This Week in the Legislature: Week of February 16, 2015 

Last week, a lot of focus was placed on the Governor's trade mission to London. Discussion also continued on several items included in the 2015-17 state biennial budget, including transportation funding and UW-System funding and autonomy. The Menominee Tribe and Hard Rock International offered a new proposal offering funding for the new Milwaukee Bucks stadium if the Kenosha Casino received gubernatorial approval.

Gov. Walker Staff Appointments Last week Governor Scott Walker announced the following staff appointments:  
  • Thomas Engels, deputy secretary, Department of Health Services (DHS)
  • Laura Riske, assistant deputy secretary, DHS
  • Kevin Moore, State Medicaid Director, DHS
  • Jay Risch, deputy secretary, Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)
  • Eric Esser, assistant deputy secretary, DSPS
  • Sandra Chalmers, assistant deputy secretary, Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP)
  • Michael Bruhn, assistant deputy secretary, Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
Committee Hearings for the Week of February 16, 2015 
Note: The Committee hearings and bills listed below reflect action on legislation impacting county government.  See a complete listing of weekly hearings here.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Assembly Committee on Public Benefit Reform, 12:00 p.m.
Informational Hearing (no public testimony): The Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health Services, and the Department of Workforce Development will provide an overview of the public assistance programs their agencies administer, and discuss their efforts to combat waste, fraud and abuse. WCA is monitoring this hearing.

Assembly Committee on Transportation, 1:00 p.m.
Informational Hearing (no public testimony): Railroad Commissioner Jeff Plale will give an overview of the office of the Commissioner of Railroads.

Assembly Bill 27 - The maximum speed limit on freeways and expressways. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, 9:00 a.m.
Assembly Bill 17 - Renewal of a certificate of food protection practices for certificate holders that operate or manage a restaurant employing five or fewer food handlers. WCA is monitoring this bill.

Thursday, February 19, 2015
Assembly Committee on Mining and Rural Development, 10:00 a.m.
Informational Hearing (no public testimony): Clearinghouse Rule 13-057, relating to 2013 Wisconsin Act 1, the Ferrous Mining Law. WCA is monitoring this hearing.

For a listing of all bills impacting county government and WCA's positions on those bills, please visit the WCA website.
 
Upcoming WCA Legislative Meetings 
Regional Legislative Meetings
Each odd-numbered year, the Wisconsin Counties Association holds legislative briefings across the state to educate members on legislative issues affecting counties.  This year, our legislative briefings will include a discussion on WCA's 2015-2016 Legislative Agenda, a review of the 2015-17 state biennial budget, as well as answer member questions regarding legislative initiatives.

Following please find a list of the dates, times and locations of the 2015 Regional Legislative Meetings. Please feel free to attend whichever meeting is most convenient for you (even if a different district).  No registration is necessary.

Monday, March 9, 2015: Southern District
9:00 a.m. - Noon
North Star Conference Center/Comfort Inn & Suites
5025 County Rd. V, DeForest, WI 53532
Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock and Sauk

Wednesday, March 11, 2015: Northwest District
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Heartwood Conference Center
N10884 Hoinville Road, Trego, WI 54888
Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn

Thursday, March 12, 2015: West Central District
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Off Broadway Banquet & Conference Center
1501 North Broadway, Menomonie, WI 54751
Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce and St. Croix

Friday, March 13, 2015: Western District
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Radisson Hotel La Crosse
200 Harborview Plaza, La Crosse, WI 54601
Adams, Buffalo, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marquette, Monroe, Trempealeau and Vernon

Monday, March 16, 2015: Southeast District
9:00 a.m. - Noon
Washington County Fair Park & Conference Center
3000 Pleasant Valley Rd., West Bend, WI 53095
Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha

Wednesday, March 18, 2015: North Central District
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Quality Inn
668 West Kemp St., Rhinelander, WI 54501
Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Portage, Shawano, Vilas, Waupaca, Waushara and Wood

Thursday, March 19, 2015: East Central District
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Radisson Paper Valley Hotel
333 West College Avenue, Appleton, WI 54911
Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Sheboygan and Winnebago

For a complete listing of upcoming WCA meetings, please click here.

"What are Counties" Video and Other Resources Now Online 
On Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at the WCA Legislative Exchange in Madison, the Wisconsin Counties Association launched a new toolkit for county officials and interested parties to help educate people on the role of counties in their lives. 

The "What are Counties" video, brochure and PowerPoint presentation are now on the WCA website and can be found by clicking here! 

Questions? Contact Our Government Affairs Team  
If you have any questions about anything happening at the state level, please feel free to contact any member of the WCA Government Affairs Team at 866.404.2700 or via email:

Kyle Christianson - Director of Government Affairs
Sarah Diedrick-Kasdorf - Deputy Director of Government Affairs
David Callender - Government Affairs Associate
Daniel Bahr - Government Affairs Associate 
 
 
Member Services: WisPolitics & The Wheeler Report
Members of the Wisconsin Counties Association are eligible for a free email subscription for WisPolitics.com and The Wheeler Report. These daily email updates are an invaluable resource for those interested in keeping up with the day-to-day activities of the Legislature and include in-depth "insider" information on state politics. 

 

To begin your free subscription, please contact Amy Dias of WCA at 866.404.2700 or
with your name, your county name and the email address where you would like subscriptions sent.   
Wisconsin Counties Association
22 East Mifflin Street, Suite 900
Madison, Wisconsin 53703
866.404.2700