Hamilton Consulting Group Announces New Leadership Team

Former Deputy Attorney General Andy Cook has rejoined The Hamilton Consulting Group as a lobbyist and owner of the firm. Cook spent six years at Hamilton Consulting prior to becoming Attorney General Brad Schimel’s Deputy. He most recently served as a senior member of Michael Best Strategies. Cook has a national reputation for his work […]

Continue Reading ›

Senate Committee to Vote to Introduce Worker’s Compensation Bill

The Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform will vote by paper ballot Tuesday on whether to introduce, as a committee, LRB 4563, legislation proposed by the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council (WCAC). The bill is the biennial agreement between management and labor for reform in the worker’s compensation system. Although the committee will likely […]

Continue Reading ›

2017 Year in Review

The 103rd legislature kicked off in January of 2017. Our Year in Review timeline covers highlights from the Wisconsin capitol this year. Click to activate the graphic.

Continue Reading ›

Three Special Elections Set for Dec. 19th Across Wisconsin

While none of the Wisconsin special elections are garnering a fraction of the attention as the recent U.S. Senate race in Alabama, there are a couple interesting primaries taking place on Tuesday. The most interesting is the Republican primary to replace outgoing Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) in the northwest Wisconsin 10th Senate District.  The […]

Continue Reading ›

Gov. Walker Writes Letters to Congress on CHIP, HIT

Last week, Gov. Scott Walker sent letters to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) regarding the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The first letter, dated Dec. 1, asked the leaders to “support legislation that would suspend the Affordable Care Act’s Health Insurance […]

Continue Reading ›

Sen. Stroebel Appointed to JFC

Last week, Sen. Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) named Sen. Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) to the Joint Finance Committee (JFC). Stroebel replaces former Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls), who recently resigned after Gov. Scott Walker appointed her Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection secretary. Many view Stroebel’s appointment to the committee as a nod to […]

Continue Reading ›

DOR Releases FY2018 First Quarter Tax Collections

On Dec. 1, the Department of Revenue released the FY 2018 first quarter tax collections. Overall, collections from the first quarter of FY 2018 were up 2.1 percent over the first quarter last year. This is attributed mainly to a 6.2 percent increase in general sales and use taxes. Corporate income and other (estate, utility, […]

Continue Reading ›

Signed by Governor: Criminal Justice, Mining

Signed by Governor: Criminal Justice, Mining

Gov. Scott Walker signed several bills into law over the past two weeks, traveling across the state to highlight bills that reform the criminal justice system and open the state to nonferrous mining. On Dec. 9, Walker signed eight bills (Acts 124-131), including bills that create criminal penalties for patronizing prostitutes, a bill prohibiting adults […]

Continue Reading ›

Gov. Walker Announces Staff Changes

Gov. Scott Walker announced several staff changes in his administration last week. Heather Smith, formerly deputy chief of staff for budget, legislative, and intergovernmental affairs, will move to Medicaid director and administrator of division of Medicaid services, replacing Michael Heifetz, who resigned this week. Jack Jablonski, formerly deputy chief of staff for communications, will become […]

Continue Reading ›

State Medicaid Director Resigns

State Medicaid Director Michael Heifetz resigned on Wednesday after just over a year in the role. Gov. Scott Walker has moved Heather Smith, his former deputy chief of staff for budget, legislative, and intergovernmental affairs, to the position, effective Jan. 8. Before his position as Medicaid director, Heifetz served as state budget director and was […]

Continue Reading ›