The Assembly and Senate both met this month, taking up legislation on a wide range of issues – from law enforcement to health care to environmental protection. After January, Assembly leadership has indicated that the Assembly will meet two more times before adjourning at the end of February. The Senate will likely meet once in […]
HOPE Agenda Bills Advance in Legislature
Date Mon, Jan. 27, 2020 - 11:21am By Hamilton
Several bills from Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) and various co-authors to address substance use disorder are making their way through the Legislature, with six bills passing on the Assembly floor and several moving in the Senate health committee. In addition to the legislation, Rep. Nygren joined several health plans for a press conference on Jan. […]
Business Day in Madison – Feb. 26
Date Mon, Jan. 27, 2020 - 10:19am By Hamilton
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce’s Business Day in Madison is a must-attend event for business leaders from around Wisconsin. Make sure to register for this year’s conference on February 26th and find out any info you need here: https://www.wmc.org/event/business-day-in-madison/
More Legislators Announce 2020 Plans
Date Thu, Jan. 23, 2020 - 3:10pm By Hamilton
Over the past few weeks, more legislators have begun announcing their plans for the 2020 election cycle. Several legislators are retiring, while others are making the jump from the state legislature to Congress or from the state Assembly to state Senate. Sen. Mark Miller (D-Monona) announced he won’t run for re-election in 2020. Miller has […]
Gov. Evers Delivers Second State of the State Address
Date Thu, Jan. 23, 2020 - 2:41pm By Hamilton
Gov. Tony Evers gave his second State of the State address on Jan. 22. In his speech, the Governor highlighted what he saw as successes in 2019, including several bipartisan bills signed into law, creation of a task force on climate change, and investments in transportation, education, and a middle class tax cut in the […]
2020 State of the State: Republican Response
Date Thu, Jan. 23, 2020 - 2:36pm By Hamilton
Senate President Roger Roth (R-Appleton) gave the Republican response to Gov. Tony Evers’s second State of the State address on Jan. 22. Roth highlighted the Legislature’s success in the 2019-21 state budget, which he praised as funding priorities like transportation, health care, and education without increasing taxes. Roth criticized the governor for his vetoes of […]
Senate Committee Holds Hearing on CARES Act to Eliminate Workforce Barriers for PAs
Date Thu, Jan. 23, 2020 - 2:20pm By Hamilton
On Jan. 15, the Senate Committee on Elections, Ethics & Rural Issues held a public hearing on the Collaboration and Rural Expansion of Services (CARES) Act (SB 515/AB 575), which would update Wisconsin statutes related to physician assistants (PAs). The bill seeks to reduce workforce barriers for PAs, thus maintaining and increasing access to high […]
Water Quality Task Force Releases Recommendations
Date Thu, Jan. 23, 2020 - 2:13pm By Hamilton
This month, the Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality released their bipartisan report and recommendations after holding public hearings throughout the state over the summer. The report proposes 13 new bills related to water quality and endorses several others already introduced in the Legislature. The Task Force has introduced the following bills, many of which […]
PSCW Commissioner Resigns
Date Thu, Jan. 23, 2020 - 2:06pm By Hamilton
Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) Commissioner Mike Huebsch recently announced week he will retire from PSCW effective Feb. 3. Huebsch was appointed to the PSCW by Gov. Scott Walker in 2015. His term would have expired in 2021. Before his appointment to the PSCW, Huebsch served as secretary of the Department of Administration and […]
DHS Projects $39.8 Million Medicaid Shortfall
Date Thu, Jan. 23, 2020 - 2:02pm By Hamilton
In a report sent to the Joint Finance Committee at the end of December, the Department of Health Services (DHS) projected a $39.8 million Medicaid shortfall over the next two years. DHS noted this shortfall is less than one percent of the $6.7 billion Medicaid general purpose revenue (GPR) budget for 2019-21. The letter from […]