Legislative activity in the state capitol has given way to school tours and holiday visitors. Legislators are busy back home getting ready for their re-election campaign or implementing their retirement plan, whichever the case may be.
The 2014 elections are starting to take shape and feature a contested gubernatorial race, an open-seat Attorney General race, 17 odd-numbered Senate Districts, including 7 open-seat races, and all 99 Assembly seats with 23 open-seat races in the mix. The 2014 statewide ballot also features a constitutional amendment to protect the use of transportation revenue for transportation purposes.
An already interesting election season became a little more interesting this week with the release of the latest Marquette poll, showing a virtual tie between Scott Walker and Democratic challenger Mary Burke. See related Tidbits articles below for the latest election news, a recap of the recent Marquette University elections poll, transportation related articles, new EPA rulings, and more.
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Election News - May 23, 2014
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| New Poll: Governor's Race Tied |
A new poll, conducted by the Marquette Law School May 15-18, finds the governor's race a virtual dead heat with incumbent Governor Scott Walker (R) and Democratic challenger Mary Burke both polling at 46% support. The response represents a significant tightening of the race compared to the last Marquette poll in March, which had Walker leading 48% to 41%.
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| Wisconsin Tourism Enters Busy Season |
With Memorial Day just days away, the Wisconsin tourism industry prepares its facilities as families plan their get-away.
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| Seventh Circuit Strikes Down Wisconsin's Campaign Finance Rules | |
In an 88-page decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit struck down a number of provisions under Wisconsin's campaign finance law, as well as rules issued by the Government Accountability Board. The case is Wisconsin Right to Life v. Barland.
Judge Diane Sykes, writing for the three-judge majority, began the decision by providing a comprehensive history of Wisconsin's campaign finance law and U.S. Supreme Court decisions addressing challenges to similar federal laws. Judge Sykes then analyzed each of the laws and rules challenged by the plaintiffs in the case.
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| WEDA Members Named to Legislative Study Committee |
Legislative Council, a nonpartisan legislative service has announced the legislative study committees and symposiums, which will meet throughout the summer with both legislators and citizens serving on the committee.
Mike Harrigan and Peter Thillman, both members of the Wisconsin Economic Development Association were named to the Legislative Council Study Committee on the Review of Tax Incremental Financing. The committee, chaired by Senator Gudex, with Vice-Chair Representative Loudenbeck, will study the intent behind tax incremental financing (TIF) laws and how their utilized by municipalities and counties.
Read more...
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LRB Releases Data on Tenure and Turnover in Legislature
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This election season marks a major shift in the Wisconsin State Legislature as 22 representatives and 7 senators announced they will not be seeking reelection in their previously held seats. What is difficult to say, is whether this is a new trend, a rarity, or common. The Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau released a report covering tenure and turnover in the Wisconsin Legislature from 1940 to 2012.
Read more...
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| WEDA Employee & WEDC Board Member Promoted to VP |
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has named Tricia Braun as vice president of Economic and Community Development.
Braun, a board member on the Wisconsin Economic Development Association and previously WEDC's regional development director, was chosen for her connection to Wisconsin and understanding the challenges facing businesses today.
"We conducted a nationwide search to find the most qualified person to lead the WEDC team that directly works with businesses and communities to continue to grow Wisconsin's economy," said Reed Hall, secretary and CEO of WEDC. Despite the nationwide search, WEDC hired from within by choosing Braun.
The WEDC leads economic development efforts for the state by advancing Wisconsin's business climate, with more than 600 regional and local business development partners.
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EPA Poised to Set Carbon-Emissions Rules for Existing Power Plants
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Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Gina McCarthy, announced that the EPA is set to issue the much anticipated rules on June 2nd for existing power plants under ยง 111(d) of the Clean Air Act. The regulations could significantly limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and potentially force many existing coal-fired plants to cease burning the abundant and cheap source of electricity. This in turn could significantly harm states, such as Wisconsin, that rely heavily on coal.
The EPA last year issued proposed rules for new power plants, which in practical terms prohibits the construction of new coal-fired power plants. The public comment period recently ended on May 9. Once the rule is officially promulgated, it is expected to be challenged by industry in the courts. This rule could also significantly harm Wisconsin's economy and drive up electric bills.
Expect similar legal challenges to the yet-to-be-issued regulations for existing plants.
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| EPA Proposes Rule to Assess SO2 Air Quality | |
On May 13, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued proposed options for states and local air agencies to use air quality monitoring or modeling to determine whether areas meet the 2010 air quality standards for sulfur dioxide (SO2). Below is a discussion of the proposed rule.
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| DWD Awards More Than $1.5 Million in Grants | |
The next round of Wisconsin Fast Forward grants were announced earlier this month, and 17 applicants will be given more than $1.5 million in worker training grants. 37 different employers from 15 counties will train nearly 2,200 manufacturing workers.
Secretary Reggie Newson of the Department of Workforce Development, who awarded the grants said, "As our states' improving economy creates new opportunities for workers to support themselves and their families, the Wisconsin Fast Forward program will help individuals develop new skills that lead to new jobs or higher pay."
The Wisconsin Fast Forward program was created through legislation passed in 2013, and has appropriated $15 million in grants for worker training and other workforce development.
To see a full list of businesses that received grants, and to find out when the next round of grants are available, check out the Wisconsin Fast Forward website.
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DOT Projects $600-$700 Million Funding Shortfall
| In early-April, DOT Secretary Mark Gottlieb publicly announced that the state is facing a $600 - $700 million shortfall in the next state budget to maintain the current transportation program and services. He warned that, absent new revenues, current major projects like the Zoo Interchange and I-39/90 from Madison to the Illinois state line could be delayed. If the shortfall were to be addressed by cutting back on infrastructure improvements, it could mean as much as a 30% reduction in the highway program.
Read more... |
| Claims Board Rejects $66 Million High-Speed Rail Claim |
The State of Wisconsin Claims Board has rejected a claim by Talgo, Inc. against the Department of Transportation (DOT) for nearly $66 million for a 2009 contract regarding a set of train cars.
The train cars were to be part of a rail extension between Madison and Milwaukee, and a high-speed rail that would then stretch to Minneapolis-St. Paul in the future, through a plan set out by then-Governor Jim Doyle. Talgo, Inc. claims the DOT illegally breached the contract for political reasons, when Governor Walker took office and terminated the project, delivering on his campaign agenda item to "Stop the Train."
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| Wisconsin Lauded for "Common Sense" Legal Reforms | Lisa Rickard, President of the U.S. Chamber of Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), recently wrote an article (Wisconsin: Capital of Common Sense), in which she commends Gov. Scott Walker and the Wisconsin Legislature for leading the nation over the past three years in enacting civil justice reforms.
Read more... |
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