Legislation dealing with high capacity wells has recently been at the center of attention in the capitol. Several bills dealing with the regulation and permitting of high capacity wells have been introduced and have had extensive public hearings. Senate Bill 239, authored by Senator Rick Gudex (R-Fond du Lac), clarifies DNR permit regulations for existing […]
Bills of Note: A Constitutional Amendment and More TIF
Date Wed, Oct. 14, 2015 - 4:25pm By Hamilton
Constitutional Amendment to Eliminate State Treasurer Moves Forward In an executive session on Thursday, the Assembly Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations passed Assembly Joint Resolution 5, which would eliminate the State Treasurer position from the Wisconsin Constitution. The resolution passed on party-line, 3-2 vote. At a public hearing in September, State Treasurer Matt […]
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 […]
Back from the Campaign Trail, Legislation Takes Priority
Date Fri, Oct. 2, 2015 - 9:27am By Hamilton
Governor Walker is back from the campaign trail after spending just 70 days running for president, and while some thought he might take a break and catch his breath after his whirlwind candidacy, he has done quite the opposite. Governor Walker immediately started reconnecting with Wisconsinites with visits across the state and wasted no time […]
Duchow Wins Special Election for 99th AD
Date Thu, Oct. 1, 2015 - 2:24pm By Hamilton
Cindi Duchow has won the general election for the vacant 99th Assembly District seat in Waukesha County. Duchow received 1,424 votes to defeat two write-in candidates in the election. No Democrats filed to run. Representative-elect Duchow has worked for large national retailers and owns a small business that provides watersport and boat services on Lake […]
Bills of Note: Legal Notices, WRS Pensions and Deaths in the Line of Duty
Date Thu, Oct. 1, 2015 - 2:09pm By Hamilton
As the legislative session heats up, bills are quickly moving through the legislature. This week’s Bills of Note includes changes to the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), legal notices on internet sites for municipalities, and a death in the line of duty bill for law enforcement families. Legal Notice on Internet Sites In late April, Senator […]
Aggregate Producers of Wisconsin Hold Legislative Day
Date Thu, Sep. 17, 2015 - 5:37pm By Hamilton
Aggregate Producers of Wisconsin (APW) held their legislative day in Madison this week. Attendees spent the morning listening to legislative, regulatory, and administration speakers. Pat Stevens, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division Administrator for Air, Waste, and Remediation and Redevelopment presented on the DNR’s new reorganized structure, and on how permitting and regulation is changing […]
Audit Committee Holds Hearing on 2015 WEDC Audit
Date Thu, Sep. 17, 2015 - 5:33pm By Hamilton
The Joint Legislative Audit Committee met on Wednesday, September 9, to discuss the findings of the Legislative Audit Bureau’s (LAB) audit of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), released in May of this year. WEDA members presented extensive testimony that hit on nearly all of the points committee members raised while questioning the LAB, WEDC, […]
Bills of Note: Heroin Prevention, TIF, and a Constitutional Amendment
Date Thu, Sep. 17, 2015 - 3:00pm By Hamilton
Nygren Announces HOPE Agenda Legislation Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) announced a bill package that if passed would provide additional heroin, opiate prevention and education to combat the heroin and opiate epidemic in Wisconsin. The bills are a continuation of Rep. Nygren’s plan to combat the heroin epidemic. The four new bills, which have yet to […]
Fitzgerald Announces Committee Reassignments
Date Fri, Sep. 4, 2015 - 10:08am By Hamilton
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has announced that he has disbanded the Senate Committee on Education Reform and created the Senate Committee on Public Benefit and Regulatory Reform. Sen. Fitzgerald states that he made the changes to the standing committees to reflect changes in Senate membership, particularly the recent election of Senator Chris Kapenga. Members […]