The Hamilton Consulting Group has released a new Tidbits newsletter highlighting Wisconsin’s recent legislative activity. Hamilton’s Political Tidbits can help you by providing FREE quick, and easy access to the latest happenings in Wisconsin. This issue of Political Tidbits discusses the “Back to Work Wisconsin” special session bills, mining legislation, as well as potential […]
Hamilton Consulting Group Releases Latest Political Tidbits Newsletter
Date Thu, Nov. 10, 2011 - 3:06pm By Hamilton
Governor Releases Executive Order on Rulemaking
Date Wed, Nov. 9, 2011 - 7:36pm By Hamilton
Governor Walker issued Executive Order 50, Relating to Guidelines for the Promulgation of Administrative Rules, on November 2nd. The Governor’s executive order is an important step toward implementation and understanding of the new procedures adopted in 2011 Wisconsin Act 21, which passed during the January special session. Under the regulatory procedure, agencies must provide a […]
Bill Advances in Giving Employers Protection in Hiring Convicted Felons
Date Wed, Nov. 9, 2011 - 7:15pm By Hamilton
Senate Bill 207/AB 286, authored by Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) and Rep. Joel Kleefisch (R-Oconomowoc), allows an employer to consider an individual’s felony conviction record when deciding to hire or terminate that individual. Currently, if a person with a felony conviction record who has not been pardoned is either not hired or terminated from […]
Senate Passes Bill Repealing Punitive and Compensatory Damages under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act
Date Wed, Nov. 9, 2011 - 7:07pm By Hamilton
The Senate this week passed Senate Bill 202, authored by Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) and Rep. Michelle Litjens (R-Oshkosh), which repeals a law enacted last session (2009 Wisconsin Act 20) that for the first time imposed punitive and compensatory damages in discrimination cases under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act. Before enactment of Wisconsin Act […]
Daubert Comes to Wisconsin — CLE Summit on Expert Opinion
Date Tue, Oct. 25, 2011 - 3:02pm By Hamilton
This one day “summit” is for trial lawyers who are engaged in the defense of civil litigation as well as those lawyers who represent businesses and professionals, and whose litigation fate relies heavily on the admissibility—or non-admissibility—of expert testimony, including the elimination of “junk science.” A comprehensive understanding of decisions and trends from other jurisdictions […]
Bill Would Provide Employers Protection in Hiring Convicted Felons
Date Tue, Oct. 11, 2011 - 5:06pm By Hamilton
The Assembly Labor and Workforce Development Committee this week held a public hearing on Assembly Bill 286, permitting employers to consider a person’s felony conviction record when deciding to hire or terminate the person. (The Senate companion bill is SB 207). Currently, Wisconsin is one of only four states that include convicted felons as a […]
Civil Liability Reforms Once Again Part of Governor’s Special Session
Date Tue, Oct. 11, 2011 - 4:10pm By Hamilton
Building off the civil liability reforms enacted earlier this session, Governor Walker introduced four more bills for the special session. These include interest on judgments, immunity for manufactureres and sellers of FDA-approved drugs and devices, determining reasonable attorney fees, and trespasser liability. Below is a summary of each. Interest on Judgments: This bill reduces Wisconsin’s […]
Legislature Begins Special Session on Jobs
Date Tue, Oct. 11, 2011 - 3:36pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker issued a call for what he is calling the “Back to Work Wisconsin” special session. Citing his focus on job creation and the goal of creating 250,000 private sector jobs, Walker indicated that Wisconsin employers and workers want a “sense of certainty, ” which according to Walker, “is the main goal of this […]
Governor Walker Calls Second Special Session on Jobs
Date Wed, Sep. 28, 2011 - 3:58pm By Hamilton
For the second time this year Governor Scott Walker has called the legislature into special session to address jobs. The “Back to Work Wisconsin” special session is expected to begin on Thursday, September 19, and run through November. Walker’s announcement included a list of 26 pieces of legislation for the session. The list is replicated […]
Wisconsin Presidential Primary Moves to April
Date Thu, Sep. 22, 2011 - 10:57am By Hamilton
Senate Bill 115 passed the Assembly by a vote of 65-32 on Sept. 13. The bill moves the presidential preference primary from the 3rd Tuesday in February to the first Tuesday in April during presidential election years. The bill passed the Senate on June 8 on a voice vote. Iowa is scheduled to hold its […]