For the second time in a week a Dane County judge has placed an injunction on the state’s new voter ID law. Judge Richard Niess permanently enjoined implementation of the bill based on his reading of the state constitution. 2011 Wisconsin Act 23, passed in May 2011, requires that a person wishing to vote present […]
Acts and Enrolled Bills
Date Thu, Mar. 8, 2012 - 5:42pm By Hamilton
As the end of the 2011-12 legislative session draws near, the Legislature has kicked it into high gear. As of March 8, 120 acts have been signed into law during the 2011-12 legislative session, and several other bills are awaiting the Governor’s signature. Hamilton Consulting encourages our clients look at their individual tracking reports to […]
Bills Address Recall Process
Date Thu, Mar. 8, 2012 - 5:39pm By Hamilton
The frequency of recall elections over the past year has inspired the legislature to suggest changes to the current process. AJR 63 would limit the availability of recalls, while AB 472 would make it a crime to entice recall signatures. Under current law, no justification is needed for petitioners to seek a recall. AJR 63 […]
Senate Passes Ski Hill Liability Protection Legislation
Date Thu, Mar. 8, 2012 - 5:36pm By Hamilton
This week, the Wisconsin Senate passed Senate Bill 388 on a voice vote, expanding the “assumption of risk” doctrine to protect ski operators who follow certain safety protocols from lawsuits. The bill will now be sent to the Assembly for a vote. The assumption of risk doctrine provides that when an individual engages in a […]
Dane County Judge Temporarily Blocks Voter ID Law
Date Thu, Mar. 8, 2012 - 5:34pm By Hamilton
A Dane County circuit court judge this week struck down Wisconsin’s controversial voter identification law. The law (2011 Wisconsin Act 23), passed in May 2011, requires that a person wishing to vote present proof of identification before they are given a ballot. The law was applied for the first time during the February 2012 primary […]
Mining Bill Stalls in Senate, Gogebic Taconite Ends Plans for a Mine in Wisconsin
Date Thu, Mar. 8, 2012 - 10:31am By Hamilton
Despite numerous attempts at compromise, the Wisconsin Senate was unable to pass iron mining permit reform legislation. Shortly after the Senate voted down the latest compromise legislation, Gogebic Taconite announced it would cease operations in Wisconsin. Iron mining permit reform has been a hot topic in Wisconsin since Gogebic Taconite announced they were interested in […]
Recall Update
Date Fri, Mar. 2, 2012 - 12:04pm By Hamilton
The signature verification saga continues to unfold in the recall efforts against Governor Walker, Lt. Gov. Kleefisch, and four Republican Senators. Gov. Scott Walker announced he will not challenge any of the one million signatures filed by opponents seeking to recall him, siting lack of review time. Walker had 10 days under state law to […]
JFC Schedules Executive Session on Mining Bill
Date Fri, Mar. 2, 2012 - 12:03pm By Hamilton
For the past month, the Wisconsin Senate has held the reins on mining reform, working off of the bill passed by the Assembly (AB 426) and various Senate versions, in an effort to garner 17 votes. The Joint Finance Committee has scheduled an executive session on both the Senate and Assembly bills for Monday, March […]
Fraud, Waste, and Mismanagement Hotline 2011 Summary Released
Date Fri, Mar. 2, 2012 - 11:39am By Hamilton
The Legislative Audit Bureau has released its 2011 summary of the Fraud, Waste, and Mismanagement Hotline. The summary highlights hotline activities in 2011 and describes outcomes and findings related to selected reports that illustrate the variety of issues addressed through the hotline. The Legislative Audit Bureau has operated the Fraud, Waste, and Mismanagement Hotline since […]
First Election with New Voter ID Law Successful
Date Fri, Mar. 2, 2012 - 11:37am By Hamilton
According to the Government Accountability Board, Wisconsin’s first election where voters were required to show a photo ID went smoothly, with very few reported problems. “Overall, we had a good experience with voter photo ID at the Spring Primary election,” said Kevin J. Kennedy, Wisconsin’s chief elections officer. “We were able to resolve the few […]