PROFS has officially registered against Assembly Bill 214 and Senate Bill 172. The bills, introduced by Representative Andre Jacque (R-Bellevue) and Senator Glenn Grothman (R- West Bend) , would make it illegal to provide or use for experimentation fetal body parts. The…
Category: The state
After Extensive Debate, Changes to State Group Health Insurance Are Approved
Several changes to the state health insurance program recently went into effect. The changes were enacted as part of Wisconsin Act 10, the 2011 Budget Repair Bill, and Wisconsin Act 32, the 2011-13 Biennial Budget Bill. For most state workers,…
Senate Recall Elections
Nine Wisconsin State Senate recall elections have been held, and Republicans will have a slim one-vote majority in the Senate after losing two seats on August 9. Republican incumbents Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac) and Dan Kapanke (R-La Crosse) were defeated…
Legislature Passes Fast-Tracked Redistricting Plan
Every ten years, the legislature tackles legislative redistricting — redrawing legislative lines to account for changes in the state’s population. The process is often partisan and contentious, and occasionally lands in the courts. The Assembly voted yesterday along largely party…
Senate Recall Elections
Legislatively speaking, summer is usually a quiet time with the legislature in recess and elected officials back home in their districts visiting with constituents at picnics and parades. This summer, however, is not typical and the legislature has been consumed…
Governor Walker Signs Budget Bill; Uses 50 Vetoes
Governor Scott Walker signed the 2011-13 biennial budget into law in Green Bay yesterday, using his powerful line-item veto 50 times. Details about the vetoes began trickling out of the Capitol on Friday and continued over the weekend. The $66…
Concealed Carry Passes Assembly
The Wisconsin Assembly passed Senate Bill 93 yesterday on a bipartisan vote of 68-27. Governor Scott Walker is expected to sign the bill into law, which could go into effect as early as October 1. The bill allows adult citizens…
Senate Passes Budget
The Wisconsin State Senate, voting along straight party lines, passed the 2011-13 biennial budget 19-14 last night. Republicans rejected all Democratic amendments and offered no amendments of their own before approving the Assembly version of the bill. The Assembly had…
Collective Bargaining Update
A group of labor unions filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday to the block the reinstatement of collective bargaining legislation. The lawsuit addresses collective bargaining only and does not seek to stop implementation of increased payroll deductions for pensions and health…
Assembly Passes Budget
The Assembly passed the 2011-13 biennial budget early this morning, after 13 hours of debate and 40 rejected Democratic amendments. PROFS lobbied hard for changes that benefit faculty and the university. The vote was 60-38 along straight party lines, with…