NEWS FROM THE CAPITOL AND AROUND WISCONSIN
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DWD: PRIVATE-SECTOR WAGES GREW BY 3.3 PERCENT FROM SEPTEMBER '18 TO '19
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The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) last week announced that the latest Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEQ) data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that Wisconsin's private-sector wages grew by 3.3 percent from September 2018 to September 2019.
According to DWD, notable increases include a 4.7 percent increase in wages for the construction sector, a 2.3 percent increase for the manufacturing sector, a 4.8 percent increase for the education and health services sector, and a 1 percent increase in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector.
The latest QCEW data also shows strong year-over-year growth in the numb er of people employed in construction (1,689), manufacturing (4,870), and education and health services (6,528), industries that provide family supporting employment.
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WISCONSIN JOINS 18 OTHER STATES IN SUING TRUMP ADMIN OVER BORDER WALL FUNDS
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Governor Tony Evers has signed off on a plan for Wisconsin to join 18 other states in the nation in suing President Donald Trump's administration in an attempt to stop the diversion of federal defense funds to the southern border wall construction.
The lawsuit claims that by diverting the funds away from other projects to the southern border, President Trump violates the United States Constitution by bypassing Congressional appropriations. President Trump's plan currently takes billions in funding for new equipment for states' National Guards.
In a statement, Governor Evers said that the diversion of those dollars could have an impact on companies like Oshkosh Defense, which employs about 16,000 people globally, including thousands here in Wisconsin. Their company will see a loss of about $101 million alone, currently earmarked for new mobile tactical trucks.
President Trump's administration argues that the funding diversion is legal, as the dollars are being used for national security, and does not need congressional approval for such purposes.
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NEW VACCINATION RULE FAILS TO PASS COMMITTEE
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A new rule that would require parents to vaccinate their seventh-graders against meningitis failed to make it out of the Assembly Committee on Constitution and Ethics last week.
According to the Department of Health Services (DHS), the vaccine would be "essential for reducing bacterial meningitis." In fact, the new administrative rule would also require students to receive additional booster vaccinations before graduating from high school.
Scores of parents and experts testified against the measure for hours, forcing the committee to vote along parties lines, six Republicans and two Democrats, to reject most of the measure, calling it "capricious."
State Representative Chuck Wichgers (R-Muskego), who chairs the committee, said that the vaccine was introduced nearly two decades ago, and disease numbers are declining, "and now all of a sudden DHS considers this a top priority," he said.
The rule now goes to the Joint Committee for the Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR).
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GOV. EVERS SIGNS CLINICAL TRIAL BILL
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Gov. Tony Evers last week signed a bill into law that will help cancer patients in Wisconsin gain access to advanced treatment while hoping to increase participation in clinical trials.
The legislation, Senate Bill 489, clarified that reimbursements given to patients for their out of pocket expenses for travel to a clinical trial site are no longer considered to be "inducements or coercion."
According to a study, households earning fewer than $50,000 annually were nearly 30 percent less likely to take part in clinical trials, in large part due to the costs of lodging and travel while receiving care at an off-site location, usually in other states.
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WISCONSIN TO ADD MORE CIRCUIT COURT BRANCHES
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Governor Evers has signed legislation that will add 12 new branches to the Wisconsin Circuit Court, which is intended to help courts ease the burden of higher caseloads relating to drugs and alcohol, and will require the counties given those courts to establish drug courts if they do not currently have one in place.
Beginning in August of 2021, the new branches will be established in sets of four, according to the bill, with the final four branches being established in 2023.
There are currently 249 circuit court judges in Wisconsin, and each county has at least one, with the exception of six, which share judges. Those counties are Buffalo, Pepin, Florence, Forest, Shawano, and Menominee Counties. The bill will cost over $3.3 million, with each judge costing about $280,000 to establish in the courts system.
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EVERS SWEARS IN BRIG. GEN. PAUL KNAPP AS HEAD OF WISC. NATIONAL GUARD
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State Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Dallet swore in Brigadier General Paul Knapp last week as the head of Wisconsin's National Guard in a ceremony at the State Capitol, after Gov. Evers appointed him to that position late in February.
Knapp, a 1992 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, and former special agent for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, also served two tours of duty as a F-15 weapons systems officer.
He replaces Major General Donald Dunbar, who resigned in late 2019 after federal investigators found multiple problems with how the Wisconsin National Guard handles reports of sexual misconduct, as well as violations of protocol for handling such matters.
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By clicking the link, you acknowledge that 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, but does not take responsibility for the individual views and opinions expressed herein. It is the right of WPT to remove responses that what the organization deems to be vulgar, hateful, or inflammatory language.
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WEEKLY MEMBER POLL RESULTS
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Governor Evers vetoed the GOP tax cut plan. Do you have hope that Evers and the GOP-controlled legislature will find common ground on how to use the surplus?
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It should be simple but politicians get in the way. Either give it back to us or fix our bad roads!
If Legislators find common ground they represent the people who put them there.
Our governor is way too far to the left.
Hopefully, there's common ground....called compromise.
I really felt the tax credit was a joke. the money shoud be apply to fixing roads or a portion to bring our state debt
The two sides are at complete opposites, tax payers over payed, budgets are completed for this cycle, move on until next year
Evers has no clue what he's doing. And he's on an agenda that... sounds good, but isn't necessarily the best. He needs to get his head screwed on straight.
Well, yes, I am hopeful. I am also a realist; it won't happen.
Evers loves to tax!
the dem governor and the repub legislature are there to temper each others choices. Its working.
Evers is all about schools - wears blinders for every other issue
but they should. Unfortunately partisan politics will get in the way.
Might be a good thing they didn’t give it back. If we go into a recession the government might need the money
It seems that there is a fundamental difference in world view. So there will be no common ground.
It looks like it's Evers way or no way!
our public schools already get too much money and they don't spend it wisely
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Should the Supreme Court of Wisconsin overrule the Appeals Court, and force the purge of 200,000 voters from the elections rolls in Wisconsin?
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I feel the same about voter ID. This is a no-brainer! We need safeguards in our voting system or most everything is is immaterial. Why is this even an issue?
Clean the roles and require voter ID
Everyone has the right to vote. It would be a good idea to use the DMV to automatically register people. Even persons who do not drive can get an identification card there.
No, what difference does it make keeping them on the election rolls.
This is a no brainier, why people that moved or etc take it upon themselves to correct their problem. So they should be removed
the law is written if Democrats do not like it, change the law, courts need to enforce laws as written
Follow the law!
Alack of a reply to a postal reminder is NOT grounds for disenfranchisement!
we fought hard for the right to vote - you should have to prove your identity and be active in the voter population. why is that bad?
If their addresses can't be validated, how do we know they exist.
It is not difficult to register to vote
This election cycle is already in motion Should do iron an off election year
The untold story is this will help efficiency and NOT hinder voting!
Election rolls should be accurate.
We need to follow the law. If you don't like the law work to change it.
It has to be addressed and it might as well be now.
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After reading the article, how do you feel about Evers vetoing the GOP "Tougher on Crime" bills?
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I think that Wisconsin is tough on criminals, just not drunk drivers, who are criminals.
Would need to know what offenses get lessened.
He wants less people in prison and yet this was a crime reform bill, I do not understand his thinking
middle need more information
In the middle, I guess. The veto will be no big deal to me. Of course, I am against crime, and believe it should be punished. However, fighting crime, deterring criminals, and eventually incarcerating them is very expensive for the taxpayer. Might be cheaper and more effective in the long run to write and enforce fewer laws and let law enforcement take more of a hands-off approach while at the same time we individuals play a bigger part in protecting ourselves and our property while at the same time taking more responsibility to teach and model proper social behavior.
Why wouldn't we be tough on crime?Milwaukee is a war zone and it's spreading.
GOP is reaching too far right...incarceration for alot of this is not the answer.
Not enough prison space now. Tougher on crime should be a deterant, but is it?
They have not reformed so put them back in
We can’t afford the prisoners we have now
Commiting crimes while on parole should result in additional jail time.
Spare the rod and spoil the child,what is it Evers doesn't understand! understand!
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With a major warm-up on the way through the next ten days and beyond, are you worried about flooding on your property?
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Build in the low lands and you should expect flooding. Will people ever learn water flows down hill to the lowest point
Rarely
With an early warm up I worry about damage to my wheat crop and the effect it has on trees.
No, we live up on the ledge.
to much over the last two years
no frost but worried maple syrup season will be short
No where I live, but I'm sure if you live along a river there is concern
There may be flooding, there may not. Not sure what's going to happen. We're prepared either way!
No flooding. We are all hills. Our precious water runs off to either benefit the neighbors during dry weather, or flood them in wet weather. I would love to build dams, larger waterways, retention ponds, culverts and better field roads on my farm in an effort to keep my water and soil on my farm. However it is way too expensive for a small dairy farm such as I have. Any of you fellow property tax payers out there want to help me out with some free cash? Or should I bee seeking free money from the environmental crowd in the cities?
We don't get flooding from rivers ,but we have a lot of low ground and had a lot of "prevent plant" last year.
No, and if I did, would sell.
NO
no
No
No
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AB-531
ID Card Info (Stafsholt, Rob) Requiring that student identification cards include contact information for suicide prevention hotlines. Signed (
Act 116
)
AB-644
School Mental Health (Steineke, Jim) Creating a school-based mental health consultation pilot program and making an appropriation. Signed (
Act 117
)
SB-527
Pupil Restraint (Olsen, Luther) The seclusion and physical restraint of pupils. Signed (
Act 118
)
AB-030
Certificates of Qualification (Hutton, Rob) Creating a procedure for granting certificates of qualification for employment for persons convicted of a crime and making an appropriation. Signed (
Act 123
)
AB-075
Military Firearm Discharge (Stafsholt, Rob) Local regulation of honorary military firearm discharges. Signed (
Act 124
)
AB-293
Notaries Public (Ballweg, Joan) Online notaries public and electronic notarizations, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. Signed (
Act 125
)
AB-310
Levy Limit (Novak, Todd) Holding a referendum to increase a political subdivision's levy limit. Signed (
Act 126
)
AB-327
Property Interests (Ballweg, Joan) Obtaining evidence of the termination of certain property interests of a decedent. Signed (
Act 127
)
AB-344
Property Tax Exemption (Quinn, Romaine) Telephone company tax exemption for property used to provide broadband service. Signed (
Act 128
)
AB-357
Regulating Public Adjusters (Steffen, David) Regulation of public adjusters and granting rule-making authority. Signed (
Act 129
)
AB-435
Camp Regulation (Felzkowski, Mary) Regulation of recreational and educational camps, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, and granting rule-making authority. Signed (
Act 130
)
AB-437
Camp Health Records (Oldenburg, Loren) Electronic health records at recreational and educational camps. Signed (
Act 131
)
AB-454
Reporting Emergencies (Vorpagel, Tyler) Falsely reporting an emergency and providing a penalty. Signed (
Act 132
)
AB-472
Levy Limit Exception (Loudenbeck, Amy) An exception from local levy limits for certain amounts levied for charges assessed by a joint emergency medical services department. Signed (
Act 133
)
AB-502
Children's Code Authority (Vos, Robin) Transfer of the authority to represent the public interest in proceedings under the Children's Code. Signed (
Act 134
)
AB-522
Contract Renewals (Sanfelippo, Joe) Automatic renewal of contracts involving industrial gases and related equipment. Signed (
Act 135
)
AB-532
Income Tax Benefit (VanderMeer, Nancy) Income and franchise tax benefit for investment in Wisconsin opportunity zones and providing a penalty. Signed (
Act 136
)
AB-576
Funeral Director Apprenticeships (VanderMeer, Nancy) Requirements for funeral director apprenticeships and licences, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, and providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures. Signed (
Act 137
)
AB-581
Physical Therapy Students (VanderMeer, Nancy) The practice of physical therapy students and physical therapist assistant students and granting rule-making authority. Signed (
Act 138
)
AB-607
Service Award Funding (Mursau, Jeff) Funding for service award payments and making an appropriation. Signed (
Act 139
)
AB-645
Medication-Assisted Treatment (Born, Mark) Opioid antagonist administration in jails and medication-assisted treatment availability in prisons and jails. Signed (
Act 119
)
AB-646
Recovery Residences (Nygren, John) Registration of recovery residence and disciplinary action against a state employee who is receiving medication-assisted treatment. Signed (
Act 120
)
AB-647
PDMP (Nygren, John) The prescription drug monitoring program. Signed (
Act 121
)
AB-650
Peer Recovery Reimbursement (Nygren, John) Reimbursement for peer recovery coach services under the Medical Assistance program and coordination and continuation of care following an overdose. Signed (
Act 122
)
AB-661
Town Board Vacancies (Quinn, Romaine) The way town board vacancies are filled; public notice requirements for governmental meetings; appointment and removal procedures for certain town officeholders; a process for an applicant to appeal a permit denial to the governing body of a city, village, or town; wages paid to an elected town officer who also serves as a town employee; and the term of appointed town assessors. Signed (
Act 140
)
AB-692
Snowmobile Trail Funding (Nygren, John) Funding for county snowmobile trails and areas and making an appropriation. Signed (
Act 141
)
AB-699
Golf Caddies (Knodl, Dan) Minor golf caddies. Signed (
Act 142
)
AB-731
Service Member Credentials (VanderMeer, Nancy) Reciprocal credentials for service members, former service members, and their spouses and granting rule-making authority. Signed (
Act 143
)
AB-734
Mail Theft (Hutton, Rob) Mail theft and providing a penalty. Signed (
Act 144
)
AB-736
Shoreland Zoning (Swearingen, Rob) Town zoning in shorelands, the scope of county shoreland zoning ordinances, and authorizing partial county zoning. Signed (
Act 145
)
AB-818
Overweight Permits (Stafsholt, Rob) Permits for the overweight transport of the residue material resulting from treatment of municipal sewage. Signed (
Act 146
)
SB-072
Youth Apprenticeship Program (Jacque, Andre) Requiring certain occupational areas to be included in the youth apprenticeship program. Signed (
Act 171
)
SB-091
Water Pollution Credits (Cowles, Rob) Buying and selling water pollution credits through a central clearinghouse. Signed (
Act 151
)
SB-108
Elective Office Vacancies (Stroebel, Duey) Vacancies in elective offices in cities and villages. Signed (
Act 164
)
SB-117
Athlete Agents Act (Jacque, Andre) Adopting revisions to the state's uniform athlete agents act and providing a penalty. Signed (
Act 180
)
SB-139
Sexual Contact With Animal (Jacque, Andre) Sexual contact with an animal and providing a penalty. Signed (
Act 162
)
SB-162
Title Transfer Fee (Wanggaard, Van) Fee for certain motor vehicle certificate of title transfers. Signed (
Act 165
)
SB-203
Alcohol Licenses (Kapenga, Chris) Issuance by municipalities of alcohol beverage operator's licenses. Signed (
Act 166
)
SB-205
Military Credit Transfer (Kooyenga, Dale) Transferring academic credits from military transcripts to University of Wisconsin System schools and technical colleges. Signed (
Act 147
)
SB-217
Diabetes Plan (Darling, Alberta) Diabetes care and prevention plan. Signed (
Act 154
)
SB-252
Flood Risk Pilot (Petrowski, Jerry) A flood risk reduction pilot project and making an appropriation. Signed (
Act 157
)
SB-268
Kronenwetter TIF (Petrowski, Jerry) Lengthening the time during which tax increments may be allocated and expenditures for project costs may be made and extending the maximum life for Tax Incremental District Number Two in the village of Kronenwetter. Signed (
Act 179
)
SB-289
Insurance Premium Changes (Craig, Dave) Notice of change in terms or premium amount for insurance policy renewal. Signed (
Act 155
)
SB-298
Lyme Disease Awareness (Cowles, Rob) Department of Natural Resources' efforts to raise awareness about Lyme disease. Signed (
Act 158
)
SB-351
Sales Tax Exemption (Marklein, Howard) A sales tax exemption for tangible personal property temporarily stored in this state. Signed (
Act 181
)
SB-368
Money Laundering (Fitzgerald, Scott) Money laundering and providing a penalty. Signed (
Act 161
)
SB-369
FEMA Payments (Marklein, Howard) Federal emergency management assistance payments to municipalities. Signed (
Act 159
)
SB-383
Fishing License Fee (Bernier, Kathy) The fee for a first-time annual fishing license for residents who are 16 or 17 years old or who are 65 years old or older. Signed (
Act 160
)
SB-387
Crop Insurance Proceeds (Marklein, Howard) Including crop insurance proceeds in the manufacturing and agricultural tax credit. Signed (
Act 167
)
SB-422
Election Certificate (Bernier, Kathy) Time for issuing a certificate of election. Signed (
Act 182
)
SB-437
Revenue Limit Ceiling (Cowles, Rob) The revenue limit ceiling for school districts. Signed (
Act 176
)
SB-485
Lake Management Grants (Testin, Patrick) Lake management grants and river protection management grants for floating treatment wetlands. Signed (
Act 177
)
SB-489
Cancer Trial Reimbursement (Kooyenga, Dale) Allowing reimbursement of certain expenses for patients participating in cancer clinical trials. Signed (
Act 150
)
SB-500
Respiratory Care (Testin, Patrick) Certificates to practice respiratory care. Signed (
Act 156
)
SB-512
Condo Disputes (Cowles, Rob) Creating a pre-filing notice requirement applicable to a dispute between a condominium association and a unit owner. Signed (
Act 168
)
SB-514
Physician Assistants (Kooyenga, Dale) Practicing as a physician assistant or nurse while performing duties for the armed services or federal health services. Signed (
Act 148
)
SB-523
Driver License Waiver (Petrowski, Jerry) Commercial driver license waiver for certain operation of commercial motor vehicles by farmers. Signed (
Act 163
)
SB-537
Tuition Grants (Darling, Alberta) Veteran-related tuition grants for certain veterans and dependents enrolled in private nonprofit institutions of higher education and making an appropriation. Signed (
Act 149
)
SB-595
Online Learning (Darling, Alberta) An online early learning pilot program and making an appropriation. Signed (
Act 170
)
SB-637
Buildings in Floodplain (Marklein, Howard) The regulation of nonconforming buildings in a floodplain. Signed (
Act 175
)
SB-669
Hours of Service (Marklein, Howard) An exception to federal hours of service requirements and modifying an administrative rule related to the exception. Signed (
Act 174
)
SB-684
Milk Weighing Reciprocity (Jacque, Andre) Reciprocity for bulk milk weighing and sampling licenses. Signed (
Act 152
)
SB-685
Milk Producer Affidavits (Jacque, Andre) Using milk producer affidavits to substantiate claims that a diary product is free of synthetic bovine growth hormone. Signed (
Act 153
)
SB-696
Training Center Tax Exemption (Kooyenga, Dale) A technical correction to the property tax exemption for an Olympic Ice Training Center. Signed (
Act 172
)
SB-700
Laboratory Fees (Nass, Steve) Creating a fee schedule for certain laboratories. Signed (
Act 169
)
SB-737
Animal ID (Jacque, Andre) Creating a voluntary individual animal identification program and granting rule-making authority. Signed (
Act 178
)
SB-768
Autocycle Emissions (LeMahieu, Devin) Exempting autocycles from emission inspections. Signed (
Act 173
)
AB-470
Circuit Courts (Tusler, Ron) Adding 12 circuit court branches to be allocated by the director of state courts. Signed (
Act 184
)
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PARTIAL VETO
SB-583
ATV Regulation (Marklein, Howard) Regulation of all-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles, all-terrain vehicle projects, and making an appropriation. Partial Veto (
Act 183
) (
Link
)
VETOED
SB-043
Paddlewheel Raffles (Jacque, Andre) Paddlewheel raffles. Vetoed (
Link
)
SB-292
Prize Eligibility Notice (LeMahieu, Devin) Notices of eligibility to receive a prize. Vetoed (
Link
)
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LRB-4687
Memo
Violence Prevention (Bowen, David) Violence prevention grants and making an appropriation. Deadline: Friday, March 6, 5 pm
LRB-3386
Memo
Human Trafficking (Haywood, Kalan) Human trafficking awareness certifications for lodging establishments and making an appropriation. Deadline: Tuesday, March 10, 4 pm
LRB-5101
Memo
Human Trafficking Council (Haywood, Kalan) Creating a human trafficking council. Deadline: Tuesday, March 10, 5 pm
LRB-4991
Memo
Interns (Haywood, Kalan) Interns employed by assembly and senate offices, the governor, and the Department of Justice, an intern placement program administered by the Department of Workforce Development, and making an appropriation. Deadline: Wednesday, March 11, 5 pm
LRB-5714
Memo
HEAB Members (Bewley, Janet) The membership of the Higher Educational Aids Board. Deadline: Thursday, March 12
LRB-4919
Memo
Medical Information (Taylor, Chris) Medically accurate information. Deadline: Thursday, March 12, 5 pm
LRB-4930
Memo
Abortion Regulations (Taylor, Chris) Right to choose an abortion and elimination of certain abortion-related regulations. Deadline: Thursday, March 12, 5 pm
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