NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL AND AROUND WISCONSIN
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LEGISLATURE PASSES BUDGET, WAITING GAME BEGINS
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On Tuesday and Wednesday, the State Assembly and State Senate passed the two-year $82 billion state budget through their respective chambers, effectively sending it on to Governor Evers' desk. At the time this article is being written, it's anybody's guess as to what happens next.
Lawmakers took to their respective chamber floors to both criticize and defend the budget, with the GOP telling Democrat lawmakers that if the GOP version of the bill was the original bill handed down by Governor Evers, they would be fawning over the policies. But instead, they claim, Democrats oppose the measure because it was crafted by Republicans.
In the State Senate, the bill passed 17-16, with all but two Republican lawmakers, Sens. Nass and Craig, voting against the spending plan, criticizing the scope of the bill and its inability to shrink the size of government.
Some insiders believe Governor Evers will veto the bill in its entirety, a move that would all but ensure funding levels remain at their current levels until at least autumn, when Speaker Robin Vos said is the earliest his chamber would reconvene in the event of a full veto.
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DWD: LOCAL UNEMPLOYMENT DATA RELEASED
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The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) last week released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates of employment and unemployment statistics for Wisconsin metropolitan areas, major cities and counties in Wisconsin for May 2019.
In metropolitan statistical areas, preliminary May 2019 unemployment rates declined or stayed the same in seven of Wisconsin's 12 metro areas over the year. The largest over the year decrease of 0.1 percent occurred in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, Sheboygan, Wausau, and Racine metro areas.
Municipalities' preliminary May 2019 unemployment rates declined or stayed the same over the year in 22 of the state's 33 largest cities. The largest over the year decrease of 0.5 percent occurred in Mount Pleasant.
In counties, the preliminary may 2019 data showed unemployment rates declined or stayed the same over the year in 47 of Wisconsin's 72 counties. The largest over the year decrease of 1.1 percent occurred in Iron County.
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EVERS SIGNS BILL PREVENTING BUSINESSES FROM DEDUCTING MOVING EXPENSES FOR LEAVING WISCONSIN
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If a business plans to pack up and leave Wisconsin or the United States, they will no longer be able to deduct their moving expenses from their taxes. That happened because Governor Evers last week signed Assembly Bill 10 into law, which removes their ability to claim such a deduction.
Evers said he signed the law to make sure companies aren't given an unfair tax advantage.
Republicans who championed the measure in the legislature said the measure was intended to help our economy prosper, and that tax dollars should not subsidize moving costs for companies leaving the state.
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U.S. SUPREME COURT RULES ON GERRYMANDERING
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In a 5-4 decision last Thursday, the United States Supreme Court ruled that federal courts essentially have no business dabbling with states' legislative boundaries.
"Our conclusion does not condone excessive partisan gerrymandering. Nor does our conclusion condemn complaints about districting to echo into a void," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the majority. "The States...are actively addressing the issue on a number of fronts."
Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that the case involving Wisconsin was before it prematurely and that the Wisconsin Democrats did not have a sufficient reasoning for challenging it before the nation's highest court.
Today's ruling ensures that the Wisconsin case will be closed, and in a roundabout series of events, the contention surrounding Assembly Speaker Robin Vos' obligation to testify before the court is no longer relevant. The ruling also solidifies Republican maps going into 2020 in Wisconsin, and possibly beyond, depending on how quickly the legislature and Governor Tony Evers act upon 2020 census data.
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U.S. SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S CENSUS QUESTION
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last Wednesday, at least temporarily, that the controversial question regarding citizenship on next year's Census will not be allowed, as the court found the Trump administration's explanation or rationale for using the question was not sufficient.
President Trump's administration's argument was that a question regarding citizenship would help better enforce the United States' voting rights laws, but Chief Justice Roberts wrote that "accepting contrived reasons would defeat the purpose of the enterprise," referring to the law that requires the government to submit reasons for its actions, k nown as the Administrative Procedure Act.
In theory, the administration is still allowed to include the question, should they revamp their explanation and it passes legal scrutiny.
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FOLLOW UP: WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT RULES ON EDUCATION POLICY
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In a follow-up to last week's article, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled last week that the state's superintendent of public instruction has to seek approval from the state's governor in order to write administrative rule guiding Wisconsin's public schools.
The decision came after the REINS Act of 2017 required all of Wisconsin's departments to seek approval from the governor before implementing costly administrative rules. Then-Superintendent Tony Evers continued to write rules without seeking permission from then-Governor Scott Walker, which resulted in a lawsuit being filed by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty.
The court's majority wrote that the superintendent is vested by our constitution with the powers of supervision over schools, but not sole authority for writing their policies. The decision is expected to have wide-reaching implications, particularly when the two positions are held by individuals from differing political parties. Both Wisconsin's governor and superintendent are currently liberals.
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U.S. SUPREME COURT: DRAWING BLOOD FROM UNCONSCIOUS INDIVIDUAL WAS OKAY
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled late last week that when a Wisconsin police officer drew blood from an unconscious man they presumed to be intoxicated, they were acting lawfully.
In a 5-4 decision, the nation's highest court ruled that blood can in fact be drawn from somebody who is unconcious when they are unable to take a breath test, since the situation is urgent and therefore does not require a warrant.
The individual was found to be under the influence of drug and alcohol at the time, but challenged his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Law enforcement and the State of Wisconsin argued that all Wisconsin drivers sign an "implied consent" agreement upon receiving their license, and therefore acted lawfully in obtaining the blood specimen.
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WEEKLY MEMBER POLL RESULTS
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The State Supreme Court ruled last Friday that the "lame duck" laws passed by the legislature and signed by former Governor Scott Walker were constitutional. Good ruling or bad ruling?
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remember the day when partison politics was not the rule of the legislature and now the supreme court, I do! This madness needs to end !!
law is the law even if one does not agree with the contents of the law
I HOPE these laws circle back to HAUNT the republicans.
Bye bye Tony
The people of WI elected Evers because of what he said he would do, now he is handcuffed by the new law.
It the way our constitution is written and has been used by either partly over the years, again wasting tax payers money for filing a law suit
Just another way for the current Republicans to avoid the will of the people. Onward and upward towards a plutocratic autocracy.
I said it before. If all them laws were so important why did they only do them after walker lost
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Both chambers of the Wisconsin Legislature will debate and vote on the state budget, written by Gov. Evers and drastically amended by the GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee.
If you had to guess, do you think Governor Evers will veto the bill in its entirety, veto only parts of it, or sign the entire bill into law?
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Depending if he can use the line item veto, whom the Republican Assembly attempted to do away with.
veto parts
I think he should do the best that he can to get our government moving forward again and not remain in dead lock.
change how we will pay to fix the roads to an increase in the gas tax
The budget is not to his likely because he can not increase taxes on the people of Wisconsin
Sign the whole bill.
I think he should sign it into law, and he should stop the partisan bickering.
Cut spending, the opposite of what his budget proposed
Evers will not OK all of any budget bill,He wants power for himself, to hell with the taxpayers.
resign
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The Wisconsin Lottery saw a near-11% increase in revenues in FY2017-2018. Do you support the Wisconsin Lottery's net proceeds going towards property tax relief?
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yes
I thought when the Wisconsin lottery was sit up it was to provide someproperty tax relief
Yes.
I do NOT like the Lottery. It is a way for government to rceive more money and it is usually from lower income people. It is an unfair way to get money.
Yes
yes
yes
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In your opinion, who should control K-12 schools' regulations and policies: Wisconsin Governor or State Superintendent?
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what is the purpose of state superintendent if they have no power, pass out trumped up awards to small school districts, ignore the failing Milwaukee schools
The Superintendent was elected to the job.
NEITHER! Bring back local control
Isn't that what the superintendent is for???!!!
State superintendent is elected to do that job
Control should be thru legistion and the Governor and not only in the Superintendent hands
This is a political mess.
LOCAL ACHOOL DISTRICTS !
Both should. The state superintendent needs watching over also
The state Legislature
local school boards should control their own schools
We the people should control k-12 regulations and policies
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What are your plans for Independence Day? Do you have a Fourth of July tradition? Parade? Cookout? Fireworks? Share your plans here.
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Try to make hay and maybe have a cookout.
Parade and picnic. God Bless America!
work
Cookout, boat ride, fireworks and dining out
parade, cookout
Cookout
No traditions.
No work...enjoy with friends.
Attending local festivities
Camping, relaxing with friends. Perhaps catch a local parade and hoping to see fireworks
Go to cottage on Shawano Lake, pontoon across to get a good spot to watch the fireworks show.
Finish planting crops
parade, cookout, fireworks, the works as always
All of the above.
No Plans
Stay home and take it easy.
Beer and BBQ. Wi traditional 4th.
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BILLS SIGNED INTO LAW OR VETOED
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LRB-0891
Memo
Housing and Homelessness (Johnson, LaTonya) Housing and homelessness; workforce development; community action agencies; poverty reports; mental health; public assistance advisory committee; economic security; adverse childhood experiences reports; creating a nonrefundable individual income tax credit for household and dependent care services; reimbursement for nonemergency medical transportation services; urban mass transit aid; and making an appropriation. Deadline: Monday, July 15, 5 pm
LRB-0959
Memo
Meeting Accommodations (Subeck, Lisa) Accommodations at legislative committee meetings. Deadline: Tuesday, June 9
LRB-3570
Memo
Giannia Antetokounmpo (Zamarrippa, JoCasta) Congratulating Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks on winning the NBA MVP Award during the 2018-19 season. Deadline: Friday, June 28, Noon
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