June 11 – JFC Takes Up CAFOs, Building Projects & More in Second-To-Last Exec
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 3:19pm By Hamilton
Under the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), Democrats moved to adopt the governor’s proposals, including providing five positions to regulate CAFOs and increasing Wisconsin pollution discharge elimination system permit fees for CAFOs by over $300. However, the committee instead voted 12-4 along party lines to convert four vacant Department of Natural Resources […]
June 6 – Senate & Assembly Reach Compromise on Transportation; Other JFC Votes Include PSC, OCI, DOJ
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 3:18pm By Hamilton
The focus of the June 6 executive session was one of this session’s (and previous budgets’) most contentious issues: transportation. After deliberations between the Senate and Assembly Republican caucuses, JFC approved a $484 million transportation plan that increases fees but does not increase the gas tax, as proposed by Gov. Evers. The transportation motion, approved […]
June 4 – JFC Passes Medicaid Budget
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 3:15pm By Hamilton
JFC passed an omnibus motion on the Department of Health Services (DHS) budget, specifically addressing Medicaid, public health, FoodShare, behavioral health, and quality assurance. Overall, the motion spends: $187 million (in all funds) less than the governor’s proposal in 2019-20. $1.6 billion (in all funds) more in 2019-20 compared to the base year doubled. As […]
Marketplace Providers Tax Bill Advances in Committees
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 3:06pm By Hamilton
Legislation from Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) and Sen. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) is advancing in the Wisconsin Legislature that would make clarifications related to the collection of online sales taxes from out-of-state retailers. The bill comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2018 in South Dakota v. Wayfair that states may collect online sales tax […]
Water Quality Task Force Meets in Mauston & La Crosse
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 3:01pm By Hamilton
The Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality convened for two more meetings this week in Mauston and La Crosse. In La Crosse on June 13, the task force first heard from the Wisconsin Rural Water Association (WRWA). Overall, WRWA emphasized that the task force should recognize that water issues and regulations affect small rural systems […]
Floor Report: Senate Approves Step Therapy, E-Scooters
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 2:43pm By Hamilton
The Senate met for floor votes on June 5, taking up a number of issues including drug step therapy protocols, electric scooters, and abortion-related bills. The Assembly plans to meet next on June 18 and June 20. Budget votes in the Senate or Assembly will also likely take place later this month, as the 2019-21 […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Reinstates Extraordinary Session Laws in SEIU Case
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 2:27pm By Hamilton
On June 11, the Wisconsin Supreme Court granted a stay on the temporary injunction in the extraordinary session challenge SEIU v. Vos, reinstating provisions of the legislation that had been blocked by a Dane County Circuit Court. Additionally, the Supreme Court stayed proceedings on the case in the lower court, cancelling the trial on guidance document […]
Wisconsin AG Joins Lawsuit to Block T-Mobile-Sprint Merger, Other Multistate Actions
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 2:23pm By Hamilton
On June 11, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul joined eight other states and Washington, D.C. in a civil antitrust lawsuit to block the proposed merger of wireless communication companies T-Mobile and Sprint. The complaint argues that combining the market share of T-Mobile and Sprint would result in less competition, higher prices, and reduced innovation. The […]
Gov. Evers Announces Health Care Coverage Partnership
Date Thu, Jun. 13, 2019 - 10:27am By Hamilton
Gov. Tony Evers, the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and the Department of Health Services announced last week a Health Care Coverage Partnership aimed at boosting health care insurance enrollment, through both the individual market and Medicaid. The Partnership will: Educate consumers by promoting HealthCare.gov and using insurance agents and navigators. Engage with stakeholders, […]
Menard, Inc. v. City of Marinette (Property Tax Assessment)
Date Thu, Jun. 6, 2019 - 1:44pm By Hamilton
In Menard, Inc. v. City of Marinette (2018AP533), the Court of Appeals District III considered a lawsuit challenging the City of Marinette’s property tax assessment of a Menard’s store. In 2016, Marinette assessed the Menard’s store at a value of $9 million. Menard challenged the assessment in circuit court, contending the fair market value of […]