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3/31/11 Judge Sumi signed an order today declaring WI Act 10 has not been published and is not in effect. The Administration said it would comply with Sumi's ruling. It is anyone's guess what the next step will be.
3/29/11 Judge Sumi issued another order blocking the implementation of the law. She issued a warning that anyone who violated her initial order would face sanctions. The 4th Dist Court of Appeals today said it lacked the authority to withdraw the appeal. This is because the appeals court is awaiting word from the WI Sup Court on whether it will take the case and said that is where the Justice Dept should have directed its request. However, La Follette, the Madison city attorney & others say the law is not in effect until the secretary of state acts which he has not yet done. The Dept of Adm is working to implement the law under the assumption it has been published.
3/28/11 There are a number of differing opinions as to whether WI Act 10 is in effect today or not. It was published by the LRB on Friday 3/25 but there is great debate on whether this fufills the constitutional requirements of publishing or just fulfills the requirement that a bill has to be published (printed). The Dept of Adm has begun implementing various provisions of the act today. The Dept of Justice has asked Judge Maryann Sumi to vacate the temporary restraining order (TRO) against Sec of State La Follette. The Dept of Justice said WI Act 10 is now law based on the LRB's publication and the appeal is moot. The DOJ also said the TRO against La Follette should be vacated because he complied with the TRO. This matter will no doubt be settled by court action in the future.
3/26/11 The Budget Adjustment Bill WI ACT 10 could go into effect today. The nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) published the legislation yesterday. The LRB referenced a state statute that states it has the sole duty to publish legislation, the final step before legislation takes effect as law. Dept of Adm Sec Michael Huebsch said the Walker administration "will carry out the law as required." But Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, rejects the legislation's validity. "Official publication by the secretary of state is required for this act to go into effect," said Barca, who indicated he talked to nonpartisan Legislative Council attorneys. "The secretary of state, the only constitutional officer with the power to publish law, is prohibited by court order from publishing this act." The Leg Council, which is under the purview of the Assembly and Senate, is a nonpartisan legislative services agency that advices legislators on legal questions and procedure. Since the LRB was not under Judge Sumi's restraining order they published the law. There is opposing sides as to the legality of this move and it remains to be seen what the final results will be.
3/24/11 The Court of Appeals has asked the State Supreme Court to take over the case filed with the Dane County Circuit Court about the process & possible violation of open meetings law. Four Supreme Court justices will have to agree to accept the case.
3/21/11 The WI Justice Dept filed a 39 page appeal with the Dane County Circuit Court asking the Temporary Restraining Order be lifted immediately. Read a brief press release from the Dept of Justice on this issue.
3/18/11 Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) prohibiting Sec of State LaFollette from publishing WI ACT 10 March 25. The judge said her action would not preclude the legislature from re-noticing the meeting and taking action which may or may not happen. This order stems from alleged violations of the state's Open Meeting Law. This TRO prevents publication of the law until Judge Sumi rules on the merits of the case and she is scheduled to be on vacation next week. Attorney General Van Hollen said today the Dept of Justice will appeal the Dane Co circuit court order and the appeal will be filed Monday 3/21.
3/15/11 The Senate leadership today rescinded their prior actions against the 14 democrats that fled the state to prevent a vote and said they would be able to vote now in committees and would not be fined or found in contempt of the senate.
3/12/11 The 14 senators that fled to IL to prevent a vote on the Budget Adjustment Bill returned to WI and were welcomed as heroes by a large crowd of protesters at the capitol.
3/11/11 3/9, at 6:00 pm a CONFERENCE SUBSTITUTE AMEND 1, TO SS AB 11 was offered, received & passed by a Committee of Conference on the January 2011 Special Session Assembly Bill 11. This Conference report then passed the Senate 18-1 and was messaged to the Assembly. Protesters stormed the capitol after this vote. Click here and here for some footage of the protest action. The Assembly took up the Conference report 3/10 and passed it 53-42. The bill was signed by Gov Walker today, 3/11 as WI ACT 10. Even though Walker signed the bill early in the day, it doesn't take effect until one day after the secretary of state publishes it with the Leg Reference Bureau. Sec of State Douglas La Follette (D) said he will not publish the law until March 25 to allow time for legal challenges to work their way through the courts.
3/9/11 Twelve pages of email negotiations were released that have been taking place between the missing senate Democrats and the Governor's office regarding the budget adjustment bill. The senate passed in masse individual resolutions applying to daily fines for absent senators in a SEN VOTE 18-0.
3/3/11 Watch In Focus 2/28/11 Marv Munyon with Sen. Glenn Grothman and Rep. Evan Wynn; The Continuing Budget Battle in Madison.
3/1/11 Governor Walker gave his budget presentation today at 4:00 pm. Budget companion bills AB 40 & SB 27, 1,345 pages in length were introduced today. You can watch & listen to his budget presentation at WI Eye.
2/28/11 There appears to be no change in the resolve of the 14 Senators that fled the state and refuse to come back to WI to do the people's business. The stand off intensifies in the capitol with this News Report from 2/27.
2/26/11 Click on this LINK to search teacher salary information for WI.
2/25/11 The Assembly passed the Budget Repair Bill at 1:05 am on a vote of 51-17. The Senate took up the bill,engrossed it and advanced it to third reading but could not give it a final vote because 20 members are required to be present for final vote. You can observe live floor action on the state website through Wisconsin Eye.
2/24/11 The Senate took up SB 6 the voter ID bill today. The senate took the bill to the stage of final vote, but since the 14 Democrats that fled the state have not returned, they could not take a final vote. However, the bill is past the amendment stage. The senate adjourned until 11:00 am 2/25/11.
2/23/11 We do not condone the language used, but for your info Capitol Chaos: Caller Pranks Walker you can listen to the call taken by Governor Walker and recorded to cause more controversy in the legislative process.
2/22/11 Watch & hear it in their own words NEA General Counsel Bob Chanin Says Farewell .
2/22/11 Watch Marv Munyon & Jim Schneider discuss the budget deficit on Channel 30 TV 2/21/11.
2/20/11 The Tea Parties held a 'Support Walker Rally' Saturday at the state Capitol from 12-3. An estimate of 6-8 thousand showed up to support Walker for balancing the budget & putting WI on sound fiscal footing. An estimate of between 40-60 thousand protesters were there as well. This is an interesting clip on the civility taking/not taking place at the protests. Go to Maciver Institute website and see the clips on doctors providing sick excuses to those protestors who called in sick so they would not be penalized. Channel 3 clip on coverage of rally.
2/18/11 The Assembly Republicans, without any Democrats on the floor, gave preliminary approval to the budget repair bill agreeing to consider some Democratic amendments on file when they return. The Assembly then adjourned until 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 22. The Senate adjourned earlier in the day to the call of the chair, as the 14 Senate Democrats that fled the state have still not returned to WI. The introduction of the 2011-12 biennial budget which was scheduled to be introduced Feb 22 has now been delayed until March 1.
Jessie Jackson visited the Madison protestors today & Madison's Socialists Call for Revolution in the State.
2/15/11 January Special Session Budget Repair Bill introduced SS SB 11 & SS AB 11
2/7/11 2010-11 Budget Deficit Plan of $136.7 Million Expected by End of Week
2/7/11 2011-13 Biennial Budget Deficit of More Than $3.6 Billion Detailed
2/3/11 Gov Scott Walker delivered his State of the State Address to a joint session of the WI Legislature February 1, 2011 at 7:00 PM. If you missed it, you can watch it on Wisconsin Eye from the Assembly Chambers.
1/7/11 Governor Scott Walker, Constitutional officers, members of the Assembly & Senate were sworn into office 1/3/11 for the 2011-2012 session. 3 members of the legislature, Mike Huebsch, Mark Gottlieb & Scott Gunderson have been appointed to the Governor's Administration so there are 3 vacancies in the Assembly.
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