DWD Sec. Newson Talks About Employment Programs and Unemployment Insurance

In an interview with the Wheeler Report, Department of Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson talked about his agency and plans for the next year. What have been the major accomplishments of your agency recently?We’re working hard to carry out the Governor’s agenda on job creation and developing the workforce. The Governor has put forward five […]

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Walker Discusses Budget Priorities

Gov. Walker has indicated that his top priorities for the 2013-15 Biennial State Budget are creating jobs, developing the workforce, transforming education, reforming government, and investing in infrastructure. In the time leading up to the Biennial Budget Address on February 20, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Assembly Chambers, Walker is releasing a series of […]

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Sec. Gottlieb Talks Transportation with Wheeler Report

The Wheeler Report recently sat down with Department of Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb to discuss service, safety, and better roads. What are the biggest accomplishments of your agency in the past few years?We were able to open up over 30 new DMV centers, so now we have DMVs open at least 20 hours a week […]

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Employment Law Changes a Necessary Component to Economic Growth

In 2011, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce prepared a report titled “The Impact of State Employment Policies on Job Growth.” The review covered all 50 states and unfortunately, Wisconsin was ranked in the worst tier with 14 other states. Wisconsin joined California, New York, Illinois and Michigan as a state where employment laws are considered […]

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Transportation Funding Amendment on Fast Track

One of the bills moving quickly this legislative session is a proposal that would take steps toward amending the state constitution to prevent transportation funds from being used for non-transportation related projects. Since 2003, more than $1.3 billion has been redirected from the transportation fund and spent on unrelated programs. SJR4 proposes a constitutional amendment […]

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Mining Bills Introduced

It’s only the third week of the legislative session but already two separate mining bills have been introduced and a 12-hour marathon hearing held over one of the proposals. Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford) and Senator Tom Tiffany (R-Hazelhurst) have introduced comprehensive iron-ore mining legislation designed to streamline the approval process for iron mines […]

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Transportation Commission Releases Final Report

The Wisconsin Transportation Finance and Policy Commission today gave unanimous approval to its final report on the needs of Wisconsin’s transportation system over the next decade, including a set of recommendations for how those needs can be funded. The Commission report titled, Keep Wisconsin Moving – Smart Investments, Measurable Results, calls for additional annual investments […]

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Gov. Walker Announces 2013-15 Biennial Budget Address

Gov. Scott Walker will deliver the 2013-15 Biennial Budget Address on February 20, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the Assembly Chambers.

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Act 10 Upheld by Federal Appeals Court

In Wisconsin Education Association Council, et al. v. Walker, et al., a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld 2011 Wisconsin Act 10, the controversial budget repair bill that curtailed the collective bargaining rights of certain public employees, in its entirety. The decision is the latest among the long-running […]

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LAB’s Financial Statements Audit Uncovers Problems in UW System

The Legislative Audit Bureau has completed its financial audit of the State of Wisconsin as of, and for, the fiscal year (FY) ended June 30, 2012. The LAB provided a “clean” or unqualified opinion on the FY 2011-12 financial statements; however the report identified concerns with the University of Wisconsin System’s statements. [The] financial statements […]

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