The Wisconsin legislature is nearing the finish line of the 2017-18 session. The Assembly met on Feb. 20, 21, and 22 in what is expected to be their final floor votes of the year. The Senate met on Feb. 20 and is scheduled to come in on March 20 to begin their final calendar. With […]
Floor Report: Assembly Wraps Up Session, What’s Left in the Senate
Date Thu, Mar. 1, 2018 - 3:30pm By Hamilton
Governor’s AV Committee Meets to Discuss Insurance Issues
Date Thu, Mar. 1, 2018 - 3:26pm By Hamilton
On Feb. 28, the Governor’s Steering Committee on Autonomous and Connected Vehicle Testing and Deployment convened for their fifth meeting. The Committee is charged with developing a report by June 30 to the governor regarding their findings and recommendations on autonomous vehicle (AV) policies in Wisconsin. The meeting began with a quick review of the […]
Wisconsin, 19 Other States File ACA Lawsuit
Date Thu, Mar. 1, 2018 - 2:22pm By Hamilton
Led by Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a coalition of 20 states have filed a lawsuit against the federal government over the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The lawsuit urges the federal district court to rule the ACA unconstitutional and enjoin the operation of the entire law. Congress repealed the […]
Health Care Workforce Briefing at the Capitol
Date Thu, Mar. 1, 2018 - 10:20am By Hamilton
On Feb. 21, the Evidence-Based Health Policy Project, based out of University of Wisconsin – Madison, held a briefing in the state Capitol on policies to support the health care workforce in Wisconsin. The briefing began with an introduction from Sen. Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Workforce Development, […]
Xcel Energy Legislative Day 2018
Date Thu, Mar. 1, 2018 - 10:16am By Hamilton
Xcel Energy held their 18th annual Legislative Day in Madison on Feb. 27. Xcel Wisconsin-Michigan President Mark Stoering and Regional Government Affairs Director Matt Pagel welcomed attendees at Monona Terrace. Then, Gov. Scott Walker addressed the group, honoring Xcel for their commitment to hiring veterans. Following Walker, Public Service Commissioner Lon Roberts discussed workforce training […]
Bills of Note: Health Care
Date Fri, Feb. 16, 2018 - 11:19am By Hamilton
In his State of the State address, Gov. Scott Walker proposed a Health Care Stability Plan to keep premiums down and create more choices for consumers in Wisconsin. Walker’s plan includes a $200 million reinsurance program and a pre-existing conditions exclusion bill. Other health care initiatives for 2018 include employer group plans, breast density notification, […]
Floor Report: Legislature Moves Forward with Gov. Walker’s Tax, Education, Welfare Plans
Date Fri, Feb. 16, 2018 - 11:07am By Hamilton
Following the Democratic Senate seat win in the January special elections, Gov. Scott Walker, in his State of the State address, unveiled an ambitious legislative agenda for the remainder of the 2017-18 session. The agenda includes a child tax credit, money for rural schools and economic development, a health care stability plan, and welfare reform. […]
Walmart Capitol Day 2018 Focuses on Minimum Markup Repeal
Date Fri, Feb. 16, 2018 - 11:05am By Hamilton
Almost 100 Walmart store managers from across Wisconsin met on Feb. 14 for their annual Capitol Day. This year’s event focused on the Unfair Sales Act, a bill from Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield) and Rep. Jim Ott (R-Mequon) that provides exemptions for prescription drugs and general merchandise under Wisconsin’s Unfair Sales Act. Those exemptions would […]
Bills of Note: “Alcohol Czar”
Date Fri, Feb. 16, 2018 - 11:03am By Hamilton
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) introduced a bill (SB 801) that would create an Office of Alcohol Beverages Enforcement attached to the Department of Revenue. The Office would oversee alcohol regulation, enforcement, and permitting. The bill also creates a resort manufacturer permit issued by the Office that authorizes production and sale of alcohol outside […]
Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Worker’s Compensation Bill
Date Fri, Feb. 16, 2018 - 10:01am By Hamilton
The Senate Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform held a public hearing on Feb. 14 on SB 665, legislation proposed by the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Advisory Council. The bill is the biennial agreement between management and labor for reform in the worker’s compensation system. At the hearing, several groups testified in favor of the bill. […]