Monday Morning Review 

6.18.10 

(A monthly report from Brad Boycks with WBA to update us on what is happening at the Capitol)

 

LEED Certification bill vetoed 

Governor Doyle had until this week mid-May to sign or veto all of the legislation that was sent to him to close the 2009-2010 legislative session.  One bill that WBA had been tracking and was able to change dealt primarily with a requirement that state, local, and school-owned buildings be built and remodeled to achieve at least LEED Silver standards.

Senate Bill 616 (SB 616), authored by Senator Fred Risser (D-Madison) and Representative Louie Molepski, Jr. (D-Stevens Point) was ultimately vetoed by Governor Doyle after officials who work with the state building commission determined the new law to be “unworkable.” 

When this bill was first drafted it contained a provision that would have allowed local units of government to use a different energy code than the UDC as long as it was a higher standard than the code in the UDC.  WBA vigorously opposed this change that would have created a patchwork of energy codes throughout Wisconsin. 

The final version of SB 616 that was recently vetoed did not contain this provision but did allow the Department of Commerce to require a voluntary “reach” code that would have been 30% more efficient than the current 1 and 2-family energy code.  With the veto of SB 616 this provision was also vetoed and will not be given any attention by the Department of Commerce.  

Assembly GOP floats spending reform amendment 

Recently Assembly Minority Leader along with a number of his GOP colleagues announced a constitutional amendment to limit state spending, create a rainy day fund and give homeowners a property tax credit if the rainy day fund exceeds a certain dollar amount.  

Details of the plan include the following:
•    All general tax revenues in excess of 6.5% of statewide personal income must be deposited into the Fiscal Responsibility Fund. If taxes are less than that amount, a deposit of approximately one-half percent of revenues is made instead.
•    During an economic recession, money can be withdrawn from the Fund to help balance the budget.
•    Any accumulated fund balance over 10 percent of annual tax revenues must be distributed as a property tax credit. 

•    In an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance, the terms of the fund can be changed by 2/3 vote of both houses of the legislature.

Assembly GOP Leader said of the plan: "Common sense reforms are needed to put some sanity back into our state budgeting.  This constitutional amendment requires restraint in spending during the good times and a reserve fund for the bad times, just like families throughout Wisconsin do every day." 

GOP Convention-Johnson the big winner 

In May the Republican Party of Wisconsin held their annual convention at the Hyatt in downtown Milwaukee.  Officials reported this was the best attended convention since the mid-1960s and a great deal of enthusiasm was felt from those in attendance for the potential of a strong showing in November. 

The biggest surprise of the weekend-long convention was developments in the primary race to take on Senator Russ Feingold (D-Middleton).  In a surprise to those in attendance on Sunday, former Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel announced that he was dropping his bid for U.S. Senate and backing the candidacy of Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson. 

After that shocker, Johnson went on to get the formal endorsement of the Republican party of Wisconsin when he was able to eclipse the 60% threshold that was established by party officials to receive the endorsement.  Not a bad accomplishment for someone who announced their candidacy just 2 weeks prior to the convention. 

More fallout from the Johnson announcement came yesterday when fellow GOP candidate for U.S. Senate Terrance Wall announced he was also dropping out of the race. 

In other convention news, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker received the endorsement of the Wisconsin GOP as well which lead to both television and radio ads in support of Walker from the party starting on Monday. 

Finally, there was no official endorsement of the GOP faithful in the race for Lieutenant Governor but state Representative Brett Davis (R-Oregon) was able to take claim to the highest vote percentage of all the candidates running.  

Retirements 21, 22 and 23: Representatives P. Williams, Newcomer and Colon  

More retirements were announced recently by Representatives Newcomer (R-Pewaukee), Colon (D-Milwaukee) and P. Williams (D-Milwaukee). 

Newcomer and Polly Williams were both members of the Assembly Housing Committee this session and before the GOP took over the majority in the Assembly in 1994. Williams served as the Housing Committee Chair. 

Colon was a member of the Budget Writing committee this session in the Joint Committee on Finance. 

Longtime capitol observers cannot remember an election that will have as many open seats as election 2010. 

Campaign preview available 

As part of the WBA Executive Committee meeting recently I gave a brief election preview.  The PowerPoint program concentrated on key statewide, congressional, assembly and senate races that are expected to be important races for 2010. 

I am happy to give this presentation to member businesses and local associations.  If you are interested please let me know and we can work out a date. 

Hanson announces in AD 57 

A GOP candidate for the 57th Assembly District has immerged and announced publicly recently that she is challenging Representative Penny Bernard Schaber this fall. 

Chris Hanson is the president of Hanson Benefits, a prominent Appleton business that specializes in providing health care solutions for small businesses.  Hanson is also a WBA/Valley HBA member. 

In her announcement Hanson stated, “As someone who has lived in the Fox Cities for thirty years, I have become increasingly concerned with the direction in which our state is headed and believe that we are at a critical juncture. The politicians in Madison have failed miserably in recent years. Their solution to every challenge we face is to impose higher taxes, increase spending, and grow government.” 

Currently a resident of Hortonville, Hanson and her husband are currently in the process of selling their home and moving back to Appleton if anyone has a home to sell within the 57th Assembly District. 

RGA takes to the airwaves  

Recently the Republican Governor’s Association (RGA) took to the television airwaves with an ad shining a not-so-complimentary spotlight on Tom Barrett’s record on job creation and taxes during his time as Milwaukee Mayor. 

A press release said “The ad points out that Barrett has raised taxes in every year he has served as mayor of Milwaukee. It also details his increasing spending by $300 million while the city was shedding thousands of jobs. His record mirrors Doyle's dismal term as governor.” 

This ad comes out on the heels of an ad released this spring by the left leaning Greater Wisconsin Committee that attempted to tie both Mark Neumann and Scott Walker to former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. 

For more information on the above legislative matters please contact WBA Director of Government and Political Affairs Brad Boycks (bboycks@wisbuid.org or 608-242-5155, ext. 16).  

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