Get to Know the Cabinet Members: Dennis G. Smith & Ben Brancel

Gov. Scott Walker’s weekly e-update includes a segment called “Get to Know a Cabinet Member” that highlights a cabinet secretary and provides a brief overview of the department he or she oversees. The Governor’s goal in presenting this information is to provide the public with practical information about state government operations, especially as we head […]

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Happy Holidays from the Hamilton Consulting Group

Audit of “Double Dipping” State Employees Recommends Changes

The nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) recently released a report on detailing Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Annuitants rehired by WRS-eligible employers. At the request of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the LAB conducted the review to respond to concerns raised about WRS annuitants being rehired by WRS-participating employers and being granted both a salary and […]

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Sen. Cullen & WMC’s Manley Debate Mining

Sen Tim Cullen (D-Janesville) and Scott Manley, a lobbyist for Wisconsin Manufactures & Commerce debated mining legislation on the latest edition of “UpFront with Mike Gousha” on WISN-TV. Cullen and Manley both said they think a mining bill will pass this session, but they disagree as to what the legislation should contain. Click to view […]

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Sen. Kohl Says Goodbye

Retiring Sen. Herb Kohl recently took to the Senate floor to give his farewell address. Kohl took office in 1989 for his first of four terms. The 77-year-old is stepping down after his current term is up Jan. 2. He will be replaced by fellow Democrat Tammy Baldwin.       Here is Sen. Kohl’s […]

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Committees Shaping Up

Wisconsin’s 101st legislative session doesn’t begin until January 7, but committee assignments provide a glimpse at what legislators may view as priorities. Republicans secured the majority in the November elections, so they will chair and have a majority of members on each committee. Each party’s leadership makes the final determination on which members will serve […]

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Wisconsin Prepares for a Supreme Court Race

The 2012 election season may be over, but wait there’s more! In early 2013 Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Patience Roggensack will be up for reelection for a 10-year term on the Court. December 1st marked the day candidates could begin to circulate nomination papers for the high court. So far two people have announced they […]

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Explaining the Fiscal Cliff

Now that the election is over, news outlets seem to cover nothing but the royal baby and the fiscal cliff. While news about Will & Kate’s future offspring is easy to grasp, information on the fiscal cliff is more complex and deserves a more in-depth explanation than it has gotten.   What The “fiscal cliff” […]

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Lame Duck Senate Moving Forward on Mining

When outlining priorities for the coming legislative session, Gov. Walker and Republican leaders in the state legislature have indicated modifying Wisconsin’s mining law will be one of the first orders of business. Although the legislative session does not begin until January, the post-recall, Democrat-controlled Senate has been working on a mining bill since September, and […]

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Farrow Wins Senate Seat

The results are in, and State Rep. Paul Farrow will fill the last vacant seat in the Wisconsin Senate. Farrow was the only candidate on the ballot for the December 4 special election to fill the seat of Sen. Rich Zipperer, who resigned in order to become Gov. Walker’s deputy chief of staff. A special […]

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