July 23, 2024
Wisconsin political news for clients and colleagues.
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Articles in this edition of Political Tidbits:
Other updates in this edition:
If you have any questions, please contact a member of the Hamilton Consulting team.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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‘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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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