On March 10, 2015 the International Association of Machinists Local 1061 and two other unions filed a complaint against the State of Wisconsin alleging the “Right to Work” bill passed by the legislature (2015 Act 1) constitutes an unconstitutional taking of the plaintiffs’ property which violates Wisconsin Constitution Art. I, § 13. The plaintiffs argue […]
Vehicle Data Recorders Legislation Moves out of Committee
Date Thu, Feb. 18, 2016 - 8:31pm By Hamilton
Rep. Kremer (R-Kewaskum), Rep. Quinn (R-Rice Lake) and Sen. Stroebel (R-Saukville) have introduced legislation (Assembly Bill 838/Senate Bill 697) that would prohibit accessing, collecting, or transferring certain types of information about a motor vehicle without written consent of the motor vehicle owner. The companion bills were fast-tracked, with introduction and hearing occurring within the first […]
Congress Passes Long-Term Transportation Bill
Date Fri, Dec. 11, 2015 - 10:36am By Hamilton
In early December, Congress passed the Fixing America’s Transportation Act (FAST ACT) with bipartisan support. The legislation provides funding to improve surface transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, transit systems and passenger rail network. The bill will provide $305 billion in funding over the next five years. This is the first long-term transportation bill in a […]
Governor Delivers Remarks at Associated Builders and Contractors
Date Fri, Nov. 20, 2015 - 11:46am By Hamilton
This fall, Governor Scott Walker joined Wisconsin construction representatives in touring the Wisconsin Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin (ABC) headquarters and apprentice training center in Madison. ABC is a national trade association for the construction industry that promotes the merit shop form of construction. WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and […]
Legislature Releases $350 Million in Additional Bonding for Transportation
Date Fri, Nov. 13, 2015 - 10:37am By Hamilton
The Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) has approved a motion to release $350 million in bonding for transportation projects. The motion will allow $200 million in bonding for 2015-2016, and $150 million in 2016-2017. The Department of Transportation (DOT) requested $200 million on October 19, which would require JFC to approve the request with no […]
Governor Walker Urges Legislature to Release $200 Million in Additional Bonding for Transportation
Date Thu, Oct. 29, 2015 - 9:52pm By Hamilton
The recently-enacted biennial state budget bill reduced the level of bonding from Governor Walker’s recommended $1.3 billion in new bonding to $500 million, and allows for an additional $350 million in general obligation bonds to be issued upon approval by the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee (JFC). This $350 million in contingent bonding may be used […]
Wisconsin DOT Announces Projects Delayed
Date Wed, Oct. 14, 2015 - 4:12pm By Hamilton
Governor Urges Legislature to Release Additional Dollars The recently-enacted biennial state budget bill reduced the level of bonding from Governor Walker’s recommended $1.3 billion in new bonding to $500 million, and allows for an additional $350 million in general obligation bonds to be issued upon approval by the legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance. This $350 […]
Newsmakers with DOT Secretary Mark Gottlieb
Date Thu, Sep. 17, 2015 - 3:10pm By Hamilton
In a recent interview, Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb sat down with Wisconsin Eye to discuss the state of Wisconsin’s transportation issues. In the interview, Gottlieb talks about the budget, bonding, the extra Joint Finance Committee authorization, and the state of Wisconsin’s roads. The interview can be seen here.
State Budget: Prevailing Wage Reform
Date Wed, Jul. 8, 2015 - 9:45pm By Hamilton
After much debate over whether prevailing wage reform would be passed as separate legislation, the changes were ultimately placed into the state budget and passed. Sen. Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) and Rep. Hutton (R-Brookfield) led the effort to include prevailing wage reform in the budget. Otherwise known as the “Lasee/Hutton Plan,” the changes reformed the […]
State Budget: Transportation
Date Wed, Jul. 8, 2015 - 8:13pm By Hamilton
The governor’s recommended transportation budget did not include tax or fee increases to help balance the Department of Transportation (DOT) budget. Overall, the governor’s transportation budget recommended providing $6.4 billion to build and maintain transportation projects and relied on $1.3 billion in new bonding to fund transportation projects. His proposal also included $836.1 million over […]