Politicians use health care law to court donors: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar 26. 2010. Political operatives on both sides agree on this: The issue can attract significant campaign donations. Legislature still has time to fix budget process (opinion): Appleton Post-Crescent, Mar. 26, 2010. Clean up the special-interest mess that the budget process has become. Read […]
Political Tidbits
Date Fri, Mar. 26, 2010 - 1:08pm By Hamilton
The March 26 issue of Hamilton Consulting Group’s Political Tidbits highlights recent political and policy developments in Wisconsin. See Tidbits for the following articles: Bill Limits Employer Meetings with Workers During Union Organizing Campaigns Survey Ranks Wisconsin 22nd in Nation for “Lawsuit Climate” Supreme Court Accepts Challenge to Milwaukee’s Paid Sick-Leave Ordinance Study Finds High […]
DNR Moves Forward with Costly Phosphorus Rule
Date Wed, Mar. 17, 2010 - 10:02am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board this month announced plans to hold hearings on a controversial proposed administrative rule that would place significantly more stringent phosphorus limits for Wisconsin lakes and rivers. According to the DNR’s analysis of the rule, it would force municipalities and sanitary districts to spend up to $1.13 billion to comply with the new […]
U.S. Chamber Petitions EPA Over “Endangerment Finding”
Date Wed, Mar. 17, 2010 - 9:34am By Hamilton
The New York Times reports that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this week filed a petition with EPA for reconsideration of its finding that greenhouse gases “endanger” the public health and welfare. “The Chamber believes that the right way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere is through bipartisan legislation and comprehensive international agreements,” […]
Assembly Labor Committee to Hold Public Hearing on “False Claims” Legislation
Date Tue, Mar. 9, 2010 - 11:43am By Hamilton
The Assembly Committee on Labor on Wednesday, March 10 (10:00 a.m.) will hold a public hearing on AB 792, relating to false claims submitted to state and local governments. (See below for more information regarding the hearing time and location.) The Wisconsin Civil Justice Council opposes AB 792 because it encourages abusive litigation by providing […]
Efforts to Override Governor’s Veto of DNR Secretary Bill Fall Short
Date Wed, Feb. 24, 2010 - 9:52am By Hamilton
The Assembly Democrats, joined by a handful of Republicans, failed to garner the 66 votes needed to override the Governor’s veto of Assembly Bill 138, which would have removed the Governor’s authority to appoint the Department of Natural Resources secretary and handed the authority to the unelected Natural Resources Board members. The bill passed both the Senate […]
Wisconsin Legislative Committees Wrap Up Hearings on Climate Change Legislation
Date Mon, Feb. 15, 2010 - 2:49pm By Hamilton
The Assembly Clean Energy Jobs Committee is holding its last public hearing today on Assembly Bill 649, the 174-page bill encompassing numerous policy recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming. (The Senate companion bill is SB 450.) The Senate finished its hearings last week. The biggest news from the Senate hearings last week were statements […]
Assembly to Consider Overriding Veto of DNR Secretary Legislation
Date Mon, Feb. 15, 2010 - 2:45pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) and Rep. Spencer Black (D-Madison) today announced plans to bring Assembly Bill 138 to the Assembly floor next week in an attempt to override the Governor’s veto. AB 138 would remove the Governor’s ability to appoint the Department of Natural Resources Secretary and instead hand that authority to unelected Natural […]
Recent Legislative Developments Highlighted in Political Tidbits
Date Thu, Feb. 4, 2010 - 1:35pm By Hamilton
The Feb. 3 issue of Hamilton Consulting Group’s Political Tidbits highlights recent political and policy developments in Wisconsin. See Tidbits for the following articles: Senate and Assembly Begin Hearings on Climate Change Legislation Gov. Doyle Gives Final State of the State Address Senate Expands Medical Liability Assembly Committee Hears Testimony on “Gender-based Harm” Bill Bill […]
Wisconsin Assembly and Senate Committees Begin Public Hearings on Climate Change Bill
Date Wed, Jan. 20, 2010 - 10:26am By Hamilton
As noted last week, the Senate and Assembly special committees created for the climate change bills (AB 649/SB 450) begin a slate of hearings today, beginning at 11:45 a.m. at the Capitol. Beginning today, Hamilton Consulting Regulatory Watch will provide updates of all of the hearings. Today’s hearing is for informational purposes only, meaning that the public is not […]