Following the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision last week in Ismael R. Ozanne v. Jeff Fitzgerald/State v. Circuit Court for Dane County, which allowed the collective bargaining law to go into effect, a coalition of unions filed a federal lawsuit. The new lawsuit was filed last week in the federal district court argue that Act 10 […]
Wisconsin Public Unions File Lawsuit Challenging Constitutionality of Act 10 – Collective Bargaining Law
Date Mon, Jun. 27, 2011 - 8:46am By Hamilton
Concealed Carry Passes the Legislature
Date Wed, Jun. 22, 2011 - 3:44pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin is poised to become the 49th state to allow the concealed carry of firearms. On Tuesday, the Assembly passed SB-93 by a vote of 68-27. The bill is now headed to Governor Scott Walker for signature. The final bill includes provisions requiring training and permits, which were sought by both Gov. Walker and Democrats. […]
Supreme Court Upholds Collective Bargaining Legislation–Rules Judge Sumi Violated the Constitution by Striking Down Legislation
Date Wed, Jun. 15, 2011 - 12:35pm By Hamilton
In a 4-3 decision on Tuesday June 15, 2011, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued an order allowing the controversial collective bargaining law to go into effect. The Supreme Court overturned Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi’s decision to block the implementation of the law. The Supreme Court found in its ruling that Judge Sumi […]
Three Petitions against Democratic State Senators Certified by GAB
Date Wed, Jun. 15, 2011 - 12:31pm By Hamilton
The Government Accountability Board (GAB) voted to certify recall petitions against Senator Jim Holperin (D- District 12), Senator Robert Wirch (D- District 22), and Senator Dave Hansen (D- District 30). State law requires the recall elections be held on the sixth Tuesday after the petitions are found to be sufficient. If there is a primary, […]
Wisconsin Budget Bill Set to Come Before Assembly
Date Wed, Jun. 15, 2011 - 12:29pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin legislators’ plan to balance the state’s budget is largely written and is set to come before the Assembly Wednesday, June 15. GOP lawmakers and Governor Scott Walker agree on the outlines of the bill that will close a $3 billion deficit in the state’s main account over the next two years by holding the […]
Voter ID Bill Becomes Law
Date Thu, Jun. 9, 2011 - 3:46pm By Hamilton
Gov. Scott Walker recently signed into law legislation – Assembly Bill 7 – which requires voters to present identification before they vote. The law also ends straight ticket voting and strengthens absentee voter requirements. The law requires that anyone voting in a particular district must have resided in that district for 28 days. Previously, living […]
Joint Finance Committee Passes Budget Bill; Legislature to Vote Soon
Date Thu, Jun. 9, 2011 - 12:35pm By Hamilton
The Joint Finance Committee (JFC) voted along party-lines (12-4) passing the 2011-13 budget bill. The final two nights were marred by protestors disrupting the proceedings. Below is a snapshot of some of the changes made by the JFC to Gov. Scott Walker’s original bill: A provision that creates a domestic production tax credit for manufacturers […]
Dane County Judge Strikes Down Budget Repair Bill; Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments
Date Thu, Jun. 9, 2011 - 11:38am By Hamilton
Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi issued a permanent restraining order last week striking down the controversial collective bargaining legislation, 2011 Wisconsin Act 10. In her decision, Judge Sumi ruled that the State Senate violated Wisconsin’s open meetings law. As a result, Judge Sumi issued a temporary restraining order that prohibited Act 10 from […]
Six Senate Republican Recall Petitions Certified for July 12; Three Senate Dems Face Recall Elections a Week Later
Date Thu, Jun. 9, 2011 - 11:26am By Hamilton
The Government Accountability Board (GAB) has certified recall petitions for six Republican Senators – Sens. Robert Cowles (Green Bay); Alberta Darling (River Hills); Sheila Harsdorf (River Falls); Randy Hopper (Fond du Lac); Dan Kapanke (La Crosse); and Luther Olsen (Ripon). Those elections will take place on July 12. GAB officials went to court last week […]
Wisconsin Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments on Collective Bargaining Bill
Date Tue, Jun. 7, 2011 - 9:18am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard arguments today on whether to take up a lawsuit over the Wisconsin collective bargaining law (2011 WI Act 10). The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard both the appeal of the Wisconsin Department of Justice on the original temporary restraining order (TRO) as well has final decision released by the Dane […]