The Assembly is expected to debate and pass Assembly Bill 426 on January 26th. Supporters of the bill argue that the bill is needed due to the uncertainty of current permitting laws and rules implemented by the Department of Natural Resources, which they say discourage investment in mining. Moreover, proponents argue that the new law […]
Venue Statute Tested in Recall Lawsuit
Date Fri, Jan. 6, 2012 - 2:23pm By Hamilton
One of the major civil justice reforms passed by the Wisconsin Legislature and signed by Governor Walker in 2011, was 2011 Wisconsin Act 61, which modified Wisconsin’s venue statutes in cases where the sole defendant is the state, a state board or commission, or certain state officers, employees, or agents. The new law was recently […]
EPA Issues $9.6 Billion Utility MACT Regulations
Date Wed, Dec. 21, 2011 - 3:15pm By Hamilton
The EPA has finalized the court-ordered Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for power plants. Commonly called the Utility MACT (maximum achievable control technology) rules, they are the first ever standards limiting mercury, acid gases, and other toxic pollution from power plants. The standards were originally ordered to be completed by November 16, 2011, but […]
Wisconsin Recall Update
Date Tue, Dec. 20, 2011 - 4:41pm By Hamilton
Since Hamilton’s last analysis of the recall effort three major events have occurred: 1) the coalition seeking to recall Governor Walker announced updated signature totals; 2) both sides of the recall campaigns made financial reports; and 3) the Government Accountability Board discussed how the signature verification process will be handled. Signature Total Update First, as […]
A Year in Review: 2011
Date Tue, Dec. 20, 2011 - 12:46pm By Hamilton
To say that 2011 was a historical and eventful year politically in Wisconsin is an understatement. Below is a summary of some of the major events that took place in Madison in 2011. Gov. Walker’s Budget Repair Bill (Act 10): Very few will soon forget the public employee union changes contained in Gov. […]
Voter ID Law Challenged
Date Tue, Dec. 20, 2011 - 11:33am By Hamilton
Wisconsin’s new voter ID law is facing some legal and logistical challenges. Three lawsuits have been filed seeking to overturn or modify the law, one in federal court in Milwaukee and two in Dane County Circuit Court. The lawsuits may determine if a photo ID, such as a driver’s license or other government-issued identification, is […]
Assembly Holds First Mining Bill Hearing
Date Thu, Dec. 15, 2011 - 6:02pm By Hamilton
The Assembly Jobs, Economy and Small Business Committee met yesterday for the first hearing on the proposed mining bill, AB 426. This bill is in response to Gogebic Taconite’s proposal to build Wisconsin’s largest ever iron mine. Earlier this year, the company said it needed more certainty in the state’s regulatory process before it proceeds […]
Gov. Walker, Wisconsin Legislature Receive National Accolades for Enacting Lawsuit Reforms
Date Thu, Dec. 15, 2011 - 11:30am By Hamilton
The American Tort Reform Association (ATRA) today came out with its annual Judicial Hellholes report, and instead of receiving negative scrutiny, Wisconsin received acclaims for the significant lawsuit reforms recently signed into law by Gov. Scott Walker and the Legislature. Although ATRA’s Judicial Hellholes report is renowned for documenting abuses of the civil justice system […]
Wisconisn Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in Case Deciding Default Judgments
Date Thu, Dec. 8, 2011 - 9:49am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Johnson v. Cintas Corp. No. 2, et al., 2011 WI App 5, 2009AP2549, which is the latest in a number of recent cases accepted by the Court dealing with default judgments. The issue is whether a default judgment is void because the summons and complaint names the […]
Bills Would Limit “Double Dipping” by State Employees
Date Thu, Dec. 8, 2011 - 9:42am By Hamilton
The Assembly Committee on Insurance held a hearing November 17, on two bills that would limit the ability of public employees who retired, and were later rehired to collect a salary and a pension simultaneously. Currently, under Chapter 40, this practice is legal. State workers can retire, start collecting their pensions and then go […]