Wisconsin legislators’ plan to balance the state’s budget is largely written and is set to come before the Assembly Wednesday, June 15. GOP lawmakers and Governor Scott Walker agree on the outlines of the bill that will close a $3 billion deficit in the state’s main account over the next two years by holding the […]
Voter ID Bill Becomes Law
Date Thu, Jun. 9, 2011 - 3:46pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker recently signed into law legislation – Assembly Bill 7 – which requires voters to present identification before they vote. The law also ends straight ticket voting and strengthens absentee voter requirements. The law requires that anyone voting in a particular district must have resided in that district for 28 days. Previously, living […]
Joint Finance Committee Passes Budget Bill; Legislature to Vote Soon
Date Thu, Jun. 9, 2011 - 12:35pm By Hamilton
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) voted along party-lines (12-4) passing the 2011-13 budget bill. The final two nights were marred by protestors disrupting the proceedings. Below is a snapshot of some of the changes made by the JFC to Gov. Scott Walker’s original bill: A provision that creates a domestic production tax credit for manufacturers […]
Dane County Judge Strikes Down Budget Repair Bill; Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments
Date Thu, Jun. 9, 2011 - 11:38am By Hamilton
Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi issued a permanent restraining order last week striking down the controversial collective bargaining legislation, 2011 Wisconsin Act 10. In her decision, Judge Sumi ruled that the State Senate violated Wisconsin’s open meetings law. As a result, Judge Sumi issued a temporary restraining order that prohibited Act 10 from […]
Six Senate Republican Recall Petitions Certified for July 12; Three Senate Dems Face Recall Elections a Week Later
Date Thu, Jun. 9, 2011 - 11:26am By Hamilton
The Government Accountability Board (GAB) has certified recall petitions for six Republican Senators – Sens. Robert Cowles (Green Bay); Alberta Darling (River Hills); Sheila Harsdorf (River Falls); Randy Hopper (Fond du Lac); Dan Kapanke (La Crosse); and Luther Olsen (Ripon). Those elections will take place on July 12. GAB officials went to court last week […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on Collective Bargaining Bill
Date Tue, Jun. 7, 2011 - 9:18am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard arguments today on whether to take up a lawsuit over the Wisconsin collective bargaining law (2011 WI Act 10). The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard both the appeal of the Wisconsin Department of Justice on the original temporary restraining order (TRO) as well has final decision released by the Dane […]
WI Judge Gives Extension to Review Recalls Against Democratic Senators
Date Mon, Jun. 6, 2011 - 3:01pm By Hamilton
Dane County Circuit Court Judge John Markson last week gave the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board extra time to review three remaining recall petitions against Democratic senators. Originally, the deadline for review expired on June 6. The deadline for review has now been pushed to June 10, 2011. As a result, the earliest the recall elections for […]
GAB Approves Recall Elections for Republicans
Date Thu, Jun. 2, 2011 - 2:16pm By Hamilton
Government Accountability Board (GAB) has approved recall elections for Wisconsin Republican Senators Robert Cowles (Allouez), Alberta Darling (River Hills), and Sheila Harsdorf (River Falls). Six Wisconsin GOP senators are almost certain to face recall elections this summer. The consideration of petitions against Democratic Senators Robert Wirch (Pleasant Prairie), Jim Holperin (Conover) and Dave Hansen (Green Bay) […]
Wisconsin Judge Strikes Down Collective Bargaining Bill
Date Fri, May. 27, 2011 - 10:29am By Hamilton
Thursday, May 26, 2011, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Sumi struck down the hotly contested collective bargaining bill ruling that Republicans in the State Senate had violated Wisconsin’s open meetings law. Judge Sumi concluded that the Republicans violated the law because they did not give at least two hours notice to the public. The Wisconsin […]
Governor Walker Signs Voter ID Bill into Law
Date Fri, May. 27, 2011 - 10:15am By Hamilton
Showing valid photo identification is required to purchase alcohol, cough medicine and to withdraw money from a bank. Now a new Wisconsin law will require voters to show their photo ID on Election Day. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed the controversial legislation — Assembly Bill 7 – into law Wednesday, May 25, 2011. AB7 requires photo […]