Hamilton Political Tidbits – December 20, 2019

Political Tidbits - December 20, 2019
Hamilton Consulting Group
December 20, 2019
Wisconsin political news for clients and colleagues.

Here at Hamilton 2019 was a year to remember.  We have the opportunity to work for fantastic clients and friends of the firm who make what we do here at Hamilton so enjoyable. It honestly was our best year yet.

We do close the year with one less colleague. Earlier this year Andy Cook took on a new role with a law firm where he can focus on his Attorneys General practice. Though he is no longer a business colleague, we are able to see him regularly as he holds an office in the firm.

As we move into 2020, please know you are the heart and soul of The Hamilton Consulting Group and we thank you for choosing to work with us.

From all of us here at Hamilton, we wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday Season and Happy New Year!
  
2019 Legislative Wrap-Up

As 2019 comes to a close, Hamilton Consulting analyzes where we are in the 2019-20 legislative session and highlights what we might expect, according to legislative leadership, for the remainder of the session in 2020.
 
 
MU Poll Finds Few Changes in Voter Opinion on Trump, Impeachment

There were no big surprises in the final Marquette University (MU) Law School poll of 2019. The poll found little movement in questions about President Donald Trump and impeachment. Democratic candidates in the 2020 presidential primary regained ground on Trump in head-to-head questions, though there was little change in voters' top choices for the nomination. Wisconsin voters' opinions of Gov. Tony Evers improved - slightly - after dropping in the previous poll.
 

PFAS Update: AG Holds Listening Session in Marinette, Foam Bill Passes Committee

The Wisconsin Legislature and state agencies are continuing to address PFAS chemicals. Recently, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul held a listening session on PFAS in Marinette. Meanwhile, an Assembly Committee has passed a bill to address PFAS in firefighting foams.
 
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are man-made chemicals found in many everyday products, including nonstick pans, cleaning products, paints, and firefighting foam. The most extensively studied PFAS compounds are PFOA and PFOS, which have been phased out of domestic manufacturing over the past decade. Competing studies debate whether or not these chemicals have negative health effects and, if they do, at what level they are harmful.
 

Legislators Circulate Bill to Protect Sports Officials

Reps. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville), Don Vruwink (D-Milton) & Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) and Sens. Andre Jacque (R-DePere) and Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire) are circulating a bill that would protect sports officials. Assault of sports officials is a rising problem across the country and in Wisconsin. The bill (LRB 4781) seeks to address this problem by strengthening the penalty for harassment of a sports official to a Class A misdemeanor.
 
 
Assembly Committee Hearing on Dental Therapy Legislation

The Assembly Committee on Medicaid Reform & Oversight held a public hearing on Dec. 18 on a bill that would newly allow dental therapists, an intermediate level of dentistry practice between hygienists and dentists, to practice in Wisconsin. The bipartisan bill has received wide support from a coalition of over 60 stakeholder groups but is opposed by the Wisconsin Dental Association.
 
 
Federal Appeals Court Rules on ACA Individual Mandate

The federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Dec. 18, 2019, that the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) individual mandate is unconstitutional. However, the court remanded the case back to the federal district court in Texas to decide how much of the rest of the ACA is unconstitutional.
 
 
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Task force begins work to combat climate change: Wisconsin Public Radio, December 19, 2019.

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