Department of Transportation (DOT) secretary-designee Craig Thompson, at the direction of Gov. Evers, has assembled a bipartisan transportation budget task force. The Transportation Stakeholder Task Force includes municipalities and counties, business and construction groups, tourism entities, and legislators from both Republican and Democrat legislators (full list of members). The task force has met twice to […]
LFB Issues Updated Revenue Estimates
Date Thu, Feb. 7, 2019 - 12:22pm By Hamilton
On Nov. 20, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) issued updated revenue and expenditure projections for the current 2018-19 fiscal year and the upcoming 2019-21 biennium. These estimates set the stage for the state’s fiscal position as Gov. Tony Evers prepares the 2019-21 state budget. Ending the current fiscal year, LFB projects the state will end […]
Get to Know a Freshman: Reps. Kurtz, Myers, Oldenburg & Ramthun
Date Thu, Feb. 7, 2019 - 10:04am By Hamilton
Eighteen new members were officially inaugurated into the Wisconsin Legislature on Jan. 7, 2019. Over the next several weeks, HCG will highlight each new member of the legislature. This week, meet Reps. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc), LaKeshia Myers (D-Milwaukee), Loren Oldenburg (R-Viroqua) and Timothy Ramthun (R-Campbellsport). Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) Rep. Kurtz, representing District 50, is a […]
PSC Begins Rulemaking on Renewable Resource Credits, Declines to Promulgate Large-Scale Solar Rules
Date Thu, Feb. 7, 2019 - 9:53am By Hamilton
Renewable Resource Credits The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) has begun rulemaking related to renewable resource credits. The proposed rule would conform Wis. Admin. Code PSC 118 to incorporate changes from a bill enacted last session (2017 Wisconsin Act 53). Act 53 changed the definition of a renewable resource to include heat that is […]
EPA Won’t Regulate PFAS
Date Tue, Feb. 5, 2019 - 2:19pm By Hamilton
The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will not regulate PFAS chemicals, according to a recent report from Politico. While EPA’s PFAS (specifically, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) plan has not yet been released, it is reported to leave PFAS off the federal water quality testing requirements for utilities under the Safe Drinking Water Act. However, the […]
AG Kaul Asks Legislature for Approval to Withdraw from ACA Lawsuit
Date Fri, Feb. 1, 2019 - 12:06pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has sent a letter to the legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance (JFC), requesting authorization to withdraw the state from multistate litigation seeking to declare the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. The request to withdraw comes after a back and forth between Gov. Tony Evers, Kaul, and the legislature regarding the governor’s […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court February Oral Arguments
Date Fri, Feb. 1, 2019 - 12:04pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has released its calendar of oral arguments for February 2019. There will be several notable cases argued this month, addressing issues including medical malpractice, crime insurance, governmental immunity, and the federal Communications Decency Act. Cases of interest include: Leicht Transfer & Storage Co. v. Pallet Central Enterprises, Inc. (Crime Insurance […]
Koss Corp. v. Park Bank (Liability for Embezzlement)
Date Fri, Feb. 1, 2019 - 12:02pm By Hamilton
In Koss Corp. v. Park Bank (2019 WI 7), the Wisconsin Supreme Court found that Park Bank was not liable for failing to protect Koss Corp. from its executive’s embezzlement. The court issued a plurality opinion written by Chief Justice Roggensack and Justice Ziegler, with a concurring opinion by Justices Anne Walsh Bradley, Abrahamson, and […]
Steadfast Insurance Co. v. Greenwich Insurance Co. (Duty to Defend)
Date Fri, Feb. 1, 2019 - 12:02pm By Hamilton
In Steadfast Insurance Co. v. Greenwich Insurance Co. (2019 WI 6), the Wisconsin Supreme Court said a previous insurer had a duty to defend Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) for losses related to a rain event that occurred when MMSD had coverage with a subsequent insurer. MMSD contracted with private companies to operate and maintain […]
Lee Quality Home Care LLC v. DHS (DHS Authority)
Date Fri, Feb. 1, 2019 - 12:01pm By Hamilton
In Lee Quality Home Care LLC v. DHS (2017AP1216), the Court of Appeals District IV held that the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has the authority to recoup payments from a personal care provider for services performed by workers not trained according to DHS rules. First, the court affirmed that the plaintiff Lee Quality […]