Capitol Connection
By Senator Joe Leibham
November 20, 2009
Reconsidering Questionable
Insurance Policy Provisions
Last week, the State Senate wrapped up its fall 2009 voting session. Below, you will find a brief listing of the more substantial bills that the Majority Party decided to schedule for final debate and votes. While I am pleased that we were able to complete our work on most of these subjects, I am disappointed that very little, if any, discussion or legislative effort went into proposals or ideas to stimulate our struggling economy, improve the private sector job market in Wisconsin or provide some relief for families struggling financially across our state. Unemployment continues to be a major problem but the current leadership in the legislature seems reluctant or unwilling to address the underlying anti-job tax and regulatory climate. While I, and other legislators, have introduced various pro-job, taxpayer-friendly bills, we struggle to even get them scheduled for a public hearing, much less a vote.
Following is a brief listing of the more substantial bills approved by the State Senate:
SB 154 - School Bullying – Requires each local school district to implement a new state-imposed school anti-bullying policy that will be issued by the state Department of Public Instruction.
SB 290 – Regulation of Martial Arts Contests – Requires regulation of mixed martial arts fighting contests and makes several changes relating to the regulation of boxing in Wisconsin.
SB 66 – Drunk Driving Reform – Changes Wisconsin’s drunk driving laws by, among other things, expanding the use and enforcement of ignition interlock devices, increasing fines and jail time for DUI offenses, and making a third-offense DUI within five years a Class I felony.
AB 172 – Labor History Mandate – Requires each local school district to include in their curriculum instruction on the history of organized labor in America and the collective bargaining process.
SB 40 – Taxpayer Funding of Supreme Court Elections – Allows for the public financing of campaigns for the office of justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
AB 250 – Animal Breeder Regulation – Establishes a licensing program for certain persons who sell dogs or operate animal shelters or animal control facilities.
SB 370, 371, 372 and 373 – Race to the Top – Makes a series of changes to education with the intention of improving Wisconsin’s eligibility for federal Race to the Top funds.
SB 93 – Assessor Access to Property – Expands an assessor’s ability to access a private property without the owner’s permission.
SB 107 – Recycling Electronic Waste – Requires manufacturers of certain electronic devices sold in Wisconsin to provide for the recycling of those products when they are disposed of by the consumer.
AB 138 – Appointment of DNR Secretary – Takes the authority to appoint the Secretary of the DNR away from the Governor and, instead, gives it to the Natural Resources Board.
Again, many of these bills deserved legislative consideration, and I voted for a couple of them. I am, however, surprised and – yes – disappointed that, during the three month fall voting session, the State Senate failed to find the time to approve, much less consider, any proposal that would help our economy or bring more good-paying private sector jobs to Wisconsin.
As we prepare for the January voting session, I will continue to work to advance legislative proposals that not only repeal many of the anti-job, tax-increasing provisions approved in the recently-passed state budget, but also proactively seek to improve the climate in Wisconsin for job growth and economic development while being respectful of the financial burdens facing the hard-working families and retirees of our state. I am hopeful my colleagues will agree to take some time to focus on these important issues.
As always, it has been a pleasure communicating with you. Please remember to communicate with me and share your input by calling 888-295-8750, writing to me at P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882, or by e-mailing me at Sen.Leibham@legis.wi.gov. You can also log on to the 9th Senate District on-line office at www.leibhamsenate.com
It is an honor representing the residents of the 9th District in the State Senate.