Two Dane County circuit judges have struck down Wisconsin’s voter ID law, but Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen will appeal the decisions, which are likely to end up in Wisconsin Supreme Court. Dane County Circuit Judge David Flanagan issued the most recent decision invalidating and permanently enjoining the identification requirements in a lawsuit brought by […]
DHS Reports on Family Care Enrollment
Date Thu, Jul. 19, 2012 - 5:09pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services (DHS) this week provided its latest update to the Joint Finance Committee on Wisconsin’s Family Care program. The report details: What individuals experienced between July 1, 2011 and April 3, 2012 (when there was a cap on enrollment); Wisconsin’s action plan to expedite outreach and enrollment into (long term […]
Walker Signs Lean Government Initiative
Date Thu, Jul. 19, 2012 - 5:07pm By Hamilton
Gov. Walker has signed Executive Order #66, calling on state agencies to look for ways to eliminate waste, save time, simplify operations and improve services to the public. Governor Walker’s Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Commission recommended the creation of a statewide Lean Government program. Lean is a continuous improvement philosophy that has been used to […]
Wisconsin Legislative Council’s Analysis of the Supreme Court’s Healthcare Decision
Date Wed, Jul. 11, 2012 - 5:09pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Legislative Council has released an Information Memorandum describing relevant major provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and discussing the Supreme Court’s decision and its implications for Wisconsin. Excerpted below is the Council’s discussion of implications for Wisconsin. HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGEAs a result of the Court’s holding that the individual […]
Healthcare Reform: It’s Your Business
Date Mon, Jul. 9, 2012 - 10:25am By Hamilton
On the morning of July 18, 2012, Edgewood College is hosting a discussion on the impact of healthcare refom on businesses and organization in the Madison area. The School of Business at Edgewood College is pleased to host Healthcare Reform: It’s Your Business, the next installment in the Smith & Gesteland Executive Speaker Series. In […]
Reconsidering Wisconsin’s Constitutional Recall Provision: Should the Recalls be Recalled?
Date Mon, Jul. 9, 2012 - 10:20am By Hamilton
The Madison Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society is hosting an event on July 18, 2012 debating the pros and cons of amending the Wisconsin Constitution in light of the recent political turmoil involving the historic spate of recalls. Wisconsin recently endured a historic stretch of recall elections of Wisconsin senators and the Governor. In […]
Resources on the SCOTUS Healthcare Decision
Date Tue, Jul. 3, 2012 - 4:49pm By Hamilton
If Independence Day has you pondering “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” why not put on your thinking cap and dive into some of these resources on the Supreme Court’s healthcare decision. National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (The Decision) SCOTUSblog’s Post-decision Health Care Symposium provides various viewpoints on the legal ramifications and […]
Redistricting Appeal Dropped, Maps Finalized
Date Thu, Jun. 21, 2012 - 12:56pm By Hamilton
The state Department of Justice has dropped its appeal of a court-ordered redistricting plan for two state Assembly districts and has agreed to pay the plaintiffs’ attorneys $185,000 in legal bills. The lawsuit was brought by Democrats and others challenging the constitutionality of the state’s election maps recently drawn by the Republican-controlled Legislature. In March, […]
LRB’s Summary of the 2011–2012 Wisconsin Legislative Session
Date Thu, May. 31, 2012 - 10:40am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau has released its research bulletin providing an overview of the acts and joint resolutions of the 2011–2012 Wisconsin Legislative Session. Legislation is organized by topic with acts described under the appropriate subject heading or headings. Significant acts and joint resolutions are highlighted by shading.
Legislative Audit Bureau Reviews Two DHS Programs
Date Thu, May. 31, 2012 - 10:37am By Hamilton
Wisconsin’s independent Legislative Audit Bureau recently released its audits of the Wisconsin FoodShares program and the state’s Health Insurance Risk-Sharing Plan (HIRSP) Authority. FoodShares Audit Summary FoodShare Wisconsin is the state’s program implementing the federal Food Stamp Act of 1964 to assist low-income individuals and families in purchasing food. The program is administered by the […]