With the election now behind us, the legislature has selected their leadership for the upcoming session. With a 19-14 majority in the Senate, Republicans selected: Majority Leader: Scott Fitzgerald Assistant Majority Leader: Paul Farrow Senate President: Mary Lazich Pres. Pro Temp: Richard Gudex Caucus Chair: Sheila Harsdorf Assistant Caucus Chair: Van Wanggaard Senate Democrats selected: […]
Caucus Update
Date Thu, Nov. 6, 2014 - 6:16pm By Hamilton
This week, Senate Republicans elected their leadership for the 2015-2017 legislative session: Senate President: Sen. Mary Lazich Senator President Pro Tempore: Sen. Rick Gudex Majority Leader: Sen. Scott Fitzgerald Assistant Majority Leader: Sen. Paul Farrow Caucus Chair: Sen. Sheila Harsdorf Caucus Vice-Chair: Sen. Van Wanggaard Other caucuses will be meeting next week to […]
Preview: 2015 – 2016 State Legislature
Date Thu, Nov. 6, 2014 - 3:09pm By Hamilton
2013 – 2014 State Legislature 2015 – 2016 State Legislature Senate: 17 Republicans, 15 Democrats, 1 Vacant Senate: 19 Republicans, 14 Democrats Assembly: 60 Republicans, 39 Democrats Assembly: 63 Republicans, 36 Democrats Newly Elected Legislators Tuesday’s election brings an unprecedented number of new senators and representatives to the State Capitol this January. With so many […]
State Senate and Assembly: Our Predictions
Date Fri, Oct. 31, 2014 - 12:00pm By Hamilton
There are just a handful of days until Election Day, and state Senate and Assembly campaigns have hit warp speed. Television and radio stations can’t pump out political ads fast enough, and mailboxes and social media accounts are filling with campaign narratives. With half the senators and all the assembly representatives up for re-election there […]
Assembly Republicans Release 2015-2016 Legislative Agenda
Date Wed, Oct. 29, 2014 - 3:34pm By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Assembly Republicans have released their agenda for the 2015-2016 legislative session. Without surprise, the agenda reiterates Assembly Republicans’ commitment to lean government, low taxes, and a strong economy. The agenda also highlights education, child welfare, and public assistance policy. Here are some of their goals: Embracing Government Reform Controlling agency growth Continuing the Right to Rules Project […]
Study Committees to Meet
Date Tue, Oct. 28, 2014 - 12:36pm By Hamilton
Two study committees Hamilton Consulting has been following throughout the summer are nearing the end of their review, and they are holding some of their final meetings in November and December. The Study Committee on the Review of Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) and the Study Committee on the Transfer of Structured Settlement Payments will be […]
Transportation Referendum on November Ballot
Date Thu, Oct. 16, 2014 - 10:01am By Hamilton
The Wisconsin Legislature has successfully adopted the same proposed constitutional amendment in each of the last two sessions, to make it illegal for the government to raid segregated funds for transportation to fill holes in the state budget. This qualifies the question for a deciding vote by electors in the upcoming November 2014 general election. […]
Transfer of Structured Settlements Committee Update
Date Wed, Oct. 15, 2014 - 5:37pm By Hamilton
The Legislative Council Study Committee on the Transfer of Structured Settlement Payments met last week to discuss the bill draft that would create a statute for the issue. Currently, Wisconsin is one of only two states that does not have state statute addressing the transfer of structured settlements. The committee’s discussion of the bill draft […]
TIF and Structured Settlement Payments Study Committees to Meet Next Week
Date Thu, Oct. 2, 2014 - 3:15pm By Hamilton
Two Legislative Council Study Committees will be meeting next week on Thursday, October 9, at the Wisconsin State Capitol, and Hamilton Consulting will be there to follow the proceedings. The Study Committee on the Review of Tax Incremental Financing will meet at 10 AM on Thursday in Room 413 North. At the meeting, members of […]
Study Committee on Transfer of Structured Settlements
Date Thu, Sep. 18, 2014 - 12:36pm By Hamilton
The Legislative Council has convened a summer study committee that has legislators and public members reviewing the transfer of structured settlement payments. The committee has been meeting since late July to hear presentations from Wisconsin and national professionals who handle structured settlement agreements. By late 2014, the committee plans to submit legislation to the Wisconsin […]