WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/28/07) - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold’s legislation to ensure Americans are not forced into mandatory arbitration agreements has been listed first by the Drum Major Institute in its review of the top ten public policies of 2007. While voluntary arbitration can be a fair and efficient way to solve disputes, Feingold’s Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007 would ensure that citizens have a true choice between arbitration and the traditional civil court system. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/27/07) - Wisconsin’s established small businesses appear to have maintained their stability with most showing modest growth in 2007, according to Wisconsin Independent Businesses (WIB). WIB has been providing government relations and other business services to the state’s independently-owned businesses and farms for 30+ years. WIB executive director Wayne Corey says there wasn't a growth explosion, but, there weren't significiant setbacks. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/27/07) - A bill introduced by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin to aid wounded veterans, and passed unanimously in both houses of Congress, has been signed into law by President Bush. The bill was suggested by, and bears the name of, Korean War veteran Dr. James C. Allen, a retired Madison ophthalmologist. The seven year odyssey of turning one doctor's observation from an idea into a bill into a law is a lesson in civics and the power of one person to make a difference in our democracy. The Dr. James C. Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act (H.R. 797) will aid veterans who sustained a significant loss of vision in one eye while serving their country. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/26/07) - The Wisconsin State Elections Board has reached an agreement with Accenture LLP to end its involvement with Wisconsin’s Statewide Voter Registration System (SVRS), leaving the system under State control with the ability to make it federally compliant. The new Government Accountability Board's legal counsel, Kevin Kennedy, says this is a positive outcome for Wisconsin voters and local election officials. Accenture spokesman, Jim Mcavoy, says the firm is pleased with the resolution and reiterate that Accenture is not at fault in this matter. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/26/07) - Just before the long Christmas weekend, Governor Jim Doyle signed legislation designed to provide Wisconsin consumers with more cable service choices, and potentially make consumer rates lower than might otherwise be possible. The Governor also preserved protections for cable customers through several vetoes. Under the new law, video service providers will continue to pay a fee to municipalities to support Public, Educational and Government (PEG) channels now available on local cable systems. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/26/07) - NewPage Corporation has completed the previously-announced acquisition of Stora Enso Oyj's (NYSE: SEO) North American paper manufacturing operations. The acquisition includes mills at the Central Wisconsin communities of Wisconsin Rapids, Biron, Whiting and Stevens Point. Combined, the new operating company, which will be called NewPage Corporation, will be the North American industry leader in publication, fine and specialty paper. NewPage Corporation, headquartered in Miamisburg, Ohio, is a leading U.S. producer of coated papers in North America. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/21/07) - Wondering what Christmas is all about? There are many places on the internet that can fill in some of the history of the who, what, where and when, and, of course, the why, of the holiday that fills many with good cheer. When you visit some of the websites dedicated to presenting the Christmas story and traditions that have become part of the celebration, you will find many pieces that will create a fuller look at what this thing called Christmas is all about. There is a wealth of information about so many subjects on the internet, and Christmas is but one of the subjects about which we can all learn more. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/20/07) - The Federal Communications Commission has adopted rules to promote video programming diversity which the commission hopes will ensure that new video programmers can enter and compete in the video market. The Order adopted by the Commission (Tues,Dec 18,2007) sets the number of subscribers a cable operator may serve at 30 percent nationwide. In a further notice also adopted, the Commission seeks comment on vertical ownership limits and cable and broadcast attribution rules. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/20/07) - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has amended the 32-year-old absolute ban on newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership by crafting an approach that would allow a newspaper to own one television station or one radio station in the 20 largest markets, subject to strict criteria and limitations. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (Court), affirmed the Commission’s determination that this blanket ban on newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership was no longer in the public interest while remanding the specific cross-media ownership limits drawn by the Commission in 2003. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/20/07) - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted a Report and Order (Order) which will expand opportunities for participation in the broadcasting industry by new entrants and small businesses, including minority and women-owned businesses, to own broadcast outlets. The new rules will help eligible entities with access to financing and availability of spectrum. An eligible entity is any entity that would qualify as a small business consistent with Small Business Administration standards for its industry grouping, based on revenue. WisconsinReport has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/20/07) - The Federal Communications Commission (the Commission) is trying to help ensure that broadcast stations offer programming that is responsive to the needs and interests of the communities that they are licensed to serve. The Report on Broadcast Localism and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (the Report) contains proposals to increase local programming content and diversity in communities across America. The FCC received 83,000 written comments and heard the testimony of 500 panelists during six field hearings on localism before coming to the conclusions in the Report. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/17/07) - The Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) has announced that 27 field offices around the state will be closed as part of a consolidation into seven regional offices. When the restructuring of the operations of the agency is finished there will be regional offices located in Appleton-Green Bay, Eau Claire, Madison, Milwaukee, Wausau and Chicago. These regional offices are expected to continue providing comprehensive services to taxpayers. The regional system will rely heavily on new technology. The plan is designed to slim down the agency budget. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/17/07) - The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection will hold animal health public hearings January 7th through the 10th. The hearings will be in regard to proposals that would streamline, clarify, and update Wisconsin's animal health regulations. The department proposals have a goal of protecting the state's livestock industry by better prevention and control of animal disease. The hearings will be held in Appleton, Madison and Eau Claire. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/17/07) - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Matt Frank and Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Rick Raemisch have announced that a new initiative targeting certain felons who illegally possess firearms is producing strong results. The initiative is said to be resulting in a safer Wisconsin for hunters and others who enjoy the state’s outdoors. One of the provisions of the initiative allows felons to drive deer as part of a hunting party – but they may not carry, possess or use a firearm. WisconsinReport has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/15/07) - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) voted in favor of the Senate Farm Bill, which included several provisions Feingold authored to help Wisconsin farmers. However, he expressed disappointment with the defeat of several common-sense reforms despite bipartisan support. Among the measures Feingold successfully had included or supported in the bill were restoration of the MILC program, protection for Wisconsin’s dairy farmers through better price reporting and USDA oversight, and a balanced milk marketing order review commission. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/15/07) - The United States Senate passed a farm bill and an energy bill this week. The Farm Bill includes programs instrumental in helping Wisconsin family farms continue to grow and thrive. The energy bill includes an expanded Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), which has long been supported and promoted by Wisconsin Farmers Union and its members.The farm bill passed on a vote of 79 to 14, while the energy bill passed on a vote of 86 to 8. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) voted in favor of both pieces of legislation. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/15/07) - An inmate at the Green Bay Correctional Institution has been convicted of threatening the lives of the judge and a lead witness in the trial that put him in prison in the first place. In 2002, 26 year old Bobby Salas was convicted in Pierce County of sexual assault and aggravated battery. Salas later wrote a letter threatening the lives of the judge who presided at his Pierce County trial, and the lead investigator who testified against him at that trial. Under Wisconsin law, Salas faces a maximum prison term of 6 years for each threatening offense he was charged with. WisconsinReport has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/15/07) - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle says his Administration is taking steps to respond to the recent news that the Domtar paper mill in Port Edwards, Wisconsin will close permanently in a few months. The mill employs 500 people in Central Wisconsin. It is not yet known just how much this loss will affect the economy of the area, but it is sure to have some kind of noticeable effect. The Governor says he is committed to do what he can to ease the situation for the families who will be affected, including talking to the Domtar company to see if state assistance might keep the plant open. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/13/07) - Television fans gave studio moguls from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) an unexpected early Christmas present: more than half a million pencils. Over 200 fans and writers gathered in Johnny Carson Park in Burbank this week to transform a 20-foot long, five-foot-high wall of boxed pencils into six giant delivery baskets full of pencils. Pencils 2 Media Moguls was organized by UnitedHollywood.com. The website launched the pencil drive as a show of fan support for the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, now in its sixth week. WisconsinReport has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/13/07) - U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) have been attempting to add an amendment to the farm bill, now before the Senate, that would put a hard cap on federal farm program payments and ensure that only farmers get payments. Senator Grassley says the ammendment would help allow young people to get into farming and lessen the dependence of federal subsidies, and, begin to restore public respectability for the federal farm program by targeting this assistance to those who need it. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/13/07) - About 500 Central Wisconsin workers will be affected by the closing of the Domtar paper mill at Port Edwards, Wisconsin. Domtar announced that it will close its Port Edwards, Wisconsin mill as well as reorganize production at its Dryden, Ontario facility. An additional 125 workers will be affected by the reogranization at Ontario. These measures will result in a permanent reduction of Domtar’s annual production capacity by approximately 342,000 tons. Domtar says it will take what they have called appropriate measures to assist affected workers. WisconsinReport has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/13/07) - The United States Senate has unanimously passed provisions championed by Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) including a tax credit to small businesses that pay a salary differential to employees called up for active duty. The amendment includes provisions from legislation introduced earlier in the year by Senators Kerry and Smith, the Active Duty Military Tax Relief Act, which would bolster military families and small businesses that employ reservists. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/13/07) - SIRIUS Satellite Radio has announced that it will broadcast an in-depth interview conducted by former Democratic presidential candidate and SIRIUS host Senator Bill Bradley with current presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama on Monday, December 17th on SIRIUS Stars channel 102. Obama discusses a wide range of topics, including his relationship with his mother and father; his upbringing; his strong sense of patriotism, and his priorities if elected. Bradley recently interviewed candidate John Edwards, and continues his dialogue with the candidates by talking with Senator Obama. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/13/07) - Current and former Major League Baseball players have been named in former Sen. George Mitchell's investigation into performance enhancing drugs in baseball. Mitchell held a news conference during which he made a few comments to reporters before releasing the names of many prominent Major League baseball figures who have been indicated as being involved in steroid or other performance enchancer use during their careers. Some of those allegedly uncovered during the Mitchell investigation included Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds. Commissioner Selig says players will be disciplined on a case by case basis. WisconsinReport has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/12/07) - The Video Competition Act has been passed by the Wisconsin State Assembly. The Assembly voted to approve Assembly Bill 207 (12/11/07) and is being credited for taking decisive action to pass the legislation. TV4US Wisconsin, which has been working hard toward getting the Video Competition Act through the legislative process, and TDS Telecommunications, are two of the interested parties that are pleased Wisconsin viewers will now have the opportunity to choose from competing cable services. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/12/07) - Barriers to cable competition which have been in place since the 1970’s will be torn down following final legislative approval of the Video Competition Act according to state Representative Phil Montgomery (R-Ashwaubenon) and state Senator Jeff Plale (D-South Milwaukee). The Video Competition Act redefines the current cable franchising process by addressing new video technology and streamlining and centralizing the application process at the state level. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/12/07) - The Senate lead author of the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims bill applauded Assembly adoption of the bill and commended the Assembly author for his leadership on the bill. Former Senate Democratic Leader Senator Judy Robson says the vote shows it is not a partisan issue. The bill passed the Assembly 56 to 41. However, because of a procedural objection to a third reading in the Assembly, the bill will receive final Assembly approval in January and then will return to the Senate for concurrence. The bill then goes to the Governor. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/12/07) - Two key legislative priorities for domestic violence victims have passed legislative hurdles with unanimous support. The state Senate approved SB 269, the Safe Housing Act, to improve safety in housing for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The Assembly passed AB 499, the Strangulation Prevention Enforcement Act. Both bills must still be approved by the respective other houses. The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence is hailing both pieces of legislation as critical efforts toward ending domestic violence in Wisconsin. WisconsinReport has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/11/07) - Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) announced that legislation she authored to create a fraud, waste and mismanagement hotline at the Legislative Audit Bureau has been passed by the State Senate. Senate Bill 86 requires the Legislative Audit Bureau to create a waste, fraud and mismanagement hotline where state employees and the general public can call anonymously 24 hours a day to report misuse of state funds. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/11/07) - The Wisconsin State Senate voted 33-0 to ban what has been called the Frankenstein Veto; wherein Governor Jim Doyle, or any Wisconsin Governor can cobble together unrelated words to create new sentences and laws never passed by the state legislature. State Senator Sheila Harsdorf (R – River Falls) has led a bipartisan effort to prohibit what Republicans are calling this abuse of the partial veto. Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he is pleased the Senate voted to send the constitutional ammendment to an April referendum. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/8/07) - Research findings show that mid-range ethanol blends fuel mixtures with more ethanol than E10 but less than E85—can in some cases provide better fuel economy than regular unleaded gasoline, even in standard, non-flex-fuel vehicles. The new study, cosponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), also found that mid-range ethanol blends reduce harmful tailpipe emissions. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/8/07) - Last month was tied for the second safest month of November since World War II with November of 1982, 1998 and 2000. In November of this year (2007), 54 people died in 48 Wisconsin traffic crashes, according to preliminary statistics from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The lowest total for November occurred in 1981 and 1991 with 50 traffic deaths. The deadliest month of November was in 1973 with 110 traffic deaths. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/8/07) - State Senator Michael Ellis says Governor Doyle’s support for comprehensive campaign finance reforms is encouraging news for all who have long advocated such reform. Ellis added that he was particularly pleased that the special session bill to be introduced by Doyle will incorporate all of the provisions of Senate Bill 12, the comprehensive bipartisan legislation that he, Democratic Senator Jon Erpenbach and others have been pursuing for years. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/8/07) - Republican Mike Huckabee and Democrat Barack Obama are the leaders in their respective primary races in Iowa according to a recent telephone poll. The Newsweek poll conducted Dec. 5-6 has Mike Huckabee opening up a wider lead on Mitt Romney on the GOP side and Barack Obama ahead of Hillary Clinton, with John Edwards several percentage points behind in third place. This survey used random-digit dial (RDD) telephone sample. Registration status is self-reported and includes those who plan to register to attend a caucus. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/6/07) - The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and Writers Guild of America negotiators are meeting again today to try to resolve differences so the striking writers can leave picket lines. Both sides are anxious to get back to work on scripts for drama, comedy and talk-variety shows that depend on comedy writers to give the star relevant humor. Negotiations took place through yesterday. The sides are interested in reaching a fair and reasonable deal for both writers and production companies so viewers in Wisconsin and the rest of the country can get back to enjoying all of their favorite shows. Click on the headline for more at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/6/07) - The Wisconsin Department of Justice has settled a consumer protection lawsuit against a Florida-based billing aggregator, ILD Telecommunications, Inc. The company allegedly had a role in placing charges on the telephone bills of Wisconsin businesses for internet services that the State alleges either were not authorized or that were obtained through deceptive telemarketing practices by Radical Persson, Inc., a California corporation. The DOJ says small businesses in Wisconsin were billed even though allegedly the businesses did not order the services. More at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/6/07) - The Wisconsin Right to Life Political Action Committee (WRTL), the state's premier right-to-life PAC, has announced its endorsement of former Senator Fred Thompson for President of the United States. Right to Life believes Fred Thompson wants to reverse abortion on demand, and demonstrated support of many Right To Life issues when he was a United States Senator. The Wisconsin - based group is following the National Right to Life Committee PAC which endorsed Thompson several weeks ago. More on this story inside the internet pages of WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/6/07) - Speaking at The George Bush Presidential Library this morning (Thurs.,12/6/07), Governor Mitt Romney addressed the American people about his views on religious liberty, the country's tradition of religious tolerance and how faith would affect his Presidency. The Romney for President campaign claims that Romney decided to do the Kennedy-Like disclaimer regarding his religion to dispell the concern that seems to have cropped up that Mormanism would control how he would serve. WisconsinReport.com has some of the text from his speech. You be the judge. More at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/5/07) - The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee has announced that Bill McCoshen, former Campaign Manager and Chief of Staff for Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, has endorsed Mayor Giuliani for President. McCoshen will serve as Mayor Giuliani’s Wisconsin State Co-Chair. Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson serves as Rudy’s National Campaign Co-Chair. McCoshen also joins Wisconsin State Chair and former U.S. Senator Robert Kasten and fellow State Co-Chairs and former Congressman Scott Klug and former State Senator Cathy Stepp. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/5/07) - The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents is reviewing enrollment data showing that the 26 UW campuses are providing record levels of educational access to the state’s public university. UW System administrators say a record 173,313 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the Fall 2007 semester. This represents a 2.1 percent increase from the previous academic year. Wisconsin Report has more on this story and many others on the internet every day at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/5/07) - Members attending the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s 88th Annual Meeting in Middleton established a number of policy directives for the organization. Key resolutions that were adopted included making changes to the state’s Producer Security Program, saving farmland through increased housing densities, increasing the level of funding for town roads, following the lead of the federal government on animal identification, and continued strong support of the use value taxation program. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/5/07) - An attempt by the Wisconsin Impeachment Coalition to have the question of whether to impeach President George W. Bush and Vice President Cheney was not acted on by the Madison City Council yesterday. The coalition had urged the alderpersons to hold a city-wide referendum on the matter during the upcoming Presidential Preference Primary February 18th, 2008. The deadline for including impeachment on a ballot February 18th is January 9th, 2008. A spokesperson says it might be on the council's agenda at the council's January 8th meeting. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/5/07) - The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) has announced that Wisconsin is the first state to join the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in signing a Memorandum of Understanding promoting greater energy efficiency throughout the state’s industrial community. Joining the PSC and DOE in this collaboration are the state’s Focus on Energy program and CleanTech Partners. The goals of this partnership are to foster increased awareness, deployment and use of energy efficient practices and technologies by industries throughout Wisconsin. Click on the headline for more at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/4/07) - A study of election administration in five Midwestern states gives Wisconsin a strong endorsement for the way the state runs its elections. The study was conducted by Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law and funded by the Joyce Foundation. The study makes several recommendations for the election processes throughout the United States, but, only three for Wisconsin. A spokesperson for the Wisconsin State Elections Board says Wisconsin is already in the process of adopting two of the three recommendations in the study. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/4/07) - The Wisconsin Impeachment Coalition is calling for the Madison city council to introduce a resolution to place an impeachment referendum question on the Feb. 19th primary ballot. February 19, 2008 is the date of the Wisconsin Presidential Preference Primary. The Wisconsin Impeachment Coalition has gathered 9600 petition signatures in favor of impeachment. Polls show that up to 61 percent of the public in the country thinks President Bush should be impeached, and, two out of three want Vice President Cheney impeached. Impeachment supporters are expected to wear Impeachment Orange to the Madison City Council meeting. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/4/07) - The writers strike that has been going on for several weeks will soon be even more evident to television viewers in Wisconsin and around the world. More and more production companies are running out of new shows and will either go into reruns or the shows will be replaced by reality shows, which don't need writers. To try to reverse that trend, writers of such classic films as Diamonds Are Forever, and '60s TV favorites The Big Valley and The Danny Thomas Hour, are showing their support for the Writers Guild of America strike. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/3/07) - The United States Department of Defense has announced the alert of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 32nd Brigade Combat Team to deploy in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Wisconsin’s 32nd Brigade and similar brigades from two other states will have a security force mission and be assigned tasks which the defense department says will assure freedom of movement and continuity of operations. Tasks will include base defense and route security in Iraq and Kuwait. Deployment is to begin in the summer of 2009. They are receiving alert orders now to provide maximum time to complete preparations. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/3/07) - Don Imus brought his morning show back to the radio airwaves and television today after being fired by his former employers following the turmoil that erupted when he uttered a racial slur against the Rutgers womens team. The show airs live on weekdays from 5-9 am (CST) on WABC radio and is syndicated nationally. The morning show is simulcast on the RFD TV Network, and rebroadcast in the evening in primetime. RFD is also offering the show on video on demand, enabling west coast viewers and millions of fans to experience the show at their convenience. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/1/07) - Governor Jim Doyle has issued a call for a Special Session of the Wisconsin Legislature to take up campaign finance reform. The Special Session is set to convene on December 11th. The Governor is basically calling for the enactment of the bipartisan Ellis-Erpenbach legislation, Senate Bill 12, with a few tweaks. The Common Cause organization supports both Governor Doyle's decision to call the Special Session, and, the bill itself. WisconsinReport.com has more on this story. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (12/1/07) - World Aids Day is observed every year on December 1st to inform and educate people about the epedemic, as well as what is being done, and, more specifically, what the individual can do. HIV and AIDS can affect men and women, and their babies. Once a person has been exposed, how does one know they have contracted HIV, which can lead to AIDS? The Wisconsin Division of Public Health, Bureau of Communicable Diseases, has information to help you know the answer. WisconsinReport.com has published some of the facts online about HIV and AIDS. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/30/07) - While corporate income tax collections jumped 14.1 percent last year and individual income taxes were up 7.0 percent, Wisconsin sales taxes rose 0.8 percent, according to a new report from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX). Celebrating its 75th anniversary, the nonprofit WISTAX keeps Wisconsin citizens informed through nonpartisan research. WISTAX researchers cited several reasons for the lagging sales tax collections. The organization says rising internet sales are likely one major factor. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/29/07) - According to Ranking America’s Mental Health: An Analysis of Depression Across the States, Wisconsin ranked 30th in rates of depression and 26th in suicide in a first-of-its-kind report by Mental Health America. The report analyzed data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The study found that 8.4 percent of Wisconsin’s adult population and 9.4 percent of Wisconsin’s youth population experienced a major depressive episode in 2004-2005. 662 Wisconsinites completed suicide in 2004. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/29/07) - Many Packer fans are upset about the Packers vs. Cowboys game only being available through the NFL Network, which most people in Wisconsin don't currently have access to. State Senator Spencer Coggs wants to do something about it for future games. Coggs says he is exploring legislation that would limit current and future taxpayer funded subsidies to the Packers, Brewers, University of Wisconsin Badgers and other teams if they play more than a quarter of their games on subscriber based TV networks. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/29/07) - With the Packers-Cowboys game being televised on the NFL Network, some portions of Wisconsin and the country will not have the game on their basic cable systems. Nationally, the game is being broadcast on the NFL Network. In the Green Bay area, the game also will be on WFRV Ch. 5 in Green Bay and WISN Ch. 12 in Milwaukee. The NFL allows local over-the-air TV stations in each team's home TV market to pick up the NFL Network feed. In Wisconsin, that applies to Green Bay and Milwaukee. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/28/07) - Hunters registered a preliminary total of 343,644 deer during Wisconsin’s regular nine-day gun deer season. Wildlife officials stress that this is a preliminary figure that will change somewhat. The 2007 harvest showed 125,060 bucks and 218,584 antlerless deer registered. This computes to a 6 percent increase in antlerless deer harvest and a 3.5 percent decline in buck harvest over 2006. Officials also reported a total of 641,432 gun deer licenses were purchased by resident and nonresident hunters. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/28/07) - It's official: Wisconsin is heading to the Outback Bowl, and the Wisconsin Alumni Association (WAA) bowl tour will take fans to Tampa, Fla. in true Badger style. The WAA Outback Bowl tour is open to all University of Wisconsin alumni, friends and families. The Deluxe Red Tour includes four nights of accommodations at the Marriott Waterside from Dec. 29, 2007 to Jan. 2, 2008, round-trip charter air service from Madison and Milwaukee, and a special New Year's Eve Event with dinner, drinks and entertainment. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/27/07) - A new report by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) indicates the Global Warming impacts on the Great Lakes will likely be increased unless inadequate regional water laws are strengthened to prevent water diversion. The report is called Climate Change and Great Lakes Water Resources. It warns that a warming climate is likely to reduce Great Lakes water supply while increasing water demand within the region. The NWF is encouraging prompt passage of the Great Lakes Compact because the existing legal framework won't be enough to protect the Great Lakes. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/27/07) - When the Green Bay Packers play the Dallas Cowboys in a historic contest this week, most Packers fans will not be able to view the game on tv. The game between two teams with 10 wins and just one loss for the season will only be seen on the NFL Network. In most of Wisconsin, the NFL Network is only available by satellite. Wisconsin fans who have cable won't see the NFL Network, because some cable companies do not have an agreement to carry the network. A non-profit group called TV4US believes if the state assembly puts their approval on a senate bill called the Video Competition Act, the No-Packers dilemma could be eased for fans in the future. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/27/07) - American Foods Group, LLC, a Green Bay, Wisconsin, firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 95,927 pounds of various coarse and fine ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. The ground beef products subject to recall were produced on Oct. 10, 2007, and were distributed to retail establishments and distributors in Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. WisconsinReport.com has more on this story and others. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/26/07) - Merriam-Webster OnLine, the leading source for English language reference on the Web, is asking its visitors to vote for the one word they feel best sums up the past eleven months and most deserves the distinction of becoming Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year for 2007. Last year voters chose TRUTHINESS, introduced by Stephan Colbert on the debut of Comedy Central's Colbert Report. This year visitors to the website may choose from a list of this year's most looked up words, as well as submissions from Merriam-Webster's Open Dictionary. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/26/07) - The Governor Mitt Romney presidential campaign organization has announced the Romney for President Wisconsin Statewide Finance Steering Committee. The twelve individuals named are responsible for continuing to grow Governor Romney's grassroots support in Wisconsin and help raise the resources necessary to compete in the state. They join previously announced Wisconsin Romney for President supporters Congressman Tom Petri and Conservative Activist Camille Solberg. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/26/07) - Wisconsin state health officials are encouraging smokers to make a fresh start by calling the Quit Line to help kick the smoking habit. Wisconsin is observing Lung Cancer Awareness Month during November. Figures show that nearly 3 thousand people die from lung cancer in Wisconsin each year. The Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line (1-800-QUIT NOW) has helped nearly 50,000 Wisconsin residents since its inception in 2001. So far, 5,500 have called the Quit Line in 2007. The Quit Line offers free quitting assistance and resources. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/24/07) - A U.S. District Court judge has found television infomercial star Kevin Trudeau in contempt of court for violating a 2004 permanent injunction. The Court found that Trudeau violated the permanent injunction when he misrepresented the contents of his book, The Weight Loss Cure They Don’t Want You to Know About, in several infomercials. The permanent injunction had banned Trudeau from using infomercials to sell any product, service, or program. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/23/07) - Wisconsin Assembly Representative Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa) and Representative Bill Kramer (R-Waukesha) have unveiled legislation that will repeal Wisconsin’s Unfair Sales Act which was put into effect nearly 70 years ago. If passed, the Competitive Marketplace Act would replace the Unfair Sales Act, also known as the Minimum Markup Law, which dictates that sellers of goods are forbidden from selling at prices below cost, and further requires that prices for gasoline, tobacco, and alcohol reflect a minimum percentage increase. The proposed legislation is expected to foster competition. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/23/07) - There were 25,531 domestic abuse incidents in the State of Wisconsin last year, according to a November 2007 published report released by the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The DOJ Office of Crime Victim Services Domestic Abuse Incident Report (DAIR) is compiled from data submitted by district attorneys' offices throughout the state and analyzes homicide statistics gathered by the Office of Justice Assistance. The typical domestic abuse victim was an 18-29 year old female battered by a spouse or ex-spouse. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/20/07) - U.S. Senator Joe Biden has responded to former Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Hillary Clinton sparring over the need to be specific about how they will end the war in Iraq. Biden feels, despite this back and forth, neither John Edwards nor Hillary Clinton has a plan that includes a political solution to end the war in Iraq. Biden says leaving Iraq is necessary, but not enough. He says a plan that will not leave chaos behind is what's needed so the USA won't have to send troops back later to clean up the mess. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (11/19/07) - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold has growing concern over Federal Communications Commission encouragement to big business to own more and more radio and television stations. That practice, in many cases, takes away local control of news and programming aired on broadcast stations throughout the country. Senator Feingold supports Senator Dorgan’s Media Ownership Act to improve transparency in media ownership rulemaking. Feingold says he will push for passage of the Dorgan bill and will continue efforts to ensure diverse and open media. More at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/17/07) - Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA ). Hundreds of Americans are killed each year due to home cooking fires and thousands more are injured. Annually, cooking fires cause more than half a billion dollars in direct property damage to homes and the belongings inside. The Wisconsin Department of Commerce joins NFPA in encouraging the public to keep safety in mind when preparing holiday meals. Statistics show there are about three times as many fires reported at Thanksgiving. More at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/17/07) - Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman says Wisconsin’s unemployment rate for October 2007 was 4.5 percent. Statistics show that is nearly unchanged from one month earlier. The October rate was one-tenth of a percentage point lower than the September rate of 4.6 percent. The national rate for October fell to 4.4 percent from 4.5 percent in September. Gassman says the start of school and changing weather influenced labor market statistics. WisconsinReport.com has more. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/14/07) - Wisconsin has earned a rising star for its bold leadership to increase renewable energy and save energy. A report released by Wisconsin Environment praises the Doyle Administration for leadership and the legislature for adopting bold policies to promote clean energy that can provide a model for the entire nation. Wisconsin Environment and Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton are calling on Congress to pass a strong energy bill that increases renewable energy, fuel economy and energy conservation. They suggest Congress could follow the lead of Wisconsin and other Rising Star states to fashion a national plan. WisconsinReport.com (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/13/07) - The First Annual Northern Wisconsin Economic Development Summit in Rhinelander brought together stakeholders from across the region to discuss new opportunities for the economy of Northern Wisconsin, and to explore new ways that the state can partner with businesses and local communities. Governor Jim Doyle announced nearly $9.7 million in economic development awards that will invest in northern Wisconsin businesses, provide opportunities to expand into new industries, and create over 470 new jobs for the region. More inside WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/13/07) - What started as perhaps a stretch goal set a year ago—all hospitals in Wisconsin becoming tobacco-free campus wide by November 15, 2007—is almost a reality. Now, 96 percent—123 in all—of Wisconsin’s hospitals are tobacco-free campus wide. In late 2006, the Wisconsin Hospital Association Board of Directors recommended that 100 percent of hospitals become tobacco-free by the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout, November 15, 2007. Some hospitals experienced resistence to changing the smoke 'em if you've got 'em attitude, but the effort to have more healthful environments is gaining ground. More at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/12/07) - The television commercials for a new motion picture opening this month look like a somewhat sophisticated cartoon or video game. However, a University of Wisconsin - Madison professor is suggesting that the film might do justice to the famous poem that it is based on. The movie, Beowulf, stars Angelina Jolie, and features a combination of live action and illustration in what Professor John Niles says is a sexed up version of the story. Read more about this critique and other news stories at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/10/07) - Madison’s Mayor Dave Cieslewicz spoke and answered questions for nearly an hour at a public event hosted by UW Students for Edwards (Thursday night, November 8th). The event was held at Ingraham Hall on the UW-Madison campus. The speech and answers to questions keyed on Edwards’ commitment to bold change on issues of importance nationally as well as in Madison. Madison's Mayor is one of over forty prominent Wisconsin Democrats to have endorsed John Edwards in his campaign for President, the most of any candidate in the state. More inside WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/10/07) - Legislation aimed at saving snowmobilers’ lives has passed the Wisconsin State Senate. Assembly Bill 526 extends a maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour for snowmobile operation during hours of darkness in order to improve snowmobile safety efforts. The bill was authored by Representative Dean Kaufert (R—Neenah). When it is signed into law, it will extend the nighttime snowmobile speed limit that expired after last season for three more years. More on this and other stories at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/10/07) - Veterans Day is being observed in many communities throughout the United States again this year. It's the time to remember and give thanks to veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States for the sacrifices they have made through the years. Some people don't realize that November 11th has a special meaning, and, that Veterans Day wasn't always called Veterans Day. WisconsinReport.com did some digging and came up with some facts about Veterans Day that you should know. Read it at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/9/07) - It looks like the UAW organization may be close to concluding contract negotiations with what has been known as the Big Three USA Automakers. After members ratified contracts with Chrysler and General Motors recently, the UAW Ford National Council has now voted to unanimously recommend ratification of the 2007 tentative agreement with Ford Motor Co. The member workers at more than 55 Ford facilities across the nation are scheduled to vote on ratification by November 12th. More details are at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/9/07) Senator Joe Biden delivered a major foreign policy address (Thurs., Nov. 8th) at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College in Manchester, calling for a new approach to Pakistan. Biden warned that the United States must be careful in how this country responds to the situation developing in Pakistan, because Pakistan has nuclear weapons. The presidential hopeful advised that the USA move from a policy concentrated on one man – President Musharraf – to a policy centered on an entire people - the people of Pakistan. More inside WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/9/07) - The State Senate has passed an amended version of AB 207, the Cable Competition bill, 23 to 9 on a bipartisan vote. State Senator Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) says the bill guts consumer protection for cable companies under the guise of competition. Another senator, State Senator Judith Robson (D-Beloit), voted against the bill, because of concerns of an adverse impact to local government channels, known as PEG channels (for Public Access, Education and Government use). The ammended bill now goes back to the Assembly for concurrence. More at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/8/07) - Eight governors from Great Lakes states have called upon presidential candidates to make the protection of the Great Lakes a top priority. In a letter to all Democratic and Republican presidential candidates, Governor Doyle of Wisconsin, Chair of the Council of Great Lakes Governors, challenged the presidential field to explain how they would support ongoing efforts to protect, preserve, and improve the Great Lakes. More details on this story at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/8/07) - Senator Julie Lassa (D – Stevens Point) has announced that Senate Bill 260, “Angie’s Law”, to strengthen the penalties for strangulation, received a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Corrections yesterday (11/7/07). “Angie’s Law” will strengthen the law to allow prosecutors to charge batterers with felonies instead of misdemeanors. This loophole is widely known among inmates in correctional facilities as a way to attack or control their partners without being charged a felony. More at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/8/07) - State Senator Roger Breske (D-Eland) has been elected Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. Breske succeeds Sen. Mark Miller who was appointed Senate Co-Chair of the Joint Finance Committee. The Senate Democratic Caucus consists of all eighteen Democratic Wisconsin State Senators. The Caucus meets regularly to discuss pending legislation and strategy, as well as any other issues the Senators wish to discuss. Read more at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/7/07) - The Federal Trade Commission has created a consumer hotline for consumers who purchased “debt reduction services” from Edge Solutions, Money Cares, the Debt Settlement Company, the Debt Elimination Center, and Pay Help Inc. The FTC has obtained a restraining order against these companies, which allegedly falsely claimed that they negotiate with creditors. Affected consumers should verify with their financial institution that all automatic debits to any of the companies has ceased. More details at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/7/07) - The Outagamie County Circuit Court has ordered former deputy treasurer-bookkeeper for the City of Seymour to pay $589,695 in restitution to the city in connection with an embezzlement scheme she carried out while employed there. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen says 46 year old Carolyn M. Austin of Depere, Wisconsin, also is to serve 5 years in prison and ten years under extended supervision. She also must serve an additioanl 5 years on probation. More on this story is online at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/7/07) - After being passed by the Assembly in May and the Joint Finance Committee last week, the controversial “Video Competition Act” (Assembly Bill 207/Senate Bill 107) is scheduled to be debated by the Senate this Thursday (November 8th). Over the course of the past several months, a number of concerns have been raised regarding the impact that this bill will have on Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) channels as well as the public’s access to the affairs of its government. State Representative Louis Molepske, Jr. (D-Stevens Point), wants the PEG matter adequately addressed by the Wisconsin State Legislature. More details can be found at WisconsinReport.com. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/5/07) - Ag Day at the Capitol will be January 30 at the Monona Terrace in Madison. Ag Day at the Capitol is the largest gathering of farmers from across the state representing a variety of farm groups to learn more about state issues, and meet with their state representatives. More than 700 farmers attended last year’s Ag Day at the Capitol. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation said Ag Day at the Capitol will likely include discussion on protection of the Right to Farm law, health care, renewal energy and nutrient management. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/3/07) - Sunday, November 4 is the last day of the 40 Days for Life vigils. Many vigil locations are marking this with a prayer service or thanksgiving dinner. In addition to the closing celebrations, dedicated pro-lifers will be holding a 24-hour vigil, from midnight Saturday until midnight Sunday, at the Planned Parenthood in Beaver Dam and at hundreds of sites nationwide. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/3/07) - The Video Competition Act, which would open up the Wisconsin cable market to competition, recently passed on an overwhelming 13-3 bipartisan vote in the State Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance. The State Assembly has already passed the bill, and a vote on the State Senate floor is expected on November 8th. TV4US Wisconsin hopes passage will create better service and rates for consumers. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/3/07) - A former Central Wisconsin man, Joshua Wescott, who graduated from UW - Stevens Point with a Bachelor's Degree, is the new Dane County press liason; Students for Obama at UW-Madison were set to participate in a region-wide “Canvass for Change” on Saturday, November 3; and, 59 people died in 51 Wisconsin traffic crashes in October. WisconsinReport.com has more on these stories. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/2/07) - Daylight Savings Time (DST) is coming to an end after an extended period, thanks to the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless company with the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, has made the appropriate adjustments to ensure that the correct time registers on customers' handsets when clocks for most of the United States fall back on November 4, 2007. The company says wireless phones on the Verizon Wireless network should display the appropriate time as soon as Daylight Savings Time ends due to the modern technology used. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/2/07) - The Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups (CWAG) has recognized U.S Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl for their leadership in winning an extension for Wisconsin's popular senior drug coverage program, SeniorCare. Earlier this year, Kohl and Feingold negotiated for inclusion of a two and a half year extension for the program in a Senate spending bill, preserving the successful drug benefit for 103,000 low-income seniors across the state. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/2/07) - The Wisconsin Court of Appeals has issed a decision that will help protect Wisconsin's children from victimization by adults. The Court of Appeals has held that the crime of interfering with child custody is committed by someone who causes a child to leave a parent, even if the child is not in the presence of the parent at the time the crime is committed. The state appellate court reached this conclusion in State of Wisconsin v. Isaiah Bowden, in which the court affirmed Bowden's Winnebago County convictions. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/1/07) - The new Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston) has appointed Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona) Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Finance. Joining Miller on the Joint Committee on Finance will be Senator Judy Robson (D-Beloit) and Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point). Robson and Lassa will be serving on the committee for the first time and will make the Senate membership fifty percent female legislators. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (11/1/07) - The Department of Administration’s (DOA) Division of Energy Services and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) are urging energy customers to contact their local utility if their heat is currently disconnected. Consumers cannot be disconnected during the heating moratorium period from November 1 to April 15, if they are connected at the start of the moratorium. Energy-efficiency programs and the state’s low-income bill payment assistance programs are also available to reduce the burden of utility bills this winter. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/31/07) - The Wisconsin Fair Trade Coalition (WFTC) is praising Senator John Edwards’ call to defeat the Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) pending in Congress. Senator Edwards says the agreement does not meet his standard of putting American workers and communities first, ahead of the interests of the big multinational corporations, which he says have rigged trade policies for themselves. The organization likes the Edwards statement on the matter over that of Edwards Democratic opponent Barack Obama. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/31/07) Racine County will introduce a discount card program Monday, November 5th, to help consumers cope with the high price of prescription drugs. The county has signed a contract to make prescription drug discount cards available, free of charge, under a program sponsored by the National Association of Counties (NACo). The program offers average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/31/07) - Invenergy Wind LLC (Invenergy) announced the successful closing of construction and term debt financing for its Forward Energy wind farm in Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties in Wisconsin. The Forward Energy project was the first wind project to be permitted through the State Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) permit process. The project is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in early 2008. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/30/07) - What an exciting, whirlwind of a football game on ESPN Monday night! After a fast paced game, where the Denver Broncos seemed to shine more than many sports pundits expected, it looked like the Green Bay Packers might lose a game they were expected to win. The Packers didn't score the entire second half on Monday night but in the last seconds, the game was tied, prompting overtime action, which gave the Pack the opportunity to score, and they did. When it was over, the Packers record was 6 wins and one loss to this point in the season. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/30/07) - Letters, photos and other documents donated to the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research by Kirk Douglas can now be seen online. The website tells the story of his career both in front of and behind the cameras. The man, who these days is well known for being the father of actor and producer Michael Douglas, is the dimple chinned movie star who starred in the original Spartacus. Kirk Douglas was also a powerful producer who blazed a trail and took command of his own acting career in the era that followed the demise of the old Hollywood studio system. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/29/07) - Wisconsin Congressman Steve Kagen, M.D. and his Washington D.C. roomate, Congressman Ed Perlmutter, who represents rural Denver have a gentleman's wager riding on the outcome of tonight's Packers vs. Broncos football game. Kagen is taking the Packers and Perlmutter has the Broncos. Whoever wins the wager, brings the beer. A case of Miller versus a case of Coors. Tensions are high on Capitol Hill - and in this instance, it's not about politics. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/29/07) – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin) is troubled by media reports that the suspected mastermind behind the attack on the USS Cole in 2000, was released from custody in Yemen. Feingold says the administration needs to explain whether it was aware and approved of the release of al-Badawi, and the President should explain what he will do to ensure that this terrorist is brought to justice. He also hopes the Presidential candidates will commit to refocusing our national security where it belongs. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/27/07) - UAW members have voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with Chrysler LLC.The new contract covers approximately 45,000 active workers at Chrysler and more than 55,000 Chrysler retirees and 23,000 surviving spouses. It will expire on Sept. 14, 2011. A union spokesperson says, even though negotiating took place during a difficult time for the auto industry, the agreement secures jobs and wages and protects health care and pension benefits. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/27/07) - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen issued a formal opinion holding that the state Department of Regulation and Licensing is prohibited by federal law from issuing professional licenses or credentials to illegal aliens. The opinion was issued in response to a request made by the Secretary of Regulation and Licensing, Celia Jackson, through the Department's interim general counsel. Van Hollen says only the federal government can regulate licensing of immigrants. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/26/07) - Joined by students, local officials, business leaders and other Wisconsin citizens at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Governor Jim Doyle signed into law a budget that invests in the University System and puts Wisconsin on the path to permanent fiscal stability. In addition to cutting state operations by more than $200 million, the budget cuts advance commitments and one time spending nearly in half, and will have $120 million in reserves at the end of this biennium. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/26/07) - Barack Obama, who often is in second place behind Hillary Clinton during surveys and polls taken during this presidential primary season, is picking up more support. The 15,000 member Service Employees International Union (SEIU) have announced their support for Barack Obama. Citing Obama's commitment on health care, nurses, direct care workers, school employees, janitors, and other workers represented by the SEIU in Wisconsin, are pleased with Obama's support of S-CHIP and his commitment to expanding affordable healthcare. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/25/07) - The new Wisconsin budget set to be signed by Governor Jim Doyle tomorrow (Friday) includes economic development monies for municipalities that experienced devaluation in manufacturing properties in Portage, Wood and Adams counties. The funds will help Stevens Point, Marshfield and Wisconsin Rapids, as well as Plover, Auburndale, Amherst Junction, Biron, Friendship, Whiting, Port Edwards, Vesper, and the Town of Remington. There is also money in the State Budget to refurbish the Korean War Memorial along I-39 at Plover. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/25/07) - Vonage and Verizon have announced they have agreed to resolve their dispute over patent rights. Verizon charged Vonage with infringing on three patents held by Verizon in the Vonage VoIP telephone process. Vonage says the cost of the settlement will be capped at a maximum of $32 million, in addition to the $88 million already accrued and held in escrow. The final terms of the resolution depends on how the Court of Appeals decides Vonage's pending petition for rehearing regarding two of the three Verizon patents. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/24/07) - Last night the Wisconsin State Legislature finally passed a budget that took many long and arduous tries to come to something satisfactory to both Republicans and Democrats. The compromise budget was passed on what has been called a a bipartisan vote, sending the bill to the Governor’s desk for his review. The budget acted on by the legislature came out of a committee charged with the duty of coming up with the compromise announced last weekend. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/24/07) - U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI) has secured $2.025 million in federal appropriations for employment and economic development programs throughout Wisconsin. The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill, which was passed by the U.S. Senate in Washington D.C. last night. “Successful job training programs keep talented, high-skilled workers learning new skills throughout their careers,” Kohl said. The bill now moves to a House-Senate conference. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/24/07) - Democrats in the Wisconsin Senate have decided to change the person who serves as Majority Leader. In a secret ballot they have turned over the leadership role to Senator Russ Decker from the Wausau suburb of Weston. Decker replaces Senator Judith Robson of Beloit. This brings the Senate Majority leadership position to a Senator from Wisconsin's Northwoods. Decker is expected to provide a stronger leadership role and message that many Senate Democrats would like to see from their Leader. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/23/07) - Several organizations are praising aspects of the compromise State Budget announced last week. They include the Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, and AARP Wisconsin. The praise centers around Badger Care Plus Expansion, SeniorCare, and FamilyCare. The Citizen Action Committee Executive Director says it's the first real progress on health care coverage in a decade. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/22/07) - The Wisconsin Green Party is urging members and interested parties to travel to Chicago and participate in an upcoming Anti War Demonstration this weekend. The Wisconsin Green Party joins over 120 groups and coalitions in endorsing the October 27th Stop the War Now! rally in Chicago. The Chicago rally is one of eleven regional demonstrations centered in Boston, Chicago, Jonesborough, Tenn., Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Seattle. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/22/07) - Federal legislation cosponsored by Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI) would give Wisconsin’s 340,015 self-employed individuals better access to affordable health-care coverage, ending a significant double-digit disparity in premium rates that has contributed to the nation’s health-care crisis. The Equity for Our Nation’s Self-Employed Act (H.R. 3660) would eliminate the cost penalties in health insurance imposed on sole proprietors and make quality health care more affordable for Americans who make up the majority of the working uninsured. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/20/07) - It seems that the Battle Over the Wisconsin Budget is over, according to an announcement made yesterday (10/19/07). Governor Jim Doyle joined with Speaker Mike Huebsch, Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson and Assembly Minority Leader Jim Kreuser to announce a budget agreement. Huebsch says the budget moves Wisconsin forward and lives within taxpayers’ means. Robson is hoping for swift bipartisan support of the latest compromise. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/20/07) - A man who became a World War II Prisoner of War after riding an airplane tail section to the ground because his parachute and body were riddled with bullet holes, is being honored for lifetime achievement. Eugene P. Moran of Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin has been presented with the Wisconsin Board of Veterans Affairs Lifetime Achievement Award in a ceremony at the National Guard Armory in Platteville. After returning to civilian life, among other things, he served 20 years as Fire Chief, and 12 years as a Crawford County Board Supervisor. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/19/07) - Citizen Action of Wisconsin, a USAction affiliate, applauded Wisconsin Congessional Representative Tom Petri for crossing partisan lines, and voting Thursday (10/18/07) to override President Bush’s veto of a bill to renew and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The House narrowly missed its chance to override the veto, even though the plan would have guaranteed 10 million children access to quality, affordable health care. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/18/07) - Wisconsin First District Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) together with other House Budget Committee Republicans have unveiled the “Budget Boondoggle Award” to help identify and draw attention to waste, fraud and abuse in government spending. The award was inspired by the efforts of the late Wisconsin Senator E. William Proxmire, who launched the “Golden Fleece Award” in the 1970s to highlight some of the most outrageous examples of wasteful spending by the federal government. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/18/07) - There is a standoff taking place in the State Capital over the Wisconsin Budget. Even though the Democrat controlled Senate passed the compromise version, nearly nine months after Governor Doyle introduced his budget to the Legislature, the Assembly still refuses to pass a budget. The Assembly voted against the compromise budget bill following approval by the Senate and Governor Jim Doyle is losing his patience with Assembly Republicans. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/18/07) - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Director says the Community Pharmacy Fairness Act of 2007 threatens to raise prices for consumers, especially seniors. During testimony to a House Antitrust Task Force, David Wales, Jr. said the Act also could increase costs to employers who provide health insurance to employees, yet, doesn't assure higher quality care. Because of these reasons, the FTC opposes the Act, which is designed to allow pharmacies to enter into collective bargaining with health plans to secure higher fees and better terms. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/18/07) - The House of Representatives has failed to override the President’s recent veto of legislation to greatly expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Congressman Steve Kagen, MD (D-Appleton) says forty-four Republicans joined the Democratic majority in the attempt to override President Bush's veto, but, that wasn't enough to save the S-CHIP idea. S-CHIP would have provided health insurance to 10 million children whose parents work but still can't afford health insurance. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/18/07) - As part of a new “True Blue Majority” campaign launching this week, Democratic leaders from Wisconsin today (10/18/07) held a conference call with reporters, where they discussed their endorsement of Senator John Edwards for president. The endorsements of more than twenty prominent Wisconsin Party leaders and elected officials were unveiled, including Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Joe Wineke and Wisconsin State Representatives Frank Boyle, Kim Hixson and Josh Zepnick. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/17/07) - A repeat offender of internet offenses has been ordered to pay a penalty of 164 thousand dollars by the Federal Trade Commission. Defendant John Zaccarini stipulates that he was in contempt of the original FTC findings. In return for the stipulation, Zaccarini is required to pay the monetary amount, which is equal to the ill-gotten gains he made while being involved in the latest internet improprieties. He was also ordered to turn the recent judgement document over to his probation officer. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/17/07) - The Wisconsin Department of Justice has publicly released to the media 3 of the remaining 4 emergency 911 audio files in its possession that relate to the shootings that occurred early Sunday morning, October 7th in Crandon, Wisconsin and the hours following that incident. The shootings by an off duty Forest County Deputy resulted in the deaths of six young people and the wounding of a young man who was also at the Crandon residence. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/17/07) - The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 2102, the Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 (also known as the media shield bill). The bill is cosponsored by Wisconsin First District Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) . It helps safeguard the free flow of information from the media to the public and provide protection at the federal level. Journalists could not be compelled by a federal entity to testify, produce documents, or disclose sources in civil and criminal cases, unless certain standards and conditions are met. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/16/07) - Wisconsin cheese production set a new record in 2006, producing nearly 2.5 billion pounds of cheese, accounting for 26 percent of the national cheese market. Wisconsin's growth is fueled by the increase in national demand for high-quality, specialty cheeses, and Wisconsin's powerful dairy sector. Specialty cheese production in Wisconsin grew by 26 million pounds, accounting for nearly 45 percent of the national specialty cheese market. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/16/07) - The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is holding public hearings this week in various Wisconsin communities to answer questions and to gather public comments on relief plans for the 920 area code. Hearings are being held in Sheboygan, Sturgeon Bay, Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, and Watertown. The PSC will determine how a new area code can be added in the 920 area to relieve increased phone use. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/16/07) - If lawmakers got grades, the Wisconsin Assembly would get an “F” or worse, according to State Senator Roger Breske (D-Eland). The Senate approved the latest version of the Wisconsin budget and passed it on to the Assembly for action. However, this week the lower house failed to pass this version. On Monday night, 53 of those State Representatives voted “no,” stalling the 2007-2008 state budget, again. That makes Wisconsin still the only state in the nation without a budget. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/15/07) - The UAW Chrysler Council, which includes local union leaders from Chrysler facilities throughout the United States, have voted overwhelmingly to recommend approval of the tentative agreement reached by UAW negotiators with Chrysler last Wed., Oct. 10. Should UAW members agree and ratify the pact, Ford would be the last of the big three U.S. companies that the UAW has not reached agreement with during this round of negotiations. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/15/07) - The Wisconsin State Senate has passed a budget compromise. After voting for the compromise budget, Senator Russ Decker (D-Weston) urged his colleagues in the State Assembly to meet the Senate in the middle and pass the bill soon. The budget passed by the Senate is the result of months of give and take from both sides. He says he hopes Assembly Republicans will put the rhetoric aside and pass the budget. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/15/07) - The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act (H.R. 1727) has been passed by the House of Representatives on a voice vote. The bill, authored by Congresswomen Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Mary Bono (R-CA) and Congressmen Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) will improve the lives of and hasten better treatments and cures for people living with paralysis. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/13/07) - As gridlock continues over passage of a state budget, State Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills) is proposing an overhaul of the Wisconsin's budgeting process designed to prevent future impasses. Under Darling’s proposal, the Legislature would assign portions of the Governor’s proposal to a number of joint legislative committees able to amend the bill yet still required to adhere to a set appropriation level. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/13/07) - The Wisconsin Supreme Court has agreed to hear 16 new cases. The cases include one involving securities fraud. Another involves whether a defendant is entitled to sentence credit against a new offense for time he spent in custody as a result of an extended supervision hold, and others. The cases are from Brown, Milwaukee, Portage, Sheboygan, Washburn, Waukesha, Dane, Racine and Kenosha counties. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/13/07) - State health officials are advising people not to consume frozen pot pie products that may be linked to 21 Salmonella illnesses in 14 Wisconsin counties. The recalls involve some products with the following brand names: Banquet, Albertson’s, Food Lion, Great Value, Hill Country Fare, Kirkwood, Kroger, Meijer, and Western Family. All varieties of 7 ounce single servings bearing an establishment number P-9 or Est.1059 printed on the side are subject to the recall. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/12/07) - The Wisc. Department of Justice has released thirteen emergency 911 audio recordings related to the shooting deaths of six young people and the wounding of another at a Crandon home last weekend. Justice Department Records Custodian Dean Stensberg says certain calls relating to the ongoing criminal investigation are being withheld. He says the department received emergency call tapes from Forest and Langlade Counties. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/12/07) - The Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee says former Republican Presidential candidate and Wisconsin Governor, Tommy Thompson, has endorsed Mayor Giuliani for President. Thompson will serve as National Co-Chair of the Mayor’s campaign. Thompson served as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush after resigning in his historic fourth term as Wisconsin Governor. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/11/07) - Chrysler LLC and the UAW have reached a tentative agreement on a new national labor contract, covering approximately 45,000 represented employees. Chrysler President Tom LaSorda says the terms balance the needs of employees and the company. The agreement between the UAW and Chrysler is subject to UAW member ratification. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/10/07) - The deaths of six young people in Crandon early last Sunday morning apparently was the result of an argument. Wisconsin's Attorney General says investigators discovered that Tyler Peterson had accused his girlfriend of having a relationship with another person. The argument heated up and Peterson left the building to come back with a rifle and opened fire. When he finished six were dead and one was wounded. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/10/07) - The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company of Chippewa Falls, WI is spicing up the fall season and upcoming holidays with the return of Leinenkugel's Apple Spice. With the pumpkin patch becoming more and more crowded, Leinie's brings its spicy fall option to the harvest. The seasonal brew called Apple Spice, will be hitting retailer shelves next week and be available through December 31st. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/10/07) - Thousands of members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) walked off the job at Chrysler plants across the country. There was no immediate, official comments from Chrysler or the UAW, but, the UAW is receiving help from the Teamsters Carhaulers who say they will not cross the UAW picket lines as long as the walkout continues. Chrysler workers currently earn roughly from 26 to 28 dollars per hour. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/10/07) - United Auto Workers (UAW) President Ron Gettelfinger and UAW Vice President General Holiefield have announced that the UAW has reached a tentative agreement with the Chrysler Corporation. The strike against Chrysler at 11 this morning, following the expiration of an extension to the current labor agreement, has been recessed. The UAW also says the General Motors contract has been ratified by UAW workers as a final step in the squabble with GM. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/9/07) - Governor Jim Doyle has announced he will call the full Legislature into Special Session on a compromise budget bill on Monday, October 15. The Wisconsin Legislature is the only Legislature in the country that has failed to pass a budget. Doyle says it's time for what he called extreme Republicans to put partisan interests aside and do what's best for Wisconsin. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/9/07) - Credit unions are working alongside other financial institutions, businesses, organizations and government to lead the charge in teaching Wisconsin citizens better money management skills during Money Smart Week Wisconsin, which is taking place now through Saturday, Oct 13th. In total, more than 700 events are taking place across the state, and nearly all come at no cost to the attendees. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/9/07) - State Representatives Scott Suder (R-Abbotsford), Frank Boyle (D-Superior), and Suzanne Jeskewitz (R-Menomonee Falls) have introduced bipartisan legislation at the State Capitol that would create a public information system and online registry of violent felons living in Wisconsin. The lawmakers’ legislation has been named “Leah’s Law” after a Superior woman, Leah Gustafson, who was brutally murdered last year by a neighbor with a violent criminal past. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/8/07) - The Midwestern Governors Association Energy Security and Climate Change Summit will be held in Milwaukee November 14-15, 2007. At the Summit, Governors from across the Midwest will pursue new regional initiatives to increase production and use of renewable energy, promote energy efficiency, and ensure a reliable electrical grid. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/8/07) - An off-duty sheriff's deputy went on what has been called a shooting rampage at a Forest County home in Crandon early Sunday morning. Three high school students and three recent graduates are dead. Although complete details are still sketchy, authorities say the twenty year old deputy who allegedly killed the young people is also deceased. Another victim was in critical condition today. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/8/07) - Wisconsin's Attorney General says all evidence, from multiple sources, indicates that the perpetrator of the multiple homicide in Crandon was Tyler Peterson, and only Tyler Peterson. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen was referring to the case in which six young people were found dead in the early Sunday morning hours. Peterson fled the scene and was located later north of Crandon. Peterson's subsequent death is under investigation. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/5/07) - The Future of Farming and Rural Life in Wisconsin Project is releasing a wide-ranging report on the changing face of agriculture in Wisconsin this weekend. The report, a product of 2 ½ years of study, offers recommendations for healthy and sustainable agriculture and rural life in the state. It also shows there are now 14,000 fewer medium sized farms. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/5/07) - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle has proclaimed Sunday, October 7, 2007 “Brett Favre Record Day”. The observation is in honor of the quarterback’s record-breaking 421st career touchdown pass against the Minnesota Vikings last week. The record was previously held by Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino. Brett Favre Record Day will find the Packers taking on the Chicago Bears for the 174th time. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/4/07) - The Wisconsin Petroleum Council says the proposed tiered oil tax creates unintended consequences for the state's transportation funding. The Council claims the proposal might result in higher consumer prices because provisions to the contrary may be unconstitutional. The Council also warns that oil companies could choose to not deliver product to Wisconsin if the tiered oil tax becomes fact. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/3/07) - In response to a state budget stalemate that is now dragging into its fourth month, State Representative Louis Molepske, Jr. (D-Stevens Point) will begin circulating legislation for co-sponsorship that will set budget benchmarks and hold state legislators accountable for unnecessary delays in passing a budget. Molepske hopes the Budget Accountability Act will correct the practice of late budgets. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/3/07) - A former Majority Leader of Democrats in the State Senate is returning to a position in Wisconsin government after 12 years in the private sector. Former 24th District Senator David Helbach has been appointed Administrator of the Division of State Facilities and Secretary of the Building Commission. Helbach starts work in his new role October 15th. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/2/07) - The Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) is urging members of the state budget conference committee and legislative leaders to not leave property taxpayers in the cold in light of a proposal to remove an increase in the real estate transfer fee. The doubling of the fee, as originally proposed, would have provided funding for critical county programs. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/2/07) - Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D-Beloit) says there is no more time for excuses, Wisconsin needs the budget bill passed. She is urging Assembly Republicans to let the Assembly Speaker get the budget done, while Speaker Huebsch says Republicans are ready to do their part, but he has reservations. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/2/07) – Wisconsin’s own Bradley Whitford, former regular on West Wing and actor on many television programs and motion pictures, no longer has a regular job, again. If you are one of those viewers who have been looking for Studio 60 to return to your weekly fix, the show, which also starred Matthew Perry from Friends, was canceled by NBC after Studio 60’s ratings dipped considerably from its debut to the end of the run (or is it on hiatus?). (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/1/07) - Wisconsin dairy exports reached record levels for the first six months of 2007. The increase was driven by soaring demand in Asia and Latin America. The dollar value of Wisconsin dairy exports increased from $40 million in 2006 to $76 million in 2007 – an 89 percent increase compared to the same period the year before. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (10/1/07) - Governor Jim Doyle is warning of the severe consequences for the state if the Legislature fails to pass a state budget. For more than eight months the Legislature has failed to pass a budget, forcing thousands of students onto waiting lists for financial aid, putting the expansion of the Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center for sex offenders on hold, and causing problems for road projects. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/29/07) - The UAW GM National Council – made up of presidents and bargaining chairs from more than 80 GM facilities across the nation – has voted to unanimously recommend ratification of the 2007 tentative agreement with General Motors. Ratification votes are expected to conclude by Wednesday, Oct. 10th. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/28/07) – State Senator Roger Breske (D-Eland) has asked Assembly Republicans to get serious about working on an entire and complete budget package while Republican Party of Wisconsin Executive Director Mark Jefferson called on Breske to stop being a pawn for Senate Democrat leadership and start fighting for the property taxpayers. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/28/07) - Wisconsin will receive $587,816 in federal funding to help protect more children from injuries and deaths while they ride in motor vehicles. The money is coming from the Child Safety and Child Booster Seat Incentive Grant Program from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/28/07) The University of Wisconsin-Madison Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) has received $6.67 million in start-up funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The funds will allow researchers to get to work on new sources of energy to power cars, homes, and businesses. GLBRC will receive about 125 million in DOE funding over five years. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/27/07) - A Guernsey dairy cow named Majestic Oak Invest Sareen is the 2007 Cow of the Year, according to Secretary of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Rod Nilsestuen. Nilsestuen also congratulated Jerry Lang of Marshfield, Wis., Sareen's breeder. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/27/07) - The Wisconsin chapter of Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) says enacting budget increases when economic woes threaten to take a bite out of state government revenues and damage Wisconsinites prosperity is a foolhardy move. Analysis of data shows the state’s unemployment rate has become worse than the national average since last year. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/27/07) - The House Energy and Commerce Committee has passed the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act (H.R. 1727) and sent it for consideration to the full House. The bipartisan legislation, introduced in March 2007 by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and her colleagues is designed to improve the lives of and hasten better treatments and cures for people living with paralysis. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/26/07) - General Motors and the UAW have reached a tentative agreement on a new national labor contract, covering approximately 74,000 represented employees. The agreement is subject to UAW member ratification. The union announced that workers are to return to work today (Sept. 26, 2007) at most GM facilities. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/24/07) – Wisconsin State Senator Jim Sullivan (D) 5th Senate District, and State Representative Josh Zepnick (D) 9thAssembly District, have called upon Wisconsin’s two largest cable providers, Time Warner and Charter Communications, to put The Big Ten Network on expanded basic cable in their coverage areas throughout the state. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/24/07) – Governor Doyle has accepted the 2007 Report on Homeland Security from Brig. Gen. Donald P. Dunbar, Adjutant General of Wisconsin, his first report as Wisconsin’s chief Homeland Security Advisor. The report outlines the efforts Wisconsin is taking to prevent and respond to potential emergencies and disasters in the state. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/24/07) - Representative Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) told the Wood County Democratic Party meeting that the real problem in getting a state budget is that 15 Republican members of the State Assembly signed a No Tax Increase pledge and are now stuck in their own rhetoric. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM (9/24/07) - The United Auto Workers are striking at General Motors plants nationwide, including Wisconsin operations. The UAW announced that due to the failure of General Motors to address job security and other mandatory issues of bargaining, the union set a firm strike deadline for 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 24. The two sides did not come to agreement by the deadline. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - State Representative Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids) blasted the Republican budget cuts to the Educational Communications Board as short-sighted, stupid, and downright idiotic. The veteran lawmaker said the cuts would end local programming in Wisconsin, create maintenance problems with the weather radio transmitters, Amber Alerts, and more. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) is holding public hearings this week in various communities throughout northern Wisconsin to answer questions and to gather public comments on relief plans for the 715 area code. Hearings are scheduled in River Falls, Eau Claire, Wausau, Marinette, Rhinelander, Ashland, Hayward, Superior, and Medford. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - Eight Wisconsin lawmakers have written the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) urging them to adopt a geographical split of the 715 area code to maintain the 715 prefix in northwest Wisconsin. The rapid expansion of new phone lines in the 715 area code is expected to exhaust available phone numbers by late 2009. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - A recent statewide poll of registered voters in Wisconsin reveals overwhelming opposition to a legislative proposal to reduce the number of counties in the state from 72 to 18. Of those polled, 80 percent said they would encourage their legislators to vote against the plan spearheaded by Representatives Sheldon Wasserman and Frank Lasee. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM – Milwaukee will host the 2008 Midwest U.S. - Japan Conference on September 7 - 9, 2008. The annual Midwest U.S. - Japan Association Conference brings together international business leaders from Japan and the U.S. and serves as the principal forum for bilateral trade and investment discussion between the Midwest and Japan. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM – Higher gas prices, dry weather in parts of the United States, strong consumer demand and higher feed prices are behind a five percent increase in Wisconsin retail food prices in the second quarter of the year, according to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation’s Market Basket survey. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - Additional news stories of a more current nature will be coming in the not too distant future. WisconsinReport.com recently experienced technical difficulties. As a result, all of the current stories that had been posted up to that time are no longer available for you to read. More about Wisconsin people, places, politics, events, and activities will be added again soon. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - Governor Jim Doyle has received endorsements from patients, physicians, health care providers, and businesses for his Health Care for All agenda. The Governor's bold health care reform agenda will make comprehensive health care coverage more affordable and ensure access to 98 percent of Wisconsin citizens. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold has introduced legislation to effectively end U.S. military involvement in Iraq. The bill, supported by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, requires the President to begin safely redeploying U.S. troops from Iraq 120 days from enactment, as required by the emergency supplemental spending bill passed by the Senate. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - Governor Jim Doyle joined representatives from Joerns Healthcare, a leading manufacturer in products and services for health care providers, as they announced their global headquarters will be located in Stevens Point. The community is located in Central Wisconsin along the I-39 corridor. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - Increasing the minimum wage to $7.25 will benefit thousands of low-wage working adults in Wisconsin. Data analyzed by the Center on Wisconsin Strategy and Economic Policy Institute show that some 255,000 workers in Wisconsin –10 percent of the workforce – stand to gain from an increase. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM – In the wake of a government report that showed the national average price for gasoline rising for the eighth straight week, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl introduced legislation to have the federal government build oil refineries around the country. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - State Senator Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton) announced that as part of a statewide effort to encourage Bush Administration Secretary of Health and Human Services, Michael Leavitt to extend Wisconsin’s SeniorCare waiver, he will provide the latest information on SeniorCare and how people can contact the administration. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - The Wisconsin Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP) has expressed disappointment at the introduction of SB115, Sen. Alan Lasee’s bill to reinstate the death penalty in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Coalition Against the Death Penalty is a coalition of organizations and individual leaders dedicated to educating the people of Wisconsin about the fiscal and moral cost of re-establishing the death penalty. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - Senator Russ Decker (D-Weston) applauded Governor Doyle for considering an assessment on hospitals to help fund the cost of Medical Assistance programs in Wisconsin. He noted that the latest report on hospital profits makes the contribution of hospitals all the more necessary. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM – As the debate over health care reform reaches the top of Wisconsin’s political agenda, the grassroots citizen group Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) will sponsor a health care reform forum on Thursday, February 22, to discuss consumer-driven health care reform options and their successful implementation by Manitowoc County and Serigraph Inc. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold is taking several steps to help level the playing field for farmers in Wisconsin. As the Farm Bill debate approaches, Feingold is working for increased competition in the agriculture industry and working to prevent anti-competitive practices by large agribusinesses that harm family farmers. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - In his fifth State of the State Address, Governor Jim Doyle called for bold efforts to make Wisconsin America's health care leader, invest in education, and put the state on a permanent path of fiscal responsibility. In particular, Governor Doyle unveiled a plan to ensure that 98 percent of Wisconsin's citizens have access to health coverage. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - The Apollo Alliance, a national network of labor unions, environmental groups, business leaders and community leaders, praised Governor Doyle’s announcement of an Office of Energy Independence and urged strong standards be developed to ensure the effort create high quality technology jobs. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - Senator Julie Lassa (D - Stevens Point) voiced her support for Governor Doyle’s economic development, pro-family and clean energy initiatives as outlined in his fifth State of the State address. Sen. Lassa says is looking forward to working with Governor Doyle to make his vision a reality. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - The Dairy Business Association applauded the efforts of Dr. Steve Kagen's successful placement on the House of Representatives Agriculture Committee. A spokesperson says the first term lawmaker's post provides an excellent opportunity for Wisconsin agriculture, especially the dairy industry, to be highlighted during upcoming farm bill discussions. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - Citing the Denver host committee's strong bid and growing Democratic gains in the Rocky Mountain West, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has announced that Denver will host the 2008 Democratic National Convention Monday, August 25 to Thursday, August 28. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - Ho-Chunk Nation leaders have renewed their strong, long-standing objections to off-reservation casino plans in Beloit by two northern Wisconsin tribes, the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the St. Croix Chippewa Indians. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - As the U.S. Senate convened for the 110th Congress, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl was sworn in for his fourth term and introduced several bills related to his priorities for the new session of Congress. Kohl will serve on the Appropriations and Judiciary Committees and will be Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging; he will also become chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations panel and the Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights panel. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM – State Senator Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point) unveiled new legislation dubbed the “Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin” program at the Wisconsin Local Food Summit in Stevens Point. The statewide initiative will help support the growth of regional markets for Wisconsin’s farmers by increasing opportunities for area businesses, institutions and families to buy locally produced food. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM – Former Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson says he is exploring a run for President because we need to start building America again with common sense solutions for the common problems facing American families. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM – An immigration judge in Chicago has ordered the removal of a Wisconsin man who, by his own admission, stood guard during a Nazi mass killing operation in occupied Poland in 1943, with orders to “shoot to kill” any still-living Jewish victim who attempted escape. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - In his second Inaugural Address, Governor Jim Doyle pledged to focus on making health care more affordable and accessible to hardworking Wisconsin families and to ensure that Wisconsin is a place where our young people's dreams can be realized. (read more)...
WISCREPORT.COM - First District Congressman Paul Ryan, who will serve as the Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, has expressed support for the President's call to balance the federal budget. (read more)...
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