Up until now, the presidential election has been all poll numbers and speculation, but now we finally have our first results from the 2016 Iowa caucus on Monday night. In the Republican caucus, Sen. Ted Cruz “won,” although he only earned one more delegate than Donald Trump and Sen. Marco Rubio, who came in second […]
#GiveADamn
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:15am By Hamilton
Super Bowl week is finally here! It’s hard to believe that it’s been 50 years since the start of this great American tradition. We also know people like to enjoy the game with good friends and great beers, which makes it an important time to talk about responsible drinking. Budweiser will be using advertising’s […]
Collateral Source Bill Passes Committee
Date Fri, Feb. 5, 2016 - 11:12am By Hamilton
Companion bills, Assembly Bill 539/Senate Bill 405, introduced by Senator Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Representative Mike Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin), would allow evidence of payments to be submitted as evidence in personal injury or underinsured motorist cases when a jury must decide on the reasonable value of a claim. The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public […]
Bills to Overturn Nuclear Moratorium Get Hearings
Date Fri, Jan. 22, 2016 - 11:46am By Hamilton
AB 384, introduced by Rep. Ken Petersen (R-Waupaca) and SB 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. At public hearings for both […]
Marathon Petroleum Partners with Local Fire Department to Meet Regulatory Needs
Date Fri, Jan. 22, 2016 - 11:01am By Hamilton
Leave it to MPC to turn a difficult situation – even a potential regulatory problem – into a model for industry collaboration and community benefit. Imagine you’re in charge of one of MPC’s dozens of terminals. Safety is your top priority as you conduct our day-to-day business, which is critical to so many people who […]
LFB: Smaller Surplus for State Budget than Estimated
Date Fri, Jan. 22, 2016 - 10:51am By Hamilton
Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) released its most recent estimate of Wisconsin’s general fund for the 2015-2017 biennium. LFB previously estimated the net general fund balance would have a $164 million surplus. In the updated estimate, LFB projects the surplus will be $70.2 million at the end of the biennium (June 30, 2017). According to LFB, […]
Requirements on Unemployment Benefits for Season Workers Tightened
Date Fri, Jan. 22, 2016 - 10:48am By Hamilton
In June, the state’s Department of Workforce Development tightened requirements for people receiving unemployment benefits that are laid off but expect to be called back by an employer. Instead of allowing people to be exempt from work searches for 52 weeks, now they will only receive a waiver for eight weeks, with a possible extension […]
Passed in the Senate: Limits on Liability Imputed to an Adult Sponsor of a Minor Driver
Date Fri, Jan. 22, 2016 - 10:46am By Hamilton
Sen. Kapenga (R-Delafield) and Rep. Kuglitsch (R-New Berlin) have championed legislation to limit the liability that may be imputed to an innocent parent or other adult who sponsors a person under the age of 18 in obtaining a motor vehicle operator’s license. Under current Wisconsin law, Wisconsin is one of only eight states in which […]
Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association – Act 10 nationwide?
Date Fri, Jan. 22, 2016 - 10:43am By Hamilton
The Court is taking up a variety of interesting cases this term ranging from affirmative action in undergraduate admissions to redistricting. A particularly interesting case is Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association et al. The case involves 10 nonunion public school teachers who argue their free speech rights are violated by having to pay the equivalent […]
Election Season Heats Up: Sen. Gudex, Reps. Heaton and Knudson Not Seeking Reelection
Date Fri, Jan. 22, 2016 - 10:36am By Hamilton
With election season right around the corner, Wisconsin lawmakers are making important decisions on campaigning and reelections. So far, three prominent Wisconsin lawmakers have decided to not run for reelection. 30th Assembly District – Rep. Dean Knudson Rep. Dean Knudson (R-Hudson) has announced he will not be seeking reelection to the 30th Assembly District. Knudson […]