“Vote early and vote often” could be the theme of Wisconsin’s August 14th partisan primary election, although not in the voter fraud sense. This is the earliest primary since WWII and the fifth vote of 2012. The Legislature moved the partisan primary from the second Tuesday in September to the second Tuesday in August so […]
Hospital/Health System CEO Roundtable: Health Reform after the Supreme Court
Date Mon, Jul. 30, 2012 - 4:10pm By Hamilton
Four of the state’s leading hospital and health system CEOs discussed health care reform in Wisconsin and the impact of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act during a Wisconsin Health News lunch panel at the Madison Club on July 26, 2012. Panelists included: Dean Health System President and CEO Dr. […]
Wisconsin Creating Coordinated Medical Care Program for Children in Foster Care
Date Mon, Jul. 30, 2012 - 3:27pm By Hamilton
The Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) have received federal approval to create a foster care “Medical Home” program in the southeastern region of the State, to begin this fall. The initiative creates a virtual “medical home” for children in foster care and out-of-home care where a child […]
Wisconsin’s Budget Process
Date Tue, Jul. 24, 2012 - 12:27pm By Hamilton
The latest brief from the Legislative Reference Bureau, Executive Budget Bills Enacted by the Wisconsin Legislature, 1931-2011, is an interesting look at the evolution and current status of Wisconsin’s state budget process. The detailed look at how each biennial budget is developed explains that the process has already started for agencies even though a budget […]
State Will Appeal Voter ID Decision
Date Thu, Jul. 19, 2012 - 5:15pm By Hamilton
Two Dane County circuit judges have struck down Wisconsin’s voter ID law, but Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen will appeal the decisions, which are likely to end up in Wisconsin Supreme Court. Dane County Circuit Judge David Flanagan issued the most recent decision invalidating and permanently enjoining the identification requirements in a lawsuit brought by […]
DOR Redesigns Tax Credit Website
Date Thu, Jul. 19, 2012 - 5:13pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue (DOR) recently created a fact sheet on Wisconsin’s Manufacturing and Agriculture Credit, and posted it on its newly redesigned website dedicated to Tax Incentives for Businesses. The Manufacturing and Agriculture Credit, formerly the Wisconsin Qualified Production Activities Credit, is available to claimants that engage in manufacturing or agricultural activities in […]
Racine Does it Again
Date Thu, Jul. 19, 2012 - 5:11pm By Hamilton
Very few, if any, Senate seats in Wisconsin have as storied and tumultuous history as does Senate District 21. The district has had three different senators since 2002, and two of those three senators faced off for the second time in 19 months in the June 5 recall. In relatively recent history, the district has […]
DOJ Accepting Comments on Proposed Concealed Carry Rules
Date Thu, Jul. 19, 2012 - 5:10pm By Hamilton
Since the state’s concealed carry program took effect on Nov. 1, 2011, the Wisconsin Dept. of Justice (DOJ) has been issuing permits under temporary administrative rules. The agency is now accepting public comments on proposed permanent rules that will govern the program in the future. The first public hearing on the proposed rules was held […]
DHS Reports on Family Care Enrollment
Date Thu, Jul. 19, 2012 - 5:09pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services (DHS) this week provided its latest update to the Joint Finance Committee on Wisconsin’s Family Care program. The report details: What individuals experienced between July 1, 2011 and April 3, 2012 (when there was a cap on enrollment); Wisconsin’s action plan to expedite outreach and enrollment into (long term […]
Walker Signs Lean Government Initiative
Date Thu, Jul. 19, 2012 - 5:07pm By Hamilton
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 […]