Friday, April 8, Dane County Circuit Court Judge C. William Foust struck down 2015 Wisconsin Act 1, Wisconsin’s Right-to-Work law. Under 2015 Wisconsin Act 1, “No person may require, as a condition of obtaining or continuing employment, an individual to do any of the following: Refrain or resign from membership in, voluntary affiliation with, or […]
Dane County Circuit Court Judge Strikes Down Wisconsin’s Right-to-Work Law, Appeal Anticipated
Date Fri, Apr. 15, 2016 - 10:08am By Hamilton
Justice Scalia’s Absence Felt on the Court – Public Sector Unions Escape Unscathed
Date Wed, Mar. 30, 2016 - 4:26pm By Hamilton
The Supreme Court reached a decision in the case Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association On Tuesday. The first major case, presumably of many, to be affected by Justice Scalia’s abrupt death. The case involved 10 nonunion public school teachers who argued their free speech rights were violated by having to pay the equivalent of union […]
Signed into Law: Tourism Entity Clarified
Date Wed, Mar. 30, 2016 - 3:52pm By Hamilton
On March 30, Governor Walker signed Assembly Bill 714 into law as 2015 Wisconsin Act 301, clarifying the definition of a tourism entity that collects room tax. The bill recently passed the Assembly and Senate with no opposition. The legislation, authored by Rep. Mike Rohrkaste (R-Neenah) and Sen. Roger Roth (R-Appleton), makes technical changes to […]
Court Hears Arguments in Right to Work Lawsuit
Date Thu, Mar. 3, 2016 - 6:48pm By Hamilton
On March 10, 2015 the International Association of Machinists Local 1061 and two other unions filed a complaint against the State of Wisconsin alleging the “Right to Work” bill passed by the legislature (2015 Act 1) constitutes an unconstitutional taking of the plaintiffs’ property which violates Wisconsin Constitution Art. I, § 13. The plaintiffs argue […]
WEDC Fraud Bill Passes Assembly, Status of the Bill Unclear in the Senate
Date Thu, Feb. 18, 2016 - 8:19pm By Hamilton
Assembly Bill 669/Senate Bill authored by Rep. Samantha Kerkman (R-Salem) and Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) has passed the Assembly, however it is uncertain whether the Senate will take up the bill. The legislation would establish criminal penalties for committing fraud against the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC). The bill would make it a crime […]
Legislature Passes Some TIF Bills
Date Thu, Feb. 18, 2016 - 8:14pm By Hamilton
UPDATE: Governor Walker signed these bills into law as 2015 Wisconsin Acts 254, 255, 256, and 257 on Tuesday, March 1, 2016. This week, the Assembly passed the following legislation part of the tax increment financing (TIF) bill package. The bills are a product of the 2014 Legislative Council study committee on TIF. The Senate passed […]
Requirements on Unemployment Benefits for Season Workers Tightened
Date Fri, Jan. 22, 2016 - 10:48am By Hamilton
In June, the state’s Department of Workforce Development tightened requirements for people receiving unemployment benefits that are laid off but expect to be called back by an employer. Instead of allowing people to be exempt from work searches for 52 weeks, now they will only receive a waiver for eight weeks, with a possible extension […]
Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association – Act 10 nationwide?
Date Fri, Jan. 22, 2016 - 10:43am By Hamilton
The Court is taking up a variety of interesting cases this term ranging from affirmative action in undergraduate admissions to redistricting. A particularly interesting case is Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association et al. The case involves 10 nonunion public school teachers who argue their free speech rights are violated by having to pay the equivalent […]
Economic Development Legislation Coming in 2016
Date Tue, Dec. 22, 2015 - 3:49pm By Hamilton
Senators Gudex and Darling announce Economic Development Plan Sen. Rick Gudex (R – Fond du Lac) and Sen. Alberta Darling (R – River Hills) announced last week their plans to introduce a series of bills designed to increase economic development across the state. According to their press release, the bill package will reduce red tape, […]
New North Summit Meets in Oshkosh
Date Fri, Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:51am By Hamilton
Business leaders from across Northeast Wisconsin attended the 12th Annual New North Summit in Oshkosh last week to discuss ways to develop business and recruit jobs to the area. New North Inc. is an organization comprising of business leaders in 18 counties in Northeast Wisconsin. The summit focused on ways to recruit IT and manufacturing […]