NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL AND AROUND WISCONSIN
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GOV. EVERS DELIVERS SECOND STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
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Last week Wednesday, Governor Evers delivered his second State of the State address to a joint session of the State Legislature. On hand were constitutional officers such as the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and State Treasurer, in addition to Wisconsin tribal leaders, the Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices, and others.
Evers briefly highlighted some items he dubbed accomplishments throughout the session, and admitted that neither side got everything they asked for in the state budget which was passed and signed into law last summer. Some of the items the Governor pointed to were the creation of a student debt task force, investments in K-12 education, and a 10% tax cut for working class families.
The Governor also called for bipartisan work on tackling the issue of youth vaping, capping the price of insulin, and the creation of yet another task force to write new legislative maps following the Census later this year.
While those issues may or may not move forward in the very brief amount of time remaining in this legislative session, which is expected to wrap up in March or April, Evers called the legislature in to "special session," or an unscheduled session, to act on a series of bills designed to help Wisconsin's struggling dairy industry. The next day, Speaker Vos said the bills would go through the normal committee process like any other piece of legislation, and his chamber would not be in session at the behest of the governor.
But let’s break down what Evers proposes about dairy, and what he is calling the legislature to act on in a special session next week:
- Create the “Wisconsin Initiative for Dairy Exports”
- A goal of increasing dairy exports by 20% of the total US milk supply by 2024
- Maximizing efficiency in small and middle-sized farms
- Expand state farm center
- Increase staffing for UW-Extension around the state “to support farmers closer to home”
- Bolster farm to school
- Focus on “farm to fork” through expanding farmers’ markets to include more universities, hospitals, and businesses
- Expand mental health access
- Assist farmers in finding support, create local peer support programs, and access to confidential one-on-one counseling for farmers
- Direct the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) tocreate an Office of Rural Prosperity
- Creating a “one stop shop” connecting farmers and rural Wisconsinites to state programs and resources
- Creating through executive order a Blue Ribbon Commission to Promote Agriculture and Rural Economic Prosperity
The legislation, released from Governor Evers' office, can be
viewed here.
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GOV. EVERS CREATES "THE PEOPLE'S MAPS COMMISSION"
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Governor Evers this morning signed Executive Order 66, creating "The People's Maps Commission, which will be "tasked with drawing fair, impartial maps to be presented to the Legislature for consideration following the 2020 Census," according to a statement from his office. Lobbyists and politicians would also be barred from being part of the commission.
"When elected officials are able to ignore their constituents without consequences, and when they can rely on the safety of their seats rather than the quality of their work, something's wrong, folks," Governor Evers said in the statement. "And The people should choose their elected officials, not the other way around."
After each Census, lawmakers are tasked with drawing legislative boundaries and sending them to the Governor, whoever that might be at the time. In 2011, the GOP controlled both the executive and legislative branches of state government, but lawsuits halted the maps for a brief time. Lawsuits backed by Democrat groups challenged the maps all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled last year that the federal government and federal courts will not weigh in on state's choosing how to draw their boundaries.
Evers' approach, which was quickly dismissed as unconstitutional by GOP leaders in both the State Senate and State Assembly, would work in somewhat of a backward fashion. The Governor's commission would send their map to the legislature. In his State of the State address last week, Governor Evers said he expects his maps to have unanimous support in the legislature.
As of this afternoon, no GOP lawmakers had issued statements regarding the creation of the commission.
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STATE REVENUE PROJECTED TO GROW BY $818 MILLION
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According to a new analysis by the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Wisconsin is expected to bring in $818 million more in tax revenue than previously estimated last year.
As with any large sum of money uncovered by government, there was no shortage of suggestions on how to spend the money. Democrats quickly called for the money to be used on school mental health programs and for more money to be put into the state's "rainy day" fund, a fund used to mitigate any budget shortfalls in the event of economic contraction. Other lawmakers called for the state to buy down some of its projected borrowing in the current budget cycle.
But perhaps most promising was Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who called for the money to be used for property tax relief across the state- a move that was
quickly supported by WPT on Friday.
While no details surrounding the property tax relief have been announced at this time, some suggestions are to shift the cost of the state's tech colleges onto the state's ledger, and away from local property taxpayers. The state's general fund comes from income tax, sales tax, corporate tax, and excise tax. Property taxes are nearly completely local, with the repeal of the state's "forestry mill" tax in 2017, also supported by WPT, and signed into law by then-Governor Scott Walker. Property taxes primarily fund local K-12 schools, county, municipal, town governments, tech colleges, and more.
In response to the revenue numbers, Governor Evers yesterday appearing on Up Front, a Milwaukee-area Sunday political show, said it was too early to decide how to use the revenues, and that there were too many "unknowns" at this time.
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OUTGOING UW SYSTEM PRESIDENT PUSHING FOR TUITION HIKE
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A plan by lawmakers that would set tuition rates in state law is being dismissed by outgoing UW System President Ray Cross, who is instead advocating for raising tuition in the future.
Citing the cost of changing the University's billing system, and pointing to the varying pricing structures for public colleges and universities in Illinois, Cross slammed the legislation.
"Senate Bill 343 puts into place limits on tuition [and] creates a cohort tuition model, which freezes tuition for resident undergraduates for up to four consecutive years. The cohort model is costly and administratively difficult to implement since there would be several pricing structures."
The plan would set tuition, and essentially guarantee costs for students for four years, but Cross says it's the duty of the UW Board of Regents to set tuition, and that a tuition increase would help ease rising university costs.
The current tuition freeze began in 2013 under Governor Scott Walker, and was continued under the budget signed into law by Governor Tony Evers last year.
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DWD: WISCONSIN ADDS 9,800 TOTAL NON-FARM, 9,000 PRIVATE-SECTOR JOBS IN DECEMBER
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The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) last week released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) preliminary employment estimates for the month of December 2019. The data shows that Wisconsin added 9,800 total non-farm and 9,000 private-sector jobs in the month of December. Wisconsin's labor force participation rate in December was 67.0 percent, and the state's unemployment rate was 3.4 percent.
The 67.0 percent labor force participation rate in December was 3.8 percent higher than the national rate of 63.2 percent. Wisconsin's unemployment rate was 0.1 percent lower than the national rate of 3.5 percent.
"Although the lack of available workers continues to be an impediment to economic growth in Wisconsin, the Evers Administration is wisely prioritizing solutions to fill openings, as well as provide greater economic opportunities to those already in the workforce," DWD Secretary Caleb Frostman said.
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WISCONSIN SENATE VOTES TO RESTRICT PFAS IN FIREFIGHTING FOAMS
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The State Senate last week passed legislation that will restrict the use of firefighting foam products that contain PFAS, which are a group of chemicals that can be harmful to both health and drinking water, among other impacts.
The legislation passed on a voice vote, though several Democrat members of the Senate argued that the legislation does not do as much as it could. More PFAS-related legislation is currently in the works.
Separately, Democrat lawmakers have authored what they have dubbed the CLEAR Act, which would require the DNR to establish standards for PFAS in air, water, and ground, and also creates penalties for polluters. GOP lawmakers argued that the Democrat approach went too far at this time, because still so much is unknown about the chemicals.
The legislation limits where firefighters can use the foam, and would only allow PFAS use in emergency fire responses or in areas permitted for testing products that contain the chemical. The chemicals are also found in non-stick kitchenware, food packaging, clothing with water-resistance, carpets, and more. If ingested, the chemicals are now known to increase the chances of chemicals.
They are commonly referred to "forever chemicals" because they often do not break down at all in the environment or in the human body, or have an extremely long half-life.
The legislation now heads to Governor Evers for his approval.
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WEEKLY MEMBER POLL RESULTS
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Two state lawmakers have requested an audit of the state's Department of Public Instruction. After reading the article...
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I keep hearing from my friends with kids in school that the schools are focusing on politically correct students at the cost of actually educating their kids...sad that politics have come down to our elementary classrooms. I guess the dems need to indoctrinate future democrat voters.
Don't fall for the disinformation! Inflation has outpaced school spending for 10 years. Schools are cutting each and every year. The fact is, the GOP hates taxes more than it wants to invest in our future/children.
All departments that are taxpayer funded should be audited yearly and held accountable, DPI has misappropriated funding for years, I think the dept. offices need to be relocated thou out the state
Its about that time , I feel alot of our taxpapers money is wasted by the DPI
Never a bad idea for an audit, especially with the stats coming out.
This is proof that throwing money at a problem doesn't always solve the problem
An audit is warranted but public schools should not bear all the blame for poor test scores... the role of parents and lack of access to affordable structured early childhood development programs is always overlooked.
Too many children are on their phones and not reading books. This hurts their reading skills.
If parents would parent, maybe teachers could teach?
They're doing something wrong...at least not good enough.
YES. And get electronics time cut down at all levels. Too much time in front of tablets, laptops, and computers doesn't help reading ability...
I am married to a teacher (now retired) and she points out two things that bear mention. Administration has become extraordinarily topheavy; and in the effort to mainstream every child, regardless of their disability or affliction, those few students get 85% of the attention, and the "normal" students get the little bit of time remaining.
Occasional oversight of govt/taxpayer funded education is never a bad idea.
more money should equal better results - that's the premise they asked for the extra money for to begin with
Should have been audited when Evers was in charge. Before you put the bafoon in charge of the whole damn state!
Need a really close look!
Absolutely fair request. Hopefully we're able to identify ways to imporove quality.
Long overdue!
DPI needs to be more accountable. The audit may help.
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Governor Evers announced more than $132 million in local transportation aids. On a scale of 1 to 5, how are the road conditions in your immediate area?
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The rural roads are terrible and the ones that are "fixed" are being done very cheaply and not at all going to hold up, very disappointing
Hwy 52 and Hwy 8
If I had to pick a road, would be highway 14 from Cross Plains to Middleton
35 north of Ferryville to LaCrosse
Still waiting for Hwy 23 expansion from Fond du Lac to Plymouth. Now we're even paying another $22 million because of the delays.
Yes. WORST road in the state is in Stanley, WI. Take West Maple St all the way west to 345th and head south to Highway 29. You'll lose half your suspension and your internal organs because it's so rough. Why? Semis to and from the Ethanol Plant and to the local mega farm just north of there... AND the heavily laden mega farm implements going up and down it all year. The local township just doesn't have the bucks to rebuild this constantly. But, these people abusing this section of road could also be using paved roads that are not very far away... So it's a two-fold "gotcha."
mostly county roads, state stuff ok.
Not my area but I travel it often, Highway 51 South between 8 and S, North of Tomahawk.
Town roads are average headed towards poor.
Most local roads are breaking apart more each year
Hwy 73
Business 51 in Schofield is a washboard of historic proportions.
Hwy 51 south from Tomahawk is going to kill someone.
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The PSC has approved a natural gas plant in Superior. Proponents of the plan say it will help supplement wind and solar power. Opponents say it is detrimental to the environment. Where do you stand?
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coal, gas
Nuclear power is our only hope. Stop with the gas plants. Seriously, do yourself a favor and learn about nuclear.
Now natural gas is a problem. The sun does not shine all the and also wind does blow all the time, it seems what ever is propose its never right
I support the project, but not to the detriment of funds going toward wind and solar power.
Natural gas. Only choice.
If wind and solar are so great, why are they still so heavily subsidized by gov't?
coal, gas and wind.
Environmental wackos find something wrong with everything! Perhaps they would like to go without adequate electric power.
Gas
Coal,solar, wind,
Good reliable coal!!
Gas is a good choice.
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Voters in the 11 county area served by Chippewa Valley Tech College (CVTC) will have to vote on whether to allow the district to borrow $50 million for facilities maintenance and upgrades. Generally speaking, do you support the use of referendums?
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This is a no brainer. Locals should vote on local spending.
State wastes alot of money, so why can't support VTC colleges with mor funds
I would have liked to know how old was the facility that needed upgrade and what types of upgrades were needed?
Why can't there be levels of funding to vote on. $10 million, $20 million, etc.
the people that pay should be the people who choose.
when schools build their buildings, maintenance and upgrades should be considered in their budget and planned for - tax payers should not have to come up with $50 million after shelling out the funds to build - maintenance should be ongoing so the buildings don't get so degraded
Tech colleges should be financed by othr mean, not property taxes.
regardless how much money we give to the public school system,it is never enough they waste it!
It should always go down this way.
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On a more serious note: Today, the nation celebrates and remembers transformative civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King told a quarter of a million people on August 28, 1963 that he had a dream; "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"Overtly partisan politics aside: What is your dream for America? During these tumultuous times, what is one thing you truly wish would change for future generations' sake?
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Definitely not what we are seeing in Washington DC today! We need to fight for term limits and no congressional pensions. I am tired of career politicians ruining my country. We also need to cut our gov't size down by 90%. Way to many imbedded creeps in the deep state. Our gov't is not longer for, by and of the people. Also need to ban all forms of lobbying and lobbyists, this is what started these problems. What sickens me, is the 35 million that has been wasted away by the democrats trying to "get" Trump and have him gone. The entire Washington DC operation hates Trump because he sees the fraud our gov't currently is, he has been hampered immensely by all the road blocks, hoping he will get four more years, and with the support of a republican house and senate this time around, not the elites that were willing to block him to protect their own a**.
I don't have a positive long term outlook for the United States. Within 50-100 years, there is a zero percent chance their will be 50 states in the US. It won't be a civil war with guns, it will be a divorce by lawyers.
term limits and honesty
That people had more respect to each other no matter their views
We need to bring our political parties closer together. Our country is divided.
That both sides of Congress get together and pass laws that are good for the whole country.
People need to focus beyond themselves.
what tumultuous times are you talking about ?
My dream is that kindness and civility can be returned to our politics and that our country can move forward on important issues like clean energy and so much of our money going to China for products instead of staying here to support our own economy and finally putting a stop to monopoly control of the agricultural industry.
That all people were treated equally and that people have respect for life at every stage of life
People need to LISTEN to one another. That does not mean that they have to agree - but listen and perhaps reach some kind of solution or agreement on the approach. No One person has all the the answers but maybe if we listen to different ideas (WITHOUT CRITICISM) a solution of "step" can be taken in the right direction.
I just wish people would be nice to each other. That's it.
I truly wish that I could call Wisconsin a progressive state!
You can't put " overtly partisan politics aside". That's what's wrong here.
a country where you have the ability to work to fulfill your dreams and are not held back by regulations or have your dreams taken away because someone else is not willing to work for theirs
Reverse the move towards socialism.
make America great again
No more abortions.They are the number one of death.
Preservation of our constitution and campaign finance reform. Too much special interest money influencing decisions. Extremism is also dangerous from both sides of the aisle.
Peace and all working together.
Government that works for the people. This partisan bickering is a total waste of time and my tax dollars
More political cooperation and responsibly
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SB-214
Municipal Ordinances (Jacque, Andre) Municipal ordinance enforcement and court procedures. Signed (
Act 70
)
SB-233
WRS Withholding (Bernier, Kathy) Withholding from a Wisconsin Retirement System lump sum payment or annuity to satisfy and order of restitution. Signed (
Act 71
)
SB-247
Surveillance Device Use (Bernier, Kathy) The use of a surveillance device by an owner of real estate in connection with the sale of the real estate ad providing a penalty. Signed (
Act 72
)
SB-296
Lyme Disease Signs (Cowles, Rob) Signs informing about Lyme disease in state parks, state trails, state recreational areas, and state forests and making an appropriation. Signed (
Act 73
)
SB-297
Insect Repellant (Cowles, Rob) Making insect repellant available for sale in state parks and state forests. Signed (
Act 74
)
SB-334
Active Duty Service (Stroebel, Duey) Requirements for colleges when service member students are called into active duty. Signed (
Act 75
)
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LRB-5173
Memo
Tip Counting (Schraa, Michael) Counting of tips for tipped employees and granting rule-making authority. Deadline: Monday, January 28, Noon
LRB-4535
Memo
Sustainable Tech Institute (Shankland, Katrina) Funding the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and making an appropriation. Deadline: Tuesday, January 28, 4 pm
LRB-3381
Memo
Data Privacy (Larson, Chris) The privacy of consumer data, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. Deadline: Thursday, January 30, 4 pm
LRB-5217
Memo
Tobacco Prevention Campaign (Billings, Jill) Public health campaign for prevention of tobacco and electronic cigarette use, a grant program to support organizations working on youth vaping and cessation services, and making an appropriation. Deadline: Friday, January 24, 4 pm
LRB-5342
Memo
Vaping Prohibition (Pope, Sondy) Prohibiting vaping on public and private school property. Deadline: Friday, January 24, 5 pm
LRB-5402
Memo
Authority in Emergencies (Schachtner, Patty) Agency authority regarding public health emergencies and making an appropriation. Deadline: Friday, January 24, 4 pm
LRB-5216
Memo
Authority in Emergencies (Bowen, David) Agency authority regarding public health emergencies and making an appropriation. Deadline: Friday, January 24, 4 pm
LRB-5169
Memo
Vapor Product Sales (Vining, Robyn) Licenses for the retail sale of vapor products and making an appropriation. Deadline: Friday, January 24, 4 pm
LRB-5239
Memo
Provisional Credentials (Kooyenga, Dale) Allowing the department of safety and professional services and credentialing boards to grant credentials with provisional status, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing and exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. Deadline: Friday, January 24, Noon
LRB-5272
Memo
Credential Investigations (Kooyenga, Dale) Investigations of conviction records by the department of safety and professional services or purposes of determining eligibility for credentials, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, and providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures. Deadline: Friday, January 24, Noon
LRB-4814
Memo
Limited Partnership Law (LeMahieu, Devin) Adopting revisions to the state's uniform limited partnership law and the state's limited liability company law; making modifications to the state's uniform partnership law; procedures applicable to business corporations and nonstock corporations; certificates of authority of service insurance corporations; providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures; granting rule-making authority; and providing a penalty. Deadline: Friday, January 31
LRB-5316
Memo
Corporation Speech (Taylor, Chris) Establishing that making political contributions and spending money to influence elections may not be considered free speech for corporations (first consideration). Deadline: Tuesday, February 4, Noon
LRB-2343
Memo
Hair Braiding (Stubbs, Shelia) Practicing hair braiding without a license. Deadline: Wednesday, January 29, 5 pm
LRB-0053
Memo
Airguns (Milroy, Nick) Hunting with an airgun, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. Deadline: Monday, January 27
LRB-4317
Memo
Mixed-Use TIFs (Brooks, Rob) Making changes related to mixed-use tax incremental financing districts, increasing the amount of time a city or village may extend the life of a tax incremental district to improve its affordable and workforce housing, allowing a reduction in the amount of certain impact fees, and authorizing local units of government to implement workforce housing initiatives. Deadline: Wednesday, January 29, 5 pm
LRB-0952
Memo
Minimum Wage (Subeck, Lisa) Allowing the enactment of local minimum wage ordinances. Deadline: Thursday, January 30, 5 pm
LRB-5121
Memo
Family and Medical Leave (Subeck, Lisa) Allowing the enactment of local family and medical leave ordinances. Deadline: Thursday, January 30, 5 pm
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