
AB 384, introduced by Rep. Ken Petersen (R-Waupaca) and SB 288, introduced by Sen. Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) would end the moratorium on nuclear power plants in the state of Wisconsin. The moratorium, 1983 Wisconsin Act 401, was put in place following the Three Mile Island plant accident in 1979. At public hearings for both […]