Gov. Walker has signed Executive Order #66, calling on state agencies to look for ways to eliminate waste, save time, simplify operations and improve services to the public. Governor Walker’s Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Commission recommended the creation of a statewide Lean Government program. Lean is a continuous improvement philosophy that has been used to […]
Are Wisconsin’s Candidates “Like”-able?
Date Wed, Jul. 18, 2012 - 6:09pm By Hamilton
Wired Wisconsin, a non-profit coalition of concerned individuals, businesses and organizations who are working to put Wisconsin on the cutting edge of technology, recently released a new report, 2012 Wisconsin Politics and the Web, which assesses how Wisconsin political candidates are using social media in their campaigns. While researching their report, Wired Wisconsin compiled a […]
Zipperer Resigns Senate Seat to Join Walker Staff
Date Wed, Jul. 18, 2012 - 6:03pm By Hamilton
A series of changes is leaving the Senate Democrats with a 17-15 majority and shuffling staff in the Walker Administration. Sen. Rich Zipperer, who currently represents the 33rd District, will resign his Senate seat and take on the role of Walker’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel on August 6. The heavily Republican district […]
New Leadership in the State Senate
Date Wed, Jul. 18, 2012 - 6:01pm By Hamilton
The State Senate convened on Tuesday, July 17 to formally transfer control of the upper house to Democrats. Control of the Senate flipped to the Democrats after John Lehman (D-Racine) was sworn in following the June 5 recall elections. Sen. Fred Riser was chosen to serve as Senate President; Tim Carpenter as President Pro-Tempore; and […]
Wisconsin Legislative Council’s Analysis of the Supreme Court’s Healthcare Decision
Date Wed, Jul. 11, 2012 - 5:09pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Legislative Council has released an Information Memorandum describing relevant major provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and discussing the Supreme Court’s decision and its implications for Wisconsin. Excerpted below is the Council’s discussion of implications for Wisconsin. HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGEAs a result of the Court’s holding that the individual […]
Healthcare Reform: It’s Your Business
Date Mon, Jul. 9, 2012 - 10:25am By Hamilton
On the morning of July 18, 2012, Edgewood College is hosting a discussion on the impact of healthcare refom on businesses and organization in the Madison area. The School of Business at Edgewood College is pleased to host Healthcare Reform: It’s Your Business, the next installment in the Smith & Gesteland Executive Speaker Series. In […]
Reconsidering Wisconsin’s Constitutional Recall Provision: Should the Recalls be Recalled?
Date Mon, Jul. 9, 2012 - 10:20am By Hamilton
The Madison Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society is hosting an event on July 18, 2012 debating the pros and cons of amending the Wisconsin Constitution in light of the recent political turmoil involving the historic spate of recalls. Wisconsin recently endured a historic stretch of recall elections of Wisconsin senators and the Governor. In […]
Resources on the SCOTUS Healthcare Decision
Date Tue, Jul. 3, 2012 - 4:49pm By Hamilton
If Independence Day has you pondering “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” why not put on your thinking cap and dive into some of these resources on the Supreme Court’s healthcare decision. National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (The Decision) SCOTUSblog’s Post-decision Health Care Symposium provides various viewpoints on the legal ramifications and […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Upholds Lower Court Decision Involving Collateral Source Rule
Date Tue, Jul. 3, 2012 - 2:11pm By Hamilton
In Weborg v. Jenny, et al., 2012 WI 67, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld a court of appeals decision finding that the circuit court committed “harmless error” by admitting evidence of collateral source payments in a medical malpractice case. The 5-2 decision authored by Justice Annette Ziegler, joined by Justices Patrick Crooks, Patience Roggensack, David […]
Supreme Court Deals a Blow to Pharmaceutical Companies; Enriches Private Plaintiff Attorneys Hired by State
Date Tue, Jun. 26, 2012 - 10:11am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has issued a decision that will negatively affect pharmaceutical companies doing business in Wisconsin. In the process, the Court enriched outside plaintiff attorneys hired by the State by awarding large attorney fees. The Court’s decision, State of Wisconsin v. Abbot Laboratories, et al., 2012 WI 62, is the latest in a […]