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 […]
Governor Names DNR Deputy Secretary
Date Fri, Apr. 3, 2015 - 8:55am By Hamilton
Governor Walker has announced Kurt Thiede will be the new Deputy Secretary of the Department of Natural Resouces (DNR). Thiede has been hired from within the DNR, having served fourteen years with the agency. Prior to his new appointment he was Land Division Administrator, a position which oversaw 500 personnel working in wildlife, parks and […]
Additional Changes to Governor Walker’s Administration
Date Thu, Mar. 5, 2015 - 7:59pm By Hamilton
Last week, Governor Walker made additional changes to his staff and cabinet with the appointment of a senior advisor and new cabinet secretary. The governor appointed Ray Allen as the Secretary of the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and Matt Moroney as a Senior Advisor in the governor’s office. Allen has been deputy secretary at […]
LFB: Administration to Delay $108 million Debt Payment
Date Thu, Feb. 26, 2015 - 4:44pm By Hamilton
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) has released a memo describing the administration’s planned restructuring of a general purpose revenue (GPR) $108 million commercial paper principal payment in May 2015. According to the memo, the governor and Department of Administration (DOA) are planning to delay a $108 million debt payment in the current Fiscal Year (FY) […]
Governor Walker Shuffles Cabinet
Date Thu, Feb. 26, 2015 - 3:20pm By Hamilton
Last week, Governor Walker announced administrative staff changes at Department of Administration (DOA), Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), and Public Service Commission (PSC). The changes include: Scott Neitzel – Secretary, DOA Michael Huebsch – Commissioner, PSC Cate Zeuske – Deputy Secretary, DOA Tricia Braun – Chief Operating Officer, WEDC Brian Schimming – Deputy […]
Bucks Arena Plan Moves Forward
Date Fri, Jan. 30, 2015 - 10:18am By Hamilton
Among the budget proposals released by Governor Walker this week came the plan for a new Milwaukee Bucks Arena. Governor Walker’s plan will give the Milwaukee Bucks $220 million in state bonds once $300 million has been raised from other sources. The plan calls for the creation of a Sports and Entertainment District, and any growth […]
Walker Wows in Iowa
Date Fri, Jan. 30, 2015 - 10:16am By Hamilton
Only a few short weeks after Governor Walker’s inauguration, his focus is clearly set on a new goal: The Presidency. The Governor took another step toward an official entrance into the Republican Presidential primary fray by forming “Our American Revival,” a committee that allows him to raise money to explore that new goal. Last Saturday, […]
Walker’s State Budget Rolls Out
Date Fri, Jan. 30, 2015 - 10:13am By Hamilton
On February 3rd, Governor Walker will provide the details of his budget plan in his Budget Address to the legislature. The anticipation surrounding this biennial address is heightened as Legislative Fiscal Bureau’s revenue numbers released last week indicate revenues for the current fiscal year are less than earlier estimates. With the steep needs of the Medicaid […]
Governor Walker’s 2015-2016 Cabinet Members
Date Thu, Jan. 15, 2015 - 1:01pm By Hamilton
After being sworn in for his second term, Governor Scott Walker announced there would be no immediate changes to his cabinet. Although it was previously speculated some positions in the executive branch might change, Walker chose the status quo for now. Below is a list of Governor Walker’s cabinet. Department of Administration: Secretary Michael Huebsch […]