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 […]
State Revenues Higher Than Anticipated
Date Thu, Sep. 13, 2012 - 2:30pm By Hamilton
The Department of Revenue has released the preliminary data on general fund tax collections for the 2011-12 fiscal year. According to the Department, collections totaled $13,514,626,000 in 2011-12, which is an increase of 4.7% from the prior year and .9% more than was projected in May. A DOR chart summarizing the collections indicates all revenue […]
Wisconsin’s Lawsuit Climate Ranking Increases Thanks to Tort Reforms Enacted in 2011-12
Date Tue, Sep. 11, 2012 - 10:38am By Hamilton
Wisconsin moved up seven spots, from No. 22 to No. 15, in the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform’s latest lawsuit climate study: 2012 State Liability Systems Survey, Lawsuit Climate: Ranking the States.[1] The survey of over 1100 corporate attorneys and executives focused on a number of criteria, including each state’s overall treatment of tort […]
GAB Approves Electronic Voter Registration
Date Fri, Aug. 31, 2012 - 1:19pm By Hamilton
The Government Accountability Board (GAB) voted unanimously to allow people to show electronic documents displayed on electronic devices such as smart phones, tablets and laptops to prove they meet Wisconsin residency requirements when registering to vote. When people register on Election Day, they must provide an identifying document to prove residency before they can vote. […]