Relating to the Public Services Commission (PSC), the Joint Finance Committee (JFC) repealed authorization for grants to certain nonprofit corporations and reduced the compensation rate for consumer groups and consumer representatives from 100% of the costs of the participating in a PSC hearing to 50% of that cost. The governor’s budget included a proposal to […]
State Budget: Department of Natural Resources
Date Thu, Jul. 9, 2015 - 10:27am By Hamilton
With a few exceptions, the debate over the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) budget was mostly pedestrian. The one exception was the proposal by the governor to remove rulemaking and policymaking authority of the Natural Resources Board, which in effect would have made them merely an advisory council. A firestorm of opposition by conservation and […]
Bills of Note: 30 Bills Signed Into Law
Date Wed, Jul. 8, 2015 - 7:12pm By Hamilton
Governor Scott Walker signed 30 bills into law at the Capitol on July 1. This included bills relating to motorcycle lighting, air pollution, controlled substances for optometrists, microbeads, GPS tracking, camping units and election law changes. Motorcycle Lighting Introduced in March by Representative Jagler (R–Watertown) as Assembly Bill 100, this bill permits a motorcycle to […]
Bills of Note: Air Pollution, Legal Notices on the Internet, Ignition Interlock, and Signed Firearms Bills
Date Fri, Jun. 26, 2015 - 9:35am By Hamilton
Air Pollution Rule Repeal Senate Bill 144, introduced in May by Senator Terry Moulton (R-Chippewa Falls), eliminates a rule promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), relating to construction permit requirements for stationary sources that emit greenhouses gases, which is no longer valid under the Supreme Court’s decision in Utility Air Regulatory Group v. […]
Gov. Makes Appointments to DNR Board
Date Sun, May. 31, 2015 - 7:48pm By Hamilton
Governor Scott Walker has announced two appointments to the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB), Julie Anderson and Dr. Frederick Prehn. Julie Anderson has served for over 24 years in the Racine County government in several positons including Planning Director, Land Information Officer, Highway Commissioner and Board Member of the Racine County Economic Development Corporation. Anderson […]
EPA Plans to Review Permit for Pig Farm in Bayfield County
Date Sun, May. 31, 2015 - 7:41pm By Hamilton
After opposition arose over the potential construction of a new pig concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to step and review the permitting process. Wisconsin currently is home to approximately 240 cow CAFOs, but Badgerwood LLC, a Wisconsin-based subsidiary of Iowa-based Reicks Farms, is looking to construct the […]
DNR’s Coolest Fish Contest
Date Fri, May. 1, 2015 - 8:58am By Hamilton
“Does a lake sturgeon beat a bowfin, a burbot beat a sauger?” The Department of Natural Resources is holding an online contest to determine which fish really is the coolest. Head to the Wisconsin DNR’s Facebook page and you can vote for your favorite fish.
JFC Takes Further Action on State Budget
Date Fri, May. 1, 2015 - 8:38am By Hamilton
The Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) met on April 17 and April 22 to continue voting on Governor Walker’s proposed 2015-2017 state budget. JFC passed a number of motions, which modified the governor’s proposed budget. This includes action on portions of agency budgets in the Department of Military Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of […]
Bills of Note: Signed, Sealed and Soon to be Delivered in an Uber
Date Fri, Apr. 17, 2015 - 9:11am By Hamilton
Over the last two weeks, there has been extensive bill movement as Governor Walker signed eleven bills into law on April 8th and this week, the State Assembly took up a long list of bills. This included legislation on the ban of microbeads and a bill that would allow for popular ridesharing companies such as […]
Business Groups Oppose the Most Expensive Regulatory Proposal in U.S. History
Date Fri, Mar. 20, 2015 - 9:11am By Hamilton
At an estimated $1.7 trillion hit to GDP, it’s been dubbed the most costly EPA regulation in U.S. history. On March 17, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and other state business groups voiced their opposition to EPA’s proposed new ozone standard. Citing a study commissioned by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), WMC comments note […]