Moore v. Zurich American Insurance Co. (Duty to Defend & Indemnify)

In Moore v. Zurich American Insurance Co. (2017AP781), the Court of Appeals District I, interpreting Ohio law, held that one corporation had no duty to defend and indemnify another corporation under their contract. Konecranes, Inc. and Badger Alloys, Inc. entered into a contract for Konecranes to perform heavy equipment lifting for sand foundry Badger. A […]

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JFC Finishes Budget Votes

The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) has wrapped up its work on the 2019-21 state budget, rounding out the committee process with votes on Medicaid, taxes and transportation over the past few weeks. With an amended budget approved by JFC, the budget now goes to the full Legislature. Legislative leadership said in a post-JFC press conference […]

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June 13 – JFC Wraps Up Budget Votes With Tax Cut Plan

JFC reconvened on June 13 for the last of its votes on the 2019-21 state budget: taxes. The JFC-approved tax plan includes a $322 million middle class tax cut, with the majority of the credit going to individuals with incomes of $150,000 or less. The motion (Motion #150), passed 12-4 along party lines, also includes […]

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June 11 – JFC Takes Up CAFOs, Building Projects & More in Second-To-Last Exec

Under the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Democrats moved to adopt the governor’s proposals, including providing five positions to regulate CAFOs and increasing Wisconsin pollution discharge elimination system permit fees for CAFOs by over $300. However, the committee instead voted 12-4 along party lines to convert four vacant Department of Natural Resources […]

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June 6 – Senate & Assembly Reach Compromise on Transportation; Other JFC Votes Include PSC, OCI, DOJ

The focus of the June 6 executive session was one of this session’s (and previous budgets’) most contentious issues: transportation. After deliberations between the Senate and Assembly Republican caucuses, JFC approved a $484 million transportation plan that increases fees but does not increase the gas tax, as proposed by Gov. Evers. The transportation motion, approved […]

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June 4 – JFC Passes Medicaid Budget

JFC passed an omnibus motion on the Department of Health Services (DHS) budget, specifically addressing Medicaid, public health, FoodShare, behavioral health, and quality assurance. Overall, the motion spends: $187 million (in all funds) less than the governor’s proposal in 2019-20. $1.6 billion (in all funds) more in 2019-20 compared to the base year doubled. As […]

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Marketplace Providers Tax Bill Advances in Committees

Legislation from Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) and Sen. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) is advancing in the Wisconsin Legislature that would make clarifications related to the collection of online sales taxes from out-of-state retailers. The bill comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 in  South Dakota v. Wayfair that states may collect online sales tax […]

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Water Quality Task Force Meets in Mauston & La Crosse

The Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality convened for two more meetings this week in Mauston and La Crosse. In La Crosse on June 13, the task force first heard from the Wisconsin Rural Water Association (WRWA). Overall, WRWA emphasized that the task force should recognize that water issues and regulations affect small rural systems […]

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Floor Report: Senate Approves Step Therapy, E-Scooters

The Senate met for floor votes on June 5, taking up a number of issues including drug step therapy protocols, electric scooters, and abortion-related bills. The Assembly plans to meet next on June 18 and June 20.  Budget votes in the Senate or Assembly will also likely take place later this month, as the 2019-21 […]

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Wisconsin Supreme Court Reinstates Extraordinary Session Laws in SEIU Case

On June 11, the Wisconsin Supreme Court granted a stay on the temporary injunction in the extraordinary session challenge SEIU v. Vos, reinstating provisions of the legislation that had been blocked by a Dane County Circuit Court. Additionally, the Supreme Court stayed proceedings on the case in the lower court, cancelling the trial on guidance document […]

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