Everything you need to know for the week ahead.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2018

Members,

Welcome back to another edition of the WPT Weekly Insider. We would like to take a moment to remember all of the lives lost in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania on September 11th, 2001.

This week will bring you news from the Capitol and around Wisconsin, circulating legislation, your weekly poll responses, and an all new Weekly Member Poll.

We hope you find this weekly report to be interesting and informative. If there are ever any issues that you would like to see included, or if you ever have any questions or comments, please reach out to us at info@wptonline.org.

Have a great week,

WPT, Inc.
 
NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL  
AND AROUND WISCONSIN 

DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SHOWS STRONG WISCONSIN ECONOMY
On Friday, the state's Department of Workforce Development (DWD) released the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Quarterly Census of Employment and Wage Data for the first quarter of 2018, showing strong wage growth across all industry sectors, and that Wisconsin ranks in the top half of states in the number of private sector jobs added from March 2017 to March 2018.

In a statement, DWD Secratary Ray Allen said "With an economy at near-full employment, Wisconsin continues to add jobs and is experiencing wage growth across all industry sectors in terms of total wages. Our family supporting industry sectors such as construction and manufacturing continue to perform well compared to other states, and with mega-projects on the horizon, these industries are poised to grow and continue to provide additional employment."

Wisconsin ranked 8th nationally in percent job growth in jobs in the construction sector year over year, ranked 10th nationally in the number of manufacturing jobs added year over year, ranked 12th nationally in percentage increase in average weekly wage in the private sector year over year, 24th in number of private sector jobs added year over year, 20th nationally in year over year job growth in the Education and Health sector, and saw wages grow by 5.5 percent in the private sector, 9 percent in construction, and 3 percent in manufacturing.


FLOOD DAMAGES ESTIMATED AT $209 MILLION
Although most of the southern portion of the state was hit the hardest, the total number of statewide damage from heavy rains and subsequent flooding has surpassed $200 million, according to Governor Walker.

Within that number were about $98 million in damages to homes, about $41 million in damage to businesses, and nearly $70 million in damage to public infrastructure. In Dane County alone, $155 million in damage was experienced, with about 1,500 homes having been impacted.

According to local officials, only about two percent of people had flood insurance, so government aid will be most critical for those in need. The Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) is offering grants to help low and moderate income homeowners, and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is offering one-time payments to low income families with at least one child in the home who are dealing with floods. Additionally, the Department of Health Services (DHS) is offering testing kits for private wells, along with replacement benefits for those on SNAP benefits, and unemployment benefits to those whose employers suffered closure due to flooding.


GOV. WALKER SAYS HIGHWAYS DON'T NEED MORE LANES WHEN REBUILT
Governor Walker last week said that highways undergoing a rebuild could be done without adding more lanes, and questioned the need for expansion.

"I actually think we should be fixing and maintaining our infrastructure. I don't know that we need bigger and better and broader right now when we have a changing transportation system," the Governor told one reporter in Milwaukee.

Some industry experts said Governor Walker could be correct, but in a situation like the Zoo Interchange, simply maintaining the current size through the rebuild without adding more lanes could cause a bottleneck situation.

With the state's $3 billion per year transportation budget, the issue has been huge on the campaign trail so far, with the same back-and-forth being heard over raising gas taxes, increasing efficiency within the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and a slew of other cost-saving measures. The increased use of hybrid and electric cars has caused Governor Walker to call in to question the use of the gas tax as the primary way to fund roads, but did not speculate on big changes such as tolls.


 
STUDY SAYS ALLOUEZ PRISON REMOVAL WOULD ADD JOBS, INCREASE REVENUES
A study from St. Norbert College regarding the economics of replacing the aging Green Bay Correctional Institute in Allouez has found that the current plan could add more than 1,000 jobs and rake in an additional $1 million in property tax collections.  
 
The plan would turn the original 1898 Wisconsin State Reformatory into a mixed use property, including a museum, offices, and restaurants, and develop the remaining land on the 14 acres of waterfront property into apartments, condos, shops, cafes, and a "boutique hotel."
 
But the plan is far from approved. Leaders in Brown County will need to convince the state legislature to replace the massive prison elsewhere. One area lawmaker, Rep. Dave Steffen has proposed that a private company build a 1,300 inmate facility, and then lease the property to the state to operate. The theoretical new development could bring in an annual $1.56 million in property taxes, with nearly half going to the Green Bay School District, and the rest divvied up between Allouez, Brown County, and the Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.  
 
The momentum on the plan comes at a time when corrections and state prisons are front and center in the gubernatorial race. Governor Walker has question the democrats' plans to reduce the prison population by half, saying that their plan would lead to violent criminals being released back into the state.  
 
But another high profile Republican has his doubts about prison expansion, or at least his role in the prison building boom in the 1990s. Last week, longtime Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson said he regrets his role in the building of prisons while hew as in office, and he now believes that some prisons should be turned into vocational schools to train inmates for jobs and an early release from incarceration.
 
"We lock up too many people for too long, and it's about time we change the dynamics, and I want to be on the- I apologize for that. I want to be on the front end of changing that," Thompson said.    
 
 
MILLERCOORS TO CUT HUNDREDS OF JOBS
MillerCoors is planning to cut 350 salaried employees across the entire company, which includes 200 jobs currently filled.

Chicago-based MillerCoors CEO announced that the corporation would be undergoing a restructuring plan, the first of its kind for the company since 2013. In an e-mail to staff and other associates, he said "we are moving quickly and decisively to get our business back on track. To accomplish this, we know we need the financial flexibility to invest in our brands and solutions at the right level..."

According to BizTimes, the company has seen its volumes drop by 5.5 percent in the first six months of 2018, which is equivalent to 1.6 million barrels of beer, along with a drop of 8.5 percent in profits.

While a spokesperson said it would be too early to comment on the impacts the cuts would have in Milwaukee, the company has recently invested $50 million in expansions in the city, which added 65 new jobs.


STATE WITHHOLDING MONEY FROM LOCAL ROADS
Federal funds granted to the State of Wisconsin for transportation purposes are being withheld from local governments, including nearly $900,000 in Eau Claire, $3 million in Green Bay and Appleton, and $23 million in Milwaukee.

According to a report from WEAU News, local officials were informed of a change in federal Service Transportation Block Grants, but have no idea where the money is going instead. This changes their funding models for five year plans to four year plans, causing havoc in the budgeting process, and leaving local leaders scrambling to find ways to find other funding mechanisms.

Some local governments are now having to divert local funds for these projects, which take away from other ongoing needs in the areas, according to another official.

In the WEAU report, Steve Grenier, the Vice President of Brown County's Municipal Planning Organizations (MPO) policy board said; "Essentially what it boils down to, the way it's been explained to us, there's one year's of STBG funding that is no longer available to MPOs. So if the numbers I've seen are accurate on a statewide basis, that comes out to about $45 million. And right now, you, no one knows where that $45 million is going? That is correct."

This news broke around the same time that it was announced Wisconsin would be receiving an additional $91 million in road funding from a federal program, which is "far more than it typically receives." The usual amount is around $34 million through a redistribution plan, but last year the state also received about $66.4 million.

According to a state DOT spokesman, the money could go toward projects including Highway 20 in Racine County, I-94 in Waukesha County, or I-39 in Dane County.


STATE RANKS 4TH FOR STUDENTS BULLIED AT SCHOOL
A recent report and analysis from WalletHub ranked Wisconsin 7th on a list for states with the biggest bullying problems, and 4th for number of students being bullied at school.

WalletHub compared 47 different states and Washington DC, using 20 different metrics that ranged from truancy costs for schools for bullying online, to bullying incident rates. Wisconsin ranked 8th overall for bullying prevalence and 36th for bullying impact and treatment, but 3rd for anti-bullying laws.

According to the report, WalletHub said that a child is bullied at school in the United States every sevel minutes, but only 4 in every 100 adults will intervene, and only 11 percent of peers will intervene.

Number one on the list was Louisiana, and Massachusetts came in last at 48th.


WEEKLY MEMBER POLL RESULTS
          
Do you agree or disagree with what the guest columnist from Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce wrote in his rebuttal article? 
It is interesting how the different sides of an argument leave details out of their facts, if they harm their case

I think you hit the nail on the head

Did not see it

Interesting fact that homeowners have 72% of the tax base but only pay 68% of the property taxes

We need a solution that is fair for all property taxpayers

What an entire bunch of hogwash. There is TREMENDOUS irony in WMC's comments that people vote, but businesses do not. Same old same old, businesses have politicians in their back pocket, consumers get screwed. Shame on WPT for letting this unbelievably biased column to be emailed out.


 
Foxconn, along with subsidiaries of Aurora Health, Northwestern Mutual Life, and Johnson Controls, have created a $100 million venture capital fund. After reading the article, what are your thoughts?
 
It would be great if a certain amount of it would be dedicated to Wisconsin and its businesses.

Its seems that Foxconn is investing in our and I hope they live up to their commencemnet

We don't know what they will invest in. May not be invested in WI at all.

I hope we see a boom in venture capitalist success in Wisconsin

I wish the focus was driving innovation specifically in Wisconsin.
 


  
The state's Natural Resources Board has issued a new emergency rule relating to the transport of deer carcasses. After reading the article, do you feel this new rule is reasonable?  
   
   
Not sure if the rule will help

Don't know what all the Cwd counties are.

I think this still will not solve the problem

Hard to enforce this one

Still more needs to be done to aggressively protect the herd and the public with every deer tested with a simple test that gives a true picture of the disease, the impacts, and a cure. The half hearted crap has got to stop! Sportsmen and women are the biggest supporters of our environment yet real earnest solutions are non-existent! When will someone actually lead? We have close to one sixth of our state which hunts! The evonomic impact of those who participate in outdoor sports is Huge!



Leading up to the November elections, would you like WPT to include more election-related news and topics?
     
Like to know what about the person running are going to do for us.

I would like to see more information about the truth meter to candidate claims.

State only.

I feel it will not be false news

State info

More coverage of Wisconsin politics is good.

Some but not too much



AAA is predicting a modest drop in fuel prices this autumn. For fun, if you can remember, tell us the cost of fuel when you first started driving. What was your first car? Favorite car? What's the most you have ever paid for fuel?

I started driving in 1957 and gas was 24 cents a gallon. Dodge was my first car and Chevy is my favorite. Most I have paid for gas is over $4.00 a gallon. Sure glad it went down.. Can't afford it in retirement.

I believe I was paying around 75 cents a gallon when I started driving. First car was a 1973 Firebird. Favorite vehicle is my Trailblazer which I am still driving. Paid over $4 a gallon for gas in the past

Somewhere between $.018 and $.025 in the 50's and 60's. Never had a favorite car but enjoyed teaching myself to drive a stick in a 1949 Ford.

When I began driving, the cost of fuel was $1.13 per gallon. Thirteen dollars filled the tank of a VW Rabbit. It made travel to work very reasonable. I can't remember the most I paid for fuel, but I'm sure it was over $4.00 per gallon.

1950 Chevy, gas was 18cents, 1960 red Chevy Impala 2 door hardtop. $4.00/ gal

$.249 1962 Plymouth 1967 Baracuda $3.95

2.84

I remember when the gas stations in town had gas wars. It was as low as $. 19 per gallon. WOW

25 cents when i first started driving

20 Cents a gallon.

$.79/gallon

$.21 during a gas war. 68 chevy camaro. 80 oldsmobile cutlass. Over $4

1951 Pontiac, 19 cents a gallon, $4.50 a gallon.

When first married it was a buck a gallon 30 years ago!

I paid $8 gallon in the Cayman Islands and $6.50 in Paris this summer.

28.9,1951 Chevy purchased for $100. $4.00 a gallon

1956 chev gas 25 cents

THIS WEEK'S MEMBER POLL
 
It is the policy of WPT, Inc. to publish all comments that are submitted by members each week, often including broad differences of opinion within the weekly responses. Our organization values our role in fostering dialogue within our membership each week, but does not take responsibility for the individual views and opinions expressed herein.     
 
LEGISLATION  
BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW  
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BILLS BEING CIRCULATED
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