The Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) released a memo last week revealing a $94 million increase in the balance of the state’s transportation fund. LFB had originally estimated the 2017-19 biennium-ending fund balance at $8.4 million. However, mainly due to projections of higher fuel tax revenues and lower debt service costs, LFB re-estimated the fund balance […]
Wisconsin Democrats Hold State Democratic Convention
Date Thu, Jun. 8, 2017 - 4:50pm By Hamilton
Democrats in Wisconsin gathered on June 2-3 in Middleton for the annual state Democratic Convention. Over 1,000 attendees met to hear from the state’s Democratic leaders. The convention focused on recovering from Democratic losses in the 2016 election and energizing supporters for the upcoming races in 2018, including elections for governor and for incumbent U.S. […]
Signed by Governor: High Capacity Wells
Date Thu, Jun. 8, 2017 - 4:46pm By Hamilton
On Thursday, June 1, Gov. Scott Walker signed into law 2017 Wisconsin Act 10 that changes statutes regarding the repair, replacement, reconstruction or transfer of high capacity wells. The legislation, authored by Sen. Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) eliminates the need for the Department of Natural Resources to provide additional approval for an owner of […]
Welcome, Paige Scobee!
Date Thu, Jun. 8, 2017 - 4:43pm By Hamilton
The Hamilton Consulting Group is pleased to announce Paige Scobee as our new Communications and Government Relations Manager! Paige started as an intern last fall and officially started full-time on May 22. Paige graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in journalism and Latin. While in school, Paige wrote for The Observatory, and was […]
Bills of Note: Constitutional Convention
Date Thu, Jun. 8, 2017 - 4:32pm By Hamilton
The Assembly is set to vote next week on a resolution that calls for a constitutional convention. SJR 18/AJR 21, authored by Sen. Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Rep. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown), proposes that Wisconsin apply to Congress for the calling of a constitutional convention to create an amendment requiring the federal government to operate under […]
JFC Continues Budget Votes (May 16-25)
Date Fri, May. 26, 2017 - 10:04am By Hamilton
May 16 Kicking off the third week of executive sessions, on Tuesday, May 16 the Joint Finance Committee continued to take votes on pieces of Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2017-19 budget. The May 16 session included issues in Elections Commission, Ethics Commission, general items in the Department of Administration, care and treatment services in the […]
Gov. Walker Issues Executive Order on Driverless Cars
Date Thu, May. 25, 2017 - 3:08pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker issued an executive order last week that creates a committee on autonomous vehicles. The Steering Committee on Autonomous and Connected Vehicle Testing and Deployment will advise the governor on how best to advance the testing and operation of such vehicles in Wisconsin. According to the order, the committee will identify and coordinate […]
Bills of Note: Credit Card Skimmers
Date Thu, May. 25, 2017 - 3:04pm By Hamilton
Sen. Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Rep. Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer) recently introduced a bill (SB 133/AB 196) that would criminalize credit card skimmers in Wisconsin. Credit card skimmers are small electronic devices that can be attached to card readers or ATMs that collect credit card information and lead to identity theft. The bill makes it […]
Wisconsin Tourism Economy Continues to Grow
Date Thu, May. 25, 2017 - 3:00pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin’s tourism economy increased to $20 billion in 2016, up $700 million from 2015, according to an annual study commissioned by the Department of Tourism. Direct visitor spending statewide increased 3.3 percent to over $12 billion as the number of visitors to the state rose from 2015. Altogether, the tourism industry supported 190,000 jobs, accounting […]
Wisconsin Republicans Hold State GOP Convention
Date Thu, May. 25, 2017 - 2:53pm By Hamilton
Republicans in Wisconsin gathered on May 12-13 in Wisconsin Dells for the annual state GOP convention. About 600 attendees met in Wisconsin Dells to hear from the state’s Republican leaders. The convention focused on celebrating the Wisconsin GOP’s victories in the 2016 election, such as U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson’s re-election and Wisconsin’s vote for President […]