A bill (SB 61) to drastically change the civil asset forfeiture law in Wisconsin was introduced on Wednesday, Feb. 22. In the closing weeks of last session, a similar bill advanced but ultimately died in the Assembly. Like last session, the authors of the legislation include Sen. Craig (R-Big Bend), Sen. Nass (R- Whitewater), Rep. […]
Leak of John Doe Documents Being Looked at by AG
Date Mon, Sep. 26, 2016 - 11:55am By Hamilton
In what appears to be a targeted leak aimed at Gov. Walker, the Guardian US published sealed Wisconsin court documents from the controversial John Doe investigation. It has been reported that over six million records were seized in the politically driven investigation. The leak involved 1,350 records. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and other GOP leaders […]
AG Schimel Files Complaint Against New DOL Overtime Rule
Date Mon, Sep. 26, 2016 - 11:50am By Hamilton
On Sept. 20, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel joined a bipartisan coalition of states in filing a federal complaint against the U.S. Department of Labor’s new overtime rule. The complaint cites federal overreach by DOL and asks the court to prevent implementation of the rule before it is scheduled to take effect on Dec. 1. […]
Department of Justice Submits Budget Request
Date Mon, Sep. 26, 2016 - 11:47am By Hamilton
Attorney General Brad Schimel submitted the Department of Justice (DOJ) 2017-19 budget request to Governor Walker on September 15, 2016. Including all funding sources, DOJ’s request is a 6.2 percent increase over the base fiscal year (2016-17) doubled. This increase amounts to $6.6 million in new general purpose revenue (GPR) over the biennium. The largest […]
Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler Announces “Likely” Run for Second Term
Date Sun, Sep. 25, 2016 - 8:47pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler announced she will “likely” run for re-election in April 2017. The conservative justice already claims endorsements of 48 sheriffs and 30 district attorneys. Among others, her steering committee will include former Gov. Tommy Thompson, former Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow, and former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice John Wilcox. Her Sept. […]
Suit Challenging Wisconsin “Minimum Markup Law” Filed
Date Thu, Sep. 1, 2016 - 10:20am By Hamilton
On Tuesday, August 23, 2016, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) filed a lawsuit in Vilas County Circuit Court on behalf of plaintiffs Krist Oil and Robert Lotto challenging the constitutionality and legality of s. 100.30 of the Wisconsin statutes, Wisconsin’s Minimum Markup Law. Krist Oil is an independent, family-owned Michigan corporation having […]
Court of Appeals Puts a Hold on Dane County Right to Work Decision
Date Thu, May. 26, 2016 - 4:05pm By Hamilton
On May 24, a state court of appeals reversed Dane County Circuit Judge William Faust’s ruling not to grant a stay of his controversial decision that the state’s new right-to-work law was unconstitutional. The appeals court decision allows the right-to-work law to be in effect and enforceable pending appeal of Faust’s underlying decision. Wisconsin became […]
Obama Doubles Overtime Exemption Level to $47,476
Date Thu, May. 26, 2016 - 2:42pm By Hamilton
The Obama Administration’s new overtime rule will double the salary threshold for “white collar” workers to $47,476. The current exemption, set in 2004, is $23,660. The new threshold that will impact 4.2 million salaried workers goes into effect on December 1, 2016. Under the new rule, the threshold will automatically increase every three years. Business […]
AG Schimel Sues EPA over New Ozone Standard
Date Fri, May. 6, 2016 - 9:03am By Hamilton
Wisconsin joined a coalition of states and industry groups challenging EPA’s new ozone standard. The new standard was released on October 26, 2015, and lowers the ozone standard to 70 parts per billion (ppb). The states filed their brief in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on April 22, 2016. […]
Attorney General Appeals Ruling on Right to Work
Date Thu, May. 5, 2016 - 3:09pm By Hamilton
Friday, April 8, Dane County Circuit Court Judge C. William Foust struck down 2015 Wisconsin Act 1, Wisconsin’s right-to-work law, concluding that labor unions have a property right to a portion of a worker’s wages. Under 2015 Wisconsin Act 1, No person may require, as a condition of obtaining or continuing employment, an individual to […]