The Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin staff, as they have in previous sessions, have drafted a bill of modest process reforms for consideration by the legislature. This session, PSC staff are working legislation to: Exempt from the need for PSC approval a rebuild of an existing transmission line (and associated facilities) provided that not […]
Gov. Walker’s Steering Committee on Driverless Cars Meets
Date Fri, Oct. 27, 2017 - 9:31am By Hamilton
In May 2017, Gov. Scott Walker issued an executive order creating a committee on driverless cars. The governor’s Steering Committee on Autonomous and Connected Vehicle Testing and Deployment convened for the second time on Oct. 18 to discuss Wisconsin’s current statutes surrounding driverless cars and examples from other states. After introductions of committee members, the […]
Marquette Law School October Poll Released
Date Fri, Oct. 27, 2017 - 9:22am By Hamilton
On Oct. 24, Marquette University (MU) Law School released its latest poll. In contrast to its usual compilation of interviews statewide, this poll focused on residents of Milwaukee and surrounding counties. Survey respondents had mixed opinions when asked about the Foxconn plant for which the legislature approved a tax incentive package in September. 38 percent […]
State Finishes Fiscal Year 2017 With $579 Million Surplus
Date Fri, Oct. 27, 2017 - 9:18am By Hamilton
On Oct. 15, the Department of Administration (DOA) released the Annual Fiscal Report detailing the fiscal condition for fiscal year 2016-17 (FY 17), which ended June 30, 2017. The state ended the year with a general fund balance of $579 million. This is $112 million more than the projected closing balance estimated in the budget […]
Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Wisconsin Redistricting Case
Date Fri, Oct. 13, 2017 - 11:14am By Hamilton
On Tuesday, Oct. 3, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Gill v. Whitford, the legal challenge to Wisconsin Republicans’ redistricting map brought by Democratic voters against officials of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. In their questioning, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch suggested the challengers may not have legal standing […]
Dane County Judge Vacates DNR-Approved Agricultural Well Permits
Date Fri, Oct. 13, 2017 - 11:13am By Hamilton
On October 11, Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn, Dane County Circuit Court, vacated seven high-capacity well permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and remanded another. Clean Wisconsin convinced the court DNR had a public trust duty to deny the permits despite no statutory language that requires such action. Clean Wisconsin filed the suit […]
Bills of Note: Unemployment Insurance
Date Fri, Oct. 13, 2017 - 9:19am By Hamilton
In September, Sen. Stephen Nass (R-Whitewater) and Rep. Bob Kulp (R-Stratford) introduced a bill (SB 399/AB 516) that would make various changes to unemployment insurance law in Wisconsin, which is administered by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). The bill is the agreed bill between labor and management members of the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council […]
Family Medical Leave Reform To Be Introduced
Date Fri, Oct. 13, 2017 - 9:13am By Hamilton
Sen. Alberta Darling (R – River Hills) and Reps. Joan Ballweg (R – Markesan) and Mike Rohrkaste (R – Neenah) sent out a cosponsorship memo last week asking for support of their federalization of Wisconsin’s Family Medical Leave Law (FMLA). Wisconsin passed their FMLA law in 1988 under Gov. Thompson prior to President Clinton signing […]
Worker’s Comp Advisory Council Meets on Proposed Bill
Date Fri, Oct. 13, 2017 - 8:49am By Hamilton
On Oct. 4, the Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council met to discuss a draft bill of their agreed upon proposals to the legislature. The draft bill includes a variety of rate increases and other small items, but the most significant component is the inclusion of a medical fee schedule. At the meeting, the Council approved the […]
Hire Heroes Program Receives Hearings
Date Fri, Oct. 13, 2017 - 8:47am By Hamilton
WPS employee and veteran Timothy LaSage testified in favor of the Hire Heroes bills moving through the legislature. LaSage, a retired 1st Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and two-time Purple Heart recipient, spoke in favor of the bill that requires the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) to establish a program to provide transitional jobs […]