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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: July 22, 2011
SUBJECT: Weekly Update - Recalls, Redistricting and Job Numbers
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Redistricting Bill Passes Both Houses of State Legislature
Both the State Senate and State Assembly passed by primarily party-line votes three pieces of legislation - SB 148, SB 149 and SB 150 - that redraw Wisconsin legislative maps for the State Senate and State Assembly and the Wisconsin Congressional delegation for the next decade. The three bills now head to Governor Walker's desk for his signature. The Governor has not said yet if he will sign the bills. However, most Capitol insiders expect that the Governor will sign all of the bills within the next few weeks. It is also expected that Democrats will pursue a legal challenge of the redistricting legislation based on their concerns about minority representation not being accurately reflected in the newly-drawn legislative boundaries. To view a map of the legislative boundaries, click here:
http://www.wispolitics.com/1006/11_2266_1_leg_maps_and_tables.pdf |
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Recall Elections Update
Last Tuesday, July 19, was election day in three Senate recall elections. The three races included two GOP primaries in Districts 12 and 22 and a general election in District 30.
General Election
Senate District 30 - Green Bay, Oconto and Marinette - held by Democratic Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay). The third-term Democrat held on to the competitive northeast Wisconsin seat by cruising to an easy victory over political newcomer David VanderLeest, the Republican, with 66 percent of the vote.
To read a recap of the Hansen victory, click here.
Primary Elections
Senate District 12 - Merrill, Antigo, Rhinelander and northeastern Wisconsin - held by first-term Democratic Senator Jim Holperin (D-Conover). The Republican primary was won by Kim Simac, the founder of the Northwoods Patriots tea party, who defeated Lincoln County Board Chair Robert Lussow by a margin of 59 percent to 41 percent.
The GOP primary winner now faces the incumbent Democrat Jim Holperin on Tuesday, August 16.
To read a recap of the GOP primary victory by Simac, click here.
Senate District 22 - most of Kenosha County - held by long-time Democratic Senator Bob Wirch (D-Pleasant Prairie). The July 19 GOP primary was won by Attorney Jonathan Steitz who captured nearly 60 percent of the votes over former Kenosha County Sheriff Fred Ekornaas.
The general election is on Tuesday, August 16.
To read a recap of the Steitz primary victory, click here.
Recall Elections - Tuesday, August 9
As mentioned in previous Capitol Notes, six other recall elections of GOP Senators will occur in Districts 2, 8, 10, 14, 18, and 32, on Tuesday, August 9.
To read more about the August 9 recall elections, click here.
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Jobs Report Released
This week the state Department of Workforce Development says its figures show show a net gain of 9,500 jobs last month, including 12,900 in the private sector, representing the largest one-month gain of private sector jobs since September 2003 (www.wispolitics.com). The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent, up from 7.4 percent in May.
See the DWD release:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=242755
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The Week Ahead
| Jul 26 Tue | Administrative Rules (Joint)
11:00 AM
Gymnasium of the Minocqua Community Center, 415 Menominee Street, Minocqua, WI 54548 | Items: Chapter NR 115; Chapter NR 151 | Public Hearing |
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| Jul 28 Thu | Criminal Justice and Corrections (Assembly)
10:00 AM
300 Northeast | Items: Assembly Bill 102; Assembly Bill 56; Assembly Bill 103; Assembly Bill 76; Assembly Bill 123 | Public Hearing |
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