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Capitol Square in Madison was an eventful place this week, as hundreds gathered in protest of the Right To Work legislation in the Senate. After a nine-hour committee session and eight hours of floor debate, the Senate passed the bill, which you can read about in this week's Tidbits. In addition, this week you can learn about the administration's decision to delay a debt payment, the state's upgraded broadband website and the recent changes in the governor's administration. We are gearing up for next week, when the Assembly will take up the right-to-work bill and the Joint Finance Committee will hear agency briefings on the governor's proposed budget. Next week Friday, watch for Hamilton's Political Tidbits to get all the updates on what will surely be another busy week at the Capitol!
If you wish to receive additional information about a topic addressed in Tidbits, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Hamilton Consulting Team.
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| Legislature in Midst of Extraordinary Session on "Right to Work" | |
Last week, legislative leaders announced an extraordinary session of the Wisconsin legislature to pass Right to Work legislation. Soon after the announcement, Governor Scott Walker said he would sign Right to Work into law if the bill reaches his desk.
Read more...
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| Governor Walker Shuffles Cabinet | |
Last week, Governor Walker announced administrative staff changes at Department of Administration (DOA), Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC), Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA), and Public Service Commission (PSC). The changes include:
- Scott Neitzel - Secretary, DOA
- Michael Huebsch - Commissioner, PSC
- Cate Zeuske - Deputy Secretary, DOA
- Tricia Braun - Chief Operating Officer, WEDC
- Brian Schimming - Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, WHEDA
- Ellen Nowak - Chairperson, PSC
- Bob Seitz - Executive Assistant to incoming Chairperson, PSC
Read more...
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| Supreme Court to Decide on PSC Wind Turbine Siting Rule | |
On Thursday, February 5, 2015, the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the case Wisconsin Realtors Ass'n v. PSC (2013AP1407). The Court will decide whether the Public Service Commission (PSC) followed state statute when promulgating PSC 128, relating to wind turbine siting restrictions.
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| Walmart Raises Wages |
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| | Walmart CEO Doug McMillon |
Walmart, the largest private employer in the U.S., has announced it will raise wages for current associates to $10 an hour or higher by early next year and by this April will increase the starting rate to $9 per hour or higher. Walmart estimates approximately 500,000 associates will see a wage increase by July 2015.
Read more... |
| Election Update: 20th Senate District and Waukesha County Exec |
Statewide primary elections were held in mid-February for local candidates and referenda across the state. The two elections to follow on the state level was the special primary election for the 20th Senate District and the primary for Waukesha county executive.
Read more... |
| Supreme Court to Determine Wrongful Death Case |
On Wednesday, February 4, 2015, the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the case Christ v. Exxon Mobile Corp. (2012AP1493). The Court will decide whether the discovery rule will apply to third parties in wrongful death and survival actions.
Read more...
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| LinkWisconsin Gets Upgrade |
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has announced the LinkWisconsin website has been upgraded to a new website with some new features and tools.
Read more...
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| Get to Know a Freshman |
Since the November 2014 election, Hamilton Consulting has been introducing you to every freshman legislator in the 2015-2016 Wisconsin Legislature. With one of the largest freshman classes ever, seven new senators and 25 new representatives, there are a lot of new faces.
Week 1: Senators Devin LeMahiu (R) and Janis Ringhand (D); Representatives Joel Kitchens (R) and David Bowen (D).
Week 2: Senators Janet Bewley (D) and Steve Nass (R); Representatives Jonathan Brostoff (D) and David Steffen (R).
Week 3: Senators Howard Marklein (R) and Roger Roth (R); Representatives Janel Brandtjen (D) and Mark Spreitzer (D)
Week 4: Senator Van Wanggaard (R); Representatives Terry Katsma (R), Tyler Vorpagel(R), Adam Jarchow (R) and Cody Horlacher (R)
Week 5: Representatives Todd Novak (R), Mike Rohrkaste (R), Amanda Stuck (D), Bob Gannon (R) and Jesse Kremer (R)
Week 6: Representatives Robert Brooks (R), Nancy Vander Meer (R), Beth Meyers (D), Romaine Quinn (R) and Lisa Subeck (D)
Week 7: Representatives Dave Considine (D), Dave Heaton (R), James Edming (R), John Macco (R) and Scott Allen (R)
Read more...
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| LFB: Administration to Delay $108 million Debt Payment |
The Legislative Fiscal Bureau (LFB) has released a memo describing the administration's planned restructuring of a general purpose revenue (GPR) $108 million commercial paper principal payment in May 2015. According to the memo, the governor and Department of Administration (DOA) are planning to delay a $108 million debt payment in the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2015, which ends on June 30th.
Read more...
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| State Court Decides on Municipalities Ability to Revoke Conditional Use Permit |
On Thursday, January 8, 2015 the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the case Oneida Seventh Generation Corp. v. City of Green Bay (2013AP591). The supreme court will decide whether the court of appeals properly applied the substantial evidence test, which can effect when a conditional use permit can be revoked by a municipality.
Read more...
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Hamilton Consulting: Your Government Relations Easy Button
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The Hamilton team is working to make sure our clients have the tools necessary to accomplish their government relations goals. We encourage our clients to remember to make use of all the many services we provide:
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