Projected Medical Assistance Budget Reduced by $72 million

On April 1, 2014 the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) submitted a quarterly report on the overall condition of the Medical Assistance (MA) budget to the Joint Committee on Finance. The report showed significant improvement from the last quarterly report. The projected $92.6 million GPR deficit in the Medicaid budget, which was reported December […]

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U.S. Supreme Court Makes Landmark Campaign Finance Decision

  This week, the United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to in a campaign finance case (McCutcheon v. FEC) that struck down individual aggregate contribution limits to federal campaigns. The court ruled the contribution limits unconstitutional, on the grounds that contribution limits are a limit on free speech. Prior to this week’s ruling, a donor […]

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New Voting Guideline Bills Signed into Law

Governor Scott Walker signed a number of bills this week which have been very controversial over the course of the 2013-2014 legislative session. According to a press release from the Governor’s office, the bills include: Assembly Bill 24 – permits the Board of Canvassers to determine whether or not to conduct a recount of an […]

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Final Legislation Goes Through State Senate

As we reported last week, an amended version of a bill regarding insurance coverage of oral chemotherapy  (SB 300)was passed in the Assembly. The amended version of the bill returned to the Senate this week, and was passed (26-7). The amended version of the bill provides that an insurance plan that covers both intravenous chemotherapy […]

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Law Enforcement Bills Headed to Governor’s Desk

On its last day of session, the Wisconsin Senate passed a number of bills of interest to law enforcement. Most notable was legislation (SB 373) that fixed a significant issue – the collection of DNA samples. In 2013, Gov. Scott Walker included language in the Budget bill that would allow law enforcement to collect DNA […]

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Walker Signs TIF Bill with Bipartisan Support

Governor Walker signed Senate Bill 252, which allows the Department of Revenue (DOR) to reduce the base value of certain tax increment finance districts that have suffered significant declines from their original values. As one of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association’s (WEDA) top legislative priorities, this bill is another example of the retooling that’s continually […]

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Walker Signs Economic Development Tax Credit Bill

Governor Walker signed Senate Bill 449 earlier this week, which allows for the transfer of economic development tax credits between eligible Wisconsin taxpayers. Representative Loudenbeck and Senator Gudex authored this bipartisan bill. “Tax credits are one of the primary tools in the State of Wisconsin’s economic development toolbox,” said Patrick Schloss, President of Wisconsin Economic […]

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State Senate Passes Two Civil Liability Reform Bills – Governor Expected to Sign

The Wisconsin Senate passed two civil liability reform bills on the last day of session. Most notable was AB 120, the health care provider “Apology” bill. This is legislation that the health care community has worked on for many years. AB 120/SB 129 – (Inadmissibility of a statement of apology or condolence by a health […]

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Assembly and Senate Retirements

To date, 22 Representatives and 7 Senators have announced they will not seek re-election; additional retirements may be announced in the coming weeks. Listed below are the announced and potential retirements. Assembly Retirements: (7 Democrat and 15 Republican seats) Representative Janet Bewley, Democrat, 74th AD (Running for State Senate in open seat vacated by Senator […]

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Harsy Appointed to Board of Regents

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker recently appointed Nicolas Harsy to the UW Board of Regents, filling the position as the non-traditional student representative. Harsy, a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is a former Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, serving two tours in Afghanistan and receiving multiple awards for his service. He now pursues […]

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