Capitol Notes: Weekly Political and Legislative Update 9/16/11

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: September 16, 2011

SUBJECT: Weekly Legislative and Political Update

In This Issue

Legislature Meets this Week

State Reimburses Local Law Enforcement Officials

2012 Election Happenings

The Week Ahead

Legislature Meets this Week

This Tuesday, the legislature was back in session for the beginning of the fall floor period. In the Senate, the two newly-elected Senators - Jen Shilling (D-La Crosse) and Jessica King (D-Oshkosh) - via this past summer's recall elections were sworn in to finish out the terms of the Senators Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse) and Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac).

The Assembly had a heavier legislative calendar than the Senate and considered and passed several pieces of legislation, which included:

SB-47. Small Business (Moulton) Various changes affecting Small Business Regulatory Review Board. Am. 2 adopted, voice vote. Am. 4, 5, 6, tabled, 60-37. Passed, voice vote.

SB-115. Presidential Primary (Lazich) Changes presidential preference primary to first Tuesday in February from the third Tuesday in February. Passed, 65-32. To Be Enrolled.

AB-211. Community Development Financial Institution (Molepske) Income/franchise tax credit for investments in a community development financial institution. Am. 1, 2, 3, 4, adopted, voice votes. Passed, 92-5.

AB-32. Legislative Communications (Toles) Exemption from mailing restriction by legislators during nomination circulation period. Passed, 91-6.

AB-81. Disabled Drivers (Krusick) Changes affecting special ID cars providing parking privileges for persons with physical disabilities. Am. 1 adopted, voice vote. Passed, 97-0.

AB-177. Navigable Waters (Steineke) Procedures for applications and hearings related to permits and contracts for structures, deposits and other activities in or near navigable waters. Am. 1 to Sub. 1, tabled, 61-36. Am. 2 to Sub. 1, adopted, voice vote. Am. 3 to Sub. 1, tabled, 61-36. Sub. 1 adopted, voice vote. Passed, 65-32.

(information taken from www.thewheelerreport.com).

Legislative leaders from both the Senate and the Assembly decided that Tuesday was to be the only day of the first half of the fall floor session that the legislature would be in session even though the legislative leaders scheduled at the beginning of the session back in January that the first half fo the fall legislative period was to be from September 13 through September 22.

The full legislature is expected to be in session again from October 18 through November 3 where its is expected that lawmakers will deal with several bills that relate to job creation.

State Reimburses Local Law Enforcement Officials

The Joint Finance Committee voted on Wednesday to approve more than $7.3 million to reimburse state and local law enforcement agencies for their work during the Capitol protests earlier this year. The reimbursements are result of the state requesting assistance from several law enforcement agencies from across the state to help during the protests from earlier this spring that were the result of the budget repair bill (Act 10) that curtailed the collective bargaining rights of public employees.

The $7.3 million that was approved was less than what the Walker Administration's initial request of nearly $8.1 million. The committee voted unanimously to reduce the request because a handful of law enforcement agencies have not had audits of their reimbursement requests completed yet (www.wispolitics.com).

2012 Election Happenings

This week saw more happenings on the 2012 Election trail with eight-term Congressman Ron Kind (D-La Crosse) announcing that he would not be a candidate for the open U.S. Senate seat, which is being vacated by popular, four-term U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-Milwaukee).

Kind, who has represented Wisconsin's Third Congressional District since 1996, had been considering the seat for months. In a statement abount his non-candidacy, Kind said, "I have been urged by many across Wisconsin to run for Senate. I thank them sincerely for their steadfast support and their trust in my commitment to put solving peoples' problems first and foremost. But that commitment has led me to this conclusion: Now is not my time to run for the U.S. Senate."

Kind is expected to run again for his seat in Congress, which become much more Democratic as a result of the Republican-led redistricting efforts. However, with Kind's announcement, many pundits believe that U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-Madison) will most likely face no or limited opposition in the Democratic primary for the open seat.

Former U.S. Representative Steve Kagen (D-Appleton) is reported to be still considering running for the seat.

On the Republican side, former Congressman Mark Neumann (R-Nashotah), announced his candidacy several weeks ago and former Governor Tommy Thompson and Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) are expected to announce their candidacies for the post soon.

The Week Ahead

Committee Hearings Next Week

Sep 20 Tue

Economic Development and Veterans and Military Affairs (Senate) (Executive Session)
10:00 AM
201 Southeast

Items: Kellner, Ted; Cook, Mark; Gersich, Andrew; Scocos, John; Bohlin, Dan; Krueger, Carl

Executive Session

Sep 20 Tue

Economic Development and Veterans and Military Affairs (Senate)
10:05 AM or upon conclusion of executive session
201 Southeast

Items: Assembly Bill 60; Senate Bill 84

Public Hearing

Sep 20 Tue

Transportation (Assembly)
10:30 AM
417 North (GAR Hall)