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Capitol Notes
WI: Weekly Political and Legislative Update |
TO: Clients/Friends of Capitol Consultants, Inc./Wimmer & Company, S.C.
FROM: Capitol Consultants, Inc.
& Wimmer Company, S.C.
DATE: December 17, 2010
SUBJECT: WI: Weekly Political and Legislative Update
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Transition News
Gov-elect Walker officially resigns Milwaukee County Executive Post
This week, Govenor-elect Walker announced that he will resign his post as
Milwaukee County executive Dec. 27 as he prepares to take over as governor early next year.
According to WisPolitcs.com, Walker needs to resign by Dec. 28 to allow a special election to replace him to be held in conjunction with the normal spring elections (www.wispolitics.com).
"Serving the residents of Milwaukee County for the last eight years has been an honor," Walker said. "I followed through on my campaign promise to reform government and reduce spending while still providing core government services. While I am looking forward to my new job, I enjoyed the time spent living and raising a family in Milwaukee County."
Walker will be sworn in as governor on Jan. 3.
Walker Meets with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett
This week, Walker met with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, and Walker's former Democratic rival that he defeated for Governor last month, for about 45 minutes where they discuss key mutual issues of importance that included education, economic development and state budget issues.
No Major Appointments this Week
Governor-elect Walker has yet to make any major Cabinet appointment to his incoming Administration. It is expected that Walker will announce possible appointments possibly next week.
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Legislative News
Legislature Fails to Pass State Employee Contracts
This week, Capitol observers witnessed some fascinating theater as both houses of the "lame duck" Democratic-controlled legislature were called back into a rare extraordinary session to approve the 17 contracts of nearly 30,000 state employees. The last time the legislature acted in a lame duck session on state employee contracts was in 1974.
Keep in mind, as a backdrop, Republicans are less than 2 and half weeks away from taking complete control of the Capitol away from the Democrats who control both branches and the Governor's office until Monday, January, 3, 2011. Many Capitol insiders believe that state employees pushed for the contracts to be signed in an lame duck session and before Governor-elect Walker takes office because Democrats would be more inclined to be supportive of the ratified contracts, which state employees say included a 3.25% pay and benefit decrease and other concessions that resulted in over $103 million in budget savings to the state. The contracts also include 16 days of furloughs for state employees for the 2009-11 biennial budget.
Walker and incoming GOP legislative leaders had been saying for the past week or so that they did not want the Democrats to come back into a lame duck session to approve the contracts because the new Administration wanted time to review and possibly renegotiate them after Walker and the Republicans take office next year. Governor-elect Walker spoke earlier this week how the union-ratified contracts should have a 10-day review period so his Administration and the state's taxpayers could look at the ratified contracts (http://transition.wisconsin.gov/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=177&prid=5536).
On Wednesday, Democrats pushed ahead and lawmakers were called into extraordinary session to approve the contracts, which simply required an simple majority vote to be approved. The Assembly approved all 17 contracts by a 48-47 margin. State Representative Jeff Wood (I-Bloomer), who has caucused with the Assembly Democrats, was released from jail on work release to cast what many believe was the deciding votes in the Assembly to approve the contracts. Wood is serving time in jail due to the four drunk driving violations he received in recent years.
The razor-thin-approved contracts then moved to the Senate where after several hours of theater, they were defeated by a 16-16 vote with the Democratic Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston), who was defeated in the last election, and Sen
Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee), who was defeated last September in a Democratic primary, joined all Republicans in voting against the contracts.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report, Decker said he was not comfortable voting for the contracts now that the "people have spoken" and voted him and other Democrats out of office. He blamed Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle and unions for not reaching an agreement on the contracts before the Nov. 2 election.
"If these contracts had been brought to us before the elections, as they should have been, this would have been an entirely different situation," Decker said on the Senate floor. The Senate did not end the extraordinary session, leaving Democrats the option at least in theory of voting on the contracts again (www.jsonline.com). However, as of Thursday afternoon, the Senate officially adjourned until next year.
As a result of Decker's vote, Democrats quickly replaced Decker as majority leader in favor of Sen. Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay), who will serve for the next two weeks until his party goes back into the minority.
Reaction was obviously charged after the dramatic events.
Marty Beil, executive director of the 24,000 member Wisconsin State Employees Union, criticized Republicans for their votes but laid a special fury on Decker. "He'll never ever hold a seat as a Democrat (again)," Beil said of Decker.
Assembly Republican Leader and incoming Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald of Horicon expressed shock that Democrats sought to pass contracts just before losing power and "pulled a guy out of jail" to do it.
"This just shows how far the Democrats will go to get union support," Fitzgerald said.
Rep. Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids), who lost in the last election after serving 40 years in the State Assembly, taunted Republican lawmakers, noting they enjoy the same pension and health care benefits other state workers have. "You don't like those benefits? Give 'em up! Set the standard," he said.
Governor-elect Walker's comments following the dramatic turn of events were as follows: "The State of Wisconsin is facing a $150 million current fiscal year budget shortfall and $3.3 billion long-term structural deficit. There will need to be shared sacrifice to deal with our budget deficit, which is why the first day I take office I will voluntarily begin making the employee portion of my pension contribution.
Due to the delay of these contracts I have all options on the table to tackle Wisconsin's budget challenges. I plan to use the flexibility afforded to me to make the tough choices necessary to reduce state spending while still providing core government services." (http://transition.wisconsin.gov/journal_media_detail.asp?locid=177&prid=5540).
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Federal Delegation News
US Representative-elect Duffy Hires Key Staff
"Congressman-elect Sean Duffy (WI-07) today announced two key staff hires for his Congressional office, both who hold strong roots in the 7th Congressional District.
Matt Seaholm will serve as Duffy's Chief-of-Staff. Seaholm most recently served as Duffy's Campaign Manager and Transition Director. Prior to that, he worked in Madison as a policy advisor for Minority Leader Scott Fitzgerald. Seaholm grew up in Chippewa Falls and holds a bachelors degree from UW-Madison.
"Being from the 7th District, Matt has a strong grasp on the District, as well as a firm understanding of the issues Wisconsin residents face," Duffy said. "I've seen how hard he works, his dedication to getting the job done, and I know he'll be a great asset to the people of central and northern Wisconsin."
As Chief-of-Staff, Seaholm will oversee the Congressional office staff, serve as Duffy's primary advisor, and work as an advocate on Duffy's behalf in both Washington, D.C., and the district.
Duffy also announced the hire of Dave Anderson as his District Director. Anderson currently serves as the District Director for Congressman Tom Petri (WI-06). Anderson lived in Wausau for more than 20 years working in both the public and private sector. Anderson was previously Senator Bob Kasten's Deputy State Director, as well as the Northern Representative for former Governor Tommy G. Thompson.
"With his northern Wisconsin roots and his years of government service, Dave brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our office," Duffy said. "He will be a tireless advocate for the people of the 7th and I'm happy that he is joining our team."
As District Director, Anderson will be Duffy's primary point of contact in Wisconsin. He will serve as a liaison between the district and Washington, D.C. Capitol office and manage the day-to-day operations in Wisconsin. When Duffy is in Washington, Dave will act as the chief representative to the 7th District.
Release taken from www.wispoltics.com.
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Election News
Obama Leads Potential GOP Rivals in Wisconsin
This week, a Wisconsin poll conducted Public Policy Polling released a poll showing President Obama leading several GOP presidential hopefuls in Wisconsin.
Here are the numbers: Obama leads Sarah Palin, the former Governor of Alaska, in Wisconsin 52% to 38%. He leads Mitt Romney 46% to 42%. He leads Mike Huckabee 47% to 41%. He leads Newt Gingrich 50% to 41%.
The poll did release one somewhat interesting tidbit: only 35% of those polled viewed Palin favorably, while 58% viewed her unfavorably (www.jsonline.com).
The same poll also found that four-term U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-Milwaukee), who is facing re-election in 2012, also leads any of his potential GOP rivals. For example, Kohl leads U.S Representative Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) 48% to 42% and former Governor Tommy Thompson 49% to 40% and Kohl leads Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen 51% to 38%.
To learn more about the December 10-12 poll of 702 Wisconsin voters, click here: http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_WI_1215930.pdf
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/PPP_Release_WI_1214913.pdf
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Calendar
Dec 21 Tue
| Review of Higher Education Financial Aid Programs (Legislative Council)
10:00 AM
LC Conference Room, One East Main St., Suite 401 | Items: (None)
Overview: · Review and discussion of options for legislation. |
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Fundraisers
There are no more legislative fundraisers scheduled for the rest of the year.
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