Hamilton Political Tidbits – July 23, 2024

Political Tidbits - July 23, 2024

July 23, 2024

Wisconsin political news for clients and colleagues.

Articles in this edition of Political Tidbits:



Other updates in this edition:


  • Bits & Pieces
  • News Clips


If you have any questions, please contact a member of the Hamilton Consulting team.

Bits & Pieces


Issue Update: 2024 Elections

Check out the Hamilton Consulting Group's Issue Update: 2024 Elections page for a full list of the federal and state candidates running in Wisconsin this year. Election results and analysis coming soon. Also look out for new editions of Political Tidbits just before and after the primary and general elections (August 13 and November 5).


Speaker Vos Recall Effort Appears to Have Failed

After two tries and with the state primary election only three weeks away, the effort to recall Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) appears to be dead. Recall organizers, critical of the state's longest-serving speaker for his perceived failure to overturn the 2020 presidential election result in Wisconsin, have exhausted nearly all their available options.


Although organizers collected thousands of signatures for the recall in two separate efforts, the Wisconsin Elections Commission rejected these filings for an insufficient number of valid signatures. A Dane County judge ruled that organizers should have used the new boundaries of Vos' district for the recall, rather than the boundaries he was elected under in 2022, given the Wisconsin Supreme Court's holding late last year that those maps were unconstitutional.


Client Highlight: ABC at the RNC

ABC-WI Chairperson Jessie Cannizzaro was interviewed by Bret Baier on Fox News last week and spoke about the election, the plumbing business, and what she believes voters are thinking. Cannizzaro is a master plumber, the founder and owner of Milestone Plumbing, and currently chairs the board of directors of Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin. Her interview is available here and beings around 2:11.

SCOWIS Finishes 2023-24 Term with High-Profile Cases, Record Low Number of Decisions Overall

The Wisconsin Supreme Court appears to have concluded its 2023-24 regular term. The court typically finishes an annual term by releasing a series of decisions in June and July. According to one Wisconsin historian, the court issued the fewest decisions during this one-year term since at least 1900. Recently, the court issued several notable rulings in politically contentious cases. These decisions will have implications for this year’s election, the 2025-26 legislative session, the 2025-27 state budget process, and beyond.


Continue reading this article

Sojenhomer LLC v. Village of Egg Harbor (Eminent Domain)

In Sojenhomer LLC v. Village of Egg Harbor, the court held that municipalities can use condemnation authority to acquire land to build a sidewalk within a road right-of-way, despite recently enacted statutory prohibitions on the use of condemnation to establish or extend a pedestrian way.


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Evers v. Marklein (Separation of Powers)

In Evers v. Marklein, the court held that oversight power exercised by a legislative committee over decisions made by a state agency to use already-appropriated funds violated the separation of powers established by the Wisconsin Constitution. This decision may have significant implications for Wisconsin politics and policy. While the immediate effect of this decision is limited to the Joint Committee on Finance’s ability to manage the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, the precedent established by the court may lead to successful lawsuits against other committee oversight powers.


Continue reading this article

Priorities USA v. Wisconsin Elections Commission (Absentee Ballot Drop Boxes)

In Priorities USA v. Wisconsin Elections Commission, the court held that state law permits municipal clerks and local election officials to provide unattended drop boxes for voters to return their absentee ballots, overruling a 2022 decision that reached the opposite conclusion.


Continue reading this article

Artificial Intelligence, UW System, Emergency Detention, and More: 2024 Study Committees Begin to Meet

In even-numbered years after the state legislature has adjourned its biennial regular session, the Wisconsin Legislative Council will propose topics that might warrant in-depth study and policy development. Each study committee is typically led by two or more legislators (selected by leadership) and includes members of the public and representatives from relevant stakeholders. For 2024, lawmakers on the Joint Legislative Council committee voted to approve five study committees.


Continue reading this article

News Clips

Politics

‘Here & Now’ highlights: Brian Schimming, Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Angela Lang, Ben Wikler, Eric Hovde, McCoshen & Ross

PBS Wisconsin, July 22, 2024

Wisconsin Democrats thank Biden after suspension of campaign ‘resets’ bid for battleground state

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 21, 2024

What will Biden’s exit from presidential race mean in Wisconsin?

The Capital Times, July 21, 2024

11 key moments from the final day of the RNC in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 19, 2024

12 key moments from the RNC in Milwaukee on Wednesday

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 18, 2024

11 key moments from the RNC in Milwaukee on Tuesday

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 17, 2024

14 key moments from the RNC in Milwaukee on Monday

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 16, 2024

Funding for new reading law still in limbo even after Wisconsin Supreme Court decision

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 11, 2024

Wisconsin election officials tell clerks best ways to operate absentee ballot drop boxes

Associated Press, July 11, 2024

Milwaukee’s Democratic mayor helped bring the RNC to MKE. He’s ready for the spotlight.

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 11, 2024

Ballot drop boxes are allowed again. When will they return in Madison?

The Capital Times, July 5, 2024

What August’s constitutional amendment vote means for Wisconsin

The Capital Times, July 4, 2024

In low-turnout special primary election, Dora Drake clears way to win open Milwaukee state Senate seat

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 2, 2024

GOP blocked funding that would have allowed transfer of youth tied to Lincoln Hills death

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 2, 2024

Wisconsin’s convoluted history of abortion laws

Wisconsin Watch, July 1, 2024

Utilities & Energy

UW-Madison one step closer to harnessing the power of the sun through fusion research

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 22, 2024

Manitowoc utility working on renewable project as regulators say its emissions are rising

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 15, 2024

Draft PSC report says Wisconsin’s major utilities on pace to meet emissions goals

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 11, 2024

Bad River Band offers Enbridge a new idea to fix erosion near Line 5 oil pipeline

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 11, 2024

A quirk in the law stymies lead pipe removal in Superior

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 11, 2024

Stevens Point passes resolution pledging to be carbon neutral by 2050

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 4, 2024

Region's grid could face power deficit next summer

Superior Telegram, July 1, 2024

Environment

Residents urge DNR to deny CAFO expansion in Pierce County

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 16, 2024

Land trusts to seek more Stewardship funds after state Supreme Court decision

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 16, 2024

Wisconsin farmers face profitability challenges with wet weather and soggy fields

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 11, 2024

Study finds foam on Wisconsin rivers and lakes has higher PFAS levels than waters below

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 10, 2024

State supreme court rules legislators unlawfully blocked Stewardship conservation projects

Greater Milwaukee Today, July 9, 2024

Environmental lawyers say end of Chevron deference could hurt Wisconsin water quality

Wisconsin Examiner, July 5, 2024

Legal

Appeals court makes it harder to disqualify absentee ballots in battleground Wisconsin

Associated Press, July 12, 2024

Wisconsin secretary of state acknowledges mistakes, settles open records lawsuit

Wisconsin State Journal, July 11, 2024

Finance committee member says state supreme court set an important precedent with Evers v. Marklein decision

WKOW, July 5, 2024

Lawmakers unconstitutionally blocked conservation funds, court rules

The Capital Times, July 5, 2024

Wisconsin Supreme Court changes course, allows use of ballot drop boxes this fall

Associated Press, July 5, 2024

Dane County judge strikes down elements of Wisconsin’s Act 10 that curbed public unions

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 5, 2024

Wisconsin Supreme Court agrees to hear 2 high profile abortion lawsuits

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 2, 2024

Employer & Consumer

A Teamster speech at Milwaukee’s RNC hints at shifting union tides in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 17, 2024

Amazon to get $400,000 property tax refund

Beloit Daily News, July 16, 2024

Fact check: Biden hits and misses with Trump and Foxconn claims

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 15, 2024

The dairy farm of the future could employ robotics

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 11, 2024

Wisconsin farm group offers help hiring foreign workers amid labor shortage

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 10, 2024

More states enact salary transparency laws in an attempt to fight gender, racial pay gaps

Stateline, July 10, 2024

Wisconsin’s cannabis industry leafs out with new, legal products

The Capital Times, July 10, 2024

Gov. Evers, WEDC request over $7M to establish Tech Hub in Wisconsin

WSAW, July 8, 2024

Wisconsin’s biohealth tech hub will receive $49 million federal grant

Milwaukee Business News, July 2, 2024

Transportation & Infrastructure

Harley-Davidson to receive $89M federal funding for electric motorcycles

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 17, 2024

Generac enters EV charging market with Level 2 product

Milwaukee Business News, July 15, 2024

Harley-Davidson gets $89 million federal grant to further develop electric motorcycles

Milwaukee Business News, July 11, 2024

Already awarded millions for bus transit, Madison misses out on latest ask

Wisconsin State Journal, July 10, 2024

Amtrak reports strong ticket sales for new line running through Wisconsin

Wisconsin State Journal, July 9, 2024

Gas taxes can’t pay for roads much longer, but Amazon deliveries might

Stateline, July 9, 2024

Wisconsin DOT looks to long-term fixes for Beltline backups at Verona Road

Wisconsin State Journal, July 8, 2024

Health

5 Wisconsin communities offering a new option for mental health treatment

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 22, 2024

Sudden doctor departure at Middleton fertility clinic leaves patients unsettled

Wisconsin State Journal, July 22, 2024

Dental therapists, who can fill cavities and check teeth, get the OK in more states

Stateline, July 17, 2024

UW Health expanding hospitals, clinics to meet growing demand

Wisconsin State Journal, July 16, 2024

Wisconsin health experts say ACA, health care tax credits are here to stay

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 10, 2024

Regional mental health centers now open across Wisconsin

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 9, 2024

‘Compounded’ weight-loss drugs are a growing problem for state regulators

Stateline, July 8, 2024

Wisconsin payout on hold after SCOTUS blocks Purdue Pharma opioid settlement

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 1, 2024

Education

Conservative Wisconsin law firm strengthening ties with local school boards

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 22, 2024

Attorney General Josh Kaul promotes school safety funding in West Salem

La Crosse Tribune, July 17, 2024

UWL faculty committee recommends firing former chancellor Joe Gow

Channel 3000, July 12, 2024

Rural Wisconsin school district calls on state to stop funding vouchers

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 12, 2024

The GOP platform calls for ‘universal school choice.’ What would that mean for students?

Associated Press, July 11, 2024

No one verifies residency of Milwaukee Public School Board members, officials say

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 10, 2024

After DEI feud, panel will scrutinize University of Wisconsin’s future

The Capital Times, July 7, 2024

Milwaukee Schools poised to lose $81M in state aid

Wisconsin Public Radio, July 1, 2024

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