Gov. Walker has indicated that workforce issues will be a priority for the upcoming legislative session, and there are several stakeholder groups holding ongoing meetings to offer suggestions and solutions to this important, yet challenging policy area. “Be Bold 2: Growing Wisconsin’s Talent Pool” Study Released Coming on the heels of the release of Tim […]
Walker Administration Focusing on Economic Development
Date Fri, Oct. 12, 2012 - 10:59am By Hamilton
Wisconsin’s Tax Climate Ranks Poorly
Date Thu, Oct. 11, 2012 - 2:16pm By Hamilton
According to a new report from the Tax Foundation, Wisconsin’s tax climate ranks 43rd this year among the 50 states. The 2013 State Business Tax Climate Index looks at over 100 variables in individual income tax, corporate income tax, sales tax, unemployment insurance tax, and property tax, and synthesizes them into a single score. The […]
Agency Budget Request Highlights
Date Wed, Oct. 10, 2012 - 5:28pm By Hamilton
Agency budget requests for the 2013-15 biennial budget bill have been submitted to the Department of Administration (DOA) for review. Requests approved by the Governor will be included in his budget bill, which is expected to be introduced in January 2013. While the bulk of the agency requests submitted to date generally relate to standard […]
Supreme Court Punts on Voter ID, For Now
Date Wed, Oct. 10, 2012 - 5:24pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has declined to take up challenges to the state’s voter ID law until an appeals court hears the cases, meaning questions about the law will not be resolved until well after the November elections. Two separate Dane County circuit judges have ruled against the law in Milwaukee Branch of the NAACP […]
WMC to Host EPA Trainwreck Briefing
Date Wed, Oct. 10, 2012 - 1:03pm By Hamilton
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce is presenting, Decision 2012, Part IV: EPA Trainwreck. The briefing will explain how EPA rules targeting the energy sector will increase the cost of electricity. Speakers include Congressman Reid Ribble and Ross Eisenberg, Vice President, Energy Resource NAM. The briefing will be held on October 24 in Neenah at the Best […]
Court Rulings Increase Act 10 Confusion
Date Tue, Sep. 25, 2012 - 1:23pm By Hamilton
Gov. Walker’s budget repair bill, Act 10, was thrown into judicial limbo when a Dane County judge recently struck down parts of the law causing some public-sector unions to seek revisions to their contracts. However, Atty. Gen. J.B Van Hollen is currently seeking a stay of the decision and has said the state will appeal […]
Agencies Submit Budget Requests
Date Tue, Sep. 25, 2012 - 1:12pm By Hamilton
Agency budget requests for the 2013-15 biennial budget bill have been submitted to the Department of Administration (DOA) for review. Requests approved by the Governor will be included in his budget bill, which is expected to be introduced in January 2013. Gov. Walker provided a specific directive that “most agencies…maintain their overall fiscal year 2013-14 […]
Senate Holds Hearings on Mining
Date Fri, Sep. 21, 2012 - 4:24pm By Hamilton
Last session’s hot topic is back again, as the Senate is holding three hearings on mining in Wisconsin. Mining Committee Chairman Sen. Tim Cullen (D-Janesville) called the hearings in an effort to create a greater context for the issues involved in reforming Wisconsin’s mining laws and detail the roles other government entities play in the […]
Sullivan Discusses Skills Gap & Economic Development
Date Mon, Sep. 17, 2012 - 12:12pm By Hamilton
Marquette Law School recently hosted Tim Sullivan, former Bucyrus International CEO and Special Consultant to the Governor for Workforce Development and Education, for one of its popular On the Issues discussions. What do we do about an acute skills gap in Wisconsin, one that combined with an aging workforce could threaten the state’s economic future? […]
Despite Surplus Walker Directs Agencies to Cut Costs
Date Thu, Sep. 13, 2012 - 2:33pm By Hamilton
Gov. Walker has directed agencies to submit their 2013-2015 budget cycle requests by September 17, 2012. Wisconsin’s biennial state budget sets the financial parameters for virtually all state programs over the two-year budget cycle. Walker’s directions included a discussion of his goals as governor, and a specific directive that “most agencies…maintain their overall fiscal year […]