October Floor Preview: Senate to Approve Evers Appointments, Assembly Will Focus on First Responders
Date Tue, Oct. 8, 2019 - 10:27am By Hamilton
The Senate and Assembly are both meeting this week for the first time since passing the state budget in June. Both chambers plan to meet once more in November before returning in 2020 for the final floorperiods of the 2019-20 legislative session. Below are highlights of the Senate & Assembly calendars this week. Senate […]
Wisconsin Democrats Release Legislative Priorities
Date Tue, Oct. 8, 2019 - 10:24am By Hamilton
Ahead of October floor sessions this week, Wisconsin Democrats released a list of legislative priorities called “Forward Together.” Legislators released the initiative at press conferences around the state on Oct. 7. The package is “focused on values that put families, workers, and communities first.” The initiative contains several proposals under eight broad categories: Under Affordable […]
Federal Extraordinary Session Case Dismissed
Date Mon, Oct. 7, 2019 - 4:12pm By Hamilton
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin recently dismissed DPW v. Vos, the federal case challenging the 2018 extraordinary session laws. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin (DPW) had filed a complaint in February seeking to declare the extraordinary session legislation in violation of the U.S. Constitution. DPW alleged that the legislation violates the […]
Water Quality Task Force Meets in Northern Wis. to Discuss PFAS
Date Mon, Sep. 16, 2019 - 10:08am By Hamilton
After meeting in 15 locations around the state, the Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality has likely wrapped up its public hearings. Below is an update on the last four meetings in northern Wisconsin, where the task force discussed several topics, including PFAS. Green Bay On Aug. 28, the task force met in Green […]
Q&A With Assembly Speaker & NCSL President Robin Vos
Date Thu, Aug. 22, 2019 - 11:21am By Hamilton
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) was recently named president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). NCSL is a bipartisan organization serving state legislators and staff from around the country by providing research, resources, and advocacy on behalf of states. Speaker Vos is the first legislator from Wisconsin to serve as head of […]
Medicaid Expansion Bill Circulating
Date Wed, Aug. 7, 2019 - 10:29am By Hamilton
This week, Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) and Rep. Daniel Riemer (D-Milwaukee) circulated legislation (LRB 2962) to expand the eligibility level for the state Medicaid program to up to 133 percent of the federal poverty line. Under the Affordable Care Act, states which expand Medicaid receive enhanced federal funding. The bill requires the Department of Health […]
Employment Bills Introduced in Wisconsin Legislature
Date Wed, Aug. 7, 2019 - 10:25am By Hamilton
This session, Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced several bills that would create new legal causes of action against employers and could be costly to Wisconsin businesses if enacted. Read below for descriptions and the status of each of the bills. SB 40/AB 40 – Wage Claims Sen. Bob Wirch (D-Somers) and Rep. Tod Ohnstad (D-Kenosha) […]
Legislature Files Lawsuit Against AG to Enforce Extraordinary Session Laws
Date Wed, Aug. 7, 2019 - 10:19am By Hamilton
Republican legislative leadership have filed a petition for original action in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, seeking to enforce sections of the 2018 extraordinary legislation that require legislative oversight of attorney general settlements. The Legislature’s petition and memo in support state that Attorney General Josh Kaul reads the 2017 Act 369 settlement review provisions as not […]
Water Quality Task Force Continues to Meet Around the State
Date Fri, Aug. 2, 2019 - 10:42am By Hamilton
The Speaker’s Task Force on Water Quality is continuing to meet around the state to hear testimony from stakeholders and hold public hearings. Recent task force meetings have been held in Sturtevant, Tomahawk and Stevens Point. Sturtevant On July 11, the task force traveled to southeastern Wisconsin to hear about wastewater and cleanup programs. First, […]
Floor Report: Assembly and Senate Send Step Therapy, Electric Scooters, DOT Bills to Governor
Date Wed, Jun. 26, 2019 - 5:36pm By Hamilton
The Assembly met on June 18 and 20 to approve short calendars before taking up the 2019-21 state budget this week. In their floorperiod to take up the budget on Wednesday, the Senate approved several additional bills from the Assembly, sending them to the governor’s desk. On June 18, the Assembly voted to pass SB […]