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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: February 24, 2012
SUBJECT: Weekly Legislative and Political Update
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New State-wide Polling Released
On Wednesday, Marquette Law School released a poll showing President Obamba currently leading his potential Republicans challengers and that the state is evenly divided when it comes to Governor's Scott Walker's job performance.
According to the poll, President Obama leads former Senator Rick Santorum 51 percent to 40 percent and leads former Governor Mitt Romney by 53 percent to 38 percent. Obama's reelection numbers indicate an uptick from where he was in January where he led over Romney 48 percent to 40 percent. Currently, the President holds a 52 percent to 36 percent lead over Rep. Ron Paul and a 56 percent to 33 percent margin over former Speaker Newt Gingrich.
When asked about the upcoming GOP Presidential primay in Wisconsin in early April, Santorum leads among those who said they would vote in the Republican primary with 34 percent. Romney has the support of 18 percent while Paul has 17 percent. Gingrich trails at 12 percent, with 17 percent saying they are undecided.
Governor Walker's favorability rating slipped in February to 46 percent with 48 percent unfavorable. In January his favorable rating was 50 percent with 45 percent unfavorable.
In the race for U.S. Senate in Wisconsin, former Governor Tommy Thompson has a small lead of 48 percent to 42 percent over U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin. Baldwin has a slight lead over former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann, 44 percent to 40 percent, and a somewhat larger lead over state Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, 45 percent to 37 percent (www.marquette.edu/poll).
The poll of 716 Wisconsin registered voters was conducted February 16-19 using by both landline and cellular telephone. |
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State Capitol Happenings
Bipartisan Mining Bill Released
This week, a bipartisan mining bill was introduced by two long-time state Senators - Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) and Bob Jauch (D-Poplar). The bipartisan legislation maybe the legislature's best attempt to pass comprehensive mining reform legislation prior to the current legislative session adjourning next month.
The Wisconsin Way Mining Reform Act, according to the authors of the bill, protects the public's right to participate in the permitting process, protects local taxpayers without increasing the overall tax burden for mining companies, requires $5 million in up front, guaranteed payments in lieu of property, ensures that the mining company will not have to pay more in taxes than 100% of the funding would go to the area impacted by the mine and preserves existing environmental policies that are in place (www.wispolitics.com).
Governor Signs Executive Order to Help Small Businesses
Governor Walker signed on Wednesday Executive Order #61 that requires all state agencies to cooperate with the Small Business Regulatory Review Board in the rule review process. Under the Governor's order all agencies will cooperate with the Board to identify rules that hinder job creation and small business growth. Agencies will also work with the Board to recommend changes to the rules that will reduce the burden on job creators while continuing to comply with the intent of the statutes that created them (www.wisgov.state.wi.us).
Legislature Not In Session Next Week
Both the Assembly and the state Senate will not be in session next week. However, as of this writing, both are expected to be in Tuesday, March 6, and are expected to take up full calendars. |
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The Week Ahead
| Feb 28 Tue | Urban and Local Affairs (Assembly)
9:30 AM
300 Northeast | Items: Assembly Bill 403; Assembly Bill 569
| Public Hearing |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Aging and Long-Term Care (Assembly) (Executive Session)
9:30 AM
400 Northeast | Items: Assembly Bill 477; Senate Bill 380
| Executive Session |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Urban and Local Affairs (Assembly) (Executive Session)
9:35 AM
300 Northeast | Items: Assembly Bill 326
| Executive Session |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Economic Development and Veterans and Military Affairs (Senate)
10:00 AM
411 South | Items: Presentation by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
| Public Hearing |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Consumer Protection and Personal Privacy (Assembly) (Executive Session)
10:00 AM
North Hearing Room (2nd Floor North) | Items: Assembly Bill 266; Assembly Bill 379; Assembly Bill 511
| Executive Session |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Consumer Protection and Personal Privacy (Assembly)
10:01 AM Or upon adjournment of Executive Session.
North Hearing Room (2nd Floor North) | Items: Assembly Bill 523
| Public Hearing |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Education (Senate) (Executive Session)
10:30 AM
201 Southeast | Items: Senate Bill 461
| Executive Session |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Election and Campaign Reform (Assembly) (Executive Session)
10:30 AM
328 Northwest | Items: Assembly Joint Resolution 63; Assembly Bill 472
| Executive Session |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Natural Resources and Environment (Senate)
10:30 AM
300 Southeast | Items: Senate Bill 411; Senate Bill 435; Senate Bill 290; Assembly Bill 384; Assembly Bill 395; Assembly Bill 334; Senate Bill 415; Senate Bill 441
| Public Hearing |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Education (Senate)
10:35 AM
201 Southeast | Items: Senate Bill 486; Senate Bill 427
| Public Hearing |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Financial Institutions (Assembly)
12:30 PM
300 Northeast | Items: Assembly Bill 510; Assembly Bill 582
| Public Hearing |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs (Senate) (Executive Session)
1:00 PM
330 Southwest | Items: Senate Bill 283
| Executive Session |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Energy and Utilities (Assembly)
1:00 PM
225 Northwest | Items: Assembly Bill 309; Assembly Bill 182
| Public Hearing |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs (Senate)
1:05 PM or upon conclusion of the Executive Session
330 Southwest | Items: Viste-Johnson, Barbara; Senate Bill 444; Senate Bill 464; Senate Bill 473; Senate Bill 476
| Public Hearing |
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| Feb 28 Tue | Health (Senate)
1:30 PM
400 Southeast | Items: Jafari, Mary; Vasudevan, Sridhar V.; Swan, Timothy; Misra, Suresh; Rambo, Larry; Wagner, Thomas; Jensen, Doreen; Willis, Patricia; Polenske, Mary Ellen; Bogost, Gregg A.; Hammes, Brian; Reuter, Geraldine; Ellis, Julie; Weis, William W.
| Public Hearing |
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| Feb 29 Wed | Financial Institutions and Rural Issues (Senate) (Executive Session)
1:00 PM
411 South | Items: Senate Bill 443; Senate Bill 475
| Executive Session |
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| Feb 29 Wed | Financial Institutions and Rural Issues (Senate)
1:00 PM
411 South | Items: Senate Bill 489
| Public Hearing |
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| Mar 1 Thu | Colleges and Universities (Assembly)
10:00 AM
417 North (GAR Hall) | Items: Assembly Bill 322
| Public Hearing |
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| Mar 1 Thu | Veterans and Military Affairs (Assembly)
10:00 AM
225 Northwest | Items: Assembly Bill 505; Assembly Bill 550
| Public Hearing |
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| Mar 1 Thu | Colleges and Universities (Assembly) (Executive Session)
10:05 AM
417 North (GAR Hall) | Items: Assembly Bill 473; Assembly Bill 322; Assembly Bill 353; Assembly Bill 431
| Executive Session |
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| Mar 1 Thu | Criminal Justice and Corrections (Assembly)
11:00 AM
400 Northeast | Items: Assembly Bill 584
| Public Hearing |
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| Mar 1 Thu | Judiciary and Ethics (Assembly)
1:00 PM
415 Northwest | Items: Assembly Bill 452; Assembly Bill 600; Assembly Bill 240
| Public Hearing |
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| Mar 1 Thu | Judiciary and Ethics (Assembly) (Executive Session)
1:05 PM
415 Northwest | Items: Assembly Bill 223; Assembly Bill 417; Assembly Bill 424
| Executive Session |
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| Mar 7 Wed | Rural Economic Development and Rural Affairs (Assembly) (Executive Session)
9:30 AM
225 Northwest | Items: Assembly Bill 394
| Executive Session |
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