Hintz and Booze

Rep Hintz is sponsoring a bill that would exempt restaurants where alcoholic beverages are 50 percent or less of gross receipts from counting under the state's liquor license quota.

According to Hintz:

"It empowers local government to determine if they want to grant a license. This returns something to that local level,"

The Northwestern Editorial page also said the following:

"Hooray to State Sen. Carol Roessler, R-Oshkosh, state Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, and a refreshingly bipartisan chorus of state legislators backing a welcome change to state liquor-license law."

Hintz, Hintz and Hintz

- Hintz press release on his series of budget forums dated 6/12/07

- Hintz press release on his "Economic Development Exemption to State-Imposed Limit on Liquor Licenses" dated 6/12/07

- Tony Palmeri's analysis and comparison of Hintz and Underheim dated 6/5/07

Owens, Roth on Employee Discrimination

Reps Owens and Roth are sponsors of AB 30. According to the LRB:

This bill specifies that it is not employment discrimination because of conviction record for an educational agency to refuse to employ or to terminate from employment an individual who has been convicted of a felony and who has not been pardoned for that felony, whether or not the circumstances of the felony substantially relate to the circumstances of the particular job.

On May 16, the assembly passed AB 30 with all four Winnebago Assembly Reps voting in favor.

This bill joins a list of recent proposals from the Assembly that seek to weaken the protections of ex-felons. While is some cases the results of this bill may be reasonably effective, note that these employers are already legally able to deny employment if the crime is at all related to the employment position.

The issue with the continual assault on common societal protections for ex-felons is that we create an ever-increasingly difficult atmosphere for an ex-felon to succeed in. To the extreme, we create a class of individuals who are long-term reliant on taxpayer-funded social welfare programs and who are more likely to re-offend. Of greater significance, we suggest that our corrections system is entirely inadequate of addressing the needed protections of society while assisting their service population in becoming safe and productive members of society.

Of course it is always unfavorable to oppose legislation that negatively impacts an un-liked population. In addition, it is unlikely that AB30 by itself would cause negative effects in many cases.

UW Oshkosh instructor, author, and convict criminology expert Stephen Richards has impressive credentials that likely exceed most of those in the state Assembly (See Here). He also is an ex-con who spent 4 years in prison. Yet he is doing some of the most impressive and innovative work in Wisconsin (Listen to his interview with UW Oshkosh instructor Tony Palmeri). While we want to ensure that our society is safe and protected, we also want to make sure that we strive to harness the positive potential of everyone. We want to ensure that an ex-felon who is committed to following the law, who works hard, and who positively contributes to society will be welcomed and supported. We also want to make sure that when our lawmakers are discussing emotionally and politically driven topics as with AB30, they are consulting with knowledgeable people like Steven Richards.

To Hintz From Nass On UW

Letter Issued on May 16, 2007 to Rep Hintz and Rep Jeffrey Smith from Rep Steve Nass regarding UW System Financial Aid Staff and Conflicts of Interest:

Dear Representatives Hintz and Smith:

I am writing in response to your request for a public hearing of the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee on the potential conflicts of interest in the relationships between student loan companies and UW System financial aid staff. As you both know, the scandalous actions of some student financial aid administrators has brought national attention to this serious issue and appropriate reactions from authorities in several states and the federal government.

On May 11, 2007, the UW System Board of Regents took timely action by mandating the development of an ethics code dealing with the activities of financial aid officials within the System. While Wisconsin Ethics Law requires the UW System to already have such an ethics code in place, it is appropriate that UW System President Kevin Reilly and his staff be given reasonable time to develop a draft ethics code for financial aid staff.

I have decided that the Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee will hold a public hearing on this issue in mid-July. At the July hearing, I will request the representatives of the UW System, the Wisconsin Technical College System and private higher education institutions testify on their actions to clean-up the situation in this state. The July public hearing will focus on specific steps being taken by these institutions of higher education.

I am not interested in pomp and circumstance from the leaders of higher education in this state. If the testimony from these leaders is not satisfactory, I assure you that our committee will move promptly on legislation to protect the interests of students from unsavory practices between colleges/universities and private student loan companies.

Additionally, I will require the leaders of higher education to specifically address if the questionable activities already identified at various Wisconsin institutions violated either existing campus policies or state law. Our response to this issue shouldn’t only be about going forward with reforms. It must also be about holding individual administrators accountable for past actions. A concept that is particularly foreign within higher education.

Sincerely,

Steve Nass, Chairman
Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee

Kaufert and School Safety

Press Release from Rep Kaufert dated 5/15/07:

KAUFERT SUPPORTS SCHOOL SAFETY INITIATIVE

MADISON….. State Representative Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah) urged his colleagues on the Joint Finance Committee today to consider loosening the state’s spending cap on public schools for enhanced safety measures in the state budget.

“It’s a different world out there these days,” said Kaufert. “We use to assume our kids were safe when we dropped them off at school.”

Kaufert’s proposal would allow school boards to exceed the state spending cap by $25 per student to help support expenses related to school safety in Wisconsin high schools.

“It’s a relatively small adjustment but it sends a clear message that safety is a priority and we want schools to make the investment,” said Kaufert.

Republican Party and Emergency Contraception

The website Playground Politics has a piece on the Emergency Contraception issue, calling it the Death Knell for the Republican Majority. The legislation has been moved to the Judiciary and Ethics Committee, which is chaired by Rep Mark Gundrum (Republican - West Salem) According to the piece:

"If the Republicans refuse to move it out of committee and bring it to the floor, you can be assured that the Democrats will attempt a pulling motion at some point. There will be a roll call vote on this bill. The Democrats will need 50 votes on the first try - just a simple majority - to pull the bill to the floor for a vote."

According to the Wisconsin State Journal, "(Representative Mark) Gundrum told the Wisconsin State Journal he would not hold a hearing on the bill."

Local Winnebago County website Babblemur also covered the issue, stating that "Gundrum must be in a pretty safe district to exercise such “compassionate conservatism” for rape victims."

Analysis - See previous posts ONE and TWO on this issue.

AB377 is important legislation that serves the interests of victims of rape. This bill guarantees the rape victim access to important information on how to legally, safely, and effectively prevent the possibility of an unplanned and unwanted conception. This is a needed guarantee, and we commend Representatives Kaufert and Hintz for co-sponsoring this legislation.

Candidate Time

It is almost the season when the politically-minded, the wealthy businessmen, the socially disgruntled, and the principled idealists begin considering a run for state office.

A few requirements to challenge for a State Assembly Representative seat:

- Representative to the Assembly is elected in the Fall General Election and serves a 2-year term starting the first Monday of January. Candidates must be a resident for one year within the state and a qualified elector* of the district at the time of taking office.

- Qualified elector is defined in s.6.02, Stats., as a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older, who has resided in the election district for at least 10 days before any election at which he or she offers to vote (and who is not disqualified by virtue of one or more of the impediments described in s.6.03, Stats.).

- No person may hold any state or local elected office in Wisconsin if the person has been convicted of a felony in any court in the United States unless the person has been pardoned of the conviction. No person may have his/her name placed on the ballot for any state or local elected office in Wisconsin if the person has been convicted of a felony in any court in the United States unless the person has been pardoned of the conviction. (Article XIII, Section 3 (2), (3), Wis. Constitution)

For information on the requirements for registering and running a state assembly campaign, visit the following website on the Wisconsin State Elections Board Website: http://elections.state.wi.us/subcategory.asp?linksubcatid=423&linkcatid=527&linkid=295&locid=47

In addition, check out these fine resources:

- The Legislative Process in Wisconsin

- The Wisconsin Blue Book

- Resources for Legislators

- How to Become and Effective Legislator

- A Guide for Legislative Leaders

- Legislative Spotlight from the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau

Gov Accountability Board Nominations

- The Honorable Michael W. Brennan of Marshfield, former Clark County Circuit Court Judge

- Chief Judge Thomas Cane of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals – District III, of Wausau

- The Honorable David G. Deininger of Monroe, former Wisconsin Court of Appeals – District IV
Judge

- The Honorable William Eich of Madison, former Chief Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals – District IV

- The Honorable James Mohr of Eagle River, former Vilas County Circuit Court Judge

- The Honorable Gerald C. Nichol of Madison, former Dane County Circuit Court Judge

www.thewheelerreport.com/releases/June07/june6/0606govaccountability.pdf

Kaufert and Tax Loophole (Newark)

Press Release on 5/30 from the Wheeler Report:

BILL TO CLOSE NEWARK LOOPHOLE ADVANCES THROUGH COMMITTEE - Court Decision Threatens to Shift Millions of Taxes to Homeowners

(Madison)—A bi-partisan bill aimed at closing a tax loophole that could shift millions of dollars in property taxes to homeowners received unanimous support today from the Legislature’s Joint Survey Committee on Tax Exemptions. The bill, sponsored by State Senators Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) and Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) and State Rep Dean Kaufert (R-Neenah), is designed to reverse a controversial Tax Appeals Commission ruling that has already forced homeowners and small businesses to pick up over $34 million in extra property taxes throughout the state, with many millions more possibly on the way.

“I am thankful to the members of the committee for their support, but we must continue to fight to get this bill to the Governor’s desk as soon as possible,” said Cowles. “The longer we wait, the more taxes will be shifted to our homeowners and small businesses.”

A 2004 decision by the Tax Appeals Commission, upheld on appeal at circuit court, extended the property tax exemption for treatment plant and pollution abatement equipment to property of a paper board manufacturing facility in Milwaukee owned by the New Jersey-based Newark Group, Inc. The ruling was loose interpretation of a 1953 statute designed to reduce air and water pollution from manufacturing sources.

The decision has become known as the Newark decision. “This bill has now received unanimous, bi-partisan support from both committees that have acted on it and Wisconsin homeowners need to know that leaders of both parties are committed to closing this outrageous loophole,” said Hansen. “It is my hope that leadership on both sides can avoid the temptation to play politicswith this bill so we can get this to the Governor’s desk as soon as possible.”

Exemptions based on the Newark decision have been granted to paper makers, wood product manufacturers, oil and grease shops and even a cheese maker. Over $34 million in manufacturing property has been removed from the tax rolls because of Newark-based appeals of property tax assessments. It is expected that the effects of the exemption may spread much further unless the loophole is closed. Up to $1.8 billion in manufacturing property value may become exempt from property taxes because of the court ruling. This would cause a massive property tax shift to homeowners and small businesses.

"We need to keep this moving through the legislative process to send a clear signal to municipalities that the Legislature is going to resolve this problem," said Kaufert. "We have a good bill here and there is no reason to delay action any longer."

The legislation now needs approval from the Joint Committee on Finance, before being voted on for final approval by the Senate and Assembly.

Hintz and Shared Revenue

Rep. Hintz to hold Budget Forum on Shared Revenue

OSHKOSH– Representative Gordon Hintz will be hosting a forum to discuss the 2007-2009 State Budget’s impact on city and county government focusing on the shared revenue program. This is the fifth of six forums being held on the five largest general fund programs in the biennial budget. (The forum is scheduled for June 4, 6:30-8:30PM at Oshkosh City Hall-Room 406.)

The forum will be open to the public. City of Oshkosh and Winnebago County officials have been invited. Questions and discussion are encouraged. People with questions or comments about the hearings are encouraged to contact the office of Representative Hintz toll-free at 888-534-0054 or via e-mail at rep.hintz@legis.state.wi.us.

The final budget forum will be June 11 from 6:30-8:30PM at the Oshkosh Public Library and will focus on Corrections. .