Notes from the West Wing
By
State Representative Garey Bies
Front Burner
In my last e-update I provided a brief review of some of the major issues the Assembly tackled in the first year of the session. For this edition of Notes from the West Wing, I want to talk about some of my own legislation that is on the front burner here in the legislature.
My number one legislative priority this session is the Propane Safety Act. I know that I have talked about this proposal in several previous editions of this update, but as I said, it is an important piece of legislation for enhancing the safety of propane service in Wisconsin and I want to keep residents of the First District up to date on its legislative status. The legislation has already passed the Senate Utilities Committee and is now scheduled for action before the Assembly Utilities Committee on January 22nd. This is great news and once we get the bill passed out of both standing committees it can then be reviewed by the Joint Finance Committee and then receive consideration by the full Senate and Assembly. I am hopeful that these steps will take place in the next few weeks.
Another proposal of mine that is making its way through the legislative process concerns campaign finance reform. The bill increases the reporting requirements of candidates allowing for better tracking of campaign fundraising, the where and when candidates are generating their campaign dollars. The legislation, also called the “Transparency in Fundraising Act,” was unanimously approved by the Assembly Committee on Elections this week. This bill is a redraft of my legislation from last session that passed the Assembly 95-1 and I hope that it will receive such overwhelming bi-partisan support again when it comes to the floor.
Also receiving committee approval this week was my proposal to modify indigency standards for qualifying for representation by the State Public Defender. This bill is long overdue and will set the threshold at 115% of the federal poverty level. The integrity of our judicial system hinges on the people being accorded the legal defense that they deserve, and this legislation is important to ensuring that right. This proposal does have a cost though, approximately $5 million per year at the state level, but I believe that the cost is warranted and I was pleased to see that the bill was approved unanimously by the Assembly Corrections and the Courts Committee.
A bill with a local connection that I have authored is also making its way through the process. The proposal, which I introduced on behalf of the Door County Trolley company, will establish an annual park pass for commercial bus and tour companies. Like the other proposals I have mentioned today, this one was also approved on a unanimous vote this time in the Assembly Committee on Tourism. I am hopeful that it can be scheduled for consideration by the full Assembly in the near future.
The bills I have mentioned today have all been the subject of recent activity in the legislature. As this session heads into the final two months, I hope to have much more to report in future editions of this column. As always, I can be reached by e-mail at Rep.Bies@legis.wisconsin.gov or by telephone, toll-free at 1-888-482-0001. You can also visit my website at http://www.legis.state.wi.us/assembly/asm01/news/.