Hamilton Political Tidbits – December 2, 2016

Wisconsin legislators have held their caucus leadership elections for the 2017-18 legislative session. In the Senate, Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R - Juneau) was again selected to be Senate Majority Leader. Sen. Jennifer Shilling (D - La Crosse) was re-elected as Senate Minority Leader, even with the ongoing recount in her Senate district.

In the Assembly, Rep. Robin Vos (R - Rochester) will be re-elected Assembly Speaker. Rep. Jim Steineke (R - Kaukauna) prevailed over challenger Rep. Kevin Petersen (R - Waupaca) to remain as Assembly Majority Leader. In the Democratic Assembly caucus, Rep. Peter Barca (D - Kenosha) ran unopposed and was re-elected as Assembly Minority Leader for the fourth straight legislative session. 

On Nov. 21, the Department of Administration (DOA) released a report on agency budget requests and revenue estimates for the 2017-19 biennium.

As in previous years, these budget requests exceed the revenue projections for FY 2017-19. DOA Secretary Scott Neitzel notes this "imbalance" in the opening letter of the report, stating as in the past, not all state agency budget requests will be included in the governor's budget.

DOA estimates revenues will increase by 2.9 percent in FY 18, totaling $15.888 billion and by 3 percent in FY 19, totaling 16.370 billion. However, general fund agency budget requests exceed the revenue estimates by $250.2 million in the first year of the upcoming biennium (FY 2018) and $442.8 million in the second year. 

A recount of presidential election ballots began Thursday across Wisconsin. The recount, initiated and funded by Green Party candidate Jill Stein's campaign, will be the first presidential recount in Wisconsin since 2004. The recount will cost approximately $3.5 million and is set to be completed by Monday, Dec. 12.

 

The recount is expected to last up to six days. So far, unofficial results show that Kapanke picked up two votes in Crawford County and lost one vote in Monroe County. La Crosse and Vernon counties have not yet released any results.

 

Despite the looming recount, Shilling was re-elected as Senate Minority Leader for next session. Shilling and various county clerks have expressed confidence that the recount will not change the outcome of the election.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced on Wednesday plans to reorganize its staff and resources to provide better oversight of the department.

 

According to the press release, the realignment will not reduce environmental standards or the number of jobs at the DNR, but will change job descriptions, reporting structure and division assignments for approximately five percent of employees. The DNR will reduce its structure from seven to five operational units: Forestry; Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Environmental Management; Internal Services and External Services.

On November 30, the Group Insurance Board (GIB) convened to discuss the nine responses received under the state's Request for Proposals (RFP) to move employees to a self-insurance model. Under a self-insurance model, the state would assume the risk for claims and directly pay benefits. Currently, the state contracts with and pays a fixed monthly premium to 17 health insurers.

 

Prior to the meeting, the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) released a report outlining the current State of Wisconsin Group Health Insurance Program (GHIP), benefits and concerns with self-insurance, and the RFP results. The report cited possible concerns to include increased risk for the state under the self-insurance model and potential administrative costs. As a benefit, ETF cited the elimination of Affordable Care Act (ACA) Market Share Fees, which would not apply under the self-insured model. 

The governor's Task Force on Opioid Abuse convened for their first meeting on Oct. 28 in Green Bay and their second meeting on Nov. 22 in Weston.

In September, Gov. Walker issued Executive Order 214 to establish a task force to gather data, analyze actions of Wisconsin and other states, and recommend additional action items for the state to take to combat the opioid epidemic. A September 2015 report from the Department of Health Services found more Wisconsin citizens died due to drug overdoses than from motor vehicle crashes, suicide, breast cancer, colon cancer, firearms, influenza, or HIV.