Legislation that would prohibit a city, village, town, or county from regulating auxiliary containers (a bag, cup, bottle, etc.) made of cloth, paper, plastic cardboard, corrugated material, aluminum, glass, postconsumer recycled material, or similar substances, has passed the Assembly. In effect, this legislation would prohibit political subdivisions from regulating auxiliary containers, but would not prohibit […]
Prohibition of Regulating Auxiliary Containers Passes Assembly
Date Thu, Feb. 18, 2016 - 7:35pm By Hamilton
Nuclear Moratorium Bill Heads to Governor
Date Thu, Feb. 18, 2016 - 7:30pm By Hamilton
Assembly Bill 384, introduced by Rep. Ken Petersen (R-Waupaca) and Senate Bill 288, introduced by Sen. Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) would end the moratorium on nuclear power plants in the state of Wisconsin. The moratorium, 1983 Wisconsin Act 401, was put in place following the Three Mile Island plant accident in 1979. The Assembly Committee […]
Sen. Lasee to Run for 8th Congressional District
Date Thu, Feb. 18, 2016 - 6:24pm By Hamilton
Sen. Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) has announced his plans to run for the 8th Congressional District in Northeast Wisconsin left open by U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble’s retirement. Lasee served in the Wisconsin Assembly from 1994 to 2006 and was elected to the State Senate in 2010. In his campaign announcement, Lasee stated his focus is […]
Gov. Walker Reinforces SCOTUS Stay of Clean Power Plan through Executive Order
Date Thu, Feb. 18, 2016 - 6:20pm By Hamilton
On February 9, 2016 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan (CPP) until the litigation surrounding it is resolved. Justices Kennedy, Alito, Thomas, Scalia and Chief Justice Roberts voted in favor of the stay. Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan voted to deny the application. This […]
Legislation Would Support New Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Trail
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:40am By Hamilton
Bipartisan legislation to create a new “Frank Lloyd Wright Heritage Trail” through Wisconsin will be on the floor of the Assembly next week, where it is expected to pass. Assembly Bill 512/Senate Bill 384, introduced by Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville), Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine), and Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green), will direct the Department of […]
Legislature Running Out of Time
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:26am By Hamilton
The legislative session is quickly winding down and legislators are rushing to get their bills done before they head home for campaign season. Just this week 34 committee hearings and meetings were held in the capitol. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has repeatedly said the Assembly will wrap up its work in February. State representatives will […]
Legislation to Allow Out-of-State Companies to Purchase Water & Sewer Utilities Advances
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:24am By Hamilton
A bill (AB 554/SB 432) that creates a process for out-of-state utility companies to purchase or lease sewer utilities in Wisconsin is advancing through the legislature. Representative Tyler August (R-Lake Geneva) and Senator Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) introduced the legislation in December. The Assembly passed AB 554 on a voice vote in January. Last week, […]
U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble Announces Retirement
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:21am By Hamilton
U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble announced his decision not to seek reelection to the 8th Congressional District, which covers large areas of northeast Wisconsin. Elected to the House of Representatives in 2010, Ribble had previously announced he would not serve for longer than eight years, so a retirement announcement was not expected until 2018. Rep. Ribble […]
Don’t Forget to Vote! Supreme Court Primary – Feb. 16
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:19am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court Primary will be held on Tuesday, February 16. Incumbent Rebecca Bradley, Joseph Donald and Joanne Kloppenburg will face off to determine the top two candidates who will advance to the April 5 general election. The winner of the general election earns a 10 year term to replace Justice N. Patrick Crooks, […]
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of FERC
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:18am By Hamilton
On January 25, 2016 the Supreme Court decided the case FERC v. Electric Power Supply Association. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has authority under the Federal Power Act (FPA) to regulate the wholesale interstate transmission and sale of electricity. FERC enacted an order which attempted to incentivize a reduction in energy consumption by retail […]