The Joint Finance Committee acted this week on several special session bills as part of Wisconsin’s Heroin, Opiate, Prevention and Education (HOPE) Agenda. Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) introduced 11 special session bills in late February, and committee hearings took place in March. We anticipate the legislature will be on the floor the first week of […]
Bills of Note: High Capacity Wells
Date Fri, Mar. 31, 2017 - 10:17am By Hamilton
Sen. Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) introduced legislation (SB 76) in February that would change laws regulating the repair, replacement, reconstruction or transfer of high capacity wells. Rep. Gary Tauchen (R-Bonduel) introduced its counterpart AB 105 in the Assembly. The bill would eliminate the need for the Department of Natural Resources to provide additional approval […]
Marquette Law School Poll Released
Date Fri, Mar. 31, 2017 - 10:16am By Hamilton
On Wednesday, March 22, Marquette University Law School released its latest poll that compiled interviews with 800 registered Wisconsin voters between March 13-16, 2017. The poll gauged public opinion of Wisconsin and nationally elected officials, as well as pertinent issues circulating at the state and national level. President Trump’s approval rating among registered voters was […]
Statewide Elections: April 4
Date Fri, Mar. 31, 2017 - 10:14am By Hamilton
On Tuesday, April 4, a series of state races will be on the ballot for Wisconsin voters to determine. Most notably, Wisconsin’s race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction places incumbent Tony Evers against Lowell Holtz, former superintendent from the Whitnall School District who advocates for school choice programs. Evers has held the position since […]
School Start Date Legislation Re-emerges
Date Fri, Mar. 10, 2017 - 10:09am By Hamilton
It was less than 20 years ago when the tourism industry successfully lobbied the legislature to pass a law that required schools to start on or after Sept. 1. Since its implementation, the industry has had to defend why this policy change has been good for the state of Wisconsin. Sen. Alberta Darling (R – […]
LFB Releases Budget Summary
Date Fri, Mar. 10, 2017 - 9:37am By Hamilton
This week, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a summary of Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed 2017-2019 state budget. The LFB budget summary provides a plain language detail of Walker’s budget and will serve as the guide as the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) begin their review of the budget. Following the release of the analysis, a tentative […]
Bills of Note: Leading on Lead
Date Fri, Mar. 10, 2017 - 9:32am By Hamilton
Sen. Cowles (R – Green Bay) and Rep. Thiesfeldt (R – Fond du Lac) recently introduced SB 48/AB 78, called “Leading on Lead Act.” The bill has received significant bipartisan support, with a total of 47 co-sponsors supporting the authors’ efforts. The bill allows water utilities to provide financial assistance to remove private lead laterals. […]
Floor Report: March 7 and March 9
Date Fri, Mar. 10, 2017 - 9:30am By Hamilton
Both houses of the Wisconsin State Legislature were on the floor this week to take up a variety of bills. The Assembly and Senate convened on Tuesday, March 7 and the Assembly went back in on Thursday, March 9. Below is a summary of some of the highlights. On Tuesday, the Senate voted on Senate […]
Special Session Bills Update
Date Fri, Mar. 10, 2017 - 9:26am By Hamilton
Rep. John Nygren (R – Marinette), co-chair of the Governor’s Task Force on Opioid Abuse, and a leader on Heroin, Opiate, Prevention, and Education (HOPE) Agenda, introduced 11 special session bills on opioid abuse in late February. Companion bills were also introduced in the Senate. Assembly and Senate Committees have begun to hold hearings and […]
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce Host Annual Business Day
Date Fri, Mar. 10, 2017 - 9:21am By Hamilton
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce held the 16th annual Business Day in Madison on March 1 at the Monona Terrace. Nearly 1,000 attendees heard from speakers from around the nation on business and political affairs topics. This year’s keynote speaker was Hugh Hewitt, nationally syndicated talk show host and commentator. Hewitt praised Wisconsin’s successful business climate […]