It is all but certain Gov. Scott Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, and four Wisconsin State Senators will face recall elections in 2012. Certification of the signatures is an ongoing process playing out in the courts and online, where you can watch Government Accountability Board employees work to verify signatures. Governor & Lieutenant Governor Recall […]
January Natural Resources Board Meeting
Date Thu, Jan. 26, 2012 - 4:47pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board met January 24th and 25th in Madison. Important topics addressed by the Board included approval of an economic impact solicitation process, a reduction of the bear harvest quota for 2012, and discussions of EPA-identified deficiencies in the state’s water program and frac sand mining. On the 24th, the Board heard […]
Walker Delivers State of the State
Date Wed, Jan. 25, 2012 - 9:56pm By Hamilton
Republican Governor Scott Walker delivered his second State of the State Address before a joint session of the legislature and crowded viewing gallery. Governor Walker stayed on message as he has this past year, touting the difficult decisions that were made to balance a $3.6 billion deficit while avoiding major tax increases and mass government […]
State of the State: What to Watch For
Date Wed, Jan. 25, 2012 - 6:49pm By Hamilton
This evening at 7PM Governor Scott Walker will deliver his highly anticipated State of the State Address. Early released excerpts of the speech indicate that the theme for the evening is: “We are turning things around. We are heading in the right direction.” What to watch for this evening: A recap of the efforts made […]
Proposed Amendments to Mining Bill
Date Mon, Jan. 23, 2012 - 5:10pm By Hamilton
The Assembly Committee on Jobs, Economy and Small Business will meet in executive session at 10:00AM on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 to consider amendments to, and have a committee vote on Assembly Bill 426, the mining bill. Hamilton Consulting has written a plain English summary of the proposed amendments. Additional information about the mining bill […]
Wetlands Bill Would Provide Certainty in Permitting Process
Date Tue, Jan. 17, 2012 - 11:59am By Hamilton
One of several bills targeted at reducing uncertainty and increasing flexibility in Wisconsin’s regulatory system is Assembly Bill 463/Senate Bill 368, known as “the wetlands bill.” The bill, sponsored by Senator Neal Kedzie (R-Elkhorn) and Representative Jeff Mursau (R-Crivitz), makes significant changes to Wisconsin’s wetlands permitting process. Wisconsin wetlands are currently subject to a myriad […]
Court Hears Oral Arguments in Collateral Source Rule Case
Date Tue, Jan. 17, 2012 - 11:45am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments in an important case, Orlowski v. State Farm Mut. Ins. Co., 2009AP2848, which will determine whether the collateral source rule applies to underinsured motorist (UIM) policies. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has explained that the “collateral source rule states that benefits an injured person receives from sources that have […]
Recall Signatures Are Due this Week, Lengthy Review Process and Legal Challenges Will Likely Extend Election Timeline
Date Tue, Jan. 17, 2012 - 11:38am By Hamilton
Recall proponents will finish gathering signatures that must be turned into the Government Accountability Board (GAB) this week. It is expected that there will be enough signatures to place the Governor and four Republican Senators on the ballot. When the actual elections will take place, however, remains to be seen. The Republican Party is already […]
Assembly to Vote on Mining Bill
Date Tue, Jan. 17, 2012 - 11:36am By Hamilton
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 […]