In the waning days of session, plaintiffs’ attorneys are attempting to ram through sweeping legislation that would severely undermine a defendant’s ability to perform discovery in civil actions. If enacted, AB 815/SB 628 would tip the scales of justice overwhelmingly in favor of plaintiffs by limiting a defendant’s ability to access a plaintiff’s medical records […]
EPA/NHTSA Announce New Regulations Creating Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for New Vehicles
Date Thu, Apr. 1, 2010 - 12:25pm By Hamilton
The EPA and National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced its final rule establishing federal regulations creating greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy standards for new cars and trucks. The regulations will apply to passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles, covering model years 2012 through 2016. The new regulations require these automobiles to […]
EPA Issues Final Notice Setting Stage for Regulating Greenhouse Gases under Clean Air Act
Date Mon, Mar. 29, 2010 - 12:52pm By Hamilton
The EPA today announced its final plans to move forward to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. In its final notice titled, “Reconsideration of Interpretation of Regulations that Determine Pollutants Covered by Clean Air Act Permitting Programs,” the EPA explained that the agency will implement the first national rule controlling CO2 and other […]
Hamilton News Clips
Date Mon, Mar. 29, 2010 - 12:02pm By Hamilton
Politicians use health care law to court donors: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Mar 26. 2010. Political operatives on both sides agree on this: The issue can attract significant campaign donations. Legislature still has time to fix budget process (opinion): Appleton Post-Crescent, Mar. 26, 2010. Clean up the special-interest mess that the budget process has become. Read […]
Political Tidbits
Date Fri, Mar. 26, 2010 - 1:08pm By Hamilton
The March 26 issue of Hamilton Consulting Group’s Political Tidbits highlights recent political and policy developments in Wisconsin. See Tidbits for the following articles: Bill Limits Employer Meetings with Workers During Union Organizing Campaigns Survey Ranks Wisconsin 22nd in Nation for “Lawsuit Climate” Supreme Court Accepts Challenge to Milwaukee’s Paid Sick-Leave Ordinance Study Finds High […]
DNR Moves Forward with Costly Phosphorus Rule
Date Wed, Mar. 17, 2010 - 10:02am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board this month announced plans to hold hearings on a controversial proposed administrative rule that would place significantly more stringent phosphorus limits for Wisconsin lakes and rivers. According to the DNR’s analysis of the rule, it would force municipalities and sanitary districts to spend up to $1.13 billion to comply with the new […]
U.S. Chamber Petitions EPA Over “Endangerment Finding”
Date Wed, Mar. 17, 2010 - 9:34am By Hamilton
The New York Times reports that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this week filed a petition with EPA for reconsideration of its finding that greenhouse gases “endanger” the public health and welfare. “The Chamber believes that the right way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere is through bipartisan legislation and comprehensive international agreements,” […]
Assembly Labor Committee to Hold Public Hearing on “False Claims” Legislation
Date Tue, Mar. 9, 2010 - 11:43am By Hamilton
The Assembly Committee on Labor on Wednesday, March 10 (10:00 a.m.) will hold a public hearing on AB 792, relating to false claims submitted to state and local governments. (See below for more information regarding the hearing time and location.) The Wisconsin Civil Justice Council opposes AB 792 because it encourages abusive litigation by providing […]
Efforts to Override Governor’s Veto of DNR Secretary Bill Fall Short
Date Wed, Feb. 24, 2010 - 9:52am By Hamilton
The Assembly Democrats, joined by a handful of Republicans, failed to garner the 66 votes needed to override the Governor’s veto of Assembly Bill 138, which would have removed the Governor’s authority to appoint the Department of Natural Resources secretary and handed the authority to the unelected Natural Resources Board members. The bill passed both the Senate […]
Wisconsin Legislative Committees Wrap Up Hearings on Climate Change Legislation
Date Mon, Feb. 15, 2010 - 2:49pm By Hamilton
The Assembly Clean Energy Jobs Committee is holding its last public hearing today on Assembly Bill 649, the 174-page bill encompassing numerous policy recommendations from the Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming. (The Senate companion bill is SB 450.) The Senate finished its hearings last week. The biggest news from the Senate hearings last week were statements […]