capitolnotesheader
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:  May 2, 2011

SUBJECT:  Weekly Political and Legislative Update
In This Issue
Joint Finance Continues Work this Week
Recall Elections Could Be July 12
Legislative Calendar this Week
 

Joint Committee on Finance Continues Its Work this Week 

This week, the Joint Committee on Finance will continues its work on the Governor's  2011-13 biennial budget. The 16-member, GOP-controlled, bipartisan, bicameral budget writing committee is scheduled to meet this Tuesday, May 3, and Thursday, May 5, to take action on the following budget areas:

 

Tuesday, May 3, Agenda Items: 

  • Department of Health Services - Departmentwide
  • Board for People with Development Disabilities
  • Board on Aging and Long-Term Care
  • Historical Society
  • DPI - Administrative and Other Funding
  • Public Service Commission
  • State Treasurer
  • DOA - Transfers
  • Dept. of Safety and Professional Services
  • Investment Board
  • DOT- Motor Vehicles
  • DOT- Departmentwide
  • DOT- State Patrol
  • DOT- Local Transportation Association
  • Office of the Commissioner of Insurance

To view the Legislative Fiscal Bureau's budget papers for the Tuesday's, May 3, Executive Session, click here.

 

Thursday, May 5, Agenda Items:

 

  • Dept of Military Affairs.
  • Government Accountability Board.
  • Dept of Veterans Affairs - Veterans Home.
  • Building Commission.
  • Budget Management and Compensation Reserves.
  • Wisconsin Health and Educational Facilities Authority.
  • Arts Board.
  • Dept of Tourism.
  • State Fair Park.
  • Environmental Improvement Fund.
  • Dept of Natural Resources - Fish, Wildlife and Recreation.
To view the Legislative Fiscal Bureau's budget papers for the Thursday, May 5, Executive Session, click here.

Recall Elections Could Be July 12

Late last Friday afternoon, Dane County Circuit Judge John Markson approved a request by the Government Accountability Board (GAB) to schedule recall elections of State Senators for eight of nine pending recall elections for Tuesday,  July 12.  Of the nine pending recalls, five are against Republican State Senators -Alberta Darling, Sheila Harsdorf, Randy Hopper, Dan Kapanke and Luther Olsen - and three are against Democrats - Dave Hansen, Jim Holperin and Bob Wirch (www.thewheelerrport.com).

 

It is possible that a ninth recall election could be against State Senator Rob Cowles (R-DePere). Petitioners turned in signatures last week to potentially recall the long-time Senator. Recall attempts are still being considered against Democratic Senators Mark Miller (D-Monona) and Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) and against Republican Senators Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) and Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin).  


Recall efforts against Democrats Lena Taylor, Spencer Coggs and Fred Risser failed to gather the requisite amount of signatures.

  

 
Legislative Calendar This Week

The Legislature is not scheduled to return to session until Tuesday, May 10. However, this week, the legislature is busy with several Committee hearings as it prepares for the May 10 floor period.

Committee Hearings This Week:
May 2   Mon  Public Health, Human Services, and Revenue   (Senate) (Executive Session)
10:00 AM   
409 South 		Items: Senate Bill 48  
May 3   Tue  Energy and Utilities   (Assembly)
10:00 AM   
225 Northwest 		Items: January 2011 Special Session Assembly Bill 14; Assembly Bill 114  
May 3   Tue  Election and Campaign Reform   (Assembly) (Executive Session)
10:00 AM   
328 Northwest 		Items: Assembly Bill 7  
May 3   Tue  Education   (Assembly)
10:00 AM   
417 North (GAR Hall) 		Items: Assembly Bill 110  
May 3   Tue  Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs   (Senate)
10:30 AM   
330 Southwest 		Items: McCallum, Laurie  
May 3   Tue  Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs   (Senate) (Executive Session)
10:40 AM   
330 Southwest 		Items: McCallum, Laurie  
May 3   Tue  Transportation and Elections   (Senate)
11:00 AM   
400 Southeast 		Items: Senate Bill 41; Senate Bill 61  
May 3   Tue  Finance   (Joint) (Executive Session)
11:00 AM   
412 East 		Items: Assembly Bill 40; Senate Bill 27  
May 3   Tue  Transportation and Elections   (Senate) (Executive Session)
11:10 AM   
400 Southeast 		Items: Senate Bill 26  
May 3   Tue  Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations   (Senate)
12:30 PM   
201 Southeast 		Items: Senate Bill 81; Senate Bill 83; Senate Bill 42; Senate Bill 54; Senate Bill 74  
May 3   Tue  Judiciary, Utilities, Commerce, and Government Operations   (Senate) (Executive Session)
12:31 PM   
201 Southeast 		Items: Montgomery, Phil  
May 4   Wed  Joint Legislative Council  
8:30 AM   
412 East, State Capitol, Madison 		Items: (None)
Overview: The Joint Legislative Council will receive the following special committee reports: --Special Committee on Review of the Managed Forest Land Program --Special Committee on Local Service Consolidation --Special Committee on Review of Higher Education Financial Aid Programs --Special Committee on Review of Spousal Maintenance Awards in Divorce Proceedings --Special Committee on Criminal Justice Funding and Strategies --Special Committee on Strategic Job Creation Any other business to come before the Council.
May 4   Wed  Rural Economic Development and Rural Affairs   (Assembly)
9:30 AM   
225 Northwest 		Items: Assembly Bill 59  
May 4   Wed  Rural Economic Development and Rural Affairs   (Assembly)
10:00 AM   Or immediately following the conclusion of the Public Hearing
225 Northwest 		Items: Cooperative Extension's Candid Assessment of Rural Economic Development in Wisconsin  
May 4   Wed  Forestry   (Assembly)
10:00 AM   
400 Northeast 		Items: Clearinghouse Rule 11-001  
May 4   Wed  Insurance and Housing   (Senate)
10:00 AM   
411 South 		Items: Senate Bill 18  
May 4   Wed  State and Federal Relations and Information Technology   (Senate)
11:00 AM   
330 Southwest 		Items: January 2011 Special Session Senate Bill 13  
May 4   Wed  Homeland Security and State Affairs   (Assembly)
11:00 AM   
300 Northeast 		Items: Assembly Bill 113; Assembly Bill 63  
May 4   Wed  Agriculture, Forestry, and Higher Education   (Senate) (Executive Session)
1:00 PM   
201 Southeast 		Items: Darling, Alberta; Elford, Wesley; Nemec, Brenda; Wiseley, Neil; Senate Bill 28  
May 5   Thu  Finance   (Joint) (Executive Session)
11:00 AM   
412 East 		Items: Assembly Bill 40; Senate Bill 27  
May 5   Thu  Criminal Justice and Corrections   (Assembly)
11:00 AM   
411 South 		Items: Assembly Bill 86  
May 5   Thu  Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs   (Senate)
11:00 AM   
411 South 		Items: Senate Bill 57