Legislative Update: Remaining Floor Dates; State of the State Address
Date Thu, Jan. 13, 2022 - 11:26pm By Hamilton
Remaining Session Dates Each house of the Wisconsin Legislature is expected to meet once or twice monthly in January, February, and March, and then adjourn for the remainder of the year. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) has confirmed that the Senate plans to finish its work by March 10, the final day of the […]
State Budget Update: GAAP Balance; Withholding Tables; Lottery Credit
Date Thu, Jan. 13, 2022 - 11:23pm By Hamilton
State Records Large Positive GAAP Balance According to a press release from Gov. Tony Evers (D), Wisconsin’s General Fund recorded its largest positive balance ever, as calculated under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), at the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year. The state ended the most recent fiscal year with a balance of $1.18 billion. […]
Six Candidates on the Ballot for Milwaukee Mayor
Date Thu, Jan. 13, 2022 - 11:21pm By Hamilton
The City of Milwaukee is set to elect a new mayor for the first time since 2004. Former Mayor Tom Barrett resigned on December 22, 2021 and was sworn in as United States Ambassador to Luxembourg the following day. Because of the timing of Barrett’s resignation, the special election for mayor will coincide with the […]
Interim President Thompson Leaving UW System in March
Date Thu, Jan. 13, 2022 - 11:19pm By Hamilton
University of Wisconsin System Interim President Tommy Thompson has announced he will leave his post on March 18. In a January 7 letter to Board of Regents President Edmund Manydeeds, Thompson wrote that he is leaving so that the university system can prepare to onboard his successor. The UW System Board of Regents is looking […]
Tidbits Holiday Quiz: Answers
Date Thu, Jan. 13, 2022 - 11:17pm By Hamilton
The last edition of Hamilton Political Tidbits included a brief quiz with political and holiday trivia. Below are the answers. Congratulations to the winner of the trivia contest, John Schulze of Associated Builders and Contractors, who submitted the most correct answers. Excluding partial vetoes of items in the 2021-2023 state budget, how many bills has […]
2022 Legislative Preview
Date Tue, Dec. 21, 2021 - 7:50pm By Hamilton
In 2022, the Wisconsin Legislature is expected to continue committee work and floor votes for the first few months of the year and then adjourn at some point in the spring. Here are a few key bills we will be watching: Assembly Bill (AB) 296/Senate Bill (SB) 309: Defining “telehealth” and “free and charitable clinics” […]
Political Update: Assembly Democrats Choose New Leaders; DOA Secretary Brennan Leaving in January
Date Tue, Dec. 21, 2021 - 7:47pm By Hamilton
Democratic members of the Wisconsin Assembly selected new leaders at a caucus meeting on December 20. A majority of the caucus’ 38 members voted to elect Representatives Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) and Kalan Haywood (D-Milwaukee) as the Assembly’s new minority leader and assistant minority leader, respectively. Rep. Neubauer ran unopposed for the position, while Rep. Haywood […]
PFAS Update: DNR Will Ask NRB to Approve Three PFAS Rules in February
Date Tue, Dec. 21, 2021 - 1:08pm By Hamilton
In December and January, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting public hearing and comment periods for three rules regulating the allowable levels of certain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and other compounds in surface water (NR 105), groundwater (NR 140), and drinking water (NR 809). DNR plans to present its final proposed […]
Legislative Update: Governor Acts on 34 Bills in December
Date Tue, Dec. 21, 2021 - 1:07pm By Hamilton
In December, Gov. Tony Evers (D) has taken action on 34 bills, signing 27 of them into law and vetoing seven others. The bills were presented to the governor automatically on December 2. During a two-year legislative session in Wisconsin, bills that have passed both houses of the Legislature are periodically sent to the governor […]
Wisconsin High Court Adopts “Least Change” Approach to Redistricting
Date Tue, Dec. 21, 2021 - 1:02pm By Hamilton
On November 30, the Supreme Court of Wisconsin issued its first major ruling related to this cycle of redistricting in Wisconsin. The Republican-led Legislature passed its proposed congressional and state legislative maps along party lines in early November. Governor Tony Evers (D) vetoed those maps in mid-November and has called for the state to adopt […]